Recently, a report revealed that two senior officials from Birmingham Waterworks also hold positions in Greene County, located in West Alabama.

Mac Underwood returned as the general manager of Birmingham Water in February 2025, with an annual salary of $446,118. Interestingly, he also serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Greene County, a role he maintained before his reappointment in Birmingham.

Underwood mentioned that Greene County permits him to work remotely, which allows him to fulfill his responsibilities during evenings and weekends. He indicated that he frequently visits the county office and attends monthly meetings. Previously, his contract with Greene County for 2020-2021 included a monthly payment of $7,000, which later increased. Currently, he earns approximately $53 an hour, amounting to around $110,240 annually.

In March, Underwood submitted his resignation to the Green County Commission, with his final working day set for May 31st.

Moreover, Mark Parnell, who represents Birmingham Water Works through his firm, Parnell and Thompson, has been appointed as the Deputy General Manager and General Counsel under a contract endorsed by the prior board. His five-year contract includes a base salary of $660,000 yearly, a monthly vehicle allowance of $1,000, and immediate participation in the utility pension plan.

Parnell’s firm also represents Greene County. If granted approval from the general manager, the water contract will allow for outside employment. He mentioned he is in the process of reducing his caseload, particularly his responsibilities in Greene County, but hasn’t confirmed when he will resign from that position.

Currently, Birmingham Waterworks is being guided by a newly established community committee that has initiated a review of recent contract decisions made by the previous board.