WHAT STATE LEADERS WANT TO DO WITH SUPERVISION… THE MAYOR WAS HEATED TODAY AT A CITY HALL NEWS CONFERENCE…CASTING ASIDE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROPOSED NEW JACKSON WATER BILLING SYSTEM. AND TAKING CENTER AIM AT STATE MEASURES TO TRY AND OVERSEE THE WATER SYSTEM…AND OTHER PARTS OF THE CAPITAL CITY. <JASON WATKINS/BUSINESS OWNER: UH IT MAKES ME REALLY NERVOUS.> BUSINESS OWNER JASON WATKINS STANDS IN FRONT OF THREE OF HIS FONDREN AREA BUSINESSES..UNSURE WHAT THE NEW PLAN COULD MEAN FOR BILLING JACKSON WATER CUSTOMERS…BASED ON PROPERTY VALUE VERSUS USAGE. <JASON WATKINS/BUSINESS OWNER: PERSONALLY I COULD BE ON A RESIDENTIAL BASIS DOUBLING MY BILL EVERY MONTH, AM NOT EXCITED ABOUT THAT. TWO, THERE IS NO REASON TO TURN OF YOUR WATER IF YOU HAVE LEAK..THERE IS NO ROOM FOR CONSERVATION. I KNOW WE WASTE A OT OF OF WATER AS IT IS IN THIS CITY..IO THINK AS A POLICY THAT IS KINDA DANGEROUS.> <MAYOR CHOKWE ANTAR LUMUMBA/JACKSON:AND THAT IS BECAUSE I HAVEN’T BEEN PRESENTED WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS, I AM CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO CONDEMN OR ENDORSE SOMETHING THAT I HAVEN’T SEEN.> THE JACKSON MAYOR ADMITS HE HASN’T SEEN THE IDEA OF A NEW BILLING SYSTEM FLOATED BY THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR TED HENIFIN. BUT THE MAYOR HAS SEEN A LITANY OF STATE PROPOSED MEASURES THAT WOULD PRESENT AN OVERSIGHT BOARD FOR JACKSON’S WATER SYSTEM. <MAYOR CHOKWE ANTAR LUMUMBA/JACKSON: AND SO WHY THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF STATEMENTS ABOUT SUPPOSED INCOMPETENCE ON THE CITY LEVEL ..THERE IS A REASON THE EPA HOPSCOTCHED THE STATE. THERE IS A REASON THE FEDS SAID WE WILL TAKE IT OVER …NOT YOU.> THE MAYOR SAID, DESPITE THE JACKSON WATER SYSTEM NEEDING FEDERAL TAKE OVER TO HANDLE OPERATION AND REPAIRS, THAT IT WAS HIS ADMINISTRATION THAT SECURED SOME 800- MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL MONEY TO FIX IT. LUMUMBA LASHED OUT A STATE LAWMAKER MEASURES SEEKING TO ALSO EXPAND THE CAPITAL POLICE FORCE, IT’S JURISDICTION AND APPOINT JUDGES AS OPPOSED TO ELECTING THEM IN THE CAPITAL CITY. <CHOKWE ANTAR LUMUMBA/JACKSON: SO TO BE ABLE TO DICTATE WHAT DECISIONS PEOPLE IN JACKSON HAVE ..IS NOT ONLY COLONLIASTS…BUT RACISTS AND IS PLANTATION POLITICS AT IT’S FINEST!> THE MAYOR SAYS RESIDENTS WILL HAVE THEIR CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THE JACKSON WATER CRISIS AND THE IDEAS ON HOW TO HANDLE BILLING GOING FORWARD…AT A TOWN HALL SET FOR WEDNESDAY A
Jackson mayor plans to name interim public works director
The city of Jackson is without a public works director, but the mayor said that will soon change.Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said he plans to name an interim director later this week. The last public works director was Marlin King, who was reassigned to a new position before resigning in September 2022.Jordan Hillman, former director of planning and development, stepped in as interim public works director after King stepped down. She currently serves as the chief operating officer of JXN Water.“Jordan is on loan from the city of Jackson where she most recently served as the interim director of public works,” according to the JXN Water website.
The city of Jackson is without a public works director, but the mayor said that will soon change.
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba said he plans to name an interim director later this week. The last public works director was Marlin King, who was reassigned to a new position before resigning in September 2022.
Jordan Hillman, former director of planning and development, stepped in as interim public works director after King stepped down. She currently serves as the chief operating officer of JXN Water.
“Jordan is on loan from the city of Jackson where she most recently served as the interim director of public works,” according to the JXN Water website.
