Last week, Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. told the City Council that most of the money for the conversion had been lined up except for money needed to upgrade water lines, sewer pipes and other infrastructure. He said it may be possible to use the bond funds for that purpose, if the city can get the money approved.
“We have to convince the bond commission to issue the bonds, and they haven’t done that yet,” Johnson said.
The Legislature approved more than $807 million bond projects around the state during this year’s session. But the real power rests with the commission that decides whether a project lives or dies.
State Treasurer Tate Reeves, who serves on the commission with Gov. Haley Barbour and Attorney General Jim Hood, said nothing makes it on the commission’s agenda until it has been thoroughly vetted, and the city’s infrastructure bond request did not make it.
“I personally have never spoken with anyone at the city of Jackson on their water-sewer requests,” Reeves said.
Clarion-Ledger
8/3/10
Magnolia Tribune
