Jackson City Council Public Works Committee Meeting - February 5, 2026

The Public Works Committee of the Jackson City Council met on February 5, 2026, to discuss equipment purchases for blight control and disaster response, an auction of surplus vehicles, street sweeping operations, traffic striping needs, a paving project near a Honda dealership, stormwater permitting, grass maintenance plans, and the landfill expansion status. No public comments or consent calendar items were presented.

Discussion Items

• Equipment Update (Blight & Disaster Response): Deputy Director James Carwell presented a revised list of new equipment totaling $1.3 million, including a roll-off truck, gooseneck dump trailers, a water tank for dust control, a fuel truck, compact excavator with flail mower, and Dodge 3500/2500 pickup trucks. The list was updated from a previous version to improve efficiency. Orders are expected to begin the week of February 9, 2026. Training and secure storage were identified as concerns; Public Works Director Lorenzo Anderson stated personnel are available from the parks department merger but training will be evaluated. Councilmembers expressed support, emphasizing the need for proper maintenance.
• Auction of Surplus Vehicles: A first phase auction of 45 vehicles will be conducted via GovDeals.com. Estimated proceeds are around $50,000 based on a rough per-vehicle calculation. Future rounds will include equipment from the landfill and other sites. The contract details (compensation percentage) are handled by the CAO/CFO. The council pushed for expediting to free cash flow for the new equipment.
• Street Sweeping: A new street sweeper (cost $385,000) is on site but not yet operational; training is pending within approximately two weeks. No CDL is required. No dedicated operator exists yet; personnel will be rotated. A dynamic schedule using GIS will be developed, initially focusing on major thoroughfares. A curb and gutter sweeping attachment for skid steers will also arrive.
• Traffic Striping: The current one-person push machine is inadequate for the city’s size. Contracting striping costs $5,000–10,000 per mile. A larger self-propelled machine ($100,000–$300,000) may be needed. Councilmember suggested researching a one-person machine with flaggers for traffic control. Overlay contracts already include striping. Emergency striping on high-priority roads may be contracted using capital improvement funds.
• Paving Near Honda Dealership (MOU with County): The One Percent Sales Tax Committee approved $350,000 to pave Larson, Foley, Harding, and Monroe Streets around a Honda dealership ahead of executive visits on February 25, 2026. The city has an existing interlocal agreement with Hinds County. Multiple councilmembers objected to prioritizing this over longstanding needs in other wards, but the item was described as a done deal by the administration. No straw poll was taken. Council requested future reports from the One Percent Committee.
• Stormwater: The annual NPDES permit has been submitted; the city is awaiting a response. Director Anderson promised a briefing at the next meeting.
• Grass Maintenance: The parks department is merging into public works. The CAO requested a top-five parks list from council to guide the mowing schedule. Existing contracts for major thoroughfares end in March and will be re-bid with acreage-based focus.
• Landfill Status: Solid Waste Manager Lakeisha Weathers reported MDQ approval for the expansion cell as of February 3, 2026, allowing disposal to begin. Scales have been purchased (payment check mailed January 27); installation expected 25–30 days after payment receipt. A new excavator is expected in 30–60 days. Full operations (including scales) targeted for end of March. A crawler dozer will be re-bid due to specification issues; the current dozer will be used in the interim.

Key Outcomes

• Equipment orders to proceed as presented; training and storage plans to be developed.
• Auction of 45 vehicles to move forward via GovDeals.com; first phase aims to generate cash flow for new equipment.
• Street sweeper training to be scheduled within two weeks; a sweeping schedule will be created.
• Traffic striping research on one-person machine requested; contracting for emergency striping on major arterials may be explored.
• The paving project near Honda will proceed as approved by the One Percent Committee; no council vote was required.
• Landfill expansion is approved and operational; scales and excavator procurement are in progress; full opening expected by end of March 2026.
• Next public works committee meeting scheduled within two to three weeks.