With part of a Field Lark Lane sewer project under way,Brookhaven aldermen acted Monday to keep moving forward on a secondpart of the work.

During the special meeting, held almost entirely in executivesession for litigation and real estate negotiations reasons,aldermen voted to purchase approximately $50,000 worth of pipe andother equipment and to continue eminent domain activities on neededproperty for the project.

In settlement efforts, officials will contact landowners inquestion again and also seek an appraiser’s fee for determiningland values, said City Attorney Joe Fernald.

Fernald said there are eight property owners whose land isneeded for the project, which involves installation of a gravitysewer main line east of Highway 51 in the north Brookhaven area.Mayor Bill Godbold indicated the city is trying to get an equitablesettlement for use of the land and keep the project goingforward.

“I don’t think we can stop in the middle of the stream,” Godboldsaid.

Regarding the other board action Monday, the 12-inch pipe andother sewer equipment will be stored by contractor GreenbriarDigging Service until it is needed.

Last night’s purchase was to spend money from a state capitalimprovements loan before an end-of-the-year deadline. Cityofficials had earlier asked for an extension of a Sept. 28 deadlineto spend the funds.

“We’ve got some time constraints we’ve got to meet and that’swhat we’re doing with this,” said engineer Jeff Green in discussingthe pipe and equipment purchase.

G. Dale Smith, Greenbriar owner, said the gravity line projectwould take about four months to complete once his company receivesa go-ahead from the city.

Contractors have begun work on a force sewer line project westof Highway 51. That work also involves installation of a new pumpstation to help sewage get to the waste water treatmentfacility.

Fernald said both the force and gravity sewer line projects mustbe completed by the middle of next summer. In addition to theimprovement loan funds, the city received a $243,000 CommunityDevelopment Block Grant and faces a summer deadline for spendingthat money.