Posted on Sun, May. 04, 2008

-- In a recent article, local officials lamented that almost no water and sewerage work has commenced since Katrina despite the availability of $640 million in recovery money earmarked for such projects.

None of the dozens of engineers and contractors present at a powwow appeared to have a clear answer as to why the work was hardly moving.

Dozens of engineers and contractors.

Hmm. I think I may have a theory why work is moving so slow. Dozens of engineers and contractors.

When Congress approved the unprecedented $640 million for water and sewerage on the Coast, they specified that the counties involved form some sort of regional water authority. This, in itself, was a feat that almost proved beyond the ability of the state Legislature, but after much wrangling and turf battling, a loose federation was finally adopted.

But local government leaders don't readily give up their control of water and sewerage. In fact, they guard it like a momma bear with her cubs - George County, for instance, refused to join the regional water authority - and the local governments getting the regional money still have a great deal of autonomy.

Hence the gaggle of engineers and contractors involved. Looks like everybody's gettin' a piece of the action.

One of the first lessons I learned about local government long ago was: Behind every great Mississippi politician, there's at least one engineer/water-sewer guy with his hand out.

I didn't get it at first. I remember approaching a wise politico about the issue. "Why would a mayor, councilman or supervisor want control over water and sewer?" I asked, in my naïveté. "If the faucets run and the water flushes, people don't think about it - they don't give thanks to their local elected officials. But if the water doesn't flow and the toilet doesn't flush, then the citizenry tends to get mad as heck at said officials."

This sage old Kung-fu master explained to young Grasshopper that politicians and water-sewer-engineer types have a symbiotic relationship. One can hardly exist without the other.

It costs money to stay elected, play golf at nice places and eat steaks and barbecue.

No, this guru explained to me, you'll never see a local official giving up control over water and sewerage or dirt-and-gravel work. And for nearly 20 years, I've seen this prove true. Some of the nastiest political fights I've ever seen had to do with attempts (usually failed) to regionalize water and sewerage and such.

So if you're wondering why the water-and-sewer projects are taking so long, just keep in mind that $640 million is a lot of honey, and it takes time and finagling to make sure everybody gets a taste.

Just be patient. Your tax dollars are at work.

Political editor Geoff Pender can be reached at 896-2329 or at glpender@sunherald.com.