By Christopher Young,
Contributing Writer,
Black’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church hosted a community meeting on March 5, 2024, presented by new District 3 Supervisor Deborah Butler-Dixon. The meeting was scheduled from 6-7 p.m. but lasted until nearly 8 p.m.
Close to two hundred residents aired numerous grievances, chief among them was the escalating cost of homeowners and flood insurance in areas impacted by flooding and/run-off from Lynch Creek, lack of maintenance by City of Jackson or Hinds County in and around Lynch Creek, elected officials making decisions without buy-in from constituents, and the issue of shifting polling stations.
After prayer by State Representative Omeria Scott (D-80), Calandra Jenkins of AJA Management and Technical Services, who is partnering with Waggoner Engineering as technical contractors for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services, kicked off the formal presentations. The project focused on during this meeting is called Hinds County Lynch Creek-Pearl River Watershed Plan Environmental Assessment.
While some federal dollars have been used to fund improvements to Lynch Creek in the past, this particular project is 100% federal funded. She informed the audience about what a watershed is, what the boundaries of this watershed are, and sought input from residents who may have detailed information that the contractors are not yet aware.
Large maps were displayed on a side table, and residents were encouraged to mark their areas on the maps where problems exist so that it can included in the assessment.
“The primary goals of the watershed plan is to reduce flooding, reduce loss of property and improve water quality,” per Jenkins.
While Lynch Creek is included in the assessment title, Hanging Moss Creek, Upper Bogue Chitto Creek and Lake Ridgelea-Big Creek are also included because they are all part of the broader watershed.
Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) was discussed by Attorney Latoya Thompson. She provided information on how folks can test (how is your internet performing) their internet and have the results forwarded to the Mississippi BEAM Office (https://broadbandms.com/test) and also encouraged residents to go to https://broadbandms.com/register/bead/map and input your address to see if your address is being served, unserved, underserved, funded by Broadband Expansion and Accessibility of Mississippi (BEAM). Thompson also highlighted an initiative called Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and invited public participation through visiting the website https://cmpdd.org/transportation/safety-action-plan-ss4a.
Attorney Barbara Blackmon, a long-time state legislator, now represents the Hinds County Board of Supervisors, and spoke about the upcoming primary election. As soon as the issue of Precinct 59 shifting locations came up, she was inundated with questions. It seemed like every time she provided an answer, it spurred even more questions. In the end she acknowledged she has only been on the job for two months and that she will get to the bottom of the many issues that were raised.
Much briefer presentations were made by Seargent Brown of the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, Steve Pickett from the Mississippi Center for Police and Sheriffs, Henry Davis of Hinds County Permitting and Zoning and Calola Williams from Mississippi Department of Transportation-District 5.
Nearly always in vocal opposition of the City of Jackson Administration, Ward 5 City Councilmember Vernon Hartley jumped in during Seargent Brown’s presentation. Bellowing to the audience, he gave out his cell phone number and told people that if they call him, he will be at their house. “I’m not going to make excuses, I have one and a half people working for me. I’m not the mayor. Is anyone from the administration here? Is anyone one from JPD here? We need management people here from the city to answer these questions. Someone should be here to answer why the ditch isn’t cleaned up….crime is on the priority list….I’m in the Legislative branch, if you don’t bring me anything to vote on, I can’t vote…..and I still haven’t seen a garbage contract.” The meeting had gone over 30 minutes by that point and the audience was thinning rapidly.
The Mississippi Link newspaper checked in with District 3 Supervisor Deborah Butler-Dixon at the end of the meeting to get her expressions. “I think it went very well. I’ve been in this supervisor’s seat for just two months. I think it was successful, very informative for the people here tonight.” When asked about the shifting of Precinct 59 to Black’s Chapel – an issue that received significant attention during the meeting – Butler-Dixon said, “That happened last year, and people are still talking about it. My own precinct changed.” WLBT reported on May 18, 2022 that “Precinct 59 would permanently shift from Fire Station #15 to Word of Christ Church International on Lynch Street in Jackson.” The recent shift from Word of Christ Church to Black’s Chapel came about when the church announced it no longer wanted to serve as a voting precinct.
For more project information visit: https://hindscountyws-waggoner.hub.arcgis.com.
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