Birmingham, AL – The court-appointed receiver for the Jefferson County sewer system says when he was first asked to analyze the system in 2008 it was poorly run, underfunded and up to that time county commissioners had mostly ignored recommendations to fix the problems.
The receiver, John Young, testified at a hearing by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Thomas Bennett, who must decide if the receiver will be stripped of much of his responsibility to oversee operation of the sewer system now that Jefferson County has filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.
Attorneys for the county argue it would be a violation of federal bankruptcy law for Young to continue his duties. The county's creditors argue Young was appointed by a state judge and county officials lack expertise to save the system.
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