Watch out. The Jackson City Council is at it again. WLBT reported:
Members of the Jackson City Council appear as resolute as ever in their opposition to a proposed rate increase from JXN Water, citing a recent report detailing the utility’s ongoing billing issues filed in U.S. District Court. The report was submitted to Judge Henry Wingate on December 19 and released to the public the following week. Findings show JXN Water had more than 17,000 customers who were still not paying their bills as of November 2025, while another $74.4 million in uncollected revenue had been left on the table since the third-party manager assumed full control of the city’s billing system in October 2023. “It’s things like this that tell me the third-party administrator is not doing everything in his power to reduce his costs and make the whole payment system fair,” said Council Vice-President Vernon Hartley. “I just have a problem with that.” The report was compiled based on findings from consultant Michael Thomas. Thomas, a CPA, was brought on by the city to do a deep dive in Jackson’s finances. In November, the city asked Wingate if Thomas could also look into JXN Water’s finances and report back before he decided on a proposal from Interim Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin to raise rates. Henifin announced his plans to increase rates, effective December 15. Wingate blocked Henifin from doing so and gave Thomas until December 15 to review JXN Water’s books. Council President Brian Grizzell says his position has not changed since the council voted down Henifin’s proposed rate increase back in the spring. “JXN Water should focus on increasing collections. JXN Water should immediately implement a procurement process, one that actually is in line with what the state requires,” he said. “That way, we know we’re getting the best prices for services, rather than willy-nilly giving out contracts.” Rest of article.
The irony is so rich, a virtual gold mine of hypocrisy it is.
Jackson mismanaged its water/sewer system and these clowns did not say a word. Then-Councilman De'Keither Stamps tried to get the City Council to charge a minimum $50 per water/sewer bill until the billing problems were fixed but his idea failed. The City Council DID NOT SAY A WORD when Mayor Tony Yarber placed a two-year moratorium on cutoffs for people not paying their bills.
Grizzell and Hartley DID NOT SAY A WORD when Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba reinstated the moratorium for two years. Not a word. They had no problem with giving away water/sewer service to their constituents. They were fine with the city telling residents it was ok not to pay their bills. It would be interesting to know if any Council Members or local politicians are actually paying their water/sewer bills, right Fabian?
The same City Council whining Ted Henifin should increase collections is the same one that shrieks when Henifin starts cutting off water bills. The second JXN Water starts making people pay their bills, here come the elected town idiots crying to the media about it. The welfare mentality is strong on the Jackson City Council.
These Council members are only interested in one thing: taking back control of Jackson's water/sewer system so they can run it into the ground as they did before.
Mr. Thomas reported JXN Water customers living outside a 1-mile radius of Jackson are paying lower rates and do not pay the $40 activity fee. Mr. Henifin should apply to the Public Service Commission to raise those rates immediately.
51 comments:
Jackson deserves its current leadership idiots!!
Only thing missing is the political egg noodle Parkinson telling us that water and sewer service needs to be re-imagined.
I see that Ted's now advertising through JJ. Well done. Hope they've got the money for that.
The plan has always been for control without costs or consequences.
Jackson will NEVER get better with the current leadership! Jackson is COMPLETELY HOPELESS
If that's the case, where's my damn check then. I want my check. Just like I'm still waiting on my FEMA check from 2005.
Collect more.
New wave of cutoffs.
People are without water. Stop the cutoffs.
Revenues are insufficient.
Collect more.
New wave of cutoffs.
People are without water. Stop the cutoffs.
Revenues are insufficient.
Collect more.
New wave of cutoffs.
People are without water. Stop the cutoffs.
Revenues are insufficient.
[Meanwhile Judge Wingate has flunked the driving test and Johnny Horhn is convinced the Legislature will throw more good money after bad at this dysfunctional circle jerk if he can just produce more 'say nothing' studies.]
100% paying will not be enough to run
the water system.
Mr. Thomas has no experience in water
and sewer finances.
The judge is not suppose to decide if
Jxn Water gets a raise. It is Mr. Henifin
that decides. If his financial plan says
he needs a raise, he suppose to get the
raise. This city is interfering. They agreed to this.
Yet more reason for the State to yank Jackson’s charter and directly govern the city. The reality, given the demographics of the city, is that we will never get competent municipal government. Some entertainment occasionally, but not competence
I heard Ted went to the Psc and they would not agree.
The judge stopped the raise because the city complained. I don't know what
could be done, but Ted has the power
to raise rates. The city agreed.
About Mr. Thomas - - he is NOT a CPA.
It’s fascinating to see people fight for the right to vote and within a generation are using that hard won ability to literally vote to not have running water.
Hartley says he wants Henifin to "make the whole payment system fair". The best way to make it fair is for Jackson to return every penny of the $800 million given to them from the federal government and run their system through the rate base like everyone else.
If I added up the IQ of all of the council members, I would be lucky to hit double digits.
City agreed he didn't have to follow
procurement.
10:59 what experience does he have?
Neither does Jackson
Neither is Jackson
City leaders suck
@11:08 This is very true.
..."rather than willy-nilly giving out contracts..." That's rich. The council and mayor's office know all about giving out contracts willy-nilly. Right?
Jackson's nonpaying derelicts can collect and filter rainwater. Behavior of these freeloaders and the Council should be part of the evidence for NE Jxn to secede from the city.
You can't be fair, AND not cut off people who refuse to pay. You can't increase collections for the people who aren't paying, without having repercussions (cut offs) if you don't pay. It doesn't work like that. Want to really see a shit show, let the people actually paying get pissed and stop paying. These city council members are idiots and spineless. They need to let JXN Water cut off the mooches. They created this mess, but tie to hands of the person trying to fix it. If I were Henefin, I would chunk deuces and let it explode.
This is why Henifin was appointed as a third party. Jackson and its leaders have proven, over and over again, that it is not capable of finding a solution to its water issue. Now it seems they want to interfere with the federal court. It really is amazing to watch. It's like you talk someone down off the ledge, but they are determined to climb back up and jump.
Shout out to Sister R!
Clown world all over....."federal receivership" - like every other thing going on - are just empty words. No one's held accountable by anything or anyone today. This is how "gentle parenting" has brought America to its knees.
You can bet that the freeloaders pay their cell phone and electricity bills, or their services get cut off. This is the same pathetic mentality by multiple administrations to give free or discounted service In order to buy votes. Cut every last one of them off. This is what you get when you elect the slow learners to office.
@10:59 always amused when local media accept these claims as fact.
How many meters that were turned off for non-payment have been turned back on illegally?
It would be easy to correct all of the water problems in Jackson. Replace both sides with grown ups. Let the children find a new place to play.
The tug-of-war for control of the water system is an obsession for which the council needs counseling. How about a refocus on the rest of the stuff that they do have control over but still fail to perform?
"These Council members are only interested in one thing: taking back control of Jackson's water/sewer system so they can run it into the ground as they did before."
I'll say it. These council members and it even appears this Horhn admin is only interested in taking control so they can dole out big money to their local fly by night contractor buddies instead of Jacobs getting all those fat dollars. They can't stand that money is going to an expert contractor instead of their local buddies under the guise of equity.
12:09 a lock goes on the meter.
Jacobs is not going anywhere.
A new study, focus group, and balloon release would fix all of this.
12:13 pm is spot on. Nailed the problem square on the head.
Jackson City Counsel members and the new Mayor suck. Kingfish nailed it when he pointed out what has happened in the past and nobody seemed to have an issue. The Judge needs to wake the &^%$ up.
With all of this interference from the mayor and council, what capable and effective person will take the job of managing the water/sewer system AFTER Henifin does leave? Henifin is a damn saint for putting up with these morons. The manager that replaces Henifin will probably be another idiot like the ones they had running the stuff before Henifin. Bob Miller was easily the closest thing they had to a capable manager. I wouldn't give you a nickel for the rest of them.
I can agree, as long as the same mentality runs Jackson, expect more of the same.
Whenever you see a politician, let’s say John Smith (D) the D doesn’t stand for democrats, it stands for dumbass.
Every college should require studying the JacksonMs. Model of how not to run (and ruin) a city. I doubt if Hiroshima looked much worse after the atom bomb event.
In the wake of white flight that has ravaged Jackson over the past half century, the just and equitable course in the minds of 4/5 of the populace is this: until the City gets its water system on its feet again, if you’re white, you pay for water and sewer; if you’re anything else, sewer and water’s comped, on the house. No one says it, but it’s the conclusion of the logic of those who oppose a rate increase.
"JXN Water should immediately implement a procurement process" - Bryan Grizzell
And that's what the fight is really about: contracts. Who gets to hand them out, and who receives them.
That's the same back-scratching that destroyed the water system in the first place, when the Siemens contract dumped $100 million into the city.
I suspect Siemens could have defended the lawsuit, based on incompetent installation and implementation of the system. But they decided it was worth it to just throw in the towel and get the hell out of Jackson.
There hasn't been an appreciable white population of sufficient numbers to flee Jackson for the past 25 years. Only lazy ass race mongers continue to scream 'white flight'.
They're terrified they'll have to pay a bill. Imagine my shock.
11:12. Where do you get that City agreed he didn’t have to follow procurement??? Maybe the judge did BUT that doesn’t make it right!!!
Pay water bill? Are you serious? That's only for the white folk.
2:12 The city agreed Ted didn't have to
go by procurement. It's in the order that
brought Ted here.
Contracts are Ted decision.
The stipulated order, signed by all, says he doesn't have to bid.
Post a Comment