Jackson Free Press

Jackson City Council members heard opposing views on zoning issues on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and some briefly called into question the results of Jan. 14 vote to approve a 1-percent sales tax to pay for work on the city's crumbling infrastructure.

At the zoning meeting, members of the LeFleur East Foundation requested an extension of a special exemption for the organization's offices at 4658 Old Canton Road.

The city first granted the exception in the north Jackson residential neighborhood a year ago. Foundation member John Dinkins called the 2-acre site and house "a tremendous treasure for our city."

"We're pro-Jackson," Dinkins said. "That's why we're here."

Residents of the Acadia Court subdivision, which abuts the foundation's property, claim that the foundation is exceeding the uses outlined in the city's special exemption for office space, which is the same zoning as The Cedars historic house.

Baxter Brown, speaking for the Acadia Home Owners' Association, said that events held on the property create traffic and noise problems. Acadia has appealed the council's original zoning exception, which is unresolved at this time.

Dinkins countered that residents have filed no police complaints about the foundation's activities in the past year, which he said are no different from other types of homeowner events.

The developer questioned if Acadia would complain over an engagement party or Easter egg hunt in a private home.

"It's a beautiful thing," said Ward 7 Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon of the foundation's property. "I don't understand the reaction."

Councilman Quentin Whitwell of Ward 1, where the property is located, called for a quick vote to re-approve the special designation.

"I can't think of one (zoning exemption) we haven't approved in a gazillion years," Whitwell said.

The council unanimously approved extending LeFleur East's special-use exemption for another year.

Ballot Problems?

During the council's brief special meeting, which immediately followed the zoning meeting at around 4:30 p.m., Whitwell and Ward 2 Councilman Melvin Priester Jr. mentioned that they had received complaints about a lack of ballots at some precincts during the Jan. 14 special election, in addition to access issues for disabled voters.

"Basically, I got texts from a ton of people," Whitwell told the Jackson Free Press. He estimated that 25 to 100 voters did not cast ballots at two polling places in his ward: Casey and Spann elementary schools.

"The turnout was a lot higher than expected," Whitwell said, but suggested that the city must be prepared for such contingencies.

Jackson City Clerk Brenda Pree said that it's not unusual for one or more precincts to run out of ballots at some time during an election, and that the city is prepared to quickly supply more ballots if necessary. The city's election commission makes initial ballot estimates based on previous elections, so it's not an exact science. But, she said, no precinct had to wait more than 15 or 20 minutes for additional ballots after making a request. "They didn't turn anyone away," Pree said.

Poll managers know to request more ballots when their supply is down to 50, she said, but sometimes managers will be down to two or three ballots before calling an election commissioner. The commissioner will then call Pree's office. From there, the request goes to the Hinds County Election Commission, which manages the machines that print the ballots. The city of Jackson rents the equipment from the county.

Once the ballots are ready, a Hinds County deputy will ferry the ballots to the precinct, "so they're taken expeditiously," Pree said.

Pree bemoaned the low turnout, a problem with every municipal election, she said. At some precincts, only 1 percent to 5 percent of registered voters turn out. Overall, only 15,990 of Jackson's 108,957 registered voters cast ballots on Jan. 14.

"You certainly can't make a difference if you don't vote," she said.

Voters overwhelmingly approved an additional 1-percent sales tax to partially fund the city's many infrastructure needs, which include frequent water and sewer pipe breaks and road maintenance.

Whitwell, Priester and the rest of the council members agreed that the few polling-place problems would not have changed the election's outcome. Perhaps, Whitwell quipped, the final tally would have been a 92 percent approval instead of 90 percent. Nevertheless, the council will call the city election commission to account for the complaints. That process is already in process, apparently. Whitwell indicated he had received an email from the commission requesting feedback.

The members temporarily tabled the discussion and agreed to add the item to a future council meeting agenda.

The council unanimously certified the election's outcome. Jackson residents and visitors will begin paying the additional sales tax around mid-March.

Ward 3 Councilwoman LaRita Cooper-Stokes did not attend the special meeting.