As citizens start to ask questions about city expansion plans,Brookhaven aldermen hope to get answers from their annexationattorney and consultants during an upcoming meeting.

Several aldermen said Tuesday they have received calls fromcitizens regarding annexation costs, revenue projections and otherissues. Board members said they needed to have thatinformation.

City officials initially scheduled a meeting with the attorneyand consultant for Wednesday or Thursday night.

However, Mayor Bill Godbold was absent Tuesday night and was notexpected to be able to attend because his daughter, Georgia, isvery ill. Some aldermen also mentioned conflicts in their schedulesthat would prevent a quorum from being present either night.

It was not known after Tuesday’s meeting when the specialmeeting would be held. City Attorney Joe Fernald said he wouldcontact the consultant and attorney to try and schedule ameeting.

Fernald said the special meeting would be held in executivesession for litigation purposes.

“Annexation is in and of itself a litigation process,” Fernaldsaid.

Aldermen approved an annexation ordinance at their Sept. 17meeting.

Ward 4 Alderman Bob Massengill said he had received some callsfrom citizens mostly opposed to the annexation. He questionedwhether there would be a public meeting to give citizens a chanceto comment on city plans.

Fernald was unable to say if a public hearing was a requiredpart of the proceedings. He added that the city has receivedcomments from a number of people in the proposed annexation areawho are willing to testify in support of the plan in court.

“It’s a split decision,” Fernald said about annexationsentiments.

CLEARING LOTS

In other business during Tuesday’s meeting, a public hearing oncleaning of lots was held.

Building Inspector Steve Moreton said 54 letters had been sentto property owners telling them to clean up their property or thecity would do it and charge them for the service.

Moreton said 19 had complied with the city’s request, 12-15 wereworking on clean up and he had not heard from the others. Threeproperty owners, Betty Montgomery, Andre Lenoir and Gwen Smith,attended the hearing.

Montgomery said she had spoken with renters about junk car buildup at her trailer park in Union Street.

“I told them to move them or move themselves,” Montgomerysaid.

Lenoir was contacted about clean up of some Minnesota Streetproperty, and Smith about an apartment in the northeast Brookhaven.They were given 30 days to act on the clean up requests.

FIRE LOOP

Engineer Jeff Green updated city officials on the South FirstStreet and Whitworth fire loop projects. He said crews are pavingSouth First Street and storm drain installation work and he hopedto have all asphalt down by the end of the week.

“We’re very close to finishing that project up,” Green said.

Green said he is in contact with railroad and transportationofficials about road bores for water line installation as part ofthe fire loop project. Due to some recent bad weather, Green saidthat project may go a little past its Nov. 27 completiontimeframe.

“But we’re going to be fairly close to that completion date,”Green said.

INSURANCE UPDATE

In order for Godbold to be in attendance, aldermen delayedapproval of a liability insurance policy that includes a 23.6percent increase. The policy rose from $100,184 last year to$123,876 this year.

The city’s policy expired Oct. 1, but aldermen received repeatedassurances from insurance agent Mike Smith that the city still hadcoverage. If the board opted to not renew, Smith said the citywould have to pay for the portion of this year’s coverage.

Smith said he contacted two other insurance providers about anew policy. One would not offer a policy quote and the other’sprice was higher than the current policy.

Also Tuesday:

* Eagle Scout candidate Eric Shackelford spoke to the boardabout his project to clean up litter along Brookway Boulevard. Hesaid scouts collected 32 bags of litter, trash and other itemsduring a two-weekend effort in September.

“Litter costs everyone who lives here. We all need to do betterin controlling litter,” said Shackelford, a member of Boy ScoutTroop 119.

* City officials also discussed some motorists’ concerns aboutvisibility at the intersection of South Jackson Street and NatchezAvenue. Jimmy Furlow, sign and traffic supervisor, and Police ChiefArlustra “Pap” Henderson agreed to look into the situation andMassengill said he would speak with a property owner about thematter.

* Aldermen approved an amended ordinance to keep heavy trucksoff South First Street. The ordinance prohibits trucks weighing35,000 pounds or more.

* Ralph Bryant was reappointed to the Brookhaven HousingAuthority.

* A subcommittee of aldermen agreed to study proposed new ratesfor use of city garbage trailers.

* Speaking with Recreation Department Director Terry Reid, theboard clarified the Brookhaven Parks Commission’s positionregarding the city assuming control of the Kids Kingdomplayground.

The city has not voted to accept the playground, pending anengineer’s study and survey of the area. Fernald said there was apublic misconception that the city had agreed to take theplayground.

Aldermen were concerned that accepting the commission’s minuteswould mean the city had accepted the property. Officials agreedthat the parks commission would be informed before a final decisionon the playground is made.

“We just wanted to make sure we’re all on the same page,”Fernald said.