WESSON — Attendance continues to run high at the monthly townboard meetings as residents show their energy about the newadministration working to improve the town.

Board members addressed numerous areas of concern Tuesday night,tackling many long-standing problems, much to the pleasure of themore than 20 residents present.

One area of discussion that brought heightened conversation fromthe crowd was the possibility of Copiah County supervisors solvingdrainage problems around town.

Board members plan to compile a list of problem areas to give tosupervisors. They hope to receive some input from residents.

“If they’re having problems, or know someone they’re living nextto that is, they need to let us know,” Alderman-at-Large DavidDouglas said.

Several residents at the meeting mentioned areas they would liketo see supervisors check for repair.

Another high point in the meeting was an announcement by MayorBill Tigner following a closed meeting.

“A program has been brought before the board that is looking tocome to Wesson,” he said. “Part of that program would be use of theold school.”

Tigner, whose announcement was followed by a round of applause,did not elaborate further. He urged residents to find out more byattending a press conference at 6 p.m., Aug. 18, on the front stepsof the Old Wesson School.

The closed meeting concerned litigation that may arise in thetown trying to seek the correct owner of the title to the school’sproperty. Town attorney Kevin Camp plans to perform a title searchprior to the press conference.

In other matters of town improvement, Tigner presented boardmembers with his idea on changing the town emblem from a “generic”eagle to a more “appealing” emblem, consisting of a drawing of theOld Wesson School.

Board members were receptive to the idea of using the new emblemon town stationary and documents.

“I think it’s great because it’s something that people identifywith the town of Wesson,” Ward Two Alderman Hollis Cowen Jr.said.

Another area of change board members discussed was replacingdeteriorated street signs around town.

“Some of them are pretty run down,” Ward One Alderman RobertDerrick commented.

Town clerk Linda Dykes said she would see if there were any newsigns in storage. She recalled the town ordering some, such as stopsigns, and was not sure if all were used.

Tigner pointed out that changing street signs was also somethingthe Mississippi Main Street Association would address when Wessonjoined the small towns program.

He updated board members and town residents on the status of thetown becoming a member of the association.

“Just in two weeks time, I’ve got commitments of $8,000,” hesaid. “The first thing we’ll have to do is pay the membership dues,and we’ll have enough to cover that. Then we’ll have to pay theprogram manager.”

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, board members decided there wouldbe no changes at this time in the current appointed positions,which include municipal clerk, fire chief, police chief, waterdepartment supervisor and municipal judge.

After being asked for his opinion on those positions, Tignertold board members he would like to first advise the appointedofficials of the board’s expectations, then allow them time toimplement the recommendations.

“I think the fair thing to do is to make the expectations ofeach department clear,” he said. “I would say we give anappropriate amount of time to convey those philosophies.”

The people will be given a chance to improve their departmentsbefore the board makes a final decision about any changes. Resumeshave been accepted for those positions during the last 30 days.

The next town meeting will be held at 7 p.m., Sept. 4, in townhall. A budget hearing will be held after the meeting. Also aproperty tax sale will be held 9 a.m., Aug. 27, at town hall.