Jackson Jambalaya

The Hinds County 911 Council approved several requests at a meeting Wednsday but not before fireworks flew between Byram and Jackson. The council meets several times a year to approve requests by various government agencies (fire, police, emergency operations) to purchase telecommunications equipment using 911 funds. The funds are collected through taxes on consumer phone bills. Standard procedure calls for the council to approve a request and then forward to the Board of Supervisors for final approval. Most agencies use this fund as it allows them to avoid purchasing the equipment in their budgets.

The Council rejected a request from the Byram Fire Department to purchase
Fire Chief Marshall Robinson (starts at 7:30 in first clip) ten mobile units, and 30 portables. The amount of the request was $238,507. Chief Robinson said he only had three employees but he was hiring and had twenty applications. He told the council "can't do anything with them until we start getting the equipment." The fire department currently operates in combination with the Byram Volunteer Fire Department.

Fire Chief McNulty (Jackson) asked when he was going to hire the employees. Chief Robinson did not provide an exact number but said he needed the radios to move forward. Chief Gray (Terry) said he had a problem with spending money on radios for employees that were not in place and that no one in "the room" had a problem with purchasing radios for current employees. The council had several minutes of vigorous debate and then rejected his request. The council approved a motion by Chief Gray for Byram to purchase five mobile units and five portable units.

The council approved requests by Utica and Raymond to accept quotes from Motorola after quotes from EF Johnson were not valid after the company terminated its relationship with Northstar Wireless. More sparks flew when the council approved a $370,450 request from the City of Jackson Police Department to purchase 100 portable radios. Deputy Chief Lindsey Horton said (13:00 in second clip). Mr. Horton said JPD had 439 officers but had a class graduating next month and was starting another one in January. HE said there were 35 recruits per class. Chief Robinson (Byram) heatedly objected to the purchase as he pointed out Jackson was trying to obtain radios for employees not yet hired when it rejected his request for the same reason (See 16:30 where he and Mr. Horton argue.). The council also approved a JPD request to purchase several high-end computers for $63,394.

Hinds County Emergency Operations Center Director Jimmy Lewis provided following budget information for the 911 funds (Clip 1):

1. Hinds County receives approximately $250,000 in 911 funds every month.
2. Hinds County spent $2.1 million last year in 911 funds and $2.3 million.
3. Hinds County spent $600,000 more than it received in 2011 and $280,000 more in 2010.
4. Hinds County spends $200,000-$300,000 per year for maintenance of the radio system.
5. Hinds County spends $400,000 on its annual phone bill.
6. Hinds County pays $780,000 every March.

Editorial comment: The fire chief from Byram was correct that the council approved a request from Jackson to purchase equipment for future employees but rejected his request because it was for future employees. One thing I noticed was that Chief Coleman was able to provide definite information on when the employees would be hired, how many there would be, and when their graduation dates were (21:15 in second clip). Chief Coleman said she did not have enough radios for the class graduating next month after Chief Gray raised the same point. The Byram Fire Chief was not able to provide information on how many he would hire, when they would start, if they went through an academy or were already trained. Several members told me after the meeting the lack of definite information was why Byram's request was rejected while Jackson's was approved.