Jackson Jambalaya

Hinds BOS just fired EOC Director jimmie Lewis and hired Ricky Moore to replace him.
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Ruth Ingram reports in yes, the Clarion-Ledger that Airwave may not be telling the whole story about the services it provides under its multi-million dollar contracts with Hinds County:

"Jackson-based company Airwave LLC maintains on almost a daily basis the city of Jackson's emergency radio communications system, an Airwave representative told Hinds County supervisors this week.>

But city officials say that's not so, and that the work is done by a city employee or Motorola, the manufacturer of the equipment that's under warranty through 2012...

City of Jackson spokesman Chris Mims said Airwave has not maintained the city's radios.

City employee "David (Pirman) is still dealing with the radios themselves owned by the city," Mims said. "He (Pirman) provides that maintenance and deals directly with Motorola on those. We're still under warranty with Motorola, so they provide maintenance."

Airwave representative Nathan Hargrove said Tuesday that he can't speak to any maintenance being done on radios by Jackson city employees - but that Airwave does service them. "I don't know that that's a contradiction," he said of Jackson employees repairing the city's radios.

"What I try to stay focused on is that we have an agreement in place for the repair of all the radios that Hinds County buys with 911 funds. The responsibility is ours," Hargrove said. "There are occasions where we repair equipment for the city of Jackson, like we do for everyone else." (Typical Hargrove-speak. Long on words, long on technical-sounding discussion but very short on actual applicable facts.). Article

Hmmm......... where have we heard this before? Nice get by Ms. Ingram. Probably a pattern as Cheryl Lasseter reported something similar WLBT a few months ago that was about Airwave but not the Jackson issue reported by Ms. Ingram:

WLBT News Director Dennis Smith, who is also an attorney, slams the Hinds County Board of Supervisors in this video:

Note: Watch the video. Start at 29:20 on Part 1. The debate gets rather lively. There is a nice exchange as well a few minutes before in Part 1 where Smith substitutes his motion for Fisher's. Synopsis of Airwave is available at the bottom of the post.

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to keep two contracts with Airwave LLC. District 4 Supervisor Phil Fisher moved to terminate the contracts and open the contracts up for bidding from other parties as he claimed doing so will save money. Hinds County paid Airwav $2.2. million since 2008 for three contracts (See synopsis below for the contracts). The contract for siren maintenance was terminated earlier this year.

Mr. Fisher said the both remaining contracts stated the contracts will automatically renew every year "on the start date". Mr. Fisher stated the anniversary date was in November to the Board would have to move to not renew the agreements this month. Mr. Fisher argued the county could save money if the contracts were opened for bidding. The contracts were awarded to Airwave as professional services contracts, which do not require the vendors go through the bidding process. Graham looked straight ahead and was silent during the entire discussion. Ironic since he is the one who made very motion to hire Airwave yet when the subject of Airwave came up, he strangely could not defend his earlier actions.

Board President George Smith told Mr. Fisher "in all fairness" he would allow Airwave and its attorney to speak to the board. Mr. Stowers was absent. Attorney Jamie Travis of Page, Kruger, & Holland and Nathan Hargrove of Northstar Wireless appeared in his place. Mr. Hargrove told the board "those agreements have saved the county money."

Mr. Travis then said "Mr. Stowers and Mr. Hargrove have been unfairly portrayed in the media." Mr. Travis claimed Motorola had the previous contract and Airwave saved the county over $300,000 and there were "no complaints". Mr. Travis argued the termination clause required the county to give Airwave a chance to cure all defects and problems.

Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun asked "where is Mr. Stowers?" Mr. Travis replied "I don't know" while Mr. Hargrove said "He's out working on the radio system" (after doing volunteer work at the Stewpot, of course.). Mr. Fisher said "I don't know why Northstar is up here as the two contracts I'm talking about is Airwave... I don't understand what their presence here is." Mr. Fisher then told Mr. Travis there had indeed been complaints and "I think you're not representing fully what has gone on the past three years with these contracts. The owner of Airwave did not show up at the meeting today, which is indicative of his attitude."

Mr. Travis flippantly replied "Is that it. Mr. Fisher, you and I will obviously agree to disagree." Travis then said Northstar is the service shop for Airwave (subcontractor) and Hargrove "did have standing to be here."

Mr. Fisher had none of it and said "I would suggest you go back and reread the minutes so that you can have your proper information." Travis shot back "I suggest you go back and read the contracts because these allegations and complaints and stuff have not been made available to my client."

Well, Mr. Travis, perhaps YOU should read the contracts. I had to listen to your repeated assertions and threats to sue the board yesterday if it terminated the contracts. Your main point of contention is the board can not terminate the contract without cause but it first has to make any complaints available to Airwave. Airwave then has to have the opportunity to address the problem.

Either Mr. Travis is a sloppy lawyer, which is entirely possible, or he is lying. Period. The contracts indeed state Hinds County has to give Airwave a chance to resolve any problems if the contract is terminated. The only problems is that clause is under the section dealing with default/termination on page 16, Section 10:

"If either party defaults in the performance of this Agreement, the other party will give to the non-performing party a written and detailed notice of default. The non-performing party will have thirty days therafter to provide a written plan to cure the default that is acceptable to the other party and begin implementing the cure plan immediately after plan approval. If the non-performing party fails to provide or implement the cure plan, then the injured party, in addition to any other rights available under the law, may immediately terminate this Agreement effective upon giving a written notice of termination to the defaulting party."

HOWEVER, on page 17, Section 14.6, in CAPITAL LETTERS RIGHT ABOVE THE SIGNATURES, the contract deals with renewal (Contract is posted below):

"THIS AGREEMENT WILL RENEW, FOR AN ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERM, ON EVERY ANNIVERSARY OF THE START DATE UNLESS EITHER THE COVER PAGE SPECIFICALLY STATES A TERMINATION DATE OR ONE PARTY NOTIFIES THE OTHER IN WRITING OF ITS INTENTION TO DISCONTINUE THE AGREEMENT NOT LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS OF THAT ANNIVERSARY DATE. At the Anniversary date, Airwave may adjust the price of the Services to reflect its current rates."

Looks like Mr. Travis was full of hot air and empty on facts as he completely misrepresented the contract to the board with his threats and his complaining about complaints. It also looks like the board was more interesting in helping their cronies make millions than in saving the county some money.

Synopsis of Airwave : Airwave is owned by Stacy Stowers. Airwave has been the subject of some controversy this year after WLBT, the Northside Sun, and this website reported on the cozy deals Airwave has with Hinds County. Airwave obtained the following contracts:

* Contract to maintain weather sirens even though the sirens are brand new and covered by a five-year warranty. JJ estimates the payments for the siren contracts are $149,194.

*Contract to maintain professional services for the emergency communications system.
The contract price is $122,000 per year to maintain six tower sites.

*Maintenance contract for the 800 Mhz radio system. $4 million contract for six years.
Year one: $374,860 ($93,715 per quarter), Year two: $521,885 ($130,463 per quarter), Year three: $736,918 ($184,229 per quarter), Year four: $770,035 ($192,508 per quarter), Year five: $804,908 ($201,227 per quarter), Year six: $845,153 ($211,288 per quarter)

Two of the contracts were awarded in 2008 even though Airwave LLC did not exist as a company until 2009.

Original post last night: I'll post my write-up in the morning but here is the video of today's Hinds County Board of Supervisors meeting. Supervisor Phil Fisher moved to open up Airwave's contracts with Hinds County for bidding next month when they are up for renewal. Supervisor Peggy Hobson-Calhoun seconded the motion. Robert Graham, Doug Anderson, and George Smith voted against opening up the contract for bidding. Fun starts at 29:20 on Part 1. Airwave's attorney had a few things to say in Part 2. Pour a drink and enjoy.

Hinds County Board of Supervisors had its regular meeting yesterday. Nothing exciting although for a few minutes District 4 Supervisor Phil Fisher claimed Hinds County still has not given Byram access to its radio system.

Byram purchased its Motorola radios several months ago after Hinds County tried to force Byram to purchase EF Johnson radios through its "consultant". Although Byram has access to the statewide radio system (MSWIN), it is unable to gain access to the Hinds system. Translation: They can't talk to Hinds County Sheriff's Office, Clinton PD, Terry PD, JPD, or even its own volunteer fire department.

Mr. Fisher produced emails from Hinds EOC Director Jimmie Lewis stating he was only doing what the Supervisors told him to do (See 15:56 in third video below. Notice how Mr. Graham turns away from the discussion.). The Supervisors previously took the position Byram had to allow Airwave to program its radios so they could access the Hinds radio system. Such reprogramming means Airwave has to take physical possession of the radios. The city takes the position the wireless commission can program the radios over the air to have access without the radios ever leaving Byram's possession. The commission and Motorola can issue a system key giving Byram limited access. Supervisor Hobson-Calhoun ended the discussion by asking why Byram couldn't follow the procedures of other cities in Hinds County, to which Mr. Fisher agreed.