Governor Jeff Landry's task force is seeking ways to improve the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board, but a New Orleans-area lawmaker isn't waiting for their recommendations to take action.
In fact, Rep. Stephanie Hilferty (R-Metairie) has already filed bills to reform the SWB.
"Trust in the utility is shattered," Hilferty told WWL's Tommy Tucker, explaining why she filed two bills that would change the way the SWB operates.
One of Hilferty's proposals would require the SWB to appoint a special master to oversee billing and billing disputes. She says inaccurate bills routinely sent out by the SWB are a constant reminder of the public's distrust of the utility.
"This would be a CPA firm vetted by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor, the New Orleans Inspector General, and the city council," Hilferty said. "I think that's the low hanging fruit. That is software management and people. It's not 100-year-old pipes under the road. It's software and people."
A second bill, which Hilferty says is a placeholder until Governor Jeff Landry's task force studying how to reform the SWB returns with its recommendations, would eliminate the current appointed SWB board of directors.
"I think we've got to rethink the Sewerage and Water Board structure and how we look at that," Hilferty said. "I have a bill that would make the council the Sewerage and Water Board.
Hilferty said this proposal would give the city council direct oversight of the water system, similar to how Jefferson Parish and other municipal governments run theirs.
