Mississippi
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In one of his last speeches before stepping down as Mississippi governor, Haley Barbour praised two books that he said feels illustrate the need for Mississippi to return to core American values of hard work, church, and making sure one's children get a good education:

* "That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back" by Thomas Friedman (who Barbour described as a New York Times columnist, not usually in my crowd);
* And "Civilization: The West and the Rest" by Niall Ferguson.

The speech, given Dec. 15 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, garnered praise from some of the 60 or so who attended, including Long Beach Alderman Ronnie Hammonds, and Helen and Leonard Bentz Sr., of Biloxi, parents of Southern District Public Service Commissioner Leonard Bentz.

Bentz Sr. described the speech, which focused on an honest, transparent budget, as "phenomenal."

'Conceptually naked'

A 20-minute discussion about appointments to a selection board meant to choose an engineering firm for Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds for projects in Ocean Springs prompted Alderman James Hagan to try and keep Mayor Connie Moran off that committee.

The committee, which features several department supervisors, was lacking the mayor's name, which grants administrator Carolyn Martin said was an oversight.

When Alderman Greg Denyer said he wanted to be included on the committee to learn more about the funding and projects, Moran asked Martin to add her name and Denyer's name.

Hagan said, "Not without a board vote."

Hagan and Aldermen Matt McDonnell and John Gill then took turns attacking Moran, claiming she strong-arms committees to get her way.

Moran and Alderman Chic Cody defended the mayor being on the committee by noting the process ranks each firm on qualifications and that there is no way she can sway it toward a specific company.

The mayor said she's been involved with the projects since the beginning and, as the daily administrator, she needs to be on the committee.

Denyer told Hagan, McDonnell and Gill that the process is "conceptually naked" and they were concerned for nothing.

In the end, McDonnell, Hagan and Gill would only vote in favor of the mayor being on the selection committee if Hagan was allowed to sit on it as well.

Governor-elect to hold media reception

The transition team for Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant is planning a media reception the night before the governor-elect is inaugurated. The event is set to be held at the Old State Capitol on Jan. 9 and include music, food and "some down time with Mississippi's next governor."

The invite asks reporters to leave their tape recorders at home and just enjoy themselves.

A heck of a Christmas present

Pascagoula City Councilmen and Mayor Robbie Maxwell got an unpleasant surprise the Thursday before the Christmas weekend, with the news that the city's garbage transfer facility was structurally unsound and needed to be vacated immediately.

The finding prompted an emergency meeting of staff and elected leaders, who gave City Manager Joe Huffman the go-ahead to negotiate new contracts with the two carriers that use the facility. Although it is trying to get the debt waived, the city still owes the government millions on the plant, which was originally built as a garbage-to-steam production facility.

New contracts with the carriers, which are now having to transport garbage all the way to Pass Christian, could very likely result in cost differentials being passed on to customers, city attorney Eddie Williams said.

Upon hearing about the conundrum, Maxwell asked Jackson County Supervisor Mike Mangum if he would pay to fix the facility. Mangum pulled a few bills out of his wallet and said, "That's about all I got, but you can have it," prompting some laughter during what had been a trying day.

"That's a heck of a Christmas present," Maxwell told Compton Engineering's David Compton, who outlined the building's problems.

Tags:  committee mayor hagan alderman moran facility governor mississippi christmas mcdonnell