Photo courtesy of Wilcox Water & Sewer District

Mattie Dennis is always looking for ways to serve her neighbors in Wilcox, Marengo and Monroe counties. When she is not at the Wilcox County Water and Sewer District office, she serves as assistant superintendent of Sunday School, assistant church secretary and treasurer of the District Women’s Missionary. Dennis is also the treasurer of an organization that is converting her childhood elementary school into a museum and is secretary of the neighborhood community center.

Born and raised in Alabama, she eventually moved to Michigan in search of work opportunities. Years later, when Dennis’ husband traveled back to visit family in Alabama, he returned to Michigan with blueprints for a new home in Alabama. All of her husband’s siblings returned home and built homes on the family property. 

After a full career with one of the Big Three automakers in Michigan, Dennis believed she was finally retiring when she and her husband returned to Alabama. Retirement did not last long, however. Realizing she did not want to sit at home, she accepted the position as chief clerk with the Wilcox Probate Judge’s office, a role she held for almost 17 years. 

Photo courtesy of Wilcox Water & Sewer District

In 2017, the Wilcox County Water and Sewer District was formed. Dennis, along with four other directors, made up the district’s board of directors. She served as the board’s secretary for about three years before becoming chairperson. 

When asked, Dennis was eager to serve on the board — her motivation was deeply personal. She had seen through news coverage that many rural residents couldn’t just turn on the tap. “They didn’t have access to running water,” she said. “That’s the way I grew up, but I didn’t know people were still living like this.”

In one of the poorest areas in the country, many households cannot afford to dig or maintain a well. Some families have spent decades walking to roadside faucets or relying on relatives and neighbors to fill plastic containers with water for drinking, cooking, bathing and other necessities. 

The formation of the district did not immediately bring running water to every resident. With the assistance of a USDA grant and loan, water lines have now been extended to over 200 additional customers. Still, many residents remain without reliable access to running water.

Today, the district serves over 2,200 households with water in Wilcox, Marengo and Monroe counties. The system also provides sewer services to about 60 customers in Wilcox County and maintains 310 miles of water lines, including multiple sections that are not interconnected. Because the district lacks sufficient well capacity to serve all its customers, it must also purchase water from neighboring systems.

In 2024, with less than a 45 days’ notice, the district’s management company announced it would be leaving, thrusting the district into the challenge of managing its own system. During the transition, the district received critical assistance from the nonprofit Communities Unlimited (CU). “CU played a pivotal role during the change,” said Dennis.

Photo courtesy of Communities Unlimited

Led by Dinah Foreman, CU provided board member training, assisted in updating the District’s policies and procedures, conducted a critical rate study and met with citizens to explain the need for higher rates. CU’s work was supported by federal grants from the Office of Community Services (OCS) and USDA Technitrain. “The rate increase was long overdue, and it also provided a much needed operational and financial boost,” Dennis said.

Although significant challenges remain, Dennis says the district is beginning to stabilize. “We are now able to meet some of our short-term financial debts with a little less stress,” she said. 

Most of the district’s water lines were installed in the early 1970s, and there was little or no maintenance before the system was conveyed to the district. Today, corroding lines and major leaks are more common than not, and frequent repair costs continue to strain the system financially. “The amount we paid contractors, after a year and a half, we could have bought our own equipment,” Dennis said. 

With the support of CU, the district eventually did just that. Through a USDA grant for just under $50,000.00 and a low-interest loan for about $29,000 from the Federal Economic Development Administration, through CU, the District purchased an excavator. 

Chairperson Dennis still goes into the office every day. On a typical day, she ensures the board’s rules and regulations are being followed, oversees compliance with federal, state, and local laws, and makes certain records, minutes and notices are properly maintained. 

Despite ongoing financial pressures and daily operational challenges, she remains focused on the board’s mission: providing safe, clean water at a reasonable cost while reducing dependence on neighboring systems.

At 75, she continues working in every way she can to improve life for her neighbors in Wilcox, Marengo and Monroe counties. “I enjoy helping people,” she said. “Even though some people may call me old, I’m not ready to sit down.”

Photo courtesy of Wilcox Water & Sewer District