Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Frank Melton announced at the April 18 City Council meeting that about $1 billion in investments are on their way to Jackson.

"I know I stay in front of the cameras all the time, but I think the attention on me is taking away from all the good things we're accomplishing," Melton told an audience of over 100 in the council chambers that night.

Melton had the same message for WLBT anchorman Bert Case and the JFP last week, saying that local media outlets are so concerned with his unusual crime-fighting tactics that they ignore the development he is bringing to the city. WLBT reported that "more than a billion dollars worth of new economic development is scheduled for Jackson since (Melton) took office."

The $1 billion includes projects such as the $57 million King Edward Hotel renovation, the $67 million Jackson Convention Center, the "Two-Lakes" Project—reported by WLBT to cost $150 million, though some estimates claim the Project will cost considerably more than that, the $13 million development of the Farish Street Entertainment District, a $1 million park in downtown Jackson and a $40 million stadium.

The majority of this money was secured during the last administration.

"I don't want to be critical or anything. I just want to make people understand that there were a lot of projects going on during my administration, and some of them are going to come to fruition in the next year or so," said former Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.

During his two terms in office, Johnson collected grant and bond money for numerous ventures, including Union Station, the Jackson Metro Parkway and the Farish Street Entertainment District. The $67 million Convention Center came about only after the Johnson administration spent months convincing legislators to let Jackson residents put the item to a vote.

During the 2005 campaign, Melton told supporters that he was opposed to the Convention Center plan.

The Johnson administration also secured $1 million for a downtown park that Melton mentioned. The park, known as Festival Park last year, was one of many accomplishments of John Waits, of Winston & Strawn LLP, a lobbying firm that netted more than $111 million for the city over the last decade. Waits also won funding for other projects, such as the Metro Parkway, Union Station, the brickwork for Farish Street, the Linder-Maple Study and street paving throughout the city. Melton dismissed Waits last year to make room in the tight city budget for Chief of Staff Marcus Ward.

Melton originally presented Ward as a local lobbyist to replace Winston & Strawn, arguing through Chief Administration Officer Robert Walker that Ward had considerable influence among the state's Republican senators. Rather than hobnobbing in Washington, however, Ward is more often at council meetings, and managing Melton's schedule. Melton quietly shifted Ward to his new position as chief of staff during the budget revision in late March.

Melton's mention of the "Two Lakes" Project is another reference to a development that predates his administration. For years, environmentalists have squared off against developers over the possibility of flooding the Pearl River green space between Hinds and Rankin Counties.

Representatives of Waggoner Engineering Inc., of Jackson, and the Rankin-Hinds Pearl River Flood and Drainage Control District, presented a plan to City Council in late 2005 for the construction of dams beneath I-55 and I-20, which would form two lakes. Developers say they also plan to enlarge current levees and dredge the territory between the levees and the river. The dredge would be dumped in the middle of the northern lake, creating an island ripe for development.

Environmentalist groups, such as the Pearl River Basin Coalition, say they're horrified by the damage the "Two Lakes" Project would cause to the wetlands and cypress hardwoods now occupying the future lakebed.

Another factor in the development is cost. The Army Corps of Engineers, which is working with local sponsors to develop a feasibility study, previously stated that the federal government would be unwilling to fund the project's potentially exorbitant price tag.

In any case, Melton cannot claim exclusive credit for any progress made in the months since he took office.

Previous Commentsshow

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DonnaLadd

Apr 26 2006

Just to drive home the point about the lag time between announcement and reality, Union Station, the Jackson Metro Parkway and much of the Farish Street Entertainment District were all begun during the Kane Ditto administration. The Telcom Center - which has only just been completed - was originally funded with a grant during the 1995 or 1996 legislative session. The wheels of economic development move much more slowly than any Mayor would like!

Mr PR Professional

Apr 26 2006

It does appear that the downtown development momentum under Mayor Johnson (which was heavily criticized by certain right-wing local pundits) is continuing on inspite of Melton's public fights with Watkins (King Ed) and Performa (Farish St) which could have had a chilling effect on private investment. With the proposed developments in Fondren and Belhaven, the Capitol Green/Commerce St development, continued buildup of business in the downtown area, potential progress at Farish Street, the Convention Center, etc, there are a lot of dollars being invested in Jackson that don't seem to get as much fanfare as stuff in Madison and Rankin County. Personally, I've loved the discussions on Kim Wade's show about Lake Hico, and the potential to reclaim it a public lake. I still worry that Frank and his antics could have a negative impact on future investment, but right now it appears the development momentum is pushing forward, and I think it could be an exciting time to be a Jacksonian.

Jeff Lucas

Apr 26 2006

I must say, FM certainly put himself out there this time to appear as if he is a parasite! (again and again) During the election campaigning time he did nothing but criticize Harvey Johnson. Now, when he has done NOTHING for this city he chooses to take credit for that which he previously rejected, much of which came about under the mayorial direction of Harvey Johnson! Frank often reminds me of a small tick/flea. He crawls onto another and rides their coat-tail so to speak until another host comes along. A parasite has been unleashed upon our city.......someone please get the flea & tick spray!

Katie D

Apr 27 2006

The most disturbing part to me is that he is trying to deflect very real concerns about the safety of his impersonating a police office and carrying dangerous weapons into people's homes by talking about the economic development started, mostly, by past administrations. I think it's great all this is coming online—and I hope Mr. Melton doesn't run any of it off with his "Walking Tall" outings—but it has NOTHING to do with questions on other topics. He's trying to deflect attention—but people are smart enough to see it. That is, don't answer questions about your "policing" fetish with scolds about us not paying enough attention to economic development. Speaking for this media outlet, and other good ones like WAPT and, increasingly, WLBT, we're paying attention to it all. (BTW, has WJTV left Jackson or something? They don't seem to be doing anything interesting or useful.)

DonnaLadd

Apr 27 2006

"Melton dismissed Waits last year to make room in the tight city budget for Chief of Staff Marcus Ward." Dismissing Waits and hiring Marcus Ward in his place will probably prove to be one of the most disastrous things this mayor will do to the City. And, seeing as Marcus Ward is paid one of the highest salaries in the City, it can hardly be said that hiring him helped the budget at all. John Waits was charging the City a mere $70,000 a year for his services which netted the City millions. Marcus Ward will probably end up costing the City money--not only does the City have to pay his excessive salary, but travel expenses as well, and to date he has yet to deliver on "the goods" like John Waits did.

charlotte

Apr 27 2006

"...and to date he has yet to deliver on "the goods" like John Waits did." I'm just asking this because I don't know. How often did our Washington lobbyists come through with grant money, etc.? I've seen specific things that they've been credited for in recent articles. Is there any way to find out what Ward has done, if anything?

millhouse

Apr 27 2006

(BTW, has WJTV left Jackson or something? They don't seem to be doing anything interesting or useful.) They're too busy scaring us about sex offenders on the loose .

golden eagle

Apr 28 2006

There is a discussion item on this Tuesday's City Council agenda (May 2, 2006) requesting an update on what Marcus Ward has been up to and where the City stands in regards to federal funding for projects.

charlotte

Apr 28 2006

We have been promised the world on a stick by Melton but instead are getting the shaft. I have had the opportunity to listen to Marcus Ward speak on a few issues. IMO he is not ready for the task that has been given to him to be the lobbyist for the city of Jackson. Hw speaks as a young man with promise, but is still very rough around the edges. I was not impressed with his interlect as pertaining to what it would take to move this city forward. I cannot vision Ward sitting down with ANY of our people in Washington and getting them to take him very seriously. If Ward continues under Frank's guidance however, he is likely to wind up just like the cabbage that Melton is.........all head and no a$$.

lance

Apr 29 2006

Ward was a no-show at yesterday's Council meeting, despite having been on the agenda to present an update on federal funding. So we still have no idea where the City stands in regards to appropriations, but we do have a pretty good idea of how inadequately Ward is stacking up in comparison to Waits.

charlotte

May 3 2006