Saturday, October 14, 2023

Doing Nothing and Fixing Nothing

"The city of Jackson has failed absolutely and completely in its operation of the water and sewer system."  So said Jackson resident Pete Perry in his public comment submitted to the EPA. 

The EPA asked for public comments on whether Jackson's water receiver, Ted Henifin, should take over the city's sewer system.  JJ is digging through 721 pages of comments and posting the more notable ones. The Kingfish posted former Mayor Harvey Johnson's comment opposing Mr. Henifin a few days ago.  Turnabout is fair play so today JJ is publishing Mr. Perry's comment.  Enjoy.  

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you Pete- what a solid overview of the situation!
The City is and has been incompetent for years e.g. a $59 million surplus wasted because the administration stops collecting water and sewer bills- unbelievable.
Harvey is and was a grifter and incompetent and all that followed him- I didn't think they could get worse than Harvey until Lil' Chock a Lock came along.
An audit of all funds spent with lawyers, consultants, engineers ,etc is long past due.
Stand Strong Pete- you are needed.

Anonymous said...

Pete Perry has more insight, professional competence & personal interest as a citizen of Jackson in working towards solutions of the infrastructure of Jackson than any of the elected officials representing Jackson. Nor is Mr. Perry swayed or intimidated by those that have created the water/sewer/road problems and are now plotting to gain some control over the funding provided by congress to fix the problems caused by long term mismanagement. I wish Mr. Perry, Judge Wingate & Mr. Henifin good health and patience in their task.

Anonymous said...

now if only Pete could spell correctly

Anonymous said...

You hear that Speaker, Lt. Governor, and Governor? Look at the financial mismanagement! Pass the damn bill while it’s a hot topic to transfer the water and sewer from the City of Jackson to a newly created regional authority once the Ted’s time is up. Get it done in the next damn session.

Anonymous said...

Nice-

Anonymous said...

Great email. I didn’t know the details but everyone knew the conclusion: the mayor and his advisers are incompetent.

Anonymous said...

1:18 - "always with the negative vibes". But if I read your comment correctly Pete is the only one that you wish could spell correctly.

Anonymous said...

1:18 - so if I read your comment correctly, you wish that Pete would be the only person who could spell correctly?

Anonymous said...

@1:18, correct spelling is not the important issue at the moment. Mr Perry is a Civil Engineer and his knowledge about his profession is very much needed at this point. You may not see that as worthy but, at the moment let’s just overlook a few misspellings and let’s work on the “competent” people giving legitimate suggestions and advice. We need that right now, not someone discussing grammar. Pot holes, sewer eruptions and a broken water distribution system don’t know the difference.

Pete Perry said...

KF - appreciate the compliments; not sure the post is worthy but that's your call. Next time I will make sure that I prepare my comments early enough to leave time to proofread them before submission!

Yes, I did this at the last minute (submissions had to be submitted prior to midnight the day I wrote this) and I think I hit send at the midnight deadliine. Sorry for the typos and spelling errors, folks, and in several places I could have done better with my syntax as well. My intent was to poiont out the failings of the City in managing both the water and the sewer operations over the past several years and the stupid political moves made in continuing a moritorium on cutoffs that bankrupt an enterprise that properly run should provide a surplus - just as it had done for the previous decade allowing the buildup of the required reserves.

Let me now go proofread this comment and make sure I correct any typos before I go hit the send button.

Anonymous said...

"Let me now go proofread this comment and make sure I correct any typos before I go hit the send button."

Start with "moritorium" ;-)

Seriously - thanks for addressing this embarrassing travesty.

Anonymous said...

YO!! Spelling and Grammar Nazi, you never fail to show up and try to make someone look bad. It must be a pitiful existence to know that your only viable contribution to JJ and this thread is spelling and grammar.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Mr. Perry. Excellent points in your submission. Nothing better than the facts. And you nailed it.

"When the commission began to develop its Master Plan, the City of Jackson recommended to the commission that it not include water or sewer projects in its funding priorities, as water and sewer had its own funding sources available ( the income of the water sewer enterprise fund (WSEF) which at that time had a reserve balance of $59 million (+/-) balance and the roads/bridges/drainage issues had no outside funding.The Commission included water and sewer projects in its Master Plan, but with the lowest priority,based on the City’s recommendation. But, by the fall of 2018, the City came to the Commission asking for a “loan” from the STC funds of $7 million to the WSEF because the reserve balance had been reduced to approximately $1 million and was out of compliance of its bond covenents.The reason behind this depletion of the reserve fund was obvious but was outlined to the Commissioners – the City, in the fall of 2016, had instituted a moratorium on water service cutoffs for failure to pay one’s water bill. This action by the city of Jackson resulted in at that time almost 29,000 of its 55,000 customers not paying their water --- or their sewer --- or their garbage collection, bill. This reduction of income to the WSEF from their normal $50 plus million a year to less than $20 million a year caused the utility to both deplete the reserve funds required to be maintained but also brought to a screetching halt routine maintenance, staffing, and supplying of the water operations and the sewer operation"

Anonymous said...

"Nothing from nothing leaves nothing."


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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