Ted Henifin is now the water and sewer Tsar of Jackson. U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate approved a stipulated order that places the management of Jackson's sewer system under Ted Henifin. Mr. Henifin is the manager of JXN Water. The Justice Department, EPA, and city of Jackson agreed to the stipulated order. Public interest in the matter was strong as the EPA received 666 public comments on the proposed stipulated order. The noise made by the Order of the Sisters of Rukia was just that, a bunch of noise as 95% of the comments approved of Mr. Henifin's management.
The public comment information as well as the comments were disclosed in the Justice Department's motion to enter into the stipulated order that was submitted Friday. The agency read the comments, tallied them all, and provided some color commentary as well in a response attached to the motion. Some excerpts of the response:The stipulated order and motion are posted below.After reviewing all of the public comments from approximately 666 commenters, the United States concluded that the comments did not disclose facts or considerations indicating that the Stipulated Order is inappropriate, improper or inadequate....
In addition, the United States disagrees that the temporary transfer of control of the Sewer System to a third party, subject to this Court’s oversight, is inappropriate under the current circumstances. The United States recognizes the extraordinary nature of placing a city function under the control of a third party and has agreed to do so only after many years of the City’s demonstrated failure to comply with the CWA, MWAPCL, and NPDES permits—resulting in public health risks and environmental degradation that affect citizens’ quality of life, cause economic losses, and contribute to distrust in their government.
Extraordinary circumstances warrant an extraordinary remedy. Under the City’s control (and presumably under the watch of the City’s elected officials), the Sewer System experienced violations under the CWA and MWAPCL, thus necessitating the Consent Decree in 2013. Despite the years afforded to the City to comply with the Consent Decree, it failed to do so and committed violations under the Consent Decree. The physical condition of the WCTS and the WWTPs continued to deteriorate, and the staffing necessary to operate and maintain the Sewer System and to respond to SSOs has fallen to inadequate levels. Indeed, the City has not mustered the financial, technical, and managerial resources to perform fundamental duties expected of a competent sewer system operator, such as quickly remedying active overflows of sewage from City sewer lines onto streets and yards....
The Stipulated Order was negotiated with the City and approved by the Mayor and City Council. By entering into this Order, the elected officials of the City have determined that the Order, including the role specified for the City, represents the best path forward for the Sewer System. (KF note:Who does the City represent? Why, the people of Jackson.) ...
Through June 30, 2023, 11% (over $2.5 million) of Mr. Henifin’s total contract spending as the Water ITPM has gone to minority- owned businesses. Id.; Henifin Decl. at ¶ 11. Excluding Jacobs—the contractor hired to operate the City’s water treatment plants only because no local firms had the required specialized expertise—over 18% of Mr. Henifin’s total contract spending has gone to minority-owned businesses.
JXN Water Manager Ted Henifin issued the following statement:
JXN Water continues the work to improve the water operations for the city of Jackson with new management of the sewer system. Immediately responding to federal court order, JXN Water will work over the next four years to address the wastewater engineering challenges, staffing and budget with a list of priority projects.
“Having raw sewage flow down the streets of Jackson is unacceptable. JXN Water is aggressively at work right now to fix sewer overflows and restore sanitary sewer operations,” said Ted Henifin, interim third-party manager for Jackson’s drinking water and sewer systems. “There are about 215 overflows right now across the city and they're in neighborhoods where people live close by… you got businesses, cars driving through, people trying to walk their dogs. They don't want to walk near this. It causes them to have to take alternate routes. It's just a mess, and we're going to get at it right away.”
A summary of the public comments for the sewer order showed the overwhelming support for the work of the ITPM, with 95 percent of comments expressing favorable sentiment.
19 comments:
In the words of Gandalf, “Hope is kindled.”
Victory over the Lumumba’s is a victory for the citizens of Jackson!
You can resist them!
Do not let them bamboozle you with word salads!
The Lumumba’s want to to be docile and compliant while they loot what’s left of the city’s coffers!
Shock-Way has lost his grip on Jackson's water and sewer system as well as the opportunity to grift contractors and water/sewer revenues.
He will, however, double- down on other sources of grift.
This mob at City Hall couldn't run a shoe store, much less a complex public works system. They don't have the skill set and refuse to hire qualified parties that do. Plus, they don't have the work ethic - I don't think anyone on the city payroll does a lick of work. Go into any city office and see what kind of service you get - everyone's just lolling around, playing solitaire on their computers, flirting, and fucking around.
215 overflows in the Lumumba's City With Soul is a lot of boo boo!
Geuss the mayor didn't think so tho.
In the years since I concluded that the Mayor is all hat but no cattle, I have called for the City of Jackson to be placed in receivership. Now I think that it may not be necessary since Mr. Henefin arrived and is in charge of two of the most poorly administered departments in Jackson. What's really encouraging for the long term is the huge biracial support for Henefin's efforts from the city at large. To quote my favorite line from an early '60s civil rights song, "Black and white together, we shall overcome."
Wonder if the Poor People's campaign, i.e. Rukia, will move to intervene for a say in the management of the wastewater system too. This is a matter of utmost importance to the citizens of Jackson, to prevent the overflow of sewage into the streets and prevent a horrible health hazard. (Of course that's a rhetorical question. They won't as there's no money in the sewar system for them to grift off of.) But if they're so concerned about the management of the water treatment system as they claim, they should be as equally concerned about the wastewater system too.)
Now do the solid waste collection contract followed by the airport.
Great progress. Now, how about holding those accountable for the millions of gallons of raw sewage dumped into the Pearl River? Has an environmental impact study been done? No one in the private sector would get a pass for something like that -- why does the CoJ?
Henifin is competent, but he is infected with the woke mind virus. Let's hope the pressure campaign by the corrupt Lumumbas and Ted's liberal leanings don't cloud his judgment when it comes to hiring a the best and most competent contractor for the sewer repairs instead of only choosing a local, minority owned "contractor" like the Lumumbas would seemingly do almost anything to have awarded such a contract.
There’s sewage under the abandoned house across the street from me. This is getting old.
12:47, I understand your concern because we saw that liberal agenda when he tried to change the water billing to be based upon the tax assessment of your home. Hopefully, the legislature stopped that with the bill that was passed.
I am glad the sewer is under his control. That means it will be addressed and fixed. He and the people at JXN Water have done a great job. I am thrilled that all of this is under Judge Wingate.
I am looking for a cost increase in the bill. That's understandable. I do NOT want it based on house-worth, rather based upon usage. I am hopeful that the missing 7,000 water users will be brought into the billing system soon.
Bless his heart.
Can we get Henifin to take over the repaving of Jackson's streets?
So, several private companies have been found guilty of pollution. But they are no way near what the Marxist city of Jackson has done. Our Pearl River has a no contact order since 2013. Our Gulf Seafood industry is severely damaged along with the cities and towns in Mississippi and Louisiana who get their water are affected and not one thing has been done to bring the current administration or the ones before it to Justice. As I said, if you’re a private firm you are prosecuted to the fullest but if you’re of a certain skin persuasion you get a pass.
I’ve performed work in Jackson recently and I never in my life would have thought that we would be driving through sewer eruptions and severe water leaks that cause damage to roads and property. This has gone on for far too long and someone needs to pay and not with money but with time behind bars. If you have a chance to drive through Jackson and what “was” Jackson you would understand what I’m talking about.
Boo boo czar?
I am one of those who commented to support Mr. Heflin. Computer access and access to the poorly written instructions of how to comment was necessary. I suppose lawyers rely on their ITs who aren't particularly skilled in non-geek language skills. The presidents of various homeowner associations were likely the common source of information and translation. I missed any instructional notifications posted on this site or in the local newspapers if they appeared as I was travelling.
Simply put, the city of Jackson has not had the funds to manage the city's infrastructure. What is unseen is not noticed so ignored by those who look only to their own reelection. The city cannot pay the salaries for the expertise or skills needed. They cannot afford the tools and equipment needed. And, the legislature is not supportive of its capitol except in and around the area owned by the State. Nor, despite the fact the State is dependent on federal funds to survive, Mississippi's have the delusional thinking thinking that federal funds are unnecessary despite the obvious fact that oh, Biloxi and areas demolished by weather would still be wastelands and we'd all be relying on septic tanks and wells still.
What you are missing is that many of us who supported Mr. Heflin, blame both the mayor, the city council, the governor and legislature. We DO understand that a working system is a significant funding resource for a city. We understand it hurts the city to lose those funds. We do understand this fiasco has always been about money and power and not civic duty of any of those we elected. We know there are some trying but who are stymied, and we've seen them become so frustrated, they give up and leave public service.
We want the best available solution to problems with the least amount of political gamesmanship. We want to "invest" in growing Mississippi's economy, not making politicians rich. Yet, no one notices their elected officials quickly living far above their prior economics status in ways not available giving their declared income statements.
That some of you want to see Mr. Heflin as the GOP's answer seem to overlook that without the feds getting involved and Benny Thompson delivering funds, we'd still be screwed. You may not like thanking Biden either, but at least he doesn't punish those who don't support him.
Some of you can see the mayor being petulant but ignored the governor's petulance.
Frankly, both political parties have lost sight of their mission. That's on us for being caught up in their game.
This site did not post any "instructional notifications"? Oh really?
Try reading this site.
The reason why the city had no money is its own fault. Harvey blew up the billing system, Tony and Chokwe crippled the revenue with moratoriums on cutoffs. That is why there was no money and what should be a money maker was losing nearly $20 million a year.
Even the National Water Alliance said everywhere such moratoriums took place such as Cincinnati, unpaid bills skyrocketed.
October 3, 2023 at 8:44 AM
>And, the legislature is not supportive of its capitol except in and around the area owned by the State.
Nor should they be. The State is responsible for State property and the city is responsible for everything else in the city limits.
>What you are missing is that many of us who supported Mr. Heflin, blame both the mayor, the city council, the governor and legislature.
So you blamed two that absolutely deserve it and two who don't. Why is the governor and legislature responsible for bills unpaid by the city? I always hear blame but no reasons.
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