Progress on the Brignall fire loop is goingwell and several other water and sewer projects could soon be inthe diagnosis phase, according to a report delivered by MikeMcKenzie of Williford, Gearhart and Knight Engineering to cityaldermen at Tuesday’s board meeting.

    “We have been going for a week,” McKenzie said of the fire loop.”We hope to get through early.”

    McKenzie also discussed two areas of the water and sewer system tobe addressed by repairs soon.

    Mayor Les Bumgarner had tasked McKenzie and Public Works DirectorSteve Moreton with identifying projects in the city most in need ofrepair.

    At Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell’s prompting, McKenzie reportedthe location of the two sites. One is near the intersection ofNatchez Avenue and Ellen Drive with Highway 51. The other is onUnion Street near the railroad tracks.

    The board was in widespread agreement as to the necessity of theUnion Street project.

    “When it rains, the manholes overflow,” said Ward Six AldermanDavid Phillips, whose ward contains the street in question.

    McKenzie said the identified sites will be diagnosed to identifywhether the pipes can be rehabbed or whether they must bereplaced.

    Bumgarner said the worst projects city-wide should be the priorityfor repairs, and encouraged the aldermen to think city-wide and notward-wide.

    “If everyone wants to do big projects in their ward, we’re notgoing to be able to do any projects,” Bumgarner said.

    For this reason, Bumgarner initially resisted Maxwell’s request tobe told the location of the sites selected by McKenzie andMorton.

    “After you found out one was in your ward, then you were for it,”Bumgarner said.

    Maxwell pointed out that neither project was in his ward. The UnionStreet project is in Phillips’ ward and the Natchez Avenue andEllen Drive site is in Ward Four, represented by Shirley Estes.

    “I support both, especially David’s,” Maxwell said. “But I am notsupporting anything if I don’t know where it is.”

    Aldermen also briefly discussed redistricting.

    “We don’t want to wait until the last minute on that,” said WardOne Alderman Dorsey Cameron.

    The city is legally required to redraw its ward lines using thelatest census data. Redistricting must be completed by September of2012.

    The city has contracted with Southwest Mississippi Planning andDevelopment to aid in the process.

    Bugmarner reported to the board that a small delay has occurred.Bobby Smith was assigned to work with the city in the process andhad made a presentation to the board in August concerningredistricting.

    Smith, however, no longer works with Southwest Mississippi Planningand Development, Bumgarner said.

    A work session to deal with redistricting was briefly discussed,but not scheduled.

    “We’ve still got plenty of time,” Maxwell said.