Some Field Lark Lane area residents are joining a list of countyresidents seeking to be excluded from city expansion plans.

Coleman Lea and Sandra Gerald appeared at Tuesday night’smeeting of the mayor and board of aldermen to present a petitionwith signatures of residents not wanting to be annexed. Thepetition included signatures of 88 property owners and/or voters inthe Field Lark Lane area, Lea said.

“We ask the board to give it the best attention you possiblycan,” Lea said during a short presentation.

Residents in the Lakewood Village area south of the city haveexpressed their desires not to be annexed. Also, at the last boardmeeting, chamber of commerce executive vice-president Chandler Russspoke on behalf of the Wal-Mart Distribution Center and McLaneSouthern and their wishes to not join the city.

Mayor Bill Godbold said last night that annexation consultantshad not finished their work, so a plan was not ready forconsideration. While all the board members have areas they wouldlike to see included or excluded, the mayor said the chancery judgeoverseeing the city’s annexation case would have the final say.

“This expansion will not be up to the City of Brookhaven, itwill be up to the chancery judge,” Godbold said.

In other matters last night, Fletcher and Wanda Grice appearedbefore the board to request city assistance regarding theappearance around the Handy Mart store on Highway 51. Mr. Griceexpressed concerns about litter, an uncovered garbage bin and theneed for a privacy fence behind the store.

Godbold said he was unsure whether the city could require abusiness to put up a privacy fence. Responding to a possible remedyfor another of the Grices’ concerns, Ward 5 Alderman Tom Smith saidhealth department guidelines do not require a business to havepublic restrooms unless it serves meals in a sit-down setting.

Mr. Grice continued to state his case, but Godbold said theboard would not debate the situation with him. The mayor indicatedcity officials would look into the matter.

“We’re going to take care of it the best we can,” Godboldsaid.

When contacted for comment this morning, Handy Mart owner JerryHolmes mentioned a neighbor who lives near the store who said shehas not had problems with the store’s appearance.

“We try to maintain community standards,” Holmes said. “We’vebeen there many years.”

Also Tuesday night, aldermen approved an approximately $73,500cost to repair and replace pipe and a pump in a water well that hasexperienced some problems. Water Department Superintendent LannyDickey said the problem is typical every seven to 10 years inshallow water wells that are about 160-170 feet deep.

“We need to get this well back in operation,” Dickey said.

Dickey has about $40,000 budgeted for the work.

Where the remaining funds will come from was unclear Tuesdaynight, but Ward 1 Alderman Dorsey Cameron suggested the city coulduse part of more than $1 million the city recently received fromWal-Mart in the form of a Urban Development Action Grantsettlement. Godbold said that would be a board decision and part ofthe reason why the board rejected a chamber request at the lastmeeting to earmark the money for a new industrial park.

In other activity, city officials asked for patience fromresidents as they they to tackle the city’s garbage situation andget collections back on schedule.

“We don’t like it any better than they do when we can’t pick upthat like we want to,” said Godbold.

With citizens’ help, Godbold said the city could beat itsgarbage problems. Otherwise, the city may have to go to a privatecontractor and rates would be out of the city’s control.

Godbold’s comments reflected earlier concerns made by Aldermanat large Les Bumgarner about rising cable television rates. CableOne announced a rate increase in March.

“It’s tough on people on fixed incomes,” Bumgarner said.

Aldermen said they could ask a Cable One representative toattend a future board meeting, but they questioned how effectivethat would be in addressing the rising rate situation.

Following an executive session for personnel reasons, aldermenvoted to lay off a city firefighter until an investigation intoallegations made against him could be completed. Fire Chief PaulCartwright said the allegations involve questions about thefirefighter’s meeting certain minimum standards certification.