Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley had a small audience at Tuesday evening’s town hall meeting at the Leflore County Courthouse, but he wasn’t dismayed.
“The reason that we do these is to make sure my office is hearing about issues that are local — issues that are affecting the people in every county that I represent,” Presley told his six listeners. “I use these meetings to be accountable to you.”
Presley said the PSC is seeking to address issues vital to business development in Leflore County. For example, he said, the commission is working on bringing natural gas service to the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park.
“This is becoming more and more of an issue because natural gas prices are low,” Presley said.
He noted that Clint Williams Co. has located in the industrial park and said natural gas service would provide opportunities for other companies to locate there.
Presley said the commission is considering a $5 million from Atmos Energy, which would be used to bring natural gas to areas for industrial and commercial development.
“These are the tools that people are going to want,” he said.
Those attending Tuesday’s meeting included Leflore County Circuit Clerk Elmus Stockstill; Angela Curry, executive director of the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board; and Annie Pearl Washington, a member of the Greenwood Utilities Board of Commissioners.
Presley represents the Northern District on the three-member Public Service Commission, which deals with utility and telephone companies. First elected in 2008, he serves 33 counties, including Leflore and Carroll.
Another development the commission is pursuing is ensuring that cellphone coverage reaches into rural areas in the state. This affects public safety because it’s crucial that people be connected to law enforcement agencies and others, he said.
“Cellular telephone coverage is very important today for every family,” he said. “Lots of people are getting away from landline phones and going to cellphones.”
With cellular phone companies receiving federal dollars to expand coverage areas, the commission will continue to hold those companies responsible, he said.
Presley said his office needed help from citizens to pinpoint where cellphone coverage is weak or nonexistent. The commission can be reached toll-free at 1-800-356-6428.
Presley said high-speed Internet is another area where rural communities are lagging behind.
“That is an issue today that is as important as running water and paved roads were 40 or 50 years ago,” Presley said.
Unfortunately, he said, another state agency permitted an overcounting of Internet service to be conducted, and the commission is attempting to correct it.
“If we don’t get this corrected, we’re going to lose millions and millions of federal dollars” in getting high-speed Internet service to rural areas, he said.
“Tell the commission where you live so we can document it,” he said.
Presley said the lack of high-speed Internet hinders the region’s school age children as well as business development.
Barbara Gray asked how to handle a billing dispute with Greenwood Utilities. Presley said since the utility is municipally owned, its rates are determined by the mayor and City Council.
Only if the disputed amount is $2,500 or more can the commission be requested to act as a mediator in the matter of a municipally-owned utility, he said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
