Uh-oh, the city of Jackson wants to get back its water system. WLBT reported:
A national law firm will soon be assisting the city of Jackson in drawing up plans for the water and sewer system once the third-party manager leaves. On Tuesday, the Jackson City Council approved entering into a contract with Ice Miller, LLP to represent the city in efforts to modify the court orders governing water and sewer. The measure was approved on a 5-1 vote. Ward One Councilman Ashby Foote was the lone holdout. Last week, the council voted down the contract on a 3-3 vote. According to the contract Ice Miller will “assist in drafting and implementing modifications to any existing consent decrees or stipulated orders between the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Justice,” including future governance structures of the systems.... The contract will run through March 31, 2025, and is not to exceed $45,000, with the firm charging the city a blended rate of $580 an hour to cover all attorneys’ fees associated with the work. Article
The contract was rejected at an earlier meeting of the Jackson City Council. WLBT reported the Lumumba Administration justified the contract:
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba told Foote that the EPA and DOJ were the ones who approached the city to begin transition talks now, not the other way around.
“They are the ones who put us on the timeline, and [said] to us to escalate this process,” he said. “That is what our timeline is shaped by... the EPA and DOJ.”...
Martin backed up the mayor’s comments, telling council members that the orders governing the water and sewer systems are likely going to be amended next year, and the city needs to be involved in that process.
“We need to be as active and proactive as we can be in that process right now because we’re stuck with those orders once they’re entered,” he said. “I want this help. I think the city needs this help, and if we don’t have an active role in it, the government and the court will take that role away from us is my concern.” Article.
The same clowns who ran the water system into the ground naturally want it back. They can't handle libraries, crime, Thalia Mara Hall, or a water/sewer system but damned if they don't want to run everything while ruining everything.
The legislature needs to do Jackson residents a favor and pass a bill establishing a utility district for the city of Jackson that is not controlled by the Mayor. Too many Mayoral administrations have shown the political leadership of Jackson is not capable of operating a water system.
Unqualified public works directors are repeatedly hired, good employees are run off, sweetheart deals are given to incompetent contractors (right, Marika?), and the finances are horribly mismanaged.
These public thieves just want more to steal and that, my friends, is the bottom line.
Kingfish note: The Mayor said something about the EPA and Justice Department wanted to accelerate the return of the water system. Uh-huh. Well, Mr. Mayor, after January 20, it won't matter as your man Michael Regan will no longer be in charge and I don't think the new administration is going to be as friendly as to your goals.
26 comments:
I’m going to guess Virgi will piss off at least half her neighbors by not joining Foote on this.
Not this again! When is the trial for Lumumba anyway? It can't come soon enough.
Why are you slandering clowns by putting them in the same ilk as Lumumba? Clowns running the city right now would be an improvement.
Doesn't matter - The feds didn't drop a billion to bring this system back to life for it just to end up in the hands of the idiots that caused it. There are people that are steadfast working on another receivership and they are smarter than Lumumba's dumb ass. City of Jackson couldn't think their way out of a cardboard box.
I beg to differ on one point....the new administration is hell bent on cutting costs and they don't give a damn about Jackson, so the mayor might actually get what he wants.
Unqualified public works directors are repeatedly hired, good employees are run off, sweetheart deals are given to incompetent contractors (right, Marika?), and the finances are horribly mismanaged.
These public thieves just want more to steal and that, my friends, is the bottom line.
Sounds just like the airport starting in 2014.
This should have been an "Idiot of the day" post. Chokwe version.
Truly, you just can't make this up.
Ice Miller? That cant be serious!? Sounds like a Malt Liquor! Whats next? Blount, Tweed, and Kronik?
Mayor Lumumba is operating as if he will receive a pardon from Joe Biden. And that is likely the case. Joe is signing them as fast as the DNC can put them in front of him. He has 40 more days and has already signed more than 2000 pardons.
I'm sure the feds are thrilled to hand over water/sewer to a criminal.
Beginning of another conspiracy/fraud/bribery charge?
Y'all keep re-electing Virgi because she is sharp as a marble.
I thought this issue was water under the bridge.
da mare mus stop smokin dat dope.
None of the water sewer money can go into any city fund by law. It has to stay in a dedicated fund so why would the city want it? Several towns have already moved to companies to run their water system as weekly reports are required. If the audit was done you would see he used the water money in the city general fund which is against the law.
None of the water sewer money can go into any city fund by law. It has to stay in a dedicated fund so why would the city want it? Several towns have already moved to companies to run their water system as weekly reports are required. If the audit was done you would see he used the water money in the city general fund which is against the law.
Lamumbles - In the game of Jackson monopoly, you drew the "GO TO JAIL, DO NOT PASS GO" card.
Chuckweee has been drooling over that fed water money for a long time now.
I challenge Lumumba to produce the communications where the DOJ and EPA said those things. Surely they are in writing. It would behoove him to do so, if they are in fact true. Otherwise, everyone other than his minions are throwing the BS flag at this.
Legislator has tried TWO TIMES to pass a bill setting up a Utility to handle the water system. The handful of Hinds Co representatives had a hissy fit. Screw that. 2025, get the damn law passed.
Today's winner.
"Ice Miller is dedicated to helping our clients stay ahead in a changing world where creativity and innovation prove essential. A diverse team that considers challenges from different perspectives, abilities, and cultural references drives creativity, fuels innovation, and strengthens relationships. We are focused on building a diverse and inclusive workforce that leverages our differences to provide the best possible legal services to our clients."
So in other words, Chockwe wants to hire a law firm that talks like he does. I thought those kinds of empty buzzwords were just for the tech industry.
Doesn't the federal decree that put Jackson's water system in receivership require the interim manager (Ted Henifin) to recommend a future, permanent organization or authority to manage the city's water system? Why would DOJ & EPA be looking into that issue long before the interim manager makes his recommendation? I suspect the mayor is misrepresenting things once again, which is the only skill he has.
Shame on the city council to fund this grift.
Being against the law has never stopped anyone involved in Jackson.
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