MS Senate passes bill that would allow state take over of Jackson water and sewer

The Mississippi Senate passed Senate Bill 2628 Tuesday, which would put the City of Jackson's water and sewer infrastructure into the hands of the state after federal Third Party Water Administrator Ted Henefin steps down.

The bill creates the nonprofit “Capitol Region Utility Authority," consisting of a nine-member board and a president appointed by the Jackson City Council, the governor and lieutenant governor. The authority would also require approval from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The bill, which passed 35-14, was amended from its original version so that the city had more influence over the makeup the authority's board, Accuracy, Efficiency and Transparency Chair and bill sponsor Sen. David Parker, R-Olive Branch, said.

The amended version of the bill now gives the governor three appointments, the lieutenant governor three appointments, the Jackson City Council two appointments and the mayor one appointment.

Members of the Jackson delegation have voiced strong opposition to the bill, as well as the Jackson City Council and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.

Henifin came out in support of the bill.

Last week, the city council passed a resolution opposing the bill. In their resolution, the council requested much different appointments than Parker's new version of the bill.

If the bill passes, the council would like to see "the creation of a nine-member governing board, six of whom would be appointed by the City of Jackson, one appointed by the City of Byram, one appointed by the City of Ridgeland, and one appointed by the Capitol Complex Advisory Board."

Parker noted that he met with several interested groups within the Jackson area who have come out to publicly oppose it. He also said he met with groups who support the bill, though they would like to see it amended to make it more friendly to those who have voiced concerns.

"I think this year we've been able to see the water system, see repairs and kind of move forward, and realize that it's so important for the receiver to have a deputy, who is learning what's occurring in the system, so that at the time when the receiver leaves, there'll be knowledge that's institutional, that allows that to be conveyed to the proper continuing authority," Parker said.

Despite the move to build more widespread support for the legislation, Parker still faced opposition from Jackson-based Sens. Hillman Frazier and Sollie Norwood, who questioned why Parker was pushing for a bill that would directly impact Jackson, when he represents Olive Branch located 200 miles north.

Parker said that he stays with his daughter during the legislative session, who lives and works in Jackson, but anyone who lives in the city year-round deserves good water.

"The people who live here deserve good water," Parker said.

Parker, who tried to pass a similar bill last year, said if the state does nothing, the federal government could appoint anyone to replace Henifin, and it could be an entity without any local ties or regulation.

U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate, who oversees Henifin and JXN Water, has not publicly commented about his thoughts on the bill.

Now that it has passed in the Senate, the bill would go on to the Mississippi House of Representatives for a vote, but Sen. John Horhn, D-Jackson, submitted a motion to reconsider the bill, which pauses the legislation from moving forward.

Ward 6 Councilman and Council President Aaron Banks said he opposes the takeover for various reasons, including that the city's water system is one of the biggest revenue generators for Jackson.

"What we need is a partner. Not a slaveowner, not a taskmaster, but a partner," Banks previously told the Clarion Ledger.

Banks and Lumumba were also critical that none of the sponsors of the bill, nor anyone in favor of the bill - including Henifin - had met with the city leaders to discuss the bill.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi Senate passes bill giving state control over Jackson MS water system