Lincoln County Civil Defense Director Clifford Galey told city officials Tuesday that Brookhaven’s FEMA building can only be used as a severe weather shelter if an order comes from the state or the president. 

Galey addressed the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen after some residents questioned why the FEMA shelter on Industrial Park Road wasn’t opened during recent severe storms. 

The shelter was designed and constructed as an emergency shelter in the event of a major disaster. Galey said the only way the shelter can be used as a storm shelter is when the order comes from the state or the president of the United States himself. 

“It is designed to house evacuees from a major disaster event when evacuations are ordered by their local jurisdictions,” Galey said. “The request to open the shelter would come from the state of Mississippi through MEMA or the federal government.”

Galey said in an event the shelter is needed, it would be opened and operated by the Red Cross under the direction of the Emergency Management Office and the Department of Human services for up to 36 hours.

The $3.2 million shelter near the Lincoln County Civic Center is capable of holding up to 1,000 people.

In other business, the board:

• Corrected the salary of a police officer whose salary was increased by mistake through paperwork error.

• Declared three 2011 and one 2010 Ford cars as surplus and approved to be sent to auction.

• Approved advertising for a public hearing for the CDBG public facilities project (sewer project).

• Approved to add to the minutes four unmarked police vehicles belonging to David Johnson, Clint Earls, Penelope Banks and Bobby Bell.

• Approved a payment to Sample, Hicks & Associates for a CDBG project in the amount of $5,900.

• Approved a payment to WGK Engineering Inc. for a CDBG project in the amount of $10,175.

• Approve a payment to Suncoast Infrastructure Inc. for a CDBG project in the amount of $166,163.55.

• Received bids on an 8-inch PE Bore project at Mike Whatley Honda: Greenbriar at $17,000; Red Oak Construction at $20,750 and Mitchell Contracting at $19,750.

• Received bids on a manhole replacement on W. Court Street and N. Church Street: Greenbriar at $7,450; Red Oak Construction at $9,000 and Mitchel Contracting at $8,900.

• Received bids on the Rex Lumber water meter job: Greenbiar at $32,900; Red Oak Construction at $38,950 and Mitchell Contracting at $38,350.

Ward 1 Alderman Mary Wilson was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

The board entered into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel.

 

The next meeting of the board of aldermen will be Jan. 19.

Official talks FEMA shelter concerns