Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

Chamber Confidential

www.metrochamber.com

Volume 2, Number 35 

Lewis Slater, Senior Vice-President, Governmental Relations

2006 Metro Legislative Agenda Adopted

The chamber board of directors adopted the following Metro Legislative Agenda on November 21. Other issues may be added as the circumstances warrant.

These issues were developed during the chamber's annual legislative planning session on November 8.  Area legislators, metro area chambers, the Chamber's Governmental Relations Division, mayors and supervisors on the chamber board, MEDA (MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance Partners) and selected others were invited to participate.

The purpose of the meeting was to begin developing a Metro Legislative Agenda for the chamber board to consider. The participating groups focused on a few issues that must be addressed for the long term benefit of the Jackson metro area and need the support of the metro area chambers in order to be successful. Focusing on just a few issues has been the metro legislative agenda philosophy since its inception about five years ago. Other issues are also very important for our metro area’s future and these issues are often endorsed by the various chambers. However, most of these other issues have their own lobbying support groups.

 Two new issues and five carry over issues were identified for 2006. These issues are:

New Proposals:

·        Capital City Convention Center/Mississippi Telecommunications Conference and Training Center: Initiate legislation to merge the governing boards of these two organizations. These facilities were designed to complement each other and will be physically joined to permit pedestrian movement from one to the other. Placing both organizations under the same governing board will facilitate operating, marketing, and managing the facilities to optimize their utilization.

Editorial comment: Placing both organizations under the same governing board is simply the right thing to do. The operation of two facilities, connected to each other with a pedestrian walkway, can be maximized and conflicts eliminated by placing both organizations under one governing board.

·        Public Safety: Review the public safety needs of cities and counties and determine if legislation is needed in the area of courts, judges, or other areas to improve public safety.

Editorial comment: Public safety is on the mind of everyone. The Mississippi Municipal League is advocating full funding of the State Crime Lab, advocating a place in emergency management plans for municipalities that act as first responders, and allowing municipal public safety officers to use city equipment on off-duty jobs when approved by the city.

Carry Overs from 2005 Legislative Agenda:

·        Tort reform: Work with Mississippians for Economic Progress and other business organizations to maintain the progressive tort reform legislation passed during the 2006special session.

Editorial comment: Mississippi’s business climate has improved since passage of tort reform in 2006. We must maintain and preserve the gains provided by this recent legislation.

·        Toll Roads: Support efforts to grant authority to the Mississippi Department of Transportation and local governments to construct toll roads. The metro area’s high demand for road improvements and lack of funding to service these needs makes toll roads a viable alternative in a few situations.

      Editorial comment: There are a few places where toll roads may be of interest to MDOT and local governing authorities.  The use of toll roads has two benefits.  It provides safer limited access roads and helps relieve congestion on public roads.

·        MOST: Mississippi Optional Sales Tax: The chamber supports the concept of giving cities and counties the right to call an election on levying a sales tax to fund critical infrastructure needs.

Editorial comment: If this enabling legislation is passed, it would be unlikely that the Jackson City Council would vote to call an election on levying an additional sales tax. The city has already levied taxes to fund the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Capital City Convention Center.

Though MOST may not be of great interest to Jackson at this time, it is of interest to other cities in our metro area and throughout the state. These cities would like to have the authority to call elections on levying a sales tax to fund infrastructure projects. We believe municipalities and counties should have this authority.       

·        Incentives for development of Downtown Business Districts:  Incentives to enhance residential and commercial growth in central business districts are in the process of being developed for consideration by the chamber. These incentives are expected to be tax exemptions on new and improved properties. Another incentive is expected to be the recommendation that Mississippi create a state historic preservation tax credit program similar to the present Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program.

Editorial comment:  These incentives are being used throughout the nation to help revitalize activity in large and small downtown business districts. Much potential for this type of development exists in our metro area. 

·        Funding mechanism for storm water drainage districts: During the 2000 session of the legislature, the Mississippi Storm Water Management Act was passed to authorize cities and counties to address problems from storm water runoff. However, no funding mechanism was included in the bill to provide the funds to implement the act. Municipalities and counties need a funding mechanism to implement this act to protect life and property.

      Editorial comment:  Selected cities and counties are under a federal timeline mandate to address storm water management.  Unless they get this authority, they will be forced to fund storm water management through general property tax increases at a time when cities and counties are all having budgetary problems.

Area Employers Council Update

Chris Blount, L-3 Vertex Aerospace, Chairman)

(Invitation for $600 and above investors.)

Tom Siler, a labor law attorney with the multi-state law firm of Phelps Dunbar, will be the speaker for the council’s next meeting, scheduled for 11:30 AM on Wednesday,November 30, in the Alvis T. Hunt Community Development Room of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership . His topic will be "The Ten Commandments for Management."

            A light lunch will be served at 11:30 AM and the program will conclude by 1:00 PM or before. Please RSVP to Lewis Slater at lslater@metrochamber.com before noon on Monday, November 28. Attendance is limited to the first fifty-five (55) persons that respond.

Why You Should Attend:

For over 20 years, Mr. Siler has had the privilege of observing how managers run businesses, managing details and people, in both good and challenging times. He has obtained a wealth of input, positive and negative, with regard to how managers and supervisors have handled key responsibilities.

              In addition, Mr. Siler has had the honor of serving as part of his law firm's management committee, which is charged with the oversight of some 265 attorneys and 250 non-lawyer employees in four states. These combined experiences have led him to identify certain common principles shared by all successful managers. He has distilled these principles in an insightful presentation known as the "The Ten Commandments of Management."

            This is a great opportunity for everyone, from business owners and corporate executives, to front-line managers and supervisors.  Whether your workplace is a small business or a Fortune 500 company, you will benefit from this presentation. “The Ten Commandments for Management" are relatively simple, but are important concepts that many managers never grasp.  The MetroJackson Chamber's Area Employer's Council is pleased to offer this valuable and insightful presentation as a service to its $600 and above investors. 

Mississippi Business & Technology Expo   January   18 - 19, 2006 www.msbusiness.com/events     It is time again for the state's largest business-to-business networking event — the Mississippi Business & Technology EXPO. The event, presented by Roadrunner Business Class, will be held January 18,19 2006 at the Trade Mart in Jackson. It is a special project of the Mississippi Business Journal, Now in its 23nd year, EXPO will feature nearly 200 exhibits and is expected to attract thousands of attendees. In addition, the event will feature multiple awards programs, free seminars, door prizes, and more. Special drawings will be held for seminar attendees to win two free Southwest Airlines tickets; and visitors to the Cyber Café can register for a FREE computer from Ridgeland Computer Repair and Road Runner. Golf Pro Bob Ford will analyze swings, and many other attractions await EXPO attendees. "Over the course of more than two decades, the Mississippi Business Journal has worked diligently to grow the number of exhibitors, attendees and offerings at the show," said MBJ general manager Ron Jones. "We are going to provide a number of 'firsts' at this year's event, and we are really excited about the 2006 version of the EXPO." The EXPO's hours Wednesday, January 18, 2006, will be 9:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m., including a Business After Hours networking party beginning at 5 p.m., and on Thursday, January 19 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.  The Top 40 Under 40 Luncheon will also be held January 18, beginning at noon, and will recognize 40 of Mississippi's top business and community leaders under the age of 40. The Business Woman of the Year Luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. January 19. This award ceremony unveils the top business woman selected from the MBJ's previously held 50 Leading Business Women program. Special Projects Director, Robbie Bell, reports that outstanding entertainment, speakers and multi-media are once again on the agenda for each of these events.   The show is open to the public, and admission is free with a business card. For more information, call (601) 364-1000,    Whether you're an entrepreneur, a sole proprietor or CEO of a large corporation, this is one event you don't want to miss!   We hope to see you there!

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