A U.S. District Court judge has temporarily blocked the creation of the Metro Jackson Water Authority, prompting the governor of Mississippi to delay making appointments to the authority’s board.
Governor Tate Reeves (R) announced Friday he would not appoint any members at this time. He said the state will continue working with the court to transfer control of the water system to an entity that best serves Jackson residents, businesses, and officials, once the receivership ends.
Last week, Judge Henry Wingate said he needed more time to review House Bill 1677, which Reeves signed into law in April. The judge set deadlines for Jackson and other parties to submit briefs, with Jackson’s filing due within five days and others by May 10. The city argues that only a federal court can decide the water system’s future.
All board members were supposed to be appointed by May 1. Jackson, Byram, and Ridgeland announced their appointments, as did Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann (R). Currently, the water system is overseen by JXN Water, which operates under a federally appointed interim manager whose term ends in 2027.
Reeves noted that JXN Water has made significant improvements and that the system’s finances are being addressed. He said the state legislature passed and the governor signed House Bill 1677 to create the new authority, which is a public benefit corporation under a nine-member board. The governor emphasized that the legislation does not require the city to transfer its water system to the authority, only that negotiations may begin.
Reeves expressed confidence that the court will find the city’s legal challenges meritless and that the authority will serve as a beneficial transition structure. He criticized recent city legal filings, calling them frivolous, and said the governance structure prior to August 29, 2022, was the root of ongoing issues.
Reeves concluded by stating that Jackson’s residents and water ratepayers deserve better and that the authority created under House Bill 1677 is the best way to prevent future chaos.
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
