The City of Brookhaven will see a slight change to the recycling process this spring.

Ward 6 Alderman David Phillips announced that due to the collapse in recycling commodity prices, Concordia Metals – which the city primarily uses for its recycling efforts – suspended their recycling activities until prices recover. Phillips said Sumrall Recycling is a more desirable destination for Waste Pro, so it will be a smooth transition.

In light of these events and hoping to have a fresh start with Sumrall Recycling, Phillips proposed closing the city’s drop-off recycling on March 1 due to continued contamination of the recycling in the drop off bins. Phillips motioned, and Ward 4 Alderwoman Shirley Estes seconded the motion. Phillips said curbside-recycling pickup will continue, and the city will utilize the two large bins during larger citywide events like the Ole Brook Festival to ease trash collection.

Phillips said the reason they were going to Concordia Metals was to support the regional recycling efforts in Southwest Mississippi. Concordia Metals is located in Vidalia, Louisiana, and Sumrall Recycling in Sumrall.

Other actions were:

• Approved payment of $728.00 to Brookhaven Ready Mix for seven yards of concrete at $1.04 per yard for walkway (103’ long, 5’ wide, 4” thick) at Bicentennial Park to be paid from Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthiest Hometown award funds.

• Approved payment to WGK Engineers and Surveyors for $11,325 for the 2014 CDBG Sewer Rehab Project in the Cherokee Street, Chickasaw Street and Minnesota Street areas lying southeast of City Hall. The project, conducted this summer, consisted of a smoke test and cleaning. The project allowed WGK to see all the leaks along the line.

• The board went into executive session to discuss matters of personnel. Upon exiting executive session, the board approved a promotion for Willie B. Wilson Jr. to street superintendent within the Street Department.