The board of aldermen put together a subcommittee Tuesday todiscuss the possibility of leasing out the A.L. Lott Sportsplex tointerested parties who might want to put together private sportsleagues.

“I know five or six years ago there were some people who reallywanted to lease it out and we wouldn’t let them,” said Alderman atlarge Les Bumgarner. “If there’s any interest and some people couldget something started up, it would be great to get the young peopleover there involved. It’s a shame people won’t use it.”

Mayor Bob Massengill agreed.

“It’s worth exploring,” he said. “We want to see young peopleparticipate, and if they would do it, we’d like to see thathappen.”

Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron said he didn’t want to see thecity recreation department completely left out of the loop.

“I don’t want to see them out of the organization of this,” hesaid. “If we’re going to do this, it’s a lot to look at.”

Activities at the Lott complex have been a source of somecontention in recent years. Recreation department officials havecited a lack of community participation while others, includingWard Two Alderman Terry Bates, have questioned department decisionsregarding programs at the facility.

Bumgarner said he simply felt research should be done intowhether or not leasing the complex is an option.

“A lot of soccer and baseball leagues are run by the parents,”he said. “If we can get the parents to take the ball and run withit, the kids will come.”

The board also approved a resolution in honor of former MayorDoug Sullivan Tuesday night, honoring his contributions to hiscity, state, and country through his military and civilservice.

“Doug Sullivan served his state and community his entire life,”said Massengill about the former mayor, who died lastWednesday.

The resolution, which detailed Sullivan’s military record,offices held, and community service, was read into the board’sminutes. Sullivan was mayor from 1993-97 and later became stateoffice director for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.

“I feel that it should be said that it’s not every day that aUnited States senator comes to a funeral in Brookhaven,” saidMassengill. “But Sen. Thad Cochran was at Doug’s funeral. He was atruly good and beloved man.”

Bumgarner said Sullivan was the first person he met when hemoved to Brookhaven.

“I know everyone probably has a Doug Sullivan story,” saidBumgarner. “But he was the first person I met, and he took me underhis wing and really made me feel welcome.”

In other matters, the board discussed the sale of fireworksinside the newly annexed areas of the city. Local fireworkssalesman Robert Covington was on hand to state his case to theboard.

Covington told the board that he had been in the fireworksbusiness in the area for about seven years, and that the annexationhad had a crippling effect on his income.

“With the recent annexation, it’s put me out of business,” hesaid. “But I’m not just speaking for myself. There are severalothers like me in the area.”

Cameron asked if there were any grandfather clauses that applieddirectly to the sale of fireworks, but City Attorney Joe Fernaldsaid it would be a matter that would need to be addressed withPolice Chief Pap Henderson and Fire Chief Bob Watts.

Massengill said he would contact Henderson and Watts and set upa meeting for them and Covington to discuss the issue.

Also Tuesday, the board voted to approve the amended plat forthe Brookwood Place Subdivision that is being constructed.Developer Jamie Miller explained the only difference in the amendedplat and the earlier one is that the access point had been movedfrom Union Street to Brookman Drive.