Jackson’s third-party water manager is sitting on nearly $6 million in unpaid invoices and is unsure when they will be paid, due to a recent policy change with the EPA.
On Tuesday, Interim Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin appeared before U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate, where he discussed a recent change in how the agency is distributing millions of dollars in grant funds designed to fix Jackson’s water system.
“I’m sitting on invoices that should have been paid weeks ago,” he said. “I’m a little concerned about letting people do work without knowing I’ve got the money to pay them.”...
At the heart of the matter is how quickly Henifin can access $115 million in federal grant money awarded to the city under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The grant was part of a nearly $800 million funding package approved by Congress back in 2022 and comes through an assistance program designed to help utilities respond to and alleviate emergencies impacting public water systems.
Initially, Henifin was able to draw down on the funds through an online portal. However, EPA is now requiring him to submit invoices to Washington, D.C. for review, slowing down the time it takes to pay contractors.
Henifin says he can’t pay workers without the funds, because JXN Water doesn’t have reserves, and won’t be bringing in enough in water and sewer collections to do so for at least another year and a half.
Meanwhile, he’s concerned about how the new policy will impact smaller companies, many of which rely on weekly payments to keep their business afloat.
“One contractor bills me weekly because he needs the cash flow to pay employees,” he said.
He also is worried the EPA policy could impact his ability to bring on contractors in the future.
He told Wingate it took two weeks for EPA officials to approve a $2.5 million payment for Jacobs Solutions, the firm brought on to manage Jackson’s two water treatment plants.
“They aren’t saying they’re not going to give us the rest of the $150 million, but the way they’re doing it is very challenging,” he said.
Henifin says he’s been able to rebuild that trust with contractors, in part, because of his ability to quickly pay them for their work.
“By December, I went through $44 million, and asked for additional funding as I saw that wrap up,” he said. “I sounded the alarm in November when we were down to $5 million. They added $15 million to get to the end of the year. Then, I sounded the alarm again, and EPA switched to the reimbursement program.”
Henifin has since asked for another $10 million in grant funds, but the agency has yet to provide the money.
“You called a status conference weeks ago related to this issue,” he said. “We agreed to delay the status conference on the good word that they would fix this, and it hasn’t been done.”
Henifin said the EPA was likely concerned because Henifin had spent nearly $60 million in grant funds through December, about $16 million more than he initially estimated last spring.
“A compliance team visited in November. They were concerned about tying individual drawdowns to individual invoices. Since then, we’ve been recording individual invoices against each draw we make against the grant,” he said. “If that was the only issue, we’ve course corrected, so we have that information for future audits.” Rest of article
Thursday, February 29, 2024
EPA Screws JXN Water Contractors
The EPA changes how it is paying JXN Water's contractors and that change is causing problems. WLBT reported:
The backstory is several "community" groups have been agitating the EPA to micromanage JXN Water. The EPA sent a team of seven auditors to JXN Water in November to conduct a three day audit. JXN Water passed. Next up, decided to change the payment policy. However, Judge Wingate told the EPA at the hearing it would have to submit such policy changes to his court for approval.
The EPA has provided the $10 million mentioned in the article.
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44 comments:
Ted ain't so liberal now.
Does this surprise anyone? I was taught at a young age, don’t spend it if you don’t have it. The town is bleeding money and the few people paying the city taxes are moving to Madison and Rankin counties.
One only needs to do a thirty second research into the political ideology(crazy leftist DEI hire) of the EPA administrator to understand why this is being done.
"Ted ain't so liberal now." Well, that did make me giggle.
@ 10:00 AM, re-read the article. This has nothing to do with what you are talking about. EPA changed their rules and about disbursing funds that have already been dedicated to this project.
If Mr. Henifin reads this blog, understand this: We Jacksonians understand your frustration. This is the world we've been living in for a while. Doesn't matter what is legal, what is right, what should/should not be done. Some jackass(es) will get in the way and screw up everything. Now you may understand what its like to live in Jackson under the current Mayor. Hate this happened to you, incredibly frustrating, but I know you and Judge Wingate will prevail. And I wouldn't be surprised if the current Mayor/sister went whining to the EPA and triggered this.
Just my 2 cents.
Two weeks is fast turn around on the invoices.
They literally can't get out of their own f'ing way unless their palms are getting greased. Jackson people of color, this has sabotage by the Lumumba regime written all over it. He is not allowing them to fix your water because they can't pass out the money to their friends and still not get the work done. They are the same ones that were sabotaging the water by running around opening up hydrants to drop the pressure in other areas. How can y'all stand up and stop this madness.
If they would cut off water for non-payment, they may have more money to pay bills.
Guess what - everywhere else you are past due a cutoff comes.
Don’t feel sorry for them.
IF Chokwe's minions complained to the EPA AND those complaints caused problems for Mr Henefin who was not hired by Chokwe's minions then I am Shockwe'd!
I just knew that Chowke et al were meddling behind the scenes in an effort to make JXN Water look bad and/or fail.
It's Biden's EPA, but Obama is pulling all of the strings.
This is clearly sabotage by the Lumumba camp. It blows my mind how many levers of power these race hustlers have been able to get their hands on.
Wingate is the right man, in the right place, at the right time. Without him, Jackson would be the Republic of New Afrika.
Now, about that EPA complaint filed by Kristen Clarke . . .
How has all these million of dollars been spent ; on what ?
@11:34, a great many issues with the water was corrected with the funds used. I have noticed the contractors have worked very efficiently and actually more economically than the City Public Works Department could.
How has all these million of dollars been spent ; on what ?
This federal money has not been spent on the Jackson-Kush Plan.
Got a problem with that? While you are able to drink the water and flush your toilets again?
@11:34 AM, Seriously?
its all categorized, invoice matched to payment, properly handled and audited. Please go to their website, https://jxnwater.com. They do more reporting than any organization in Mississippi.
Two things Judge Wingate will not tolerate is someone trying to pull a fast one on him and trying to undermine his authority.
Don't think for one second he hasn't connected the dots between the strategic opening of fire hydrants, the social media campaign to crash the water system during the last ice storm, and this effort to sabotage JXN Water's contractor relationships.
I look forward to the day he finally drops the hammer on all this BS. I do believe it's coming. The interested parties are simply too arrogant to not give him all the rope he needs to hang them with it.
Is anyone investigating or reporting on your backstory? Only sociopathic demons would do what you described there. I’m not questioning your sources or assumptions but if there is a way to prove, with names and documentation and third party sources, that those groups are sabotaging our one and only chance to get the water/sewer systems fixed by convincing EPA to slow down reimbursements and alienate the good contractors, exposing them would be Pulitzer worthy journalism for the real people of Jackson.
Wonder if ol’ Ted and his D.C. left wing ilk still stink we’re just a bunch of racists down here holding Jackson down and withholding support from their city leaders???
It figures that the Lumumba twins are pulling strings and colluding with EPA to undermine JXN Water and bring it crashing down for being so successful at correcting the City’s screwups without greasing the usual palms. I hope Wingate is able to step in somehow and run interference but even he probably can’t force a federal agency to amend its policies.
The Lumumbas are doing everything they can to destroy what few positives the poor citizens of Jackson have left. I have never seen people so greedy, so self absorbed, so petty, and so completely devoid of any care for others.
Rukia and Little Lord Chowkie should be driven out of Mississippi forever. Or put in prison -- where they belong.
Gang wars
Pulitzers come cheap.
The mayor is social friends with the EPA administrator over this region. Connect the remaining dot
1:37 I know for a fact it is happening as spelled out. I am also not KF's source of this information and I bet we don't have the same two sources, but it is happening. Multiple different people over these threads have made comments about the sabotage and opening hydrants to drop pressure. Where there is smoke, there is fire, but these dumbasses would rather destroy their own homes and not have the water to put it out to prove a point. Yes, they are sociopathic demons.
February 29, 2024 at 1:42 PM, I believe ole Ted has seen the light.
Chock the Grifter will still win by 68% in 2026.
Sorry but EPA needs to follow the money!!! That’s our taxpayer dollars paying for this fix! Any other entity getting grant funds would have to show proof that the money has been spent. And whatever he turns in they will pay even though he’s not required to follow federal or state procurement for contractors or engineers.
Czar? Guru? I think not! Another year and a half to get billing system fixed! That $150M will be long gone!
Chock the Grifter will still win by 68% in 2026.
Mindless troll can't even get the salient election year correct.
They want him to hire minority contractors and the EPA holds invoices. Don't they understand most folks need to be paid immediately? They cannot foot payroll for months.
Ted is being called to account for his overspending.
He should have been in contact with the Feds to explain, but he is arrogant.
Humility and an invite to EPA will go a long way.
It was at my request that there be receipts for every purchase to curtail abuse from the Soros backed left.
I applaud this decision and I hope there is more accountability for Lazy Lynn Fits, Amazing Tater, and we need to rid the party of people like lying Phil Billy. Losers get caught. It’s time to take our Country backwards.
@7:46 pm "...not required to follow federal or state procurement for contractors or engineers." So what you're saying is what 11:01 PM called out....minority contractors. Hey, here's an idea. How about we dont give a crap what color your skin is, and lets hire the most competent folks to do the job. Or did your friends not get enough money?
@11:50 PM....nice try Lumumba family member.
@8:45 AM....what thread are you on? Fitch, Reeves, Bryant? This is the Jxn Water thread.
@9:35 AM. The vast majority of the work is going to non-minority contractors and engineers with the bulk of the money going to national firms. No one is saying he is not using competent folks but my whole point was it is your and my money he is spending!
I'm so tired of this crap!
Those of you who could prove you are at least as white as the Windsor's ignore that none of the measures taken in other states to make corruption difficult exist here.
It's all in how you structure government so as to include oversight and verification.
And, despite the evidence of white corruption in GOP state government, you seem to assume DEM are really corrupt.
Yes, no matter the party or skin color, there are corrupt humans. There are incompetent humans.
Instead of taking sides, why don't you bother to learn what organizational policies/rules or laws could make corruption nearly impossible and easily proven?
@10:05 AM. It is federal dollars he is spending, not "our" money. This was put in place by Feds and, by the grace of God, in Judge Wingate's court. The only reason anything has been accomplished at all is because it was NOT done by some of the locals who have depleted all the funds and ruined the water/sewer system. You said "...going to non-minority contractors..." again. Again, your statement is based on color of skin which has absolutely nothing to do with competence.
Just as a reminder....
Jackson’s Water System - Financial Management Plan
This Financial Management Plan (the “Plan”) for the City of Jackson Mississippi’s (“the City”) Water System (“the System”) has been developed in accordance with paragraph 6.p. of the Interim Stipulated Order (“the Order”) entered on November 29, 2022, in case 3:22-cv-00686-HTW-LGI, the United States of America v. the City of Jackson, Mississippi. The Order appoints an Interim Third-Party Manager (ITPM)
of the Water System and Water/Sewer Business Administration Division of the City of Jackson to stabilize the System and build confidence in the System’s ability to supply reliable and safe drinking water to customers.
The Order requires the Plan to include short-term, mid-term, and long-term funding needs; identify possible sources for those needs; opportunities for debt-restructuring; suggested rate structure changes, including the mechanism for assessing customers for water and sewage uses; and alternative governance options.
The Sewer Order was entered at the end of the City’s fiscal year, September 30, 2023. In accordance with the Sewer Order, billing and collection of all funds generated through the operation of the System have been assumed by JXN Water (rather than the City) beginning October 1, 2023. Similarly, all indebtedness and related responsibilities were transferred to JXN Water as of October 1, 2023. JXN Water has elected for its fiscal year to end on December 31. As such, JXN Water’s first fiscal year will include three months (October – December 2023) and the first full fiscal year will end December 31, 2024.
The Plan has been prepared by the ITPM, in consultation with PFM Financial Advisors LLC ("PFM"), one of the largest financial advisory firms in the nation, and Stantec Consulting Services Inc., with engineering and rate consulting expertise in the water and sewer industry.
A sliver of silver in the dark cloud of evil cast on Jackson by Lil Choke with help from Bennie T, is Ted Hennifin could be forced to expedite water cut-offs to generate blood from the fake turnips out there using water for nothin.
Ted needs to realize that Jackson deadbeats all have smart phones, take-out food and extra TV services they find money to pay for, even as they expect Northeast Jackson and the Federal Treasury to pay their water bills.
@10:41. Ted, I didn't know you read this blog! And comment too!
"And, despite the evidence of white corruption in GOP state government, you seem to assume DEM are really corrupt."
You do know a lot of those white folks have either plead guilty, or are currently facing charges, right?
And we're anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop on Phil Bryant.
@12:44 PM hahaha. I wish he read the blog. Just tired of that kind of junk. And what was pasted about the plan is from Jxn Water website.
@4:10. JXN Water website! Obviously more truth on there than in the Bible!!!
Different subject but since you and Ted know everything, please explain how he can say the majority of 26 MGD out of 42 MGD daily plant flow is ending up in the sewer system??? He told judge this so it must be true. He can’t get bills to customers but he knows how much is going through the meters? I call BS.
Mr Tex has done Jacksonians a huge favor for getting your Water back flowing. I suggest you pay attention to him & Not your Mayor-
@6:36 It is called science. He has explained how the composition of the sewer is diluted with clean water. Duh. Let the man do his job, he knows what he is talking about!
The twins have their minions doing their dirty work. Just this week they opened a fire hydrant on Susannah Srive in Raymond which is close to Springridge Road and they thought it was serviced by COJ. They were wrong. It was serviced by another water supplier out of Terry. Let me expand on this. Jackson bought many many miles of water lines in Hinds county and they absolutely cannot take care of it. It was a money grab. The fact is these criminals were not given the map of what Jackson owned and what South Central Water Association owns which is based in Raymond. These individuals need to be prosecuted. I belong to the South Central service area and was affected. They came to my home last night. Why? Because they are a functional provider and professional, that’s why and wanted to make sure we had adequate pressure. Let me say this, if any of us find anyone doing this our face be the last thing they look at. Period.
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