A local man wants the Board of Supervisors to look into implementing an animal nuisance law for Lincoln County.

“We have no rights as citizens about dangerous dogs running loose,” Kelly McDonald of Macedonia Road said at the supervisors’ Monday meeting.

He said he and his family have had concerns about two large white pit bulls in his neighborhood, so McDonald wants a law to help improve the overall safety of the community.

“Our whole neighborhood is scared to death. I have an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old,” said McDonald. “I told him (the dogs’ owner) this wasn’t going to work.”

Since February, there have been multiple attacks by the pit bulls on other pets in the neighborhood, McDonald said, and several instances where the dogs acted aggressively toward him and his wife.

McDonald added that his wife now carries bear repellant spray with her and that he often has a gun with him when he is outside for fear of the dogs attacking them or their grandchildren.

“I’m not against pit bulls; I’m against dangerous dogs,” said McDonald. “Five months of this is enough.”

Joel Smith, a neighbor of McDonald’s, also reported to the board he called the Lincoln County Sheriff Department earlier this year because of the same dogs. According to the report filed, the dogs bit one of Smith’s cows on the face and neck and tried to pull it to the ground.

“Our hands are tied unless a person is attacked,” said Sheriff Steve Rushing. “Other parts of our county have these problems as well. We don’t want to wait till someone is actually bitten.”

Rushing said that he has received at least four different complaints about the two pit bulls over the past few months.

Handing out copies of dangerous-animal laws in other communities to the board, McDonald asked that a law, if enacted, should require dogs deemed to be dangerous be kept in a humane, but restrictive pen. This would prevent the dog from running loose in the neighborhood, while still allowing the owner to keep the animal.

Both Smith and McDonald were concerned about their grandchildren’s safety.

“We don’t want to wait until someone’s child is mauled,” said Smith.

The supervisors said they would look into the matter.

In other action at the supervisors’ meeting:

• The board approved a location for phase one of a Veteran’s brick project for the Lincoln County Veteran’s Memorial. The memorial will honor any Lincoln County veteran,living or deceased, who was/is a member of any branch of the United States Armed Forces and was honorably discharged or is still serving. Veterans will be able to purchase a brick for themselves, or a family member may purchase a brick for a Veteran in their family. The bricks will be engraved by Brookhaven Monument Company with data pertinent to the veteran’s military service.

The greenery and shrubs at the existing Veterans Memorial, located in front of the Lincoln County Government Complex, will be replaced with a 2000(+/-) brick patio type area comprised of 8”x8” brick pavers.

Vietnam veterans Hervey Littlefield, Dell Beal and Derrall Foster, have been working on the project for over a year. We want honor and respect brought back to the veterans,” said Beal. “I think this is something y’all can really be proud of.”

The county is contributing $5,000 to the project, and the remaining money needed will be raised through fundraisers, brick sales, and donations. The project is sponsored by the VFW Danny Entrican Post 2618, Brookhaven, MS.

To purchase a brick for the memorial, a form must be filled out and submitted. The forms are available at B-92 Country, Brookhaven Library, Chamber of Commerce, the Veteran’s Museum, R.B. Wall, 51 Firestone, Janie’s Pastry Shop and The Daily Leader.

• Clifford Galey gave a damage report from last Friday’s storm to the county supervisors. Approximately 60 structures were damaged by the severe weather: 45 homes in the city, 10 homes in the county, four businesses and one apartment complex.

Although the damage caused by the storm was excessive, it did not reach the damage limit to declare the storm a disaster, Galey said. (Please see related story published in the Tuesday, June 17, Daily Leader.)

• Ryan Holmes, engineer, reported a mitigation purchase agreement of wetland credits for $14,250.

• Plans were set to open bids on Aug. 4 for constructing a bridge on Big Creek.

Holmes is also in discussion with the county on repaving projects for Hurricane Lake Drive, Johnson Grove Road and the parking lot behind the library, as well as other small sections of road in the county that need to be patched in the near future.

• A private cemetery was approved in the county.