A U.S. district judge on Thursday temporarily barred a newly created metro Jackson water authority from taking any action other than appointing board members while the court reviews whether a state law interferes with federal oversight, court records show.
Jackson officials sought the injunction Monday, arguing that House Bill 1677 — signed into law April 8 by Gov. Tate Reeves — creates an authority that would conflict with the federal court’s control over who will run the city’s water and sewer systems, officials said. The systems are under federal consent decrees, and court filings say both have struggled to stay in compliance amid decades of mismanagement and underinvestment.
The law would create a nine-member board and would transfer control only after U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate releases interim manager JXN Water from its role stabilizing the systems, court filings say. The law required board appointments by Friday, but by Thursday only six appointees had been announced. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann announced Jackson businessman Sandy Carter as his selection on Tuesday. Jackson Mayor Horhn announced three appointments last week, but the city council must confirm those picks, City Attorney Drew Martin said, and he expects a council vote next Tuesday. Two appointments from Reeves and one joint pick by the governor and the mayor remain outstanding.
At a Thursday hearing, Martin argued that “the existence of this bill conflicts with the court’s jurisdiction starting tomorrow,” referencing the Friday deadline. Wingate said the “status quo must remain undisturbed” until he rules on whether the law interferes with the court’s jurisdiction. The judge’s injunction prevents the authority from taking any action other than naming board appointees, including naming a board president or entering a lease agreement.
Wingate gave all parties 10 days to submit arguments on whether the new law interferes with the court’s jurisdiction or the 2022 federal order, according to the order filed Thursday.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
