NEW ORLEANS — Changes are coming to the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans, but there are differing opinions on how to get there.
Multiple bills are moving through the state capitol that legislators hope will bring some relief to New Orleans residents. Some bills have the support of the New Orleans City Council, but others don't.
Representative Alonzo Knox has proposed a bill that would create a panel to "assume the responsibilities of the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board" for one year. Representative Knox told WWL Louisiana it's not a state takeover.
"There is no complete state takeover as far as I know. My bill is a placeholder. It does nothing to take over anything," Rep. Knox said.
Councilmember Joe Giarrusso isn't convinced, though.
"I'm critical of something that is not stated the way that it ought to be. I'm not saying that I don't think it is a takeover. I just read the legislation," Giarrusso said.
According to the proposed legislation, the panel "may exercise any and all powers and duties granted to the board by or under Louisiana Law." The legislation also says the panel would be made up of 11 members appointed by people, including the Mayor, the Governor, the City Council, and others. Giarrusso is concerned that non-New Orleanians running a city utility could make for more mess.
"I don't know that they have the expertise, and number two, they own all the problems. And so I doubt the state really wants to have every single problem consistently laid at our doorstep all the time," Giarrusso said.
He supports a better governance model for S&WB but thinks they should consider one already in place. Entergy has its own separate board, but the council sets the regulations.
SW&B Executive Director Ghassan Korban has previously said at a council meeting that a state-run panel would be disruptive.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.