Brookhaven Police Chief discussed the recent vehicle burglaries at the Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday night.

Chief Bobby Bell urged alderwomen and men to warn people in their wards to keep cars locked.

Chief Bell said suspects have arrested in connection to burglaries similar to those in Brookhaven. Bell said he believes those arrested were involved with the chase the department had on Jan. 8 leading officers to Byram before giving up the chase for safety reasons.

In other updates, Chief Bell wanted to inform residents there have been burglaries in Ford F250s around the city where suspects use a device to pop open locks and gain entrance into the vehicle.

“Make sure you take computers and cameras out of your vehicles or make sure they’re unseen,” Chief Bell said.

In executive session the Board appointed four individuals from the city to meet with and work over details with Lincoln County officials with regards to the baseball facility. Those individuals are: Karen Sullivan, Alderwoman at Large, Randy Belcher, Ward 1 Alderman, Mike Mckenzie of WGK and Terry Reid, Brookhaven Recreation Department director.

For other board action, see page 3.

The Board approved the following actions:

• Approved salary increase for Christopher Hester for completing the Fire Academy training and becoming a certified fireman.

• Approved salary increase for LaChandrea Ewing of the Police Department, who was promoted from part-time to full-time dispatcher.

• Approved to hire Shauntinae Mullen as part-time dispatcher for the Police Department.

• Accept retirement of Robert Lee Edwards as of Jan. 30 in the Street Department with 22 years of service.

• Approved to put stripes on unmarked car to be used as a patrol car by request of Brookhaven Police Department Chief Bobby Bell.

• Approved to move forward on the Healthy Workplace Initiative for city employees. The initiative is in partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi.

• Approved off-road diesel bids from James Case Oil.

• Approved the minutes of the regular meeting of Jan. 6, 2015.

• Approved to receive the Dec. 2014 Privilege License Report showing revenue of $6,127.45.

• Approved to receive the Dec. 2014 Revenue and Expenditure Report submitted by the Clerk.

• Approved to receive the Dec. 2014 Municipal Court Report showing revenue of $31,657.61.

• Approved Claims Docket numbers No. 219409 thru No. 219835 for a total of $1,450,660.82, which includes Purchase Orders No. 2494 thru No. 2637.

• Approved to receive the Dec. 2014 Fire Department run report showing 21 runs in the city and one run outside the city.

• Approved to declare items listed below as surplus and send to auction from the Police Department:

Unit No. 5 2008 Ford Crown Victoria; Mileage – 153,846; 2FAFP71V28X144130

Unit No. 17 2009 Ford Crown Victoria; Mileage – 189,127; 2FAHP71V09X145576

• Approved pay request No. 2 from WGK in the amount of $10,739.75 to Gulf Coast Underground, LLC for the 2014 CDBG Sewer Rehab Improvements.

• Approved pay request No. 3 from WGK in the amount of $55,581.59 to Gulf Coast Underground, LLC for the 2014 CDBG Sewer Rehab Improvements.

• Approved Mayor to sign CDBG Reimbursement #9 for Sewer Improvements.

• Approved for Blake Wallace and Eric Smith to attend the Confined Space Rescue Class at the MS Fire Academy; Wallace on Feb. 2-5, 2015 and Smith on Feb. 9-12, 2015. Cost of class is $68.00. Reimbursement by city for mileage and meals.

• Approved for Stanley Dixon to attend the Campus Fire and Life Safety Codes and Systems Class at MS Fire Academy on Mar. 10 and 11, 2015. Class is free. Reimbursement by city for mileage and meals.

• Approved for following office machines to be cleared as salvage and disposed of:

a. Lexmark Copier & Fax; Model No. X125; ID No. 1045; Serial No. 1311081785

b. Minolta Copier; Model No. EP1031; ID No. 1046; Serial No. 31762431

• Approved to reject and re-advertise Brookway Boulevard Paving project. Federal Highway did not give Mississippi Department of Transportation approval to take one bid.

• Approved appointing of Earl C. “Rusty” Yates to the Board of Adjustments for Ward 4.

• Approved re-appointment of Glen Claiborne to Board of Adjustments for Ward 6.

• Approved to, in partnership with the county, to pay half of amount needed to apply center stripes to roads in Ward 4. There are ongoing discussions with the county concerning this issue.