Work could begin in as soon as two weeks for the multi-million dollar city-wide paving project, Ryan Holmes of Dungan Engineering said in Tuesday’s Brookhaven Board of Aldermen meeting.

The board received two bids for the job — Dickerson and Bowen at $3,094,449.10 and T.L. Wallace Construction Company at $3,537,033.40. The board awarded the bid for the lower amount, proposed by Dickerson and Bowen. Holmes said depending upon weather and a few small projects on Dickerson and Bowen’s schedule, work could start in about two weeks.

Hog Wild festival is May 28

Lincoln County Emergency Manager Clifford Galey addressed the board with a request for this year’s Hog Wild Barbecue Cook Off and Family Festival to be held on May 28. Both north and south parking lots will be utilized for the festival, which last year had 32 cookers competing for cash prizes. All proceeds go to benefit the eight Lincoln County volunteer fire departments.

Organizers of the event are accepting applications for the BBQ contest as well as for youth/kids zone, craft or food vendors until May 20. Concerns raised last year about local business and restaurant parking and electricity were addressed, and Galey said he intends to make sure all downtown businesses are happy and inconvenienced as little as possible. Board members said Railroad Avenue restaurants having designated employee parking behind their buildings should help. The festival has arranged for accommodating vendors’ electricity needs to deter anyone from using nearby buildings.

The event is Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned, and this year on April 12 there will be a KCBS judge’s class. For more information on the class, contact Galey at 754-3210.

For more information visit the festival’s website at www.hogwildfestival.org or contact Mark Porter at 601-757-1772 or Adam Wallace at 601-757-2826.

In other business, the board moved to:

• Approve to hire Christopher Hass as a non-certified police officer.

• Approve to hire Kyle Wesley Tice as a certified police officer.

• Receive the December 2015 fire department run report showing 22 runs in the city limits and one run outside the city.

• Approve pay request No. 1 from Pavecon, LTD, in the amount of $29,406.70 for work completed on the Safe Routes to School project.

• Approve pay request No. 5 and final from Greenbriar DLSP in the amount of $24,369.68 (includes retainage) for work completed on the SPAP Wastewater Improvements project.

• Approve for firefighter Sam Brister to attend the confined space rescue class at State Fire Academy from Jan. 25 to Jan. 28. Cost of the class is $68 and reimbursement for meals is $60.

• Accept two bids for the re-plumbing Chlorination Room at the Water Department Treatment Plant. Approve lower bid for the job, which was Greenbriar at $6,200.

• Accept two bids and approve lower bid for a new lime feeder at the Water Treatment Plant, which was General Pump and Equipment Company at $18,000. Neither bid includes installation price. Greenbriar’s price for installation is $2,900.

• Tyler Raborn of Raborn Media in Jackson presented to the board a comprehensive look at what the marketing company has created for the branding and promotion of Brookhaven. Working closely with the tourism council and chamber of commerce, the marketing company has established a social media and internet presence for the city, (@Brookhaven_Miss on Twitter, @visitbrookhavenms on Instagram, Visit Brookhaven MS on Facebook and its website http://visitbrookhavenms.com/). The new tourism push features new branding, promotions and more to come as the enthusiastic media company works to encourage people to “Experience Southern in Brookhaven.”

All board members were present at the aldermen meeting. The board entered into executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel.