Jackson Free Press

Several shiny new pieces of recently purchased heavy equipment rumbled through the streets of downtown Jackson this morning.

Despite the rain, the parade kicked off National Public Works Week and marked the start of a new city-wide initiative called Operation Orange Cone.

The thinking behind the campaign, city officials explained, is to remove the orange cones that dot the city by making needed infrastructure fixes that total approximately $1.5 billion.

With the expectation that the city will draw about $226 million over the life of the 1-percent sales tax, Mayor Tony Yarber says the city faces a budget shortfall of $700 million.

"We have to figure out ways to be frugal but also talk about ways to be innovative," Yarber told reporters this morning.

That creativity was behind Yarber's declaration of a civil emergency in March about the threats to the water quality. In the meantime, the city has started the process of applying for state funding, including a $2.5 million loan from the Mississippi State Department of Health that the city might not have to pay back if it meets certain requirements.

Yarber said his administration is also eyeing the U.S. Department of Transportation's Tiger Grant program. In April, the federal DOT announced $500 million in available funds for transportation infrastructure.

Kishia Powell, the city public-works director, said that despite the funding challenges and a worker shortage, Jackson isn't waiting for external funding. She said her department has been able to reduce the 120 vacancies in public works to 108 open positions. A recruiting event for public works will take place later this week.

On May 19, Yarber and other officials will cut the ribbon on the new two-way Capitol Street at Pinnacle Plaza in downtown Jackson. Public-works officials will also be on hand to field questions from citizens about infrastructure projects.

The recruiting fair takes place Thursday, May 21, in the conference room of the Department of Human and Cultural Services at the Metrocenter Mall.