Council members used the Sept. 30 special meeting to press the mayor’s public works nominee, Lorenzo Anderson, on the city’s backlog of potholes, drainage failures and equipment maintenance, and to seek commitments about how the department will coordinate with council and Hinds County.

The concern was bipartisan: council members repeatedly told Anderson that public works calls are the single largest volume of constituent complaints and asked how he would get crews and the motor pool working efficiently. Anderson said he is a licensed professional engineer with roughly 25 years’ municipal experience, described field‑level experience from striping roads to operating heavy equipment and said his immediate priorities would be an assessment of assets, improving efficiency with existing resources, and clear communication with council members about ward needs.

Council members urged the new director to prioritize the motor pool out on Michael Avalon — including faster turnaround for repairs on vacuum trucks and other expensive equipment — and to create a clear, ward‑by‑ward plan for work assignment. Several members emphasized that drainage and ditch repair affect emergency response and resident safety.

The administration and council also flagged funding: near the meeting’s close a council member said a $40,000,000 bond issue had been signed, and the mayor and council noted that the bond will be directed to ditches, drainage, streets and bridges. Council members said they expect Anderson to return with a phased plan showing where bond funds will be used and how in‑house crews will be deployed versus contracted work.

A related topic arose about water and sewer: Anderson said he has prior experience managing water and sewer utilities and would conduct an immediate asset‑condition assessment if control of those systems were to return to the city. Council members said they hope to be positioned to assume responsibility if federal court decisions allow repatriation of water/sewer assets.

Ending

Council members said they will convene follow‑up meetings with Anderson, and the public‑works committee chair indicated scheduled briefings to create a priority list for the $40 million bond funding. Anderson told council he will prioritize communication, crew efficiency and maintenance of the motor pool.