The City has approved a study to be conducted on an area in Ward 1 where approximately 14 homes do not have access to city sewer services.

The Board of Aldermen gave the nod Tuesday night to WGK engineer Mike McKenzie to put together a plan on what it would take to fix the issue on Cedar Street, a J-shaped leg off Old Wesson Road.

“It’s a pocket in the city where there are several houses with no sewer or fire protection lines,” McKenzie said. “They may have city water available on some of the long lines, but it wouldn’t be much.”

The engineer said the area had been “talked about” since 2006 when he first came to the area, but nothing had been done about it. After Ward 1 Alderman James Magee Jr. first asked McKenzie to look into it, McKenzie determined the residents must have tests conducted to prove their homes have good sewer systems in working order that could be safely connected to the city’s system — or a new system would have to be constructed for the area. 

“It will be north of $200,000,” he estimated. “It would give them fire protection, eliminate horrendously long service lines, and give them good sewer.”

Some discussion was had about submitting the project for various grants after the first of the year.

In other business, the board:

• Accepted the low bids to replace deteriorating pipes at the water lift stations near Home Depot and on West Industrial Park Road. The low bids were $9,750 and $24,150, both from Greenbriar Digging Services. 

• Heard a report from engineer Ryan Holmes that asphalt speed bumps would cost the city $1,075 each, and that eight areas were ready for them if the board wanted to move forward. “They’re a little bit cheaper than the plastic ones and hold up better,” Holmes said. 

• Approved to advertise for a contractor to crush the City-owned surplus concrete to be used for cut-out repairs.

• Accepted the lower quote from Greenbriar to install a force main on Ingram Street for $9,400. The other quote was from Mitchell Contracting at $10,900.

• Approved clothing allowances of $600 each for Police Chief Kenneth Collins, Asst. Chief Penelope Banks, and detectives Timothy Sander, Jonathan Hart and Leslie Falvey.

• Approved the low bid from Dickerson & Bowen for the Brookway Boulevard Median Addition Improvements Project in the amount of $2,073,220.15, to come from earmarked State Legislative funds. The other quote was from Greenbriar for $2,644,211.

• Approved pay request no. 1 from Greenbriar for work completed on the 2024 Water Improvements-Oak Hill Estates in the amount of $339,872.95.

• Approved renewal of the 2% Hotel/Motel Tourism Tax, as required by State Legislature.

• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of McComb to assist in clean-up of streets following McComb’s Christmas Parade; Brookhaven will be reimbursed for use of personnel and equipment.

• Approved the low quote of $72,275 from Farmbelt Equipment for the purchase of a Kubota skid steer for the Water Department. The other quote was $73,530 from Winona Tractor & Equipment.

• Approved travel, reservations, and reimbursements where applicable for various administrative conferences in 2025.

• Approved the 2025 State Holidays for City Employees — New Year’s Day; Martin Luther King Jr. Day; Presidents Day; Good Friday; Memorial Day; Juneteenth (upon verification); Independence Day; Labor Day; Veterans Day; Thanksgiving; and Christmas.

• Approved an increase in pay for three years of service for Firefighter Heath Haas from $35,602.15 annually, to $38,000, effective Dec. 7.