Jackson Free Press

Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. said the city could have avoided two massive city-wide water failures this year had owners of a historic fishing club not stalled construction of a 54-inch water line between the city's two water-supply plants.

"The homeowners, the property owners in that area have refused to sign the right-of-way, so we're in discussion with them now, but we would have to go to court--we did go to court--because we literally got tired of (the wait) costing us," Johnson told the Jackson Free Press during a recent editorial board meeting. "Had that ... right-of-way been acquired prior to January, and the 54-inch line put in place, we wouldn't have had the severe episode that we had."

The city suffered failures in municipal-water lines in January and June this year. In January, a series of severe winter freezes burst about 150 water mains, despite the city's roughly $100 million investment in water-system upgrades over the past 12 years, Johnson said. The city is the oldest community in the metro area and contains many water lines composed of rigid, outdated metals that break easily when the water inside them freezes and expands. The January incident not only reduced water pressure and triggered a city-wide boil-water alert, but shut down water supplies altogether in portions of the city at higher elevations.

In June, a critical 54-inch water main near the city's O.B. Curtis water treatment plant burst what was designed to be a temporary cap, dumping thousands of gallons of its contents into the soil and again reducing water pressure and setting off another boil-water alert. The failure proved a major embarrassment to the city, and prompted a decision by the Department of Transportation to dig its own well to supply water to a series of critical state-government buildings.

Johnson said the city plans to spend $29 million over the next year and a half on its water system, part of which will finance the completion of the 54-inch water line containing the infamous blown cap from the June incident. The cap was put in place six years ago, when the city first proposed a line from the newer O.B. Curtis plant to the J.H. Fewell plant near the Woodrow Wilson/Interstate 55 junction. The mayor said that line will supply enough water to avoid critical pressure loss like the June and January incidents.

But Jackson Realtor and Mule Jail Club President Bob Ridgway says the city has chosen not to work with landowners in the area.

"What we have asked them to do is put the line parallel to our road, instead of in our road. We've made that request two years ago, but nobody has ever explained to us why this won't work," Ridgway said. "It won't change the trajectory, and it's on land already owned by the city."

Mule Jail is a 100-year-old exclusive fishing club about a half mile from where County Line Road dead-ends at Old Canton Road. It occupies an 80-foot sliver of swamp between the O.B. Curtis treatment plant and the back end of The Country Club of Jackson golf course, and consists of a collection of small cabins on pylons within water or on ground that is partially or totally submerged during a portion of the year. It has an eight-person membership that dates back to the 1880s.

Ridgway says he wants the city to take seriously the idea of sending the 54-inch pipe down city-owned land instead of on Mule Jail property: "We're not trying to slow anything down," he said. "We just want to know why this line won't work on their own property. ... If you only have 80 feet of land, and somebody wants to put a water line on you, you want to say, 'Wait a minute; let's talk.'"

The line, as proposed by the city, runs parallel with the city-owned property abutting the Jackson-owned O.B. Curtis treatment plant and property owned by the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District--which has a history of working with municipalities on water issues. Ridgway said burying the line on the city and PRVWSD property would require a northern shift of the west-bound pipe of about 15 feet, although engineers would conceivably add no new costs, considering the shift will reduce the length of the north-bound line leading into the treatment plant at the final L-joint by about 15 feet.

The city contracted the design and location plan of the 54-inch pipe to Waggoner Engineering and IMS Engineers, both of Jackson. Waggoner Engineering says they only did a design for the pipe outside Mule Jail territory. IMS, meanwhile, did not return calls to explain why the location could not be on city property.

Deputy City Attorney Terry Williamson said the engineers determined the best location for the 54-inch line, but that the property owners aren't talking to the city. Meanwhile, the city is getting desperate after the two recent citywide water failures and is moving forward with eminent-domain proceedings.

"Just (last) week I received the certified copy of the order (authorizing the filing of the condemnation lawsuit) ... and I'll be forwarding this to the council (for approval)," Williamson said. "(Property owners) left us no choice. If we're going to complete this project, we'll have to condemn their property.

Both sides claim the other isn't talking. Ridgway said the property owners are willing to dispute the issue in court if the city commits to eminent-domain procedures, but said it would be better for everybody to work out their differences before a judge gets involved. "All taking this to court is going to do is give some lawyers a lot of money," Ridgway said. "I wish we could talk to (the city)."

Previous Comments

ID

160316

Comment

Hey Adam. What did the city reps have to say when you asked them Ridgway's question about why the line couldn't go on city land instead of theirs?

Author

KendallVarnell

Date

2010-10-13T16:41:03-06:00

ID

160317

Comment

It sounds like there is confusion between all parties on that front, Kendall. From the story: IMS, meanwhile, did not return calls to explain why the location could not be on city property. Deputy City Attorney Terry Williamson said the engineers determined the best location for the 54-inch line, but that the property owners aren't talking to the city. Property owners pointing at city; city pointing at engineers; engineers not running calls, it seems. Will confirm with Adam, though.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-10-13T16:43:47-06:00

ID

160320

Comment

Thanks Donna, I'm usually pretty good at reading comprehension but I missed that.

Author

KendallVarnell

Date

2010-10-13T16:59:52-06:00

ID

160321

Comment

That's OK. It's a bit confusing, Kendall.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2010-10-13T17:01:45-06:00