A federal judge on Thursday granted a temporary injunction preventing a new state law from placing Jackson’s water and sewer systems under the control of a nine-member regional authority next year, U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate ordered.
Wingate said he needs more time to examine HB 1677, which Gov. Tate Reeves signed in April, and ordered that “the status quo must remain undisturbed” while the court considers the matter. The City of Jackson has five days to file a brief, and other parties have until May 10, according to the court order.
The judge’s ruling said the authority may not take any action, except seating board members, until a final decision. All board members are to be appointed by May 1; the cities of Jackson, Byram and Ridgeland and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann have announced appointments, while Gov. Reeves had not named a member, court filings show.
The City of Jackson argued in its emergency filing that only the federal court can determine what happens next because a federally appointed interim third-party manager currently administers the system and the city is responsible for maintenance, operation and an estimated $130 million to $150 million in outstanding debt, the city said. Jackson Mayor John Horhn said it was appropriate for Wingate to block the law while the legal questions are resolved.
Wingate said the new law appears to conflict with previous court orders and suggested a transition plan “negotiated by the third-party manager, with input from the city and oversight from the court.” John Sneed with the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office said the court should deny the city’s motion because, he said, the city did not follow correct legal procedures: “They don’t have a complaint. They don’t have a claim. They don’t have the proper parties in this court,” Sneed said.
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
