The Jackson City Council is set to address crucial issues ranging from infrastructure improvements to regulations on public solicitation at their upcoming meeting. A significant proposal on the table is a potential partnership between the city and Hinds County aimed at bolstering public works projects. Additionally, the council will consider an ordinance concerning permits for panhandling, aligning with Mississippi’s recently enacted “Safe Solicitation Act.”
City-County Collaboration on Public Works
Mayor John Horhn has proposed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hinds County, designed to foster collaboration on public works initiatives. This agreement would facilitate the sharing of resources, including personnel, equipment, and funding, between the city and county governments.
The impetus behind this partnership stems from the challenges faced by Jackson’s Department of Public Works. The department has been struggling with a leadership vacuum due to the absence of a permanent director, chronic understaffing, and a substantial backlog of service requests. Many of these requests, submitted through the city’s 311 reporting app, relate to potholes, drainage issues, and other infrastructure deficiencies. Despite being one of the largest departments in the city, with a budget of $19 million the previous year, its effectiveness has been hampered by these systemic issues.
Mayor Horhn envisions the MOU as a means to combine the city’s financial resources with the county’s manpower, creating a synergistic effect that accelerates infrastructure improvements. Hinds County Supervisor Robert Graham echoed this sentiment, highlighting the mutual benefits of the partnership. He noted that the county has already invested significantly in paving streets within Jackson and possesses equipment that the city currently lacks.
The long-term structure of Jackson’s Public Works Department remains a subject of ongoing deliberation. The city is evaluating various operational models, including expanding in-house capabilities, continuing to outsource work, or adopting a hybrid approach. These discussions are taking place concurrently with budget deliberations for the department, with the city’s next fiscal year budget expected to be approved at a special meeting.
“Safe Solicitation Act” and Panhandling Permits
The council is also poised to vote on an ordinance that would empower the Jackson Police Department to issue permits under Mississippi’s “Safe Solicitation Act.” This state law, which went into effect in July, establishes regulations governing when and where panhandling can occur.
Under the Safe Solicitation Act, individuals requesting money in public are required to obtain a daily permit from the city or county. These permits can cost up to $25 per day. Panhandling is restricted to daylight hours – between 9 a.m. and one hour before sunset – and is only permitted when traffic is stopped at an intersection. Solicitors must remain within 100 feet of the permitted intersection and are prohibited from using loudspeakers or persisting after being refused.
Violations of the Safe Solicitation Act can result in fines of several hundred dollars or even jail sentences, raising concerns within local law enforcement. Hinds County Sheriff and acting Jackson Police Chief Tyree Jones has expressed apprehension that incarcerating homeless individuals for panhandling violations would exacerbate overcrowding at the Hinds County Detention Center. Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey concurred, stating that agencies are still working to finalize the implementation of the law. In the interim, officers have been instructing individuals to move on due to the absence of a functioning permit system.
Former Police Chief Joseph Wade, prior to his retirement, emphasized the importance of proper training for all officers before enforcing the Safe Solicitation Act and related laws. He underscored the need to avoid infringing upon civil or constitutional rights during enforcement. Wade also stressed that incarceration was not a viable solution for homelessness, advocating instead for health and resource-based interventions.
The council’s decision regarding the public works partnership and the panhandling ordinance will have significant implications for the city’s infrastructure and its approach to addressing homelessness and public solicitation. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
