County, city vow to stop floods


STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebisite.com

 
September 5, 2001

Legislator's letter incites resolution

By GEOFF PENDER
THE SUN HERALD

Monday, February 18, 2008

As I left my home at 103 Alverado Drive to attend a meeting at City Hall concerning flooding in
Long beach, I had to drive through my flooded 
street.

My back yard was filling up fast with water and my neighbor, Marian Wideman (101 Alverado dr.)
the water was half way to her home.

She has placed her home of 20 years on the market to get out of Long Beach,
it's sad to see our elected official give the," oh well" attitude. 

I look at this problem like this:

We the taxpayers pay for services, two studies (1997 & 1999) have been completed
so far to fix the flooding problems in Long beach but as yet nothing has been done.

The Mayor and Aldermen are responsible for ensuring "We the taxpayers" are served
by our request for the problems paid for by the taxpayers.

I purchased my home in Long Beach, July 1976, I was annexed into the city in 1980.

With the promise of getting new water and sewer line hookup, here it is 21 years later
and I still do not have new water and sewer hookup.

It seems they past up Alverado Drive and Alverado Cove.

I asked at the meeting why, but as usual no one had an answer.

Spin, Promises, and Politics, getting re-elected at all cost, it's sad too see our 
elected officials run for office for, 
MONEY, POWER, & PERKS
and if left in office long enough the will commit
FRAUD, WASTE, & ABUSE.

LONG BEACH - As rain poured down Tuesday night, Harrison County supervisors, the Long Beach Board of Aldermen and state Rep. Jim Simpson vowed to stop flooding in the city and heard a report from a consultant who's trying to figure out how to do it.

"Grand Standing" have you ever heard the saying, "Grand Standing."

This is when one party (Harrison County Supervisors) get together and put on a "dog and pony show."

That's when they tell the people what they want them to hear, like we will fix the drainage problem in Long Beach.

Now think, you have the city of Long Beach, and you have the County. 

It has always been the responsibility of the Harrison County Supervisors to prevent flooding where ever it occurs within Harrison County.

 Members of the two governments also vowed to either do away with or revamp the Long Beach Water Management District, which has taxed thousands of residents for years but done little to resolve flooding.

 
Subj: Long Beach Water Management District
Date: 9/5/01 1:14:41 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mccaleb5thdist
To: cityclerk@cityoflongbeachms.com, mayor@cityoflongbeachms.com, admin@cityoflongbeachms.com
CC: jim@frslaw.com, RICHBENNET, permits@cityoflongbeachms.com, waterdept@cityoflongbeachms.com


City Clerk:

Becky: I need the names of the people which operate the, Long Beach Water Management District and there salaries (which is public knowledge).

I am working on a web page of last nights City Hall meeting and I need this information.

Thanks,

Steven A. McCaleb

Subj: Re: Long Beach Water Management District
Date: 9/5/01 1:29:11 PM Central Daylight Time
From:    jim@frslaw.com (Jim Simpson)
To:    Mccaleb5thdist@aol.com


Steve-
 
 
I don't know if Becky has the info you need.  The LBWMD is a separate legal entity, over which the City has no control or connection.  I happen to know, at least I am pretty sure,  that Mr. Mike Wren and Mr. Bret Mallettee serve as commissioners at present.  I could be wrong, but I don't think so. 
 
    Also, I am also pretty sure they receive no salary, just a per diem for each meeting.  The last I heard, it was $40.00 per meeting, but again, I do not represent them or have any way or reason to know for sure,  so this info is just as far as I know.  I am pretty sure its right, but not 100%.
 
Jim



Four of the five-member Board of Supervisors, all but Supervisor William Martin, attended Tuesday's city meeting.

I suppose this is good attendance, but why did they even show up.

The unusual summit was prompted by a recent letter from Simpson, who is also city attorney. In his letter, Simpson threatened to stop Harrison County and other local governments from donating money to nonprofit groups until they resolve persistent home flooding. As chairman of the House Local and Private Committee, Simpson can prevent local governments from making some large donations.

Then why did Representative and City Attorney, Jim Simpson spend 5 minutes apologizing to the Harrison County Supervisors about his letter.

It sound too me like a double standard on our city attorney.

Supervisors, especially Marlin Ladner who represents the Long Beach area, had taken Simpson's letter as criticism that they were ignoring Long Beach flooding, so they asked to meet with the aldermen. They said they have hired an engineer and are committed to stopping flooding.

Now we get too the meat of the problem.

The engineer stated that there was a "study" made of the flooding problem in 1997 & 1999.

He stated that there needs to be another study make now in the year 2001.

Subj: Study for the flooding problems in Long Beach
Date: 9/5/01 1:32:04 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mccaleb5thdist
To: cityclerk@cityoflongbeachms.com, mayor@cityoflongbeachms.com, admin@cityoflongbeachms.com
CC: jim@frslaw.com, RICHBENNET, permits@cityoflongbeachms.com, waterdept@cityoflongbeachms.com



City Clerk:

Becky: I need to obtain the cost for the two studies which were completed in 1997 & 1999 be an engineer firm as per the Sun Herald Article dated Sept. 5, 2001

These studies were on the flooding problems in Long Beach as per the Tuesday City Hall meeting held on Sept. 4, 2001.

Sincerely,

Steven A. McCaleb



Simpson apologized to Ladner and other county supervisors Tuesday night.

I see no need too apologize for what one thinks is right, and I agree with city attorney Jim Simpson.

“I did not mean for my tone to be critical,” Simpson said. “My frustration comes from having to look people in the face who face this flooding. My words (in the letter) were poorly said. I apologize if they were taken as criticism of the Board of Supervisors.”

Again, I believe our Representative and City Attorney stated what the people of Long Beach would have stated if given the chance.

I am however disappointed at our Mayor and Board of Aldermen for not working of the cities flooding problems.

Next years budget proves the flooding in our city is a priority, but developing 68 acres for one of our Board of Aldermen is.

Simpson said he had heard rumors since his letter “that there were threats made to withhold (county) projects on the west side of the county.”

The Harrison County Supervisors will be dealt with during the next election, if any are re-elected I will be surprised.

I have requested the Governor, Ronnie Musgrove, to remove all of the Harrison County Supervisors for there conduct in public office.

But since the governor has not responded I doubt if he will be re-elected next election. 

“Marlin (Ladner) has assured me that was not true,” Simpson said. “I know nobody on the Board of Supervisors would make such threats. Whoever said that ought to be ashamed.”

It's politics, "Spin," is the name of the game. 

Simpson criticized Gulfport, which he said studied some of the same flooding problems five years ago “then just put it down and walked away” upon hearing the fix would cost millions of dollars.

The taxpayers of Long Beach have paid for the cost of fixing the flooding problem, but yet nothing has been done.


Subj: Long Beach flooding problem over the late 5 years
Date: 9/5/01 1:59:41 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Mccaleb5thdist
To: cityclerk@cityoflongbeachms.com, mayor@cityoflongbeachms.com, admin@cityoflongbeachms.com
CC: jim@frslaw.com, RICHBENNET, permits@cityoflongbeachms.com, waterdept@cityoflongbeachms.com


Simpson criticized Gulfport, which he said studied some of the same flooding problems five years ago “then just put it down and walked away” upon hearing the fix would cost millions of dollars.

City Clerk of Long Beach:

Becky, I need to obtain copies of the cities budget for 1997 through 2001. I want to know where every taxpayers dollar was spent over those years.

I will be happy too come to city hall and research what I need, I know you are busy.

Sincerely,

Steven A. McCaleb

The problem is that Turkey Creek, which drains nearly 30 square miles in northern Long Beach, Gulfport and unincorporated Harrison County, is “grossly undersized” for the amount of rainfall and runoff it must handle, said Bill Mitchell, an engineer the county has hired.

This sound like a problem for "Super Mayor" he leaps over ditches in a single bound, faster than a speeding flood, well you get the hint.

All it takes is money, taxpayers money, and I believe the flooding problem could have been fixed over the last five years, don't you.

Mitchell estimates a project that could make a dent in the worst of the flooding in northern Long Beach and parts of Gulfport will cost at least $7 million to $10 million, and will require major engineering and water studies and a plethora of permits from state and federal environmental agencies.

The word "plethora" means: excess, glut, surplus, overload, embarrassment

I wonder if a second or third opinion is needed here, I believe so.

What do you think?

Yes, their needs to be a second or third opinion on the cost 

No, one opinion is all that is required on the cost

Ladner pledged to help Long Beach with smaller drainage projects inside the city. He said the county will pay 75 percent of small drainage projects in the Chloe Court and Warwick Drive areas. The projects are expected to cost a total of $80,000.

Don't you feel all warm and fuzzy that the Harrison County Supervisors are willing to do there job and make it seem there doing us a favor.

It's all politics and getting re-elected.

STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY
MY OPINION