The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved the formation of the Linbrook Fire District for the Linbrook Business Park.

Brookhaven/Lincoln County Chamber Executive Director Garrick Combs and the board discussed fire protection for the park and whose responsibility it is to provide fire protection: the city or the county. Combs said that because the park’s location is outside the city limits the Brookhaven Fire Department is not the primary responder, which makes the park’s primary responders approximately 6.5 miles away.

“There are steps we can take easily and without any expense on the city or its residents that we can take to create a fire district so we can change the primary responders,” Combs said.

He said by cutting down on the number of miles between the park and primary responders, the fire rating would be lower and would lower insurance costs for businesses that locate there. Mayor Joe Cox said the current rating is a 10. With the city fire department becoming the primary responders the park would drop to a 5.

“It’s a step to make the park more marketable,” Combs said.

Combs also told the board that the topographic survey on the 10-acre site had been completed along with a proposed building placement on the site map. He said Chamber members are meeting next week with engineers, and the building’s construction should be completed around the first of the year.

The building was proposed by the Alliance and Agracel as an effort to be a more competitive location for potential industries.

In a motion following action by the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors, the city board approved Combs’ request that the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Economic Development Alliance add two Chamber of Commerce members to the Alliance. The Alliance will now have two representatives from the city, two from the county and three from the Chamber.

In another request from Combs, the board approved to redirect the city’s budget allocation to the Alliance as opposed to the Chamber of Commerce effective Oct. 1.

“This is a measure to be taken so we make sure our economic development efforts don’t become splintered,” Combs said.

Also Tuesday, Ryan Holmes of Dungan Engineering announced the lowest bid in relation to improvements to the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Airport. Improvements include removing trees, which became obstructions to the airport’s glide path, and pavement rehabilitation around airport hangars and other areas. The lowest bid came from Oddee Smith Construction, a local contractor. With the bid received Holmes said they could move forward with submitting the grant application to the Federal Aviation Administration. Once the FAA has approved the application the full award can be given to contractors to begin on improvements.

The board also approved to hire Glenn Miller Forestry Services Inc. to appraise the timber on the airport’s land.

In other board business:

• The board approved, at the request of Ward 2 Alderman Terry Bates, a $50,000 match with the county to apply for the Pearl River Basin Development Grant to fund a new public park to be built on Williams Street by the Cloverdale Apartments subject to the city owning the property.

• The board accepted 50 18-gallon recycling bins from the City of Natchez to be distributed to Mamie Martin School and Brookhaven Elementary School.

• The board approved for Jaskarn Singh to sell packaged beer at Stop & Shop located at 923 East Monticello St.

• The board accepted a lower quote for fire hydrant replacement from Red Oak Construction, LLC for $48,220.

• Aldermen approved to send Zach Brown to the Water Operator Training Course at Southwest Mississippi Community College, paying registration of $40 and expenses incurred.

• The board accepted the lowest quote for a lawn mower for the Waste Water Treatment Plant from Mike’s Tractor at $5,291.77.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m.