Conger, Harris give updates on City, County during First Friday Forum

Jackson Mayor Scott Conger joined Jimmy Harris, mayor of Madison County for the First Friday Forum at First Methodist Church, Friday.

Here are a few highlights

Jimmy Harris –

County budget $258 million

>Debt $84.5 million
>Over half expansion of jail (should be completed April, 2021)
>Annex over courthouse will be closed once expansion happens
>Overcrowding is partly from state inmates
>
>2 new schools- Madison Academic High School
>New Jackson Central-Merry
>
>Airport- total aircraft operations exceeded 23,000 units (take offs, landings)
>Passengers exceeded 11,000 this year.
>51 racing teams with 108 racers for Women’s Air Race Classic
>
>Tourism – 12th in state, 1,800 employed in Jackson-Madison County
>anticipating over $40,000 in hotel/motel tax
>
>Madison County Fire Department – 175 employees
>About 15,000 at Firefighters Freedom Fest.
>
>Industry -2 expansions- Toyota Boshoku expansion
>Lighting Source>December Japan visit

>Seven Japanese Companies in Jackson
>
>3.5 percent sales tax increase
>3.4 percent unemployment
>‹‹‹-
>Scott Conger
>
>Jackson Police Department 7.7 percent reductions in crimes and offenses since 2018
>Trying to improve community relations
>
>Jackson Fire Department – Darryl W. Samuels Sr., was named the new Fire Chief of the City of Jackson.
>Fire truck and life safety gaming fire truck.
>9,646 hours to teach students in different schools

>Parks:
>Seven special Olympics events
>More teams at Sportsplex this year
>
>Over next four years will pave 100 percent of priority streets
>
>West Tennessee Farmers Market, Carl Perkins Civic Center, Oman Arena all positives
>
>Created Budget committee
>
>Challenges:
>Be more effective, transparent
>
>Goals:
>Demolish homes in blighted area
>Better asset accountability
>Missions software launch
>Reduce recidivism
>Curbside recycling