The Jackson Chamber of Commerce rolled out its new vision this week. Jackson should be commended for looking ahead and doing what it can to make it a better place to live.
That is what we do here in Monticello as well. That is one of the reasons we had a comprehensive land use plan done. It helps lay out the vision for future land use.
However in the vision that Jackson has laid out, it should be noted that it includes the now One Lake plan, that is first touted as flood control but also has right next to it Water Front Development. There have been no formal studies done on this one lake plan, so to say that it helps in Flood control is a big misstatement. The Jackson Chamber did give $200,000.00 to help with a study for this, but the problem is the lake developers are laying out how the study will be done. No one from down stream is even being asked what do you think of this? It is highly unlikely that the study will include what effects this "one lake" would have as far south as Monticello, Columbia and even further south.
We already know that the "two lakes plan would put up to 2 more inches of water downstream. Now I am not an engineer, but I fail to see where one lake would reduce this amount.
We also learned last week that Jackson has knowingly been pumping untreated sewer water into the Pearl River and sending it downstream for a number of years. And this is not the first time they have been caught doing this.
I as a citizen of Mississippi want to see Jackson do well, to prosper. When they prosper it has a positive effect on the rest of the state. However as Mayor of Monticello and a citizen who lives downstream, I do not want to see our city suffer at the hands of Jackson. We are already receiving their untreated waste water, and now they potentially want to cause worse flood and riverbank erosion on us. I say no. and I ask that you contact Bob Evans, Bobby Moak and Sally Doty, these three represent us at the capitol, and they need to know that we can not and will not be harmed for the sake of Jackson are any other city or county.
I can only do so much, make your voice heard before it's to late. Why should we not be able to enjoy the a CLEAN river, that we don't have to worry about being FLOODED by because of those above us upstream.
