Jackson Jambalaya

 Jackson Mayor John Horn issued the following statement. 

The City of Jackson previously announced the settlement of ongoing annexation litigation between the Cities of Jackson, Flowood, and Pearl. The annexation litigation does not involve control of the airport. It does not involve any other public body taking Jackson’s property or Jackson Municipal Airport Authority’s (JMAA) property. The annexation concerns the development of property surrounding the airport including property owned by the City and JMAA. Until this settlement, the City of Jackson never had authority to develop this property. 

The trial was unopposed by Flowood and Pearl. It is simply a necessary step to complete the settlement the City announced last fall. When all the steps are complete, Jackson will still own every inch of property that it owned before this litigation began. Pearl will annex property and will build the necessary infrastructure for development to occur. Flowood will annex some of the property, and it will be responsible for any needed municipal services there. Jackson will incorporate the majority of the property that is core to the airport and its operations.

Jackson, the airport, Pearl, and Flowood have all worked together to benefit each other to develop all of the property around, development that was not possible without this resolution. Land that has never been developed will be developed. It is important that our citizens understand that every inch of the land that will be developed is owned by the City or the airport. Jackson is not giving anyone any of the property it owns. 

“This agreement unlocks long‑underused land for economic development while protecting Jackson’s ownership of our airport. Jackson will benefit from tax revenue on developments built on the land the City is incorporating and it will benefit from direct payments from the developers on every piece of property that is developed,” said Mayor John Horhn. “Jackson residents should also know that the City is not letting anyone take control of the management of the airport. We will continue that fight.”

“This is a win-win for all,” said Rosa Beckett, JMAA Chief Executive Officer. “By delineating and assigning city limits for property in previously unincorporated areas, everyone benefits as commercial development continues to boom in this area. JMAA remains committed to supporting collaborate economic development.” 

A separate lawsuit, initiated by Jackson, its residents, and the airport seeks to prevent the State from implementing a law the Legislature passed ten years ago. That law would replace JMAA, the board which is appointed by the City to manage the airport, with a new entity. Jackson would only appoint two of the nine members of that new board. The City has been fighting that bill for ten years and will continue to do so.

Kingfish note: Cue up the Sisters of Rukia and Skyhook crowd to bleat like the trained seals they are the Mayor is selling out to white Republicans.