Jackson Mayor Horhn Delivers State of the City Address, Touting $150 Million Street and Drainage Program
Jackson Mayor John Horhn delivered his second State of the City address on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the Jackson Convention Complex before a crowd of about 200, according to the Clarion Ledger, Mississippi's largest newspaper. Fifteen months into his administration, Horhn reviewed his government's progress and announced plans for the coming year.
The mayor said the city has selected contractors for a $150 million street and drainage program and plans more roadwork, public transportation improvements, and economic development projects, while acknowledging the city still has a long way to go and that progress should not be mistaken for perfection.
Water remained a central issue. Horhn said he wants a municipal utility district whose governing board would be appointed mostly by the city, with a qualified third-party operator managing daily operations rather than the city's Public Works Department. Jackson's water and wastewater systems have been overseen since the 2022 water crisis by the federally appointed interim manager, JXN Water; Horhn said his administration has presented the proposal to U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate, who oversees the federal water proceedings, and there is no firm date for when the systems will leave federal oversight. Horhn also said efforts to meet with JXN Water had moved slower than he hoped and that he would renew those efforts after the address.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 密西西比州议会大厦（杰克逊），CC BY-SA 2.0，摄影：Ken Lund（Wikimedia Commons）
