In the middle of Lowndes County, Alabama, lies the rural town of Mosses. Named in honor of the Moss family, the town represented a new beginning for African American families who were sold land by the Mosses during the Civil Rights Era.

The town currently has a population of just over 1,000 people. Residents enjoy the plentiful hunting and fishing opportunities, along with the small-town charm and southern hospitality that the town provides.

Like most small towns, Mosses lacks some of the resources available to larger communities, which has caused challenges with the compliance and maintenance of its water and sewer systems. To address these issues, the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) referred Mosses to the Environmental Services Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) in April 2023.

She began by conducting a Technical, Managerial, and Financial (TMF) Assessment to determine a plan of action, identifying several areas in need of improvement.

Hines created a work plan detailing how CU would assist the system, which was then presented to the board for consideration. Board President Stephen Logan and the rest of the board voted in favor of the plan’s implementation. The first step in ensuring the system’s financial viability was completing a rate study.

As Bria began collecting the necessary data, she received a call from the system’s operator, Lee Pittman, who informed her that the town’s bookkeeping was seriously outdated and had significant gaps. Recognizing the urgency, Bria contacted the town clerk, and together they worked to revise and streamline the town’s documentation, policies, and procedures.

Noticing that the system lacked a cut-off policy, she provided an example alongside the rate study.

Bria explained that Mosses’ rate structure hadn’t been updated in more than 15 years. In small communities, close connections often result in unpaid bills being overlooked, leading to financial shortfalls over time and making it challenging to repay USDA loans. To address this issue in Mosses, implementing a new rate structure and a strict cut-off policy became a priority. Now, meters are turned off after five days of non-payment.

The rate study gave the board a clear view of their financial status, allowing them to implement much-needed rate adjustments.

In addition to the rate modifications, Bria facilitated in-depth training for the board to help ensure the system’s continued viability. During the training, she assisted with revising policies and procedures, providing the board with expertise and resources to better manage the system. The board training

highlighted the importance of local governance and capacity building, ensuring that improvements would be sustained long after CU’s involvement concluded.

Bria explained that Mosses faces both compliance and structural challenges. Although the town has a newer wastewater system, it was designed for larger communities, making it difficult for the small town to maintain.

Mosses shares an operator with nearby towns, but that’s insufficient to meet their needs. The town’s board is appointed, and there was a lack of knowledge, which was addressed during board training.

“This message was well received during the training,” Hines said.

Through this project, Bria has equipped the Mosses Water, Sewer, and Fire Authority with the tools they need to shape the future of their system, ensuring that their residents will continue to receive reliable service. CU will continue to support the system in any way necessary to help maintain compliance and sustainability.