Jackson Jambalaya

A little late, but here is the video from the July 11 meeting of the Levee Board (the Rankin Hinds Flood and Drainage Control District). It's a short video and most of the discussion is spent on property taxes (the Levee Board taxes a small area).



The Levee Board also received copies of its annual audit (posted below). The audit states the district's net assets are $591,698, and it received $693,199 in revenue for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. Total assets are $2,497,528. However, the District suffered a loss of $29,965 for the year after expenses were deducted from income. The District spent $745,892 on flood control. Page 15 lists expenses. $63,468 was spent on legal fees (Watkins Ludlam represents the District) and $134,904 on salaries. The District also spent $68,710 on engineering fees and another $223,716 on the Lefleur Lakes Project.



Earlier post on Levee Board agreement with Pearl River Vision Foundation.

Update: Here is a Copy of a letter McGowan sent to the Levee Board concerning the possible dredging of the Pearl River in Jackson. It is mentioned at the end of the original post.

Levee Board meetings used to be well, Levee Board meetings. Boring. Laid back. Adopt a few reports, make a few recommendations, vote on a few motions and resolutions, adjourn, and go home. Nice. Quiet. Such is not the case anymore as sparks flew yesterday at the monthly meeting of the Rankin-Hinds Levee Board as Flowood Mayor Gary Rhodes repeatedly attacked fellow board member, Leland Speed.

The meeting started off simple enough. A full quorum was present: Flowood Mayor Gary Rhodes, Pearl Mayor Brad Rogers, Richland Mayor Mark Scarborough, Hinds County Representative Socrates Garrett, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Board Attorney Trudy Allen of Watkins Ludlam, Chairman Billy Orr, and Fairgrounds Representative Leland Speed. The scene was an interesting contrast as on one side of the board were the gentlemen from Jackson were all dressed impeccably in nice suits while the Rankin members wore sleeveless sweaters, button down shirts, pullovers, and rain jackets or whatever those members-only clones are now called. .pdf of members and terms

The audience contained a diversity of interested individuals: Joe Waggoner of Mississippi Engineering Group, Dallas Quinn and several other members of the McGowan/Two Lakes Clan, WLBT, Clarion-Ledger, Jackson Free Press, local attorney Sam Begley, Kenny Samples of Pickering Engineering, Flowood Public Works Director Gary Miller, Lee Ann Mayo of Capital Resources (She identified herself as the Public Information Officer for the Board), and Barry Royals of Waggoner Engineering.

Barry Royals presented the board with a draft of an Executive Summary of Lefleur Lakes economic impact study and said the final version will be submitted next week. The Treasurer gave her report and then Trudy Allen gave a briefing on the board about current bills in the legislature. Ms. Allen stated there are three bills alive in the House: HB #918 (Eminent domain guidelines, bill status), HB #1548 (Study of flood control districts, bill status), and the soon to be infamous HB #1549 (bill status).

I write infamous because Ms. Allen's presentation of this bill created a firestorm on the board. The bill gives the Governor and Lieutenant Governor the authority to appoint four additional members to the board as well as giving Hinds County an additional representative on the board as well. The mere thought of the State and Hinds County placing five more members on the board gave the Rankin members a conniption although it must be pointed out Mayor Johnson, even though he opposed the bill, was a bit more calm in his demeanor. Scarborough first raised the issue of Hinds County having an additional member and made it clear he was opposed to such an idea. Rhodes then asked if it was an election year as it made little sense why such a bill would be introduced in an off-year. He then asked if anyone on the board sponsored the legislation. Rhodes asked Speed if he was behind it.

Speed shot back he wasn't but that he thought it was a good idea. Speed called the proposed flood control projects "the single largest economic development affecting the state of Mississippi." Speed further argued since the board will be asking the state for help with financing the project (JJ has heard estimates ranging up to $70 million in state aid), the board would be better off including state participation now if were to seek state funding later.

Johnson opposed the measure, saying there was no need for state involvement at this time. Johnson further argued the bill "was giving undue influence (the proposed appointments) to what is ultimately a local issue." Johnson said the state "should not appoint anyone until the state actually does finance it."

Rhodes also indicated he didn't think the state should be involved unless it was actually providing money. Scarborough chimed in and said Rankin County pays 85% of the current costs of the levees and was clearly opposed to Hinds having one more member than Rankin. It should be pointed out that if municipalities are included, Rankin has a 4-2 edge over Hinds (excluding the Governor's appointment). The additional Hinds appointment will narrow the difference it to a 4-3 Rankin edge.

The board then voted to send a letter to Governor Barbour stating its opposition to the bill. Speed cast the sole dissenting vote and Garrett abstained. However, this skirmish was the prelim for the main event.

Flowood Mayor Gary Rhodes then waved a copy of the Jackson Free Press "All About Water" issue and accused Speed of unethical behavior. Rhodes said "Mr. Speed, I think that you’re in the middle of an ethics violation sitting on this board and making decisions that could have personal gain for you in the future" Rhodes made hay of the fact Speed owns a "sliver of land" by the Pearl River (This story in the JFP provides more details on Speed's property). The argument is captured in the video above and is worth watching.

What is ironic is Mr. Rhodes ignored the fact that the law actually requires board members to own property in the district (Oh the irony: You better own some land in the district but don't own land that is too close to the river.). Mr. Speed didn't back down one bit as he immediately said it was a worthless piece of property that he was going to donate to the appropriate government agency in a public manner when the final plan was implemented. Rhodes had none of it as he told Speed he needed to step down from the board. Speed reiterated he would donate the land "publicly" and would "talk to Mr. (Tom) Hood about it today."

After Mr. Rhodes' little spat with Mr. Speed was over, Mr. Garrett then inquired if information was being kept from him and wondered aloud if there was a bloc of members were making decisions for the board.

Speed asked about a proposal submitted by McGowan to the board to dredge and clear out vegetation between the levees. Joe Waggoner chimed in and said permits from various government agencies would be required. Miller said removing the stumps is what would likely require permits. The board agreed to investigate the idea and seemed inclined to follow the course that would not require permits. The proposal will be posted on this website if obtained.