Byram pushes back against water authority bill; wants greater say on governing board
BYRAM, Miss. (WLBT) — Byram leaders are pushing back on a controversial bill that could limit their representation on a proposed authority board that would impact an estimated 10,000 water customers in their city.
Last week, the House approved H.B. 1677, the Metro Jackson Water Authority Act.
[READ: Water authority bill clears the House; City to have say in majority of board appointments]
The bill calls for the creation of a nine-member authority to take over Jackson’s water and sewer systems once the interim third-party manager leaves.
The board would include just one representative from the city of Byram. That member would be nominated by the mayor of Byram but confirmed by the Jackson City Council.
Ward Five Alderwoman Roschelle Gibson spoke out against certain provisions of the legislation at a public hearing on Monday.
And on Tuesday, Mayor Richard White also voiced his opposition to the bill, saying he’s already met with lawmakers to discuss it.
“If I appoint somebody, I don’t want somebody else checking them out,” he said. “I ran and I’m elected just like they are.”
Under the bill’s current language, the authority board must be in place by May 1.
Once a majority of board members are appointed, they would be responsible for hiring an authority executive to begin working with the third-party manager to prepare for an eventual transition.
One of the biggest points of contention has been the makeup of the authority’s governing body, which includes gives the mayors of Byram and Ridgeland one appointment.
However, in both cases, those appointments must be confirmed by the Jackson City Council.
The council held a public hearing to discuss the measure on Monday.
Gibson spoke at that meeting, telling the council that her city also needed adequate representation.
“We represent 14,000 people — paying customers — in the city of Byram. We have over 100 businesses that are on the water system as well,” she said. “We’re not against the bill. We are only asking that… we have adequate representation.”
Census figures show that as of July 2024, Byram had approximately 12,656 residents.
The council thanked Gibson for her comments but did not respond. At a special called meeting following Monday’s public hearing, the council approved a resolution supporting the bill as-is.
White said with all of the city’s ongoing water concerns, Byram should have a greater seat at the table.
“Over the weekend, the Ridgelea rea didn’t have water from Friday night to Sunday morning. I already got a call about this other guy who has not had water since Friday. He said he’s been trying to call JXN Water and has never gotten a return [call],” he said. “It’s an everyday battle.”
White said he’s already spoken to Reps. Fabian Nelson and Ronnie Crudup Jr. about the measure. He’s also spoken with Sen. David Blount.
Last week, Nelson offered an amendment to allow the appointments made by the Byram and Ridgeland mayors to be confirmed by their respective boards, rather than the council, but that amendment failed on a voice vote.
The bill has since been transferred to the Senate. As of Tuesday, it had not been placed in a committee.
Blount said the bill had yet to come up for discussion in the Senate but agrees Byram needs a greater voice in regard to the authority’s governance.
“But the main thing is we need to get this resolved this session,” he said. “We’ll keep working the bill through the process.”
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