(1) The affairs of the authority shall be administered by the board. The board shall be composed of nine (9) members as follows:(a) Three member(s) at large to be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Jackson and confirmed by the City Council of the City of Jackson;(b) Two (2) member(s) at large to be appointed by the Governor;(c) One (1) member at large to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;(d) One (1) member at large appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Mayor of the City of Jackson;(e) One (1) member at large to be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Byram and confirmed by the Board of Alderman of the City of Byram; and(f) One (1) member at large to be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Ridgeland and confirmed by the Board of Alderman of the City of Ridgeland.
(a) Three member(s) at large to be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Jackson and confirmed by the City Council of the City of Jackson;
(b) Two (2) member(s) at large to be appointed by the Governor;
(c) One (1) member at large to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;
(d) One (1) member at large appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Mayor of the City of Jackson;
(e) One (1) member at large to be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Byram and confirmed by the Board of Alderman of the City of Byram; and
(f) One (1) member at large to be appointed by the Mayor of the City of Ridgeland and confirmed by the Board of Alderman of the City of Ridgeland.
All initial public members shall be appointed by May 1, 2026.
The Mayor of the City of Jackson shall be an ex officio non-voting member of the board, in addition to the three (3) appointees as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection, and may designate a person or persons to represent him or her at all meetings of the board from which he or she may be absent.
For public members subject to the appointment process, appointing authorities shall attempt to ensure that all portions of society and its diversity are represented in members of the authority. All appointed members must be residents of the state and must have significant, demonstrated experience in at least one (1) of the following areas: business management; fiscal affairs; public finance; public health; engineering; or public utilities. No voting members of the board shall be an elected official, and no current or former federal, state or local elected officials may be appointed.
(2) (a) The Governor shall appoint one (1) member for an initial term of four (4) years, and one (1) member for an initial term of three (3) years.(b) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one (1) member for an initial term of four (4) years.
(a) The Governor shall appoint one (1) member for an initial term of four (4) years, and one (1) member for an initial term of three (3) years.
(b) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint one (1) member for an initial term of four (4) years.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, appointments shall be for a term of four (4) years. Each member shall serve at the will and pleasure of his or her appointing authority and hold office until his successor has been appointed and qualified.
Vacancies occurring otherwise than by expiration of the term of office, shall be filled by appointment by the appropriate appointing authority for the length of the unexpired term only. Any member of the authority shall be eligible for reappointment for a maximum of two (2) full terms. Each member of the authority shall, before entering upon his duty, take an oath of office to administer the duties of his office faithfully and impartially, and a record of such oath shall be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.
The authority shall annually elect from its membership a chairman and vice chairman who shall be eligible for reelection for up to four (4) consecutive terms. The authority shall also elect or appoint, and prescribe the duties of, such other officers, who need not be members, as the authority deems necessary or advisable, and the authority shall fix the compensation of such officers. The authority may delegate to one or more of its members, officers, employees or agents such powers and duties as it may deem proper, not inconsistent with this chapter or other provisions of law.
(4) Except as otherwise specified in this chapter, the powers of the board shall be vested in and exercised by a majority of the whole number of the members thereof. The members of the board shall serve without salary but shall be entitled to receive, upon authorization of the board, per diem pay as provided in Section 25-3-69, plus travel and necessary expenses, including mileage, as provided in Section 25-3-41, incurred while in the performance of his or her duties as a board member. Expenses shall be paid from the available funds of the authority after the authority assumes management and control of the water and wastewater systems as provided in this chapter. Subject to appropriations, until the date the authority assumes management and control of the water and wastewater systems as provided in this chapter, expenses may be paid by the state.
(5) All meetings of the board shall be subject to the Open Meetings Act in Section 25-41-1 et seq. The chairman or a majority of members of the board may convene the board for a meeting.
(6) Except as otherwise provided by law, all records of the authority shall be deemed public records and subject to public inspection as provided by Section 25-61-1 et seq.
(7) The board may by majority vote excuse the absence of any board member. If any board member is absent for two (2) board meetings in a twelve-month period without such absences being excused by the board, his or her membership on the board shall be terminated as a function of law, without any action by the board, and the removed board member shall be ineligible for reappointment to the board. The original appointing authority shall retain the right to appoint a new board member to replace the removed board member.
(8) No current or former employee of the authority shall be a board member.
(9) Until the authority assumes management and control of the water and wastewater systems, the board shall coordinate with the ITPM in order to provide the best opportunity for minimal disruption in service and maximum ease of transition after the ITPM has concluded his work in overseeing and operating the water system.
(10) A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the total membership of the board is required for any rate increase or expenditure in excess of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00).