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Water systems, fire departments are scrutinized Clarke County Commissioners this week questioned the oversight, powers and obligations of rural water authorities and rural fire departments and agreed that both need to be looked at more closely to make sure they are serving the public to the best of their abilities. Questions about water authorities were raised by Deliah May's letter requesting that two board of directors members of the West Clarke Water System be removed and new ones assigned. May is a customer of West Clarke where there have been rumblings of discontent and accusations of mismanagement for some time. Customers contend that there are never any public board meetings for them to voice their concerns. Larry Jones recently joined the board and May requested that the board be expanded to five members with Gary Counselman and Gaines Carter added as new members. She also requested that Alex Lovette and George Dunigan be removed. County attorney Bruce Wilson told commissioners Monday that they only have the power to appoint water board members. He said there is no provision to remove water board members short of im- peachment. That action would have to be instigated by the district attorney and carried out through circuit court. "You don't have the authority to remove anybody," he told commissioners. Wilson said that the bylaws would have to be changed to increase the number of directors. Another misconception is that water customers of a rural system are "members" with the right to vote on directors. That is usually not the case and the customers are just that, customers of a water system. When questioned, Wilson said that rural systems are not subject to audits by the State Department of Public Examiners and that any audits are conducted by private accounting firms hired by the system. He said West Clarke has agreed to start holding regular meetings. Wilson also explained that he has done work for West Clarke in the past. Commissioners have routinely approved whoever has been recommended for directorships on rural water boards and often reconfirmed them when their terms ended. Tuesday, Commission Chairman Paul Bradford said that may have to change. I've been guilty of approving whoever was sent in. We need to do diligent research [and make sure we are appointing the best people]," he said. The fire department questions were prompted by comments that the Alma volunteer department did not respond to calls to a woods fire in the area last week and that the Jackson Fire Department had to answer the calls. One person observed that more than one house could have burned had Jackson not responded. One comment alleged that the Alma fire trucks would not even crank. There are 14 fire departments in the county now (Tallahatta Springs- Opine was just this week certified as the 14th). They divide a 2.5 mills county fire tax equally and are certified through the Alabama Forestry Commission. The Clarke County Firefighters Association is a countywide umbrella organization for the departments. It has done some policing of departments in the past. However, commissioners learned that the individual departments are not very much accountable to any group or individual as to the services they perform or to how they spend the firefighting tax dollars allotted to them. Commissioner Patricia DuBose offered, "There has to be a reckoning to see if you are performing." Bradford agreed. "People need to know they are getting what they are paying for" with their tax dollars. Commissioners were told that the county firefighters association will be meeting Thursday night and some of them said they would be there to talk about the issue of accountability.
Commissioner Elma Averett was supportive but cautioned, of the water boards and the fire departments, "Most of these are volunteers and we don't want to offend anyone" with wrongful accusations.
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