Memphis Light, Gas and Water has a five-year plan to fix and improve infrastructure in the Mid-South, paid for by a rate increase on both water and electric bills.
Memphis City Councilman JB Smiley, Jr. explains why the rate increase is needed. The public utility, he says, did not maintain existing infrastructure while continuing to expand.
Smiley joins fellow council members Chase Carlisle and Rhonda Logan for this week’s WKNO-TV Behind the Headlinesto talk about MLGW and the city's research into a power provider other than the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
In addition, council members discussresidency expansion requirements for Memphis City police officers. All council members agree that the citizens of Memphis should be able to decide on the residency requirements. However, Logan adds that many citizens do not have all the information, and before Election Eay she hopes to “engage and inform” citizens.
Wrapping up, council members talk about the city’s 2020 budget. Carlisle discusses the city's plan to recover from mounting debt.
Listen to the audio version of "Behind the Headlines," broadcast on February 28, 2020.
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