Jackson sales tax commission hears paving dispute, bridge-design delay and $4 million Woodrow Wilson plan
JACKSON — Members of the city's 1% Sales Tax Commission pressed public works officials on stalled projects at a September 9 meeting, while the public works director outlined the mayor's plan to put a $4 million legislative appropriation entirely toward the East Woodrow Wilson street project.
The sharpest exchange came over phase two of the city's street-resurfacing program. One commissioner accused the public works director of stalling the contract by preparing a new bid package instead of proceeding through the change order the commission had previously agreed to, and warned the switch would drive up costs.
"If he's planning on doing a bid package, he's obviously not planning on following through with what we agreed to," the commissioner told the panel.
The commission had approved a $550,000 supplemental engineering agreement for phase two paving the day before the meeting. The chairman said he would review options for moving the work forward.
A commissioner also questioned engineering firm EJS over the replacement bridges on Country Club Drive, saying the firm has produced no visible work in the two years since the commission funded its design contract.
"The contract was issued in 2024 … I'd like to see EJS come to our meeting and show us their proposed plan of what they're going to do that they've been working on for two years," the commissioner said. Commission staff said they would ask EJS to appear at a future meeting to present its progress. No construction funding has been allocated for the bridges.
The public works director, meanwhile, told commissioners the mayor wants to direct the full $4 million the Legislature appropriated to the city for infrastructure toward East Woodrow Wilson, a project that has been delayed for years.
"The city of Jackson was appropriated $4 million from the legislature for various infrastructure projects around the city. The mayor has indicated … he wants to put that entire $4 million towards East Woodrow Wilson because we need to get that project done," the director said.
The director said the mayor has identified additional money toward the roughly $8 million project, including a $750,000 commitment from the Mississippi Department of Transportation. The proposal requires City Council approval.