The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen discussed housing concerns and a couple of lawsuits during its most recent meeting.

City Inspector David Fearn presented the Board with the final list of structured take-downs on seven houses. The Board approved Fearn’s recommendation to award two on the list to Southern Environmental and the other five to 3D Contractors.

The Board approved sending proposed changes to the City’s Mobile Home Park ordinance to the Planning Commission for review. The Commission will have a public hearing then return its recommendations to the aldermen for a vote.

Aldermen also asked Board Attorney Bobby Moak to compose a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) asking for rules, policies and procedures on how HUD inspects houses under consideration for Section-8 rental approval. Once the letter is composed, the Board will review prior to submitting it to the national agency.

Moak updated the Mayor and Board on the final award to the City of approximately $7,000 in the national opioid settlements. The attorney also notified the leaders of the City’s inclusion in a lawsuit filed by Dickerson and Bowen, in which the City is one of multiple entities named.

“We are included simply because of a deed transfer years ago,” Moak said, explaining that the suit was a formal requirement for the company to “clean up” land titles on some property included in D&B’s recent purchase by another company.

Although Hurricane Francine proved to be a “non-event” for Brookhaven in the previous week, Mayor Joe Cox said he wanted to “give a shout-out to [Emergency Management Director] Chris Reid and the emergency folks for being prepared and ready to go.”

 

In other business, the Board:

• Received and awarded the off-road diesel bid to James Case Oil at $2.79.9.
• Approved the low bid of $19,480 from Greenbriar Digging Services to replace two rusted-out metal culverts on Field Lark Lane with concrete box culverts.
• Received the August 2024 Fire Department run report showing 38 runs inside city limits and two outside.
• Approved the transfer of a 2022 Nissan Frontier from the Street Department to the Public Works Department.
• Approved to place in the minutes the Water Department Bad-Debt List for Fiscal Year 2023-2024. These are not written-off; if a new account is opened by someone on the list, they must pay the outstanding balance.
• Approved an amendment to the Standard Building Code Fees.
• Approved CDBG pay request #1 from Greenbriar in the amount of $76,408.69 for work completed on the 2023 Brignall-Browns Loop Sewer Improvements Project.
• Approved to receive bid tabulation for Oak Hill Estates Water Improvements, Lots 1-20, and award to low bidder Greenbriar for $385,835, to be paid from Mississippi Infrastructure Funds.
• Approved to receive bid tabulation for Industrial Park Road Water Tank Rehabilitation and award to second-low bidder Tank Pro for $391,525, to be paid from Mississippi Infrastructure Funds. Low bidder was not licensed in the state.