Jackson Jambalaya

Unbelievable describes what took place at a meeting of the procurement committee of the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission. Hinds County Supervisor George Smith attempted to obtain approval for the county's $113,000 purchase of EF Johnson police radios for Byram. Committee approval is required for all radio purchases over $100,000.

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted on March 7, 2011 to purchase the radios for Byram. The county issued a purchase order on March 9 for the EF Johnson radios even though Byram wished to purchase Motorola police radios, and had obtained approval in February from the commission for Motorola radios. Hinds County did not apply for approval from the commission even though it is required by law, until this website and WLBT reported two weeks ago no such application existed, nor had Hinds County contacted the commission.

Hinds County submitted an application last week, nearly sixty days after issuing the purchase order. The Hinds County application was the first item on the agenda today. However, no one from Hinds County appeared before the committee. The committee finished all other matters within fifteen minutes. A commission employee finally contacted George Smith twenty minutes after the meeting began. Mr. Smith arrived at 2:35 after the committee recessed and waited for fifteen minutes.

Committee members present were Willie Huff (MDOT), Keith Harkins (MDEQ), Quincy Marcaro (MS Municipal League), and Jay Ledbetter (present on the phone, Homeland Security). Bill Roach, Executive Director of the commission was present as well. Mr. Smith strongly urged the committee to approve the purchase, claiming it did what was requested by Byram. Mr. Huff, Chief of Enforcement at MDOT, repeatedly pointed out Hinds did not follow the rules. Byram representatives were present, as they sought approval to purchase three police consoles (permission was granted). The commissioners included them in the discussion.

The discussion grew raucus at times, as Mr. Smith would not quit trying to get the committee to approve the $113,000 purchase, even though Byram had already purchased police radios. Mr. Smith repeatedly said Byram never notified the Board of its wishes, even after Chief Luke Thompson informed him and the committee Byram did not want to receive the EF Johnson radios. Chief Huff and Mr. Harkins told Mr. Smith the committee did not operate in a vacuum and was well aware of what was reported in the media concerning the Byram purchase. Chief Huff put forth a motion allowing Hinds to resubmit its application with corrections after Mr. Smith said the county wished to purchase the radios, even if they were not given to Byram. Mr. Smith fought the motion and it died for lack of a second. Mr. Ledbetter later hung up before any further action could be taken. The meeting adjourned for lack of a quorum.

Watch the video, especially parts three and four, as there are some lively exchanges and the discussion grows heated more than a few times.

Watch the last five minutes of this video:


Supervisor Smith shows up. Now the fun starts. Worth watching.


Fireworks continue.