Jefco (maybe) dodging the bullet

     The Jefferson County Commission has agreed to refinance some of its massive debt and raise sewer rates each year for three years to avoid bankruptcy.
     People like Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford went to jail because of the fraud that led to this financial mess, but I'll bet every time residents sign a check for the higher sewer rates, puffs of steam will come out of both ears.
     That's three years, or maybe a lifetime, of ill will.
     The Water Works Board stopped collecting sewer bills for the area sometime ago because they were getting all of the hate directed toward them.
     Not much customers can do except move out or stay mad. At one point every resident of the County was going to be billed...even those who are not connected to the sewer system. That hurt too, though you could make the argument that residents also pay for roads even if they never own a car.
     Bankruptcy is still a possibililty, so no popping of champagne corks there yet.