Engineers are reviewing downtown street paving plans forpossible revision after a project bid was about $150,000 more thanexpected, Mayor Bob Massengill said Tuesday.

Officials opened a bid on the project Monday. The $697,146.34bid from Dickerson and Bowen was the only one received.

The project, which involves paving of several streets and makingsidewalks handicap accessible, will use a combination ofaccumulated federal funds and city funds. Massengill said theproject is on hold now while engineers review plans to see if theycan be adjusted for available funds.

“It doesn’t mean the downtown paving project is off,” Massengillsaid.

Massengill said asphalt and metal costs pushed the bid higherthan expected. He said some items could be removed from the projectbut the handicap accessibility work cannot be.

To avoid conflicts with holiday shopping, aldermen earlier votedto have the project done after the first of the year. Officialswere hopeful the project would not be delayed due the review.

“We weren’t going to do this project until after Christmasanyway,” Massengill said.

In other city activity, Massengill said the estimate for a WardThree water drainage project was more than $626,000.

In conjunction with a Community Development Block Grant, thecity’s share would be over $176,000. Massengill said that money isnot budgeted and the city would be looking at significantengineering costs as well.

Aldermen delayed action on the project until they could meetwith the engineer, possibly in January, to get an idea of what willbe done and how it would improve the drainage situation. Officialsare concerned about the amount of water that drains into Ward Threeareas from other parts of the city.

“It’s real bad,” Ward Three Alderwoman Mary Wilson said aboutdrainage and flooding problems.

Also Tuesday, Massengill and City Clerk Mike Jinks were named ascity representatives on an industrial park advisory committee.

“They’re the ones who are going to be dealing with it most ofthe time,” said Ward Five Alderman Tom Smith, who made thenominations.

Board of Supervisors President Bobby J. Watts and Chancery ClerkTillmon Bishop were named as the county’s representatives Monday.The panel will also include the president of the Brookhaven-LincolnCounty Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial DevelopmentFoundation chairman.

Massengill said the panel will oversee park-related activities.However, decision-making authority will remain with supervisors andaldermen.

“It’s not like we’re running the industrial park,” Massengillsaid.

In other appointments, Mitchell Davis and Mike Clark werereappointed to the city’s Planning Commission. They will servefour-year terms.

Also Tuesday, aldermen congratulated the Brookhaven High SchoolPanthers football team on winning the state 4A footballchampionship Saturday. Alderman at large Les Bumgarner requestedCity Attorney Joe Fernald draft a board proclamation in honor ofthe accomplishment.

“We’re real proud of them and pleased,” Bumgarner said.

Massengill said he had spoken with chamber of commerce officialsabout a parade recognizing area students’ accomplishments.

In addition to the BHS football team, he mentioned the baseballteam’s state championship and the cheerleaders’ nationalchampionship, and the Brookhaven Academy girls’ overall statebasketball championship. Other schools would be contacted so thattheir students’ significant accomplishments could also berecognized.

“I think it will be great,” Massengill said.

A date for the parade has not been determined.