An update about the Capitol Complex Improvement District Court, information about state agencies that lease space outside downtown Jackson and ways to draw additional tourism to downtown are among topics the Senate Study Committee on Jackson might focus on.
That’s according to Sen. Walter Michel of District 25 (Hinds-Madison counties) who was appointed by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann to chair the committee. Sen. David Blount of District 29 (Hinds County) is vice chair.
Members of the study committee are Sen. Sollie B. Norwood of District 28 (Hinds County), Sen. Hillman Frazier of District 27 (Hinds County), Sen. Dean Kirby of District 30 (Rankin County), Sen. Brian Rhodes of District 36 (Rankin and Smith counties) and Sen. Andy Berry of District 35 (Copiah, Jefferson Davis, Lawrence and Simpson counties).
Hosemann said the study committee would center upon strategies for strengthening and boosting economic activity in the metro area.
“For several years, we have discussed the need for a focused effort to unlock Jackson’s economic and tourism potential,” he said. “With the city entering a new chapter, the time is now to pursue opportunities that will increase tourism, attract investment, enhance downtown, and promote future growth.”
Michel wants to learn if the CCID Court, which opened for business in January and is located in the former Continental Trailways bus station at 201 S. Jefferson St., has all the resources it needs.
“We’d like to know if it needs additional support staff or another judge,” he said.
The CCID Court handles misdemeanors such as domestic violence, simple assault, malicious mischief, shoplifting and traffic offenses that are committed in the boundaries of the Capitol Complex Improvement District.
Until the opening of the CCID Court, Capitol Police misdemeanor charges were handled through the Hinds County Justice Court.
The study committee also plans to look into state agencies that are located throughout the metro area rather than downtown, Michel said.
The topic is of special interest to Blount, who has served as chair of the Senate Public Property Committee, Michel said.
Increasing the number of visitors downtown is an interest Michel plans for the study committee to explore. He mentioned representatives of Visit Jackson and Downtown Jackson Partners as possible speakers for the committee.
Michal expects the committee to meet for the first time at the end of October and that it will have two or three meetings before the end of the year.
No speakers have been set for the committee meetings, but Michel mentioned Jackson Mayor John Horhn as a possibility.
“We know we can work with John Horhn,” he said. “He was a senator for 32 years. I’ve worked with him for 23 sessions.”
Blount is upbeat about the committee and what it can accomplish.
“I am optimistic we can find issues where we agree and make progress,” he said. “We need the state and the city to work together.”
Legislation could possibly come from what the committee learns, Michel said. “We’ll gather information and craft bills,” he said.
Several pieces of legislation grew out of the House Select Committee on Capitol and Metro Revitalization, which is led by Rep. Shanda Yates of District 64 (Hinds and Madison counties) and Clay Mansell of District 56 (Hinds and Madison counties), last year.
Among the legislation are laws that prohibit encampment on state property, set limits on panhandling and streamlined the process to have squatters removed from private property.
The House Select Committee has scheduled the Metro Utility Hearing on Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Capitol.
Mansell said he plans to invite a representative of Canton Municipal Utilities to discuss its rate increases. The meeting will also tackle some city of Jackson water issues and delve into water usage at the Amazon data centers being built outside of Canton and in Ridgeland.
“I want to give the residents a chance to hear from the decision makers,” he said. “We’ll record the meeting. It’s going to be an informative session. We’re not out to get anyone.”
Mansell also wants the committee to hear more abut mental health issues, which law enforcement officers brought up last year as something they face daily on patrols in Jackson.
Members of the House Select Committee are Rep. Chris Bell of District 65 (Hinds County), Rep. Lawrence Blackmon of District 57 (Madison County). Rep. Angela Cockerham of District 96 (Adams, Amite, Pike and Wilkinson counties), Rep. Ronnie Crudup Jr. of District 71 (Hinds County), Rep. Jill Ford of District 73 (Madison County) and Rep. Stephanie Foster of District 63 (Hinds, Warren and Yazoo counties).
Members also include Rep. Justis Gibbs of District 72 (Hinds and Madison counties), Rep. Jonathan McMillan of District 58 (Madison County), Rep. Gene Newman of District 61 (Rankin County), Rep. Brent Powell of District 59 (Rankin County), Rep. Fred Shanks of District 60 (Rankin County), Rep. Lance Varner of District 62 (Rankin, Simpson and Copiah counties), Rep. Price Wallace of District 77 (Rankin and Simpson counties), Rep. Grace Butler-Washington of District 69 (Hinds County), Rep. Lee Yancey of District 74 (Rankin County) and Rep. Hank Zuber of District 113 (Jackson County).
