Jackson Free Press

The city of Jackson sallied forth with plans to creep its southern border a little further south June 13 when city attorneys pled a case for annexation before a Hinds County judge. The city had withdrawn its appeal of a Hinds County ruling that threw out the annexation bid, but then City Council members passed an ordinance putting new gusto behind the move to annex.

"I think it is ludicrous for the capital city of Mississippi—the largest city in this state—to be landlocked," said Council President Leslie McLemore, who stands with Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. and most other council members in pushing for the annexation.

McLemore said the city's only outlet for growth remains along its Southern border. "On the east we have the Pearl River and that's been shut off, Madison and Ridgeland set the boundary up north. Clinton is on the west, except for a little small corridor there. For all practical purposes, we are land-locked, and we ought to have a pattern of growth. Personally, I think this Byram annexation issue is worth fighting for."

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes said he is against the annexation, claiming that the city needs to focus more on issues facing its current territory rather than trying to incorporate more.

For about 30 years, the territory occupied by the intersection of Terry and Siwell roads remained largely undeveloped. However, the 22.6 square miles of the Byram area Jackson leaders are looking to obtain have seen an explosion of commercial and residential development over the last two decades. An estimated 13,000 people now live in an area once populated by a gas station and grazing animals.

Byram was in the city of Jackson until 1997 as part of an earlier annexation, but the territory was de-annexed along with parts of Madison County. The city immediately went into court in a failed bid to reannex parts of Madison County, then jumped into the long process of re-taking Byram. In the meantime, residents of Byram have sought incorporation to stave off future annexation attempts. The current court case involves a coupling of legal intentions: the right for Byram residents to incorporate and the right of the city to annex.

Byram residents are fighting the annexation, calling it a tax grab and declaring their trepidation of becoming another part of Jackson, which is largely African American. Byram still has a large white population. Residents say they also fear a loss of community identity.

Byram Interim Alderman Kent Alday, of Capitol Medical, says there's no fear of the city so much as there is a need to maintain a collective personality.

"It's not anything against Jackson or its communities," Alday said. "Forest Hill, at one point, was a nice little community in the county, but now it's nothing but South Jackson. We want to maintain our community. Byram is what we always have been, and it's what we want to be. Clinton has its own identity as a city. We want to maintain ours as well."

Johnson said the city has more than paid for its rights to the territory, however.

"Jackson has invested around $35 million in capital improvements, water and sewer lines and other improvements. We have a fire station in the southern part of the city that was based there in hopes of serving the Byram area. ... It was not the people affected by the annexation that made the payments, but the taxpayers of the city of Jackson," Johnson said.

Byram interim mayor Nick Tremonte counters that the citizens of Byram have been paying through the teeth for these same improvements in boosted costs for water services.

"The citizens in the community of Byram pay a premium for the services that Jackson is offering. Jackson didn't do anything out of the kindness of their heart," said Tremonte, who claims Byram residents' water bills are twice that of Jackson residents. "If our sole purpose was to get a reasonable fee for the services, then we would want to be annexed by the city of Jackson and our rates would go down ... but we don't believe that Jackson has enough to offer."

Incoming Mayor Frank Melton said before his election that pursuing the Byram territory would not be a high priority, which pits him against many members of the council. Melton said dropping the Byram suit would save more money than what's spent providing water and emergency service coverage to the area.

The annexation fight may find a premature end, however, as attorneys representing Byram and Jackson attempt to make a deal.

"This is the best way to solve the issue and save a lot of litigation costs," said Byram attorney and former Jackson Mayor Dale Danks.

Jackson lawyer Jim Carroll said Byram could be allowed to incorporate unhindered while Jackson receives other land from the county.

Previous Comments

ID

64596

Comment

Thanks for this article on a very important topic that is not receiving its due coverage from the media.

Author

Justin

Date

2005-06-17T11:41:03-06:00

ID

64597

Comment

Mr. Alday's and Mr. Tremonte's components of this interview were tape recorded. However, Mr. Lynch has taken a great deal of literary license in reporting their remarks. Also, to set the record straight: BYRAM HAS NEVER BEEN A PART OF JACKSON. Byram has never been de-annexed from any city. Byram was it's own duly incorporated city until the early part of the last century. At which time they lost their Charter. Byram residents have been attempting to RE-INCORPORATE since the early 1990's. The City of Jackson failed to annex at that time. Since and including the failed attempt to annex the Byram area, the City of Jackson has spent very close to $1,000,000.00 in their attempt to annex. Infrastructure: The Greater Jackson Industrial Park at one time was entirely owned by Jackson. However, the various industries/businesses have long since purchased all but 1 parcel of land. The sewer services include the neighborhoods such as Brookwood, Brookleigh, Torry Pines, the area along Forest Hill Road. The water comes at an extremely high price to those who do not resident inside the Jackson City Limits. This not only includes the Byram area, but the entire Greater Metro Area and the Tri-County area. Byram residents do get their water from Jackson at an extremely high rate. However, the greatest majority of the residents are not receiving sewer services. They are either on private septic tanks, private treatment plants, or sewage lagoons which are privately owned. The fire station in South Jackson supposedly built to respond to the the Byram area has never responded to a fire in the Byram area or for that matter in Hinds County. Further more, Byram has a more than adequate Volunteer Fire Department. Their response time is less than 10 minutes. And to add more fuel to the fire [no pun intended] the Byram Volunteer Fire Department has aided the Jackson Fire Department from time to time. Now to address the hint of racism: The issue has always been to RE-INCORPORATE "old" Byram and include 'new" Byram to the area. Byram is a pretty fair mix of all races and nationalities. Which have blended well into the community. Racism is not, nor has it ever been an issue. The Byram area residents simply want to regain their status as a city and continue to govern themselves. We ask that Mr. Lynch and any other news media get their facts straight before reporting them.

Author

Theresa

Date

2005-06-17T15:19:23-06:00

ID

64598

Comment

Threresa, its nice you know so much about Byram. I'm sure y'all could have a nice city down there. It will still be Lower South Jackson to a lot of us! But, if you think you water rates are high now, wait until you have to pony up your tax dollars to build a new treatment plant, hire your own firefighters, police and maintance workers. Have fun being a city! Look you guys want it both ways. You don't want to be in Jackson, but you want to big city services we offer paid for by the County. If that Fire Station isn't used much? Buy it back from Jackson for around $10 million and turn it into a church if you want! But, it is obvious Dale and Melton have a deal worked out, so once agin the folks of Jackson will get burned on this; and, eventually Byram will too in increased taxes and fees once they are on their own. Maybe if you guys had your own police, Jackson could get a little more use out of the Sheriff's Dept. And, a million dollars for the fight to annex is nothing coampared to the value of being able to grow your most pominent city like other cities around the nation. Look at Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, New Orleans, Atlanta, etc, etc, etc. The largest cities, at least Capitol cities, should be allowed to expand as needed. We are not even in the top 100 in land mass size. But, I'll let you in on a secret. Many of those cities were not in the top 100 either - until annexation. And if we can't annex you then you should not be able to annex 55 miles of Hinds County - suddenly making you one of the biggest cites in the state! That is the real issue, and it is being pushed aside by the anti-Jacksonites as "only" Jackson's issue, so Bryam can get away with a hostle land grab for themselves.

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-21T07:02:52-06:00

ID

64599

Comment

Tortoise, Your response is not even worth my response because your information is almost as erronous as Mr. Lynch's. As far as Byram always being a part of lower south Jackson goes, majority of the folks who have moved out of Jackson into Byram thought Byram was already a city. No, Jackson will come out of this smelling like a rose, while Byram will be the huge loser once all the negotiations are over and done. As for the work of once again becoming a city goes, Byram is a wonderful community and wants to remain that way. We are well aware of the work ahead of us in re-creating our city. We are well equipped for the task as we have the best city planner in the state on our payroll. Bottom line is, this has never been an anti-Jackson campaign. It has always been a re-incorporate Byram campaign. If you will notice we filed our motion for re- incorporation prior to Jackson's motion for annexation. My father had a statement he would always toss out at those who didn't have their facts straight. "Put your brain in gear, before putting mouth in motion."

Author

Theresa

Date

2005-06-21T13:05:18-06:00

ID

64600

Comment

The only erronous info. in my post was the amount of land Bryam is trying to "grab" for themselves. It is about 44 square miles, which would DOUBLE the current 22.6 miles that "Bryam" occupies now. So, if you guys want to let the 44 miles go to us - as it should - and then just incorporate the 22.6 mile area you have now, I don't see a problem. The problem lies in the fact that no one is talking about Bryam's annexation attempt - ONLY that Jackson wants to annex Bryam. At least tell the whole story while glossing over what Byram wants to become as a town. So, I would not call it a re-incorporation; but a selfish "land grab" to put an even stronger strangle hold on the necks of the citizens of Jackson. At least Jackson has an argument for annexation since we have provided millions of dollars of services to that area and still do. That shows Jackson has and is interested in the development of Bryam as a whole - whether it is in Jackson or not. What argument does Bryam have to "DOUBLE" the size of its city through its annexation attempt? What has Bryam done to help Jackson or the area they are trying to annex?

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-21T13:49:03-06:00

ID

64601

Comment

The Sun did a story mentioning the amount of land desired by Byram ( I always get that "r" and "y" mixed up). http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/11885657.htm I see my descrepency in my numbers on the land sizes to be annexed; but, the jist of the fact that locally no one seems concerned that Byram is trying to take land that they don't need nor deserve. Once again, it is Jackson who is the big bad city trying to annex that area while you guys are getting a free pass on your own annexation attempt. The only area necessary to incorporate is the current area that is called Byram.

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-21T14:00:48-06:00

ID

64602

Comment

BTW if anyone wants to see the reasoning why a certain area of homes in Hinds Co. don't want to be annexed here it is See bottom of page.

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-21T14:04:12-06:00

ID

64603

Comment

The C-L's take on annexation Just so everyone knows. Byram is 22.6 square miles now according to JFP article. 17.8 square miles according to City-Data Now look at the "Incorporation Map" as shown on the Byram Online website. It took a minute to download. The Map Though it is hard to see, look at the "dashed lines" that outline the current area of Byram. Not very big! Then look at the big "red line" that shows the area Byram wants to "Incorporate." Please, provide a logical argument as to why Byram needs to incorporate more then the area they reside in now. Tell us why it is in the interest of any other city in Hinds County for Byram to grow three-fold while "incorporating" into a city. It is plain as day what is happening; and, that is to further land-lock Jackson so that this city is forever on the bottom.

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-21T14:27:42-06:00

ID

64604

Comment

In fact a closer inspection of the "Incoporation map" shows that "Byram" is chopped up now and not well defined. Also, should Byram be allowed to take much of the land down I-55, how would Jackson be compensated for the land at the Greater Jackson Industrial Complex? How does taking one of Jackson's industrial areas help Jackson attract new industry? Seems like a Loser deal for us!

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-21T14:40:38-06:00

ID

64605

Comment

Does anybody know the outcome of negotiations? Have the two sides compromise or will they continue the court battle? The reason that I ask is because today was the deadline for the two parties to reach an agreement.

Author

thirdcup

Date

2005-06-21T19:22:44-06:00

ID

64606

Comment

The negotations are continuing until Monday, the 27th. At which time there must be an agreement in place or we go to court and complete the re-incorporation phase and then proceed to the annexation phase of the battle for Byram. Thank you for your interest.

Author

Theresa

Date

2005-06-21T23:57:50-06:00

ID

64607

Comment

Is McLemore right ? Could this new development cause Byram to lose its entire Incorporation? Theresa, you seem informed? Is this so? Also, this is beginning to smell like the rotten beef plant with Atty's all too cozy a relationship with one another, and only one who has shown that they have a stake in Jackson even while the other is trying to appear to be a new ally to the city. And now you have the C-L flipping on itself and saying let's stick to the Status Quo. Can we get a concensus out of our daily please! OK, here's a little tidbit that is of interest. There is a new atty representing a small tact of land that borders Jackson now. They are the ones throwing a kink in things because they were going to lose to Jackson per Byram's deal so they brought in an atty. But, I bet not many people know this. A friend in Byram told me the City of Jackson can/does actually charge DOUBLE water rates to properties served within the ONE MILE tact of land bordering Jackson. After that, the City cannot charge DOUBLE; but, an amount that is cheaper then those within the one mile rule and more then Jackson's rates. Also, if and when Byram Incorporates, they should be subject to heavy increases in services fees from Jackson, if our Council and Mayor have any backbone on this issue. If you want to be a city then pay your local taxes to support your city! Don't keep thinking Jackson and Hinds Co. should be at your beckoned call for police, city services, and to build the municiple buildings you will need to house your new city administration. Bryam will never qualify for any type of CBDG monies because they are too rich down there , so they will be left to raise the money through new taxes and Bond issues. If we are going to be landlocked, then Jackson needs to be more aggressive with Service Fees for utilities we provide to surrounding areas, and maybe instituting a tax for working in Jackson or a Metro Tax that primarily goes to Jackson. We can only dream! These people who like to complain about Jackson should at least pay for the privilege!

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-28T09:55:41-06:00

ID

64608

Comment

Tortoise, Majority of the folks who live in the Byram area are "refugees" from Jackson. They were mostly born and grew up there. Married and raised their children before they decided they had had enough of crime, violence, and poor city services. We pay for the services we receive from Hinds County. We pay taxes that help support the sheriff's department, and our own volunteer fire department. Also, for the garbage pick up services we receive. And, even better we pay for the "Level 5" schools our children and grandchildren attend here in Hinds County. As for providing municipal servcies to our new city we should be able to provide them without a 55mil as those you who live in Jackson must pay. Byram, once incorporated, will be like a new born trying to walk, we will have to crawl first. We will reimburse the Hinds County Sheriff's Department for any full-time law enforcement his office provides until such time as we can establish our own police department. We will help with the expenses of the Byram Volunteer Fire Department until such time as we can afford to purchase this station from the county. Municipal buildings will come just as they have in other cities, even Jackson. I lived for over 45 years in Jackson. My family was annexed into the city when I was in 8th grade. We were thrown into grossly over-crowded school situations for the next 4 years. My daughter grew up in Jackson. With all that said, I believe I have already paid dearly for not only the privilege but the right to complain about the City of Jackson. As for paying a tax for working in Jackson, that would not go over very well with those who currently live inside the city. Maybe, the cities surrounding Jackson should tax all the Jackson City employees who are living in their communities. Wow!!! what a land fall for us. As for the developments in court on Monday, we are right where we were last November when Judge Singletary continued the Byram Re-Incorporatoin/Jackson Annexation Trail. We are continuing to verify the signatures of those who signed the petition for re-incorporatoin. We continue to ask for the same 42 square miles that was in the petition filed with the court. Byram is made up of middle to upper-middle income families. There is no great wealth here as in Madison, Ridgeland, and Jackson. I suppose, we would be comparable to Clinton in our income level. However, we don't have a large college to supplement tax revenue.

Author

Theresa

Date

2005-06-28T16:52:13-06:00

ID

64609

Comment

I understand and do want Byram to incorporate that is not a problem. When I reread our posts, I was a little tough when I started posting. Sorry for that; but, you came out attacking the reporter whom you disagreed with so I felt the need to defend ìourî (Jacksonís not JFPís) position ñ though I like the article. The way the article reads is he was just trying to inform the readers, and provided both sides of the story as best he could. Nevertheless, 42 miles or whatever is too much. Even your own atty's see the logic in that! The 14 miles proposed this week to start with should be fine as you point out: "Byram, once incorporated, will be like a new born trying to walk, we will have to crawl first." So trying to become the Second largest city in Hinds Co. is not the "baby steps" you seem to think Byram is trying to take. Nor a way to win friends in the county. Obviously, you do not want compromise, and do not have Jackson's progress as a Capital city in your interest. You are not alone; many people across MS feel no need to help us ìfolksî here in Jackson. Your comments of being a ìrefugeeî and other statements show you are mostly ìanti-Jacksonî at heart. There is really no place for ìantiî in any city in Hinds County right now! It is not good to see you want ALL the land for yourselves with no concern to Jackson, Raymond or Clinton. That is NOT progress and it is NOT good for any of us. Itís much easier to eat a Krystal in three bites then it is to eat it in one - even when you know you could! And, it's even better if you share your Krystals with others! ;-)

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-28T22:04:09-06:00

ID

64610

Comment

My apologies if I sounded like I was attacking the reporter who wrote the article. It's just that so much of his information was so far off center I was simply trying to get him and all news media types to be sure they have all their facts before reporting. We have had a similar discussion with Clarion Ledger reporters and TV news media. I felt as though you were attacking me for attempting to set the record straight. And, for defending Byram's RIGHT TO RE-INCORPORATE itself. We are not interested in garnering ALL the land in Hinds County for ourselves. Our city planner made this recommendation based on the idea that Byram would NEVER have to ANNEX. There would be ample room for internal growth and expansion without the further expense of annexation or the heart rendering fight that annexation would cause. I AM NOT ANTI-JACKSON. I do have an affinity for the city. I have always been proud to say I grew up in Jackson, married, raised my daughter there. It's just that in the past 15 - 20 years the leadership has not been able to keep up with the growth and can't seem to get their priorities in the right order. When your plate is overflowing you don't continue to heap more on it. You work on the overflow and then if you see room for more you add it. As for eating a Krystal in 3 bites as opposed to one. I'm one of those folks who have to eat it in at least 3 bites or more. As for sharing, that is part of my upbringing. Byram has shared it's tax base with the rest of Hinds County and continues to share. We are the largest and fastest growing community in Hinds County and we share with other communities and the cities. I think this is a point where we must agree to disagree. What's best for Byram is to be incorporated whether it be 42 or 12 square miles. What's best for Jackson is to solve it's internal problems and develop the undeveloped and vacant land mass within their current boundaries. Take care of the overflow before adding more to the plate.

Author

Theresa

Date

2005-06-29T09:33:31-06:00

ID

64611

Comment

Theresa, the appropriate way to address what you believe are factual inaccuracies in a story is to contact the editor of that publication and express your concerns. When someone tells me there is a factual problem in one of our stories, I ask for factchecking information and then check out the facts. Then, if it is indeed a factual error, then we run corrections, and are happy to. We also like to have the opportunity to address accusations of errors, because often, although of course not always, they are not actual factual errors, but a complaint by someone on one side of the issue because the story wasn't as flattering to their side as they'd like. Understand I'm not saying that is the case with you, but I do need to ascertain for myself whether or not Adam had factual errors in this story if you are going to publicly say he did. So please send me a list of the facts (not issues of opinion) in question in e-mail so we can check them out. And it's best just to list the facts themselves rather than long explanations that shroud them in opinion. Thanks much, Donna (JFP editor)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-06-29T10:00:53-06:00

ID

64612

Comment

I agree with your last statement; but, it is not like Jackson would be adding very much more to its plate when it already does so much in that area already with various services. The C-L actually makes the case very well in this editorial. This pretty much sums up the argument you are presenting: "They seem to have forgotten the purpose of compromise. In a compromise, neither side gets all that it wants; both give up something for an agreement they can abide. Such an agreement was found and was set to be finalized Monday in Hinds County Chancery Court." So, because some citizens can't come to a compromise on the land, somebody is going to lose. That is not a WIN/WIN for both parties; yet the proposal on Tuesday would have made it a WIN/WIN with land for both sides to annex later too! All or nothing may seem fine for y'all if you win. But, what if the recent action by that minority of citizens who are messing things up costs Byram everything? Is that worth it?

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-06-29T10:18:09-06:00

ID

64613

Comment

According to WLBT, we're back at square one now. Jackson is going to fight Byram's incorporation if Byram won't accept the compromise. WLBT article I've stayed out of this for as long as I could. But I feel that Byram needs 42 square miles about as much as a penguin needs butt dimples (thank you, Berkeley Breathed). Can somebody shed some light on the administration that traded future growth for the airport which is mentioned in tortoise's editorial link above? I'm a bit of a younger pup, and this is the first I've heard of it.

Author

millhouse

Date

2005-06-30T20:56:41-06:00

ID

64614

Comment

More Byram brilliance in the paper today. It is this kind of mind set that needs to be out in a little town and not be a part of Jackson. The money quote from this guy: " Why not Jackson becoming a part of Flora, Clinton, Edwards, Raymond, or Bolton? Absurd thinking works both ways." No the ONLY absurd thinking on y'alls behalf down there. That's an idea! How about we turn the 100 year old plus Capital city into Flora! LOL!! What do they put in the water down there? Must be some kind of whitener instead of fluoride.

Author

tortoise

Date

2005-07-07T09:40:44-06:00

ID

64615

Comment

Has Judge Singetary made a ruling on the case yet? I live in the Brookwood Subdivison and have noticed that quite of few owners have put their houses on the market/ for sale. I personally moved to this area because I did not want to live in the city limits of Jackson. If I had known that we'd be facing annexation at this time, I would have moved further out on Siwell Road or Gary Raod. I guess you live and you learn.

Author

Tamara

Date

2006-08-01T23:11:28-06:00