Jackson Free Press

Like many people who live in Jackson, we were taken aback when we heard that state Sen. Josh Harkins planned to submit legislation to change the composition of what is now the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority.

Harkins, a Republican from Flowood, wants a combination of the governor and lieutenant governor to pick most of the members, including the adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard and Mississippi Development Authority, whom the governor appoints. The mayor of Jackson, who now nominates all members of the authority, would have one selection, while the Jackson City Council, which confirms the mayor's choices, could give the governor a list of three names from which to choose.

If we were highly skeptical about this plan several weeks ago, we are now downright incredulous. For starters, Harkins hasn't been able to justify to our satisfaction how the group of political appointees his bill would install would actually make the airport better. Not to mention, the state's handling of a lead contamination issue in several Jackson homes gives us serious pause.

The samples, taken from 13 homes, contained lead levels the U.S. EPA considers actionable. Yet, the state did not act for months. Their excuse is that no federal regulation requires health officials to notify homeowners right away of lead contamination.

As Jennifer Chavez, a staff attorney with Earthjustice, told the Jackson Free Press this week, there's a "difference between what they are required to do and what's the right thing to do."

The state, through its health department, did the wrong thing in waiting until late January to tell Jackson about the lead-contaminated water found in June. If this kind of disregard for Jackson citizens is the state's modus operandi, then we have zero confidence that a board appointed by Republican leadership would be a better steward of our airport than the City.

As we've said before, Jackson and central Mississippi could benefit from smart regionalization of assets. But, as we have also said before, it must involve honest dialogue taken in good faith. As far as we can tell, Sen. Harkins only talked to Jackson and airport officials to give them a heads-up that his bill was coming.

We hope that Harkins learns from the public outcry over his handling of the airport legislation and starts communicating respectfully and thoroughly with the City of Jackson and its citizens. As it is, trust is sorely missing.