Community Plus Management & Co., LLC 

HISTORIC SMITH APARTMENTS for

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Many thanks for your interest in Historic Smith Apartments (HSA). However, for the first time, since opening in 1969, and its renovation in 2006, THE OPERATION OF HSA, A R-4 ZONED PROPERTY, IS SUSPENDED, UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. 

​Illegal sewage drainage, onto northern HSA property, compelled a vacating of tenants, from the area affected, known, at the time. This drainage flowed from a beauty salon and restaurant in a "commercial" building owned by Dr. Samuel Thornton. HSA's operations continue suspended pending the State of Mississippi's (1) affirmation of HSA's complete remediation, by the responsible parties, and (2) a permit is issued by Hinds County to fully re-occupy the HSA building and grounds. In the meantime, best wishes, to you, in your search for other affordable housing. 

See following photos. Mr. Thornton illegally removed the fence between our properties, graded the HSA property and dug deep trenches, into which he relocated his sewer lines to HSA property. They damaged the HSA water line, destroyed the HSA fresh water shut off valve, and tapped into the HSA "residential" sewer system. Wastewater backed up into the sinks and contaminated water flowed down from the faucets of Apartment #1. Requesting immediate corrective action, I called and sent text messages and letters to Mr. Thornton, Ms. Gloria Brister, the City of Raymond, Hinds County Sheriff, Hinds County Supervisors, Mississippi (MS) Health Department, MS Environmental Quality Control,​ and MS Public Service Commission. None replied. This continued for weeks.​

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​​See my following letter. I filed a complaint/claim upon The State. ​I subsequently received a call that work was underway to address the problem. Unable to provide details, this caller suggested that I request an update. None have responded to my following letter of 9/29/2026.​

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From:

Betty L. Smith f/k/a Betty Hearn, 2112 Chestnut Forest Drive, Tampa, Florida 33618, 813-451-2337, Location of Property: Historic Smith Apartments, 1047 Smith Drive, Raymond, MS 39154

To:

• The Honorable Governor Tate Reeves, Office of the Governor, Mississippi State Capitol, 400 High Street, Suite 940, Jackson, MS 39201, (601) 359-3150, Email: governor@govreeves.ms.gov.
• Dr. Daniel Edney, Mississippi State Department of Health, 570 East Woodrow Wilson Dr, Jackson, MS 39216, (601) 576-7634, (866) 458-4948
  
• Mr. Robert Graham, President, Hinds County Board of Supervisors, c/o Hinds County Chancery Clerk, 316 S President Street, Jackson, MS 39201, (601) 968-6501
  
• Mr. Chris Wells, Executive Director, Mississippi Dept of Environmental Quality, c/o Dmitriy Asanov, OPC-ECED, 515 East Amite Street, Jackson, MS 39201, (601) 961-5171, Email assistance@mdeq.ms.gov
  
• Mr. De'Keither Stamps, Central District Commissioner, Public Service Commission, 501 N West Street, Jackson, MS 39201, 601-961-5434Email: central.district@psc.ms.gov
  
• Mr. Randall Harris, Mayor, c/o The City Clerk, City of Raymond, 110 Courtyard Square, P.O. Box 10, Raymond, MS, 39154, Phone: 601-857-8041, Email: cityclerk@raymondms.com;
  

Subject: Status of Your Remediation; Notice of Claim Under Mississippi Code § 11‑46‑11; Sewer and Drainage Damages by the City of Raymond’s in Your Service of Mr. Samuel Thornton, Private Citizen

Ref: Tort Claim Submitted July 3, 2026

Dear Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen:

This letter requests your disclosure of any actions you may have taken to enjoin the waste water dumping and to remediate the damages raised in my referenced Notice of Tort Claims. As a result of these damages, I was coerced into notifying tenants to vacate the premises. Before I can fully restore the occupancy of my property, I request:

• Notice of the actions taken, when taken, and by whom
• Test results assuring the effectiveness of any such actions
• A permit from the city or county Planning and Zoning departments, that I may fully restore uses and occupancy of my property, based on your remediation actions and the testing of my water supply and soil, as support of the success of any such actions

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.
Betty L. Smith

cc: Mr. Tyree D. Jones, Sheriff, Hinds County, P.O. Box 1452, Jackson, MS 39215-1452, 601-974-2900; Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC 20410-8000 1-800-669-9777; Mr. Samuel Thornton, c/o Gloria Brister, Registered Agent, P.O. Box 744, Raymond, MS, 39154