Enterprise Mayor Elected Chairman of State Board

Matt Boster

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Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Oct 28 2016 3:06 PM

Enterprise Mayor Kenneth W. Boswell will assume chairmanship of the Choctawhatchee, Pea and Yellow Rivers Watershed Management Authority effective Nov. 1. The Authority was created in 1991 by the Alabama Legislature and manages 2.3 million acres of land in the watersheds of southeast Alabama.

Boswell, who became a member of the CPYRWMA Board of Directors in 2014, was unanimously elected recently by the 16 volunteer directors who govern the Authority. He will take the chairmanship at a CPYRWMA Board meeting set for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Enterprise Farmers Market.

Boswell works closely with the State of Alabama Department of Commerce and the Wiregrass Economic Development Corporation in adding jobs through the expansion of existing companies and the location of new businesses.

He was selected “Volunteer of the Year” and “Man of the Year” in 2003 and received the Alabama Emergency Management Agency Public Service Award in 2007.  In 2008, he was recognized at the White House in Washington, D.C., and received the Phoenix Award for Public Service following a disaster.  He was appointed to the Military Stability Commission by Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey.  Boswell serves on a number of State and National committees and advisory boards.

The CPYRWMA, which represents all or portions of 10 Southeast Alabama counties, “has a proven leader with vast knowledge of local and statewide water issues,” said Barbara Gibson, executive director, about Boswell’s upcoming four-year term as chairman.

Gibson said Boswell has been a leader in water resource development initiatives in southeast Alabama for a number of years and has been successful in pursuing water supply options for Enterprise. He has served as Mayor of Enterprise and Water Superintendent for almost 14 years. During that time, the city water system has undergone major expansion and improvements.

“I have been honored to be able to serve the ‘Choc-Pea’ Watershed Authority as a board member, and I pledge to serve to the best of my ability now as its chairman,” Boswell said. “This Board has had and will continue to have a major impact on the water policy of this state. I want to help lead this organization in the direction that will best serve the interests of the people, and ensure that we all will have an available water supply for  many years into the future.”

He also thanked Jack Pelfrey of Clio for his service as Chairman for the past four years.

The mayor believes major challenges that are facing the Authority and the people of southeast Alabama now and in the near future include adequate water supply for residential, agricultural, and industrial users; flood prevention; soil erosion control; and timberland and wildlife habitat protection.

The mission of the CPYRWMA is to develop and execute plans and programs relating to water resource management within the watersheds to ensure water resources are wisely developed, properly used and enhanced for present and future generations. Counties represented are Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Geneva, Henry, Houston and Pike counties.

Directors are appointed by County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. In addition to Boswell, Coffee County is represented on the Board by Josh Carnley of Ino. Also currently serving on the Board are Jack Pelfrey and Dennis W. Crowe, Barbour County; Randolph Hall, Bullock County; Glen Zorn and Mayor Robert Williamson, Covington County; Ronnie D. Hudson, Crenshaw County; Donald K. Hallford and Steve Stevens, Dale County; Millard Powell and Donnie Chesteen, Geneva County; David Hicks, Henry County; Terry Adams, Houston County; Randy Hale and Joe Murphy, Pike County.

Accompanying Photo:

Enterprise Municipal Judge Dwain Hartwick, right,  administers the oath of office to Mayor Kenneth Boswell, who is assuming a second term on the Board of Directors of the Choctawhatchee Pea Yellow River Watershed Management Authority, and will preside as its chairman beginning Nov. 1.

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