Aging infrastructure begins biggest challenge in Lucedale

ROY HOWARD COMMUNITY JOURNALISM CENTER-In Lucedale, city leaders say rapid growth has made aging infrastructure the city’s biggest challenge.

Mayor Al Jones says traffic congestion and water lines dating back decades are under increasing pressure as more people move into the area.

He says addressing those needs will be a top priority during this 2026 legislative session. “Some of the pipes have been there since 1940, and so, you’ve got an aging water system, and we chase and put leaks out, so we’re trying to and with the aging water system, you get more pressure on it because of the growth factor.”

Jones says an ongoing dispute over who pays to house city inmates at the George County Jail is also a focus.