What does the head of the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board think of legislation that would put the utility under the New Orleans City Council's control?
New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board Director Ghassan Korban says as long as whoever has oversight over the city's water utility and storm drainage system gives them clear instructions and the funding for him to his job, it doesn't matter to him who's in charge.
"I've taken the opinion, you know, that I don't necessarily care where we are, whether we're 100 percent city agency, whether we're state agency, I just want more clarity and streamlined government," Korban told WWL's Newell Normand.
State lawmaker Stephanie Hilferty has proposed putting the water system under the direct oversight of the New Orleans City Council, mirroring how other municipal and parish water systems are run.
Korban says he could work with that.
"The city council currently is extremely involved and impactful of how we do things," said Korban.
Meanwhile, a taskforce the new governor assembled is in the midst of hearings to determine recommendations for improving the utility that has been plagued with power and pump failures during flood events, challenges providing reliable safe drinking water and billing controversies.
Related
