Jefferson County Sewer Receiver John Young says the system he took over in September of 2010 was in bad shape. In a hearing in federal bankruptcy court today to determine whether Young's power over the sewer system can remain during Chapter 9 bankruptcy, Young testified the system had and still has a number of challenges.

Young says of the 3000 miles of pipe in the system, 2,000 are in "poor, poor shape" and that 60 percent of the water the system treats each month is groundwater leaking into the pipes, not water flushed into the system. That's after the county has already spent $2.5 billion to try and reform and repair the system.

Jefferson county leaders and the sewer system receiver are facing a federal bankruptcy judge in Birmingham over the receiver's authority.

At issue is whether Sewer Receiver John Young should be allowed to continue as the court appointed receiver for the sewer system during the county's chapter nine bankruptcy.

Two witnesses took the stand on Monday: Commission President David Carrington and John Young. Carrington says the county has never objected to expenditures for Young and even says he proved helpful in negotiations with creditors, but Carrington testifies that the county's previous mismanagement problems with the sewer dealt with political corruption by commissioners no longer in office. Carrington says the commission wants County Manager Tony Petelos to oversee the system.

AHSAA State Football Playoffs

Third-round results

Class 1A

Sweet Water 38, Pickens County 36

Linden 21, Maplesville 7

Ragland 28, Collinsville 7

Marion County  42, Donoho 21 

Class 2A

Elba 33, Flomaton 23

American Christian 28, Leroy 3

Tanner 38, Woodland 0

Lineville 38, Fultondale 26

Class 3A

Handley 26, Washington County 7

Clay County 17, Leeds 10

Rogers 28, Piedmont 21

Madison Academy 35, Lauderdale County 14

Class 4A

UMS-Wright 28, Dadeville 21

Jackson 49, Bibb County 28

Anniston 14, Fayette County 0

Oneonta 48, Deshler 20