Property appraisals as part of a Mississippi EmergencyManagement Agency grant program to assist several Brookhavenhomeowners in flood plains have been completed and should be goingout soon, officials said.

At Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting, the board approvedappraised values that will be offered to four homeowners in floodplains. The MEMA grant utilized appraisers to establish values ofseveral houses located in the those areas.

“We’ve been hopeful that the appraisals would be on a high side,but nevertheless they came in at what was presented to the board,”said Mayor Bob Massengill.

The homes and property are located in the Center Street andSaint George Street area. A large drainage ditch goes through thearea.

“Each of these properties are flood property and has floodednumerous times, so the appraisals are not that high,” Massengillsaid.

Program participant Tonya Daniels, of 122 St. George Street,called the mayor’s office on Wednesday to inquire about theappraisals and was disappointed to her the appraised value of herproperty came in at $10,000.

“We had bought some more property,” said Daniels, referring toland elsewhere in the city. “You can’t pay that off with what theyare offering. We are trying to get us a trailer. You can’t even putdown on a trailer with $10,000.”

Daniels said she grew up in the home and it had belonged to hergrandmother, great-aunt, mother and sister.

“I bought it from my mother and my sister. It was our propertyand I bought them out thinking I could do good,” she said.

Daniels said that an incident with the home had occurred whenshe was younger. “I was little and can’t remember what went on, butI remember my mama going through the same thing with these peoplehere,” she said. “I was a little girl and I don’t remember how theyhandled that but my mama left here. I didn’t know why. I didn’t askwhy. I didn’t care why.”

In 2002, Daniels contacted the Federal Emergency ManagementAgency for assistance and was denied, she said.

“I really want to get out of this,” Daniels said.

“It’s not about the money, but it’s about the principle. I couldhave took that $10,000 but if I sign it, I don’t got nowhere tostay,” she continued. “I’m still messed up.”

Daniels’ property is located near several city ditches. Cityofficials said the MEMA grant program is an attempt to addressflood-related problems.

“Things have been looked at as far as doing something aboutthose ditches and there’s nothing that can really be done about it,so we decided to look into this program to help them get out of abad situation,” said Ward Three Alderwoman Mary Wilson.

City officials said that anyone participating in the program canback out at any time.

“If you weren’t pleased with the appraisal, they don’t have togo through with the program,” Wilson said. “They still have time tochange their mind.”

Official letters from the city will be delivered and thoseparticipating in the program have 30 days to respond to theoffer.

“This is something they didn’t have to do and the city doesn’thave to do,” Massengill said. “We are doing this in good faith totry to help (home owners in flood plains) out of a less thandesirable situation.”

In situations where the city’s offer is accepted, grantconsultant Woody Sample said that once the property is acquired itcould not be developed in the future because it is in a flood zone.The grant are funded on a 75 percent state and 25 percent localbasis.