Jackson Jambalaya

The levee plan is absolutely RIDICULOUS.

The fun part about this whole thing is that McGowan SHOWED the Corps how they were wrong in their studies way back in 1996. I saw it. The Corps engineers agreed with McGowan when shown how their work was wrong on promoting the levee program.

This whole thing is politics, pure and simple. With that said, methinks that politicians are idiots, and obviously we are too for electing them.

Rhoads wants the levees because he believes levees will force the completion of the airport parkway which will open up hundreds and thousands of acres of land between Flowood and Pearl east to the Airport for rapid development. Something, of course, that the suburb hating JFP brain duo hasn't figured out yet or doesn't want to admit to their cult-followers of knowing since it would detract from their vendetta against John McGowan.

Rhoads thinks installing flood gates on Lakeland(Hwy25) guarantees building and finishing the parkway since it will be needed as an emergency Pearl crossing. He's convinced the tolls will get waived during those periods when the gates are closed.

Regardless, flood gates across a major state artery like Hwy25 is going to be an insanely huge obstacle. In part because it will not take a historic flood event like '79 or '83 to force the closure of the gates. The levees in that area by their containing nature, and due to the fact that they are already too close together, will create higher water levels, more often, during even minor events, for the Pearl @ Hwy25. No one beyond McGowanCo, at least not the general public and especially the Rankin County commuting public, realizes that. Once the Pearl approaches 35-36 feet at Hwy25 those gates are going to get closed AND the levees will guarantee that the Pearl there reaches 35-36 much more often, and more quickly, than it does with the lower levees of today.

Me thinks that when the business owners on Lakeland get wind of how frequently those gates are going to be closing they aren't going to be all that happy with Gary Rhoads. Once the Rankin County commuting public has to deal with the closing of those gates Rhoads had better have found a hiding place somewhere in South America.

Don't count on the JFP to reveal the hundreds of dirty little secrets about their and Rhoads' love for this levee plan.

Good post. Additionally, the current levees will increase in size by 33 to 38%. They will also be 3 to 6 feet higher than I 55, causing same gate scenario on the freakin interstate. A 100 yard "swath" will be cut and be scortched earth forever on each sides of the levees, which is a non-negotiable requirment for water flow.

Gates will be intalled on Town Creek and Lynch Creek to "seal" out flow of water after the water level reaches a certain height.

If, as in 1983, follow up rain events happen, downtown Jackson is doomed.

All of this paid for by a tax increase of 12 mills, minimum.[Around 18% property tax increase]

Of course, all ot the voters in Hinds and Rankin counties will have to vote and approve by at least a 60% margin.

THIS. WILL. NEVER. HAPPEN.

The JFP is so goofy that it has spent all of its efforts on a personal jealousy campaign against Mr. McGowan, while "whisling past the graveyard" on this government fiasco.

As I stated in the other post, it would appear from a layman's standpoint that increasing the levees will only promote further flooding where there are no levees (downstream) along with the other issue brought forth above.

Downstream had it's own components who stuck their respective feet in their mouths in opposing the Lakes plans.

Those who want to see Jackson and the metro area succeed need to accept things that promote development and quit worrying about it competing with other development. Development begets more development and the more the area can deliver on, the more it will continue to provide.

Having a development that would also contribute to flood control should be a bonus that everyone would embrace.

With a tax increase as big as identified @1:45PM you might as well call the levee plan the Madison County residential and business expansion plan. That large of a property tax increase will kill Hinds and hamper Rankin badly.

""I've got four hospitals over here," Rhoads told (John) McGowan. "You're worried about making money. There's a big difference. You're not going to use the taxpayers of Rankin or Hinds County to pay for this thing."

THIS GUY IS A TYPICAL MISSISSIPPI REDNECK. He is a reason our state is last in everything. He publically calls the Pearl River the "Congo River".

I AM EMBARRASED TO SAY I KNOW HIM AND CALL HIM MAYOR.

Word on the street is than a LOT of Downtown Jackson business people REALLY have their "nose out of joint" with the JFP and their ingnorant acceptance of the Levee plan the Corps crammed down our throats. Not only has the JFP been typically condescending regarding their "reporting" involving this issue, but VERY OFFENSIVE in their insinuation of impropreity by Mr. McGowan.

What goes around WILL come around.

Ladd has always said that the JFP was independent and would call 'em as they see 'em. Looks like she has now proven that in spades.

Unless Cheerleader Ben is ready to have someone else produce the BOOM mag I don't think she's losing too much sleep that Kingfish is getting paid to help with (and pump) the "newsletter".

Ladd has proven she (sometimes) can't be bought. Good for her. I wouldn't piss her off too much Ben with your bullshit. Never know what impropriety she'll unearth.

Uh-huh. Keep on thinking that. Ask her about the meltdown she had after a certain black female attorney who is a prominent Democrat chewed her out after the last round of elections statewide. Haven't seen too much anti-Democrat coverage since then, have you?

I am forever amazed that anyone reads the JFP for anything other than where the bands are playing.

Am I reading this correctly? The downtown business Johns are pissed because Ladd won't trick for them this time?

Let me get this correct, Two Lakes good for everybody. You make me laugh. The studies show more water downstream. But that ok because it's good for others.

Lets look at the entire river basin for flood control not just Jackson.

If you want to look at the studies that show more water downstream, I will gladly let you see them, done by reputal engineering firms, not OILMEN.

So when you have a plan that controls flooding for the entire basin, and if part of that plan is the Two Lakes, I will support it. Untill then those of downriver are the only ones speaking with true motives. All i want is to not have our area flooded at the expense of others, I don't think that is to much to ask.

Mayor Nichols, Monticello

Time to put up or shut up, Mayor.

Email me the study in .pdf format and it will get posted on here for EVERYONE to see.

Funny how that mayor wants to do a lake plan in his hometown, yet somehow he has an opinion that we can't do one in Jackson.

Per city data: Monticello Population in July 2008: 1,699.

More people vote for the student body president of almost all of our state public and private universities than elect him - that's practically the size of Millsaps.

So, we don't give a damn what he thinks.

Nobody votes for the Presdient of DJP though he presents himself to the public and media as the consensus voice for many things in Jackson.

So, we don't give a damn what he thinks either.

Actually, that's not correct. A board does elect him.

Yes. A board of private businesspeople. So what? Nichols represents more voters.

Hey, take it easy on 2:29. It's been a tough week for him with the King Edward opening and being slammed and all.

Still waiting on those studies, Mayor.

I can't understand why nobody wants the levees the Corps proposes. I mean, they worked so well after Katrina and all...

Hey Mayor - what are "reputal engineering firms", and why are they superior to (God forbid) "OILMEN"?

"Untill [misspelling in original] then those of downriver are the only ones speaking with true motives."

My ass.

Build the lake. Expand the marketable property in the city. Loosen the grip of grumpy old men on a city that MUST change.

SNOTSUCKER....296 at 9:18. Dayum!

If that really is the mayor of that city smaller than the size of say, Murrah as one example, then pony the F up and post evidence. Otherwise you are no more useful or relevant than a Jim Hill student body president. Whoever that person is would be more relevant, population-wise.

HE WON'T DO IT, HE IS A SMALL TIME REDNECK, FULL OF SHIFT. PONY UP NECK. SHOW US YOUR GD STUDIES.

OK, KF, he brought up redneck...I gotta post this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzaQHTIy_NY

Danny boy, We are pissed. WATCH AND SEE. [Is it Dan or Dave]?

It's Ned....

Mayor, send Kingfish the studies you purported to. Simple. Send THEM. Otherwise, you sir are a LIAR.

SEND your studies. This public post ain't going away. Expect a subpeona if you don't produce.

Lazy nut. Go get a copy. Send them to KF yourself. Geez. Lazy.

"If you want to look at the studies that show more water downstream, I will gladly let you see them, done by reputal engineering firms, not OILMEN."

DUDE....DO IT! SEND THE STUDIES. END THIS. SEND THEM. [10 will make you 30 the "Hick Mayor" is GONE!!!
]

Wow, you are just too easy. Get off your computer, go outside, go to the Mayor's office and ask for the papers. If he gives them to you, publish them. If he doesn't, then come tell us. If you are thinking we want to carry your torch, you are one lazy m-er f-er. And I am just a fan of the site, you, sir, are annoying and in my estimation by your over-eager approach, lazy, because you have yet to say YOU ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING YOURSELF! Please, please, please, go to the Mayor's office and request what you ask. I am not your personal assistant, neither is KF, or anyone else in your world. If you have an axe to grind, pick up the axe and grind it.

Lazy nut. Go get a copy. Send them to KF yourself. Geez. Lazy.

[ssshhhh....YOU HAVE LOST...your fingerprint is fingerprinted. We all know who you are...we are praying for you little dick ugly wifed and no friends a/h to boot ...sorry]

I will gladly give The Kingfish a copy. However All he has do do is go to Pearl River Basin Development office and get them. They were done by Greenhorne O'Merra (sp). Mr. Mc Gowan agreed to the studies the scope of work and how it would be done.

Again you need to read all I say. As the Two Lakes stand now with the operation of the Res. Yes I am against it. If the iperation of the Res was to change and the benefit continued to the entire basin I am FINE with it. As to the lake plan here that is a Corp plan, not mine. So Mr. Fish if you will come to my office I will gladly give you a copy of the studies. But you sir can stay right there in Jackson and get a copy if you like. I emailed you a year ago when you blasted me and you failed to respond.

Again here all I say. As the plan stands now I am against it. Fix it so it provides protection for the whole basin and I will become one of your biggest supporters.

Mayor Nichols

Mayor, are you okay with the fact that with the levees Jackson will still flood?

Here is the deal.

You want it posted here, email me a .pdf or word copy. I'm a supporter of two lakes, always have been but I don't believe in squelching debate either. So if you want your study posted for all the world to see, send me a copy that can be read online and I'll post it where everyone can read it for themselves. You can even write up your own little epistle that will be posted along with it if you like.

What if all he has is a hardcopy?

9:56: That wouldn't surprise me. This is Monticello we're talking about, right? Scanners, pdf files - that's all like Star Trek to them, right? Probably why he believes the Corps.

PS Thomas Jefferson's Monticello was a marvel of technological advances - maybe he should sue the town for slandering his name ;-)

So you are saying that Nichols should scan hundreds of pages into a PDF format otherwise he isn't believable. Somehow y'all aren't very eager to see the data. Maybe Kingfish should contact the Corps directly himself.

Jackson will still flood under the levee plan. All of the other communities will not.

Nichols isn't referring to the levee plan. His point is that Two Lakes raises the water levels downstream during floods.

Am I the only one that is aware of "lock" systems such as the Panama Canal? Wouldn't two lakes serve to relieve flooding better than just the one we have now?

Mr. Fish I come to Jackson quite often. Tell me where to bring them and I will.

I hope you have a copier, because if I copy them or scan them by law I am to charge you for that.

I again hope people will look at what I am saying. I like Jackson, went to college there, have family there, I am not aginst Jackson.

With the information that I have, Monticello would be adversley affected by the Two Lakes plan and the way the resivor is operated. I would not be much of a Mayor if I did not speak up and oppose the plan as it is. My job is to look out for the people of Monticello, first and formost. I hope you can understand that.

And for those of you who love to bash my town all I say is you need to come experinace it for yourself.
We host the Atwood Music Festival attracting over 10000 people a year, the State ABATE Field Meet is held here. we have two downtown festivals that attract 3 to five thousand people annualy. we have Two parks on the Pearl River. One of these we have a 4th of July celebration complete with watermelon eating contest, a patriotic bicycle parade and fireworks, all free to the public.
We may be small but we are a proud beautifull town.

Mayor Nichols, II

Actually Mayor you are in error. The law does not say you have to charge me for it. If you read the Mississippi Public Records Statute, it does not say governments have to charge for scanning or copying. It leaves such things completely up to the government.

Some charge, some don't. Half the clerks around here don't charge me or the media at all.

The law says: "each public body may establish and collect fees reasonably calculated to reimburse it for"

May means it is not mandatory and up to your discretion.

And as far as I know, no one charges at the local level for scanning.

You are the one who is wanting to tell everyone the two lakes plan will flood towns like yours downstream and there is a study showing it.

Maybe because you are a politician, you don't understand sales but if you want someone to promote or consider one of your positions, its much easier for you if you give them the materials they need.

In this case, you raised the study. I said in good faith, ok, send it to me and I'll post it and the offer still stands. You, as Mayor, have the power to send it to me and I assume you have scanners even in Monticello.

Truth is, I'm not going to scan a study that is several hundred pages or so and upload it, especially when I don't have adobe professional. However, I'm also not the one who is trying to argue the plan will flood downstream. If it were me, I would've already had that study scanned and ready to email not just for this site but for other media outlets, boards, and interested parties on this issue.

The offer to post it if emailed to me was made in good faith and still stands.

So you don't believe Nichols on water levels? Is that what you are saying? What proof do you have that he is in error? Have you posted a study that says otherwise? How is your position the default and correct?

Nichols is saying that Two Lakes raises already high water levels higher and in some events that could be difference between a flood and a near-miss. What does he have to gain by repeating that concern if it is false? Are you saying that Monticello should be sacrificed so that Jackson can be spared?

Also, where is the condemnation for Mayor Johnson's actions seconding the motion and then voting for levees? Didn't he just vote to flood Jackson?

You should consider changing your masthead to read "A jambalaya of commentary, politics, culture, kneejerkdom and jackassery in Jackson, Mississippi".

"And for those of you who love to bash my town all I say is you need to come experinace it for yourself."

I can't wait to "experinace" Monticello ;-)

As I said Mr. Kingfish; Tell me where to bring it to you and I will. I believe that is a resonable request to look one who calls you wrong in the eye and show them the studies. Again as I said earlier these studies were done by the Pearl River Basin Development District, not me.

As to those of you whu want to chide me for my spelling go right ahead. I never claimed to be a spelling champion. However I make no apologies for championing my Town.

Mayor Nichols, II

Are these the studies done around 1998 that were so flawed and erroneous, that the Corps chief [some woman] got FIRED over?

Anon, 4:18, McGowan actually showed the Corps how they were wrong for the first time back in 1996. And they agreed with his work, too. I was unaware that someone got fired because of the Corps errors back then.

Jackson doesn't want area-wide cooperation. They want capitulation. Then they wonder why neighboring communities won't drink the Jackson kook-aid.

Don't look now Jackson but with your population losses after the next statewide reapportionment you'll have even fewer representatives in the Legislature.

However I make no apologies for championing my Town.

Right or wrong? This is why politicians are so hated. It's not that they don't see the forest for the trees, it's that they don't want to.

Please articulate to us how the Lakes project would generate "more water downstream." If the studies are so finite, it should be easy to explain, as you understand, why it would cause worse flooding.

You will read the truth about this issue tomorrow on JJ. Stay tuned.

Bumpkin is full of it, and after the post is made, he will clearly [by his own words] support Two Lakes.

BTW, Dave. Are you or are you NOT attempting to "lake " Monticello on this SAME Pearl River? Did YOUR OWN CITY ENGINEER not sign on to the viability of this project?

This is all about "15 minutes of fame". Shame on you.

4:30, my ass on cooperation. You are completely full of it.

Is that you Kingfish speaking for JJ @ 5:39PM? Do you post anonymously on your own blog? Truth according to whom?

When the lawsuit is filed, I can't WAIT to see Davey boy under oath.

He [KF] is unaware.

Have no idea but if someone else emails it to me and I think its legit, it will go up. Wouldn't be the first time I've gotten info this way.

"You will read the truth about this issue tomorrow on JJ. Stay tuned."

Did you post the above Kingfish?

Davey boy you have stepped off into the BIG TIME. This ain't Lawrence County.

Hope your hick town has some damn good lawyers. You might be in deep legal doo doo.

[PS: Mayor, for God's sake spell check your posts! JEEEZUS!]

You ARE the Mayor aren't you?

Are these the studies done around 1998 that were so flawed and erroneous, that the Corps chief [some woman] got FIRED over?

Well Davey?

"You will read the truth about this issue tomorrow on JJ. Stay tuned."

Did you post the above Kingfish?



You must be from Lawrence County. Can you read? [See above]

"He [KF] is unaware."

Point?

Note that no one will rebut the very basic - and significant - point that Jackson still floods under the levee plan.

Point?

If you don't see it, there's no use waisting my energy typing.

Nichols isn't taking about levees. Nichols isn't disputing that Jackson will flood with levees. So, absolutely, spend your energy petting your personal dachshund.

The damn vote was 5-2. Why aren't any of you TwoLakers asking why the vote wasn't 4-3? Why did Mayor Johnson say 'Yes' to levees? Why did Mayor Johnson say 'Yes' to flooding downtown Jackson?

Are you kissing his ass?

Same old, same old. Will you PLEASE get a life. Please? Haven't you ANYTHING else to do?

Sounds like someone is on the verge of a near stroke.

See above. I LOVE it.

6:10, where the phuck have you been? Ever hear of a 100M plus threat by the Corp (predicated upon a beforehand 100M plus tax payer funded project that will never happen?)?

I just heard that MDOT bought all of this property. What could be up with that.

Why did Harvey Johnson vote to flood Jackson?