Jackson City Council urges Legislature to back bill creating Metro Jackson Water Authority

President Grisele called the special meeting of the Jackson City Council to order on Feb. 16 to take up a single item: a resolution related to House Bill 16 77 to create a Metro Jackson Water Authority.

The council adopted a substituted and amended resolution urging the Mississippi Legislature to pass House Bill 16 77 after debate over transition details and consumer protections. The meeting record shows the council approved the substitute version of the resolution and then added language stressing public accountability and a fair billing dispute process; both procedural steps passed unanimously by recorded votes before the final resolution passed 4-2.

Why it matters: Councilmembers said they face a choice between opposing a bill they see as imperfect or urging passage to begin a transition the city can shape. Supporters said the measure would start a process that will produce bylaws, board appointments and negotiations over any lease or transfer; critics warned that handing a failing billing system to a new authority would saddle the successor with a difficult financial problem.

Councilman Foote pressed the council to include explicit billing protections, citing current collection-rate figures: "It had a collection rate at 62 or 65 or even 70%," he said, arguing that low collection rates would make it harder for a new authority to succeed if inherited. The council subsequently approved added whereas language saying the council "stresses to the new authority the need to create public accountability to and from customers," including access to customer-service representatives and "a fair process for disputing questionable bills." The amendment passed 6-0.

City staff and officials also flagged the city’s broader fiscal challenges during debate. A staff speaker said the city is behind on audits, with the transcript noting prior-year deficits cited as $7,000,000 and $13,000,000; the speakers said getting audits current is important for budgeting and for pursuing federal grants.

Peter Tabelson, the city's chief administrative officer, said the billing and collections issues have become a focus for the judicial transition review and that a judge overseeing a transition plan would likely press the subject during the handover process.

Procedural record: The council first failed to substitute a document for lack of a second, then voted to reconsider and approved the substitution of the version provided by the city attorney on a 6-0 vote. The council then approved the customer-service/grievance whereas language, 6-0, and finally voted to adopt the full substituted and amended resolution, recorded as 4 in favor and 2 opposed. The transcript does not list which councilmembers cast each final vote.

The council adjourned after the vote.