Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
Frustration over water supply concerns and recent conservation measures have sparked a petition drive among members of the Marbury Water System, with residents seeking a special-called membership meeting and the removal of current board members.
The effort follows a public town hall meeting held Tuesday night at the Pine Level Community Center, where residents gathered to discuss emergency water conservation measures recently announced by Marbury Water.
Marbury Water System operates as a cooperative corporation, meaning it is owned by its members and is intended to operate democratically to meet the needs of those members rather than generate profits.
According to community member Ken Hollon, the utility currently relies on two water sources: one active well and purchased water from neighboring systems through the Five Star Water Supply District.
Five Star, formed in 1997, includes the Wetumpka Water & Sewer Board, Tri-Community Water Authority, City of Millbrook, Holtville Water System and Prattville Water Works.
“The current issue with the water shortage is due to the water Marbury buys from Five Star,” Hollon said. “Marbury Water has no contract to buy water from Five Star. They are not required to sell Marbury Water any water, but thankfully they have furnished water each month. Now they have to do maintenance on their system and the excess water that they produce has been cut in half.”
Hollon, who has lived in the area for more than 42 years and currently receives water service through Autauga County Water, said concerns about future water availability began surfacing several years ago as growth accelerated across northern Autauga County.
Following Tuesday’s town hall meeting, Hollon encouraged residents interested in change to become more involved in the cooperative’s governance.
“The board should represent the community and be the administrative body, and it appears this has not been happening,” Hollon said. “During Tuesday night’s meeting, you had an employee of the board who answered all the questions, and I only knew of two board members that were present, who said nothing, and these people are supposed to represent the members of Marbury Water.”
Hollon also noted that the system’s general manager has served in the position for approximately 25 years.
The petition seeks to trigger a special-called membership meeting and ultimately allows members to consider changes to the board’s leadership. Under the cooperative’s bylaws, supporters say signatures from approximately 10% of the system’s roughly 3,000 members are needed to move the process forward.
According to organizers, over 150 signatures were collected immediately following Tuesday night’s meeting.
Community members will continue gathering signatures on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pine Level Community Center, where Marbury Water members may sign the petition.
Meanwhile, a committee formed in response to residents’ concerns is scheduled to meet Monday evening at the Pine Level Community Center to discuss future plans and next steps.
Pine Level Mayor Zachary Bigley said residents have voiced a desire for greater transparency and a clearer understanding of the system’s future.
“People have made it clear they are concerned about the future of the Marbury Water System,” Bigley said. “I think the recent water conservation notice and the lack of clear answers at the public meeting may have left some people with more questions than answers. I believe simply that people want their voices to be heard and want a clear plan for the future.”
As the petition effort continues, organizers say their aim is to give cooperative members a stronger, direct voice in decisions shaping the water system’s future and its ability to meet the demands of one of central Alabama’s fastest-growing regions.
