By Staff
special to The Star
July 18, 2004
A local professional engineer and former Meridian Mayor was one of 30 individuals named to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC0).
Jimmy W. Kemp was recently notified that he was selected for the committee to help fulfill "its mission of advice and counsel on the needs and concerns of local government to the Agency."
He is the only member of the current committee from the state of Mississippi and the first Mississippian to serve on the LGAC since its inception eleven years ago. Kemp's selection reflects his many years work in environmental issues and their impact on local governments and communities.
LGAC is chartered to provide advice and recommendations that assist the EPA in developing a stronger partnership with local governments through building state and local capacity to deliver environmental services and programs.
It provides recommendations to the EPA on a broad range of topics including communications, flexibility, strategic planning, regulatory innovation and reform, environmental protection tools, pollution prevention, new technologies, performance measurement and appropriate roles of the various governmental levels in efficient and coordinated environmental management.
A consulting engineer for more than 35 years, Kemp is a principal in the firm Kemp Associates, which has offices in Newton and Noxapater. He is the former county engineer for Lauderdale, Kemper, and Noxubee counties and presently serves as county engineer for Newton and Winston counties.
A native of Noxapater, Kemp earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a professional engineer and a registered land surveyor.
Kemp was mayor of Meridian from 1985 until 1993. While Kemp was mayor, the City of Meridian was designated in 1988 as an All-America City by the National Civil League.
During Kemp's tenure, the city also received the 1989 Exemplary Civilian/Military Relations designation from the Department of Defense and the International City Management Association, the 1990 City Livability Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the 1991 Urban Enrichment Award from the National League of Cities. Through his guidance, Meridian developed nationally recognized recycling programs for household garbage and wastewater sludge.
Under Kemp's leadership, Meridian adopted the Main Street downtown development program and embarked upon many major capital programs, including a new public works complex, the Sowashee Creek flood control and recreation project, the Gallagher Creek flood control project, the Bonita Lakes development program, various streets and bridge projects and water and sewer system improvements.
For these and other accomplishments, Kemp was the recipient of a Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 1993.
A member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Advisory Board, Kemp served on various committees and as co-chairman of its Solid Waste Management Association.
He served on the National Office Paper Recycling Project and with the Municipal Waste Management Association.
Created in 1993, the Local Government Advisory Committee members serve under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Members are selected from elected and appointed local officials, state representatives, environmental and other interests groups. Kemp's term begins immediately and continues through Dec. 31, 2006.