The state 4A champion Brookhaven High School Panthers footballteam received another accolade Tuesday as the mayor and board ofaldermen presented Coach Tucker Peavey and his staff with aproclamation recognizing the team’s success.

“All of us in the community are proud with what the footballteam has achieved with this championship,” said Mayor BobMassengill while presenting the honor during last night’s boardmeeting.

Peavey touted the hard work put in by players and coaches duringthe season and expressed appreciation for the support the team hasreceived. He was thankful for the board proclamation.

“I know this is something everybody at that school will be proudof,” Peavey said.

Like the mayor, other city officials praised the football team’saccomplishment.

Alderman at large Les Bumgarner said it was a super year and adream season. Like city leaders are trying to do, the alderman saidthe team is helping to put Brookhaven on the map.

“Y’all have helped us out a lot,” Bumgarner said.

Ward Four Alderwoman Shirley Estes, whose late husband Don was aall-star lineman for the Panthers years ago, alluded to the highschool’s great history and tradition.

“You’ve written a tremendous chapter this year and it was anabsolutely great ride,” Estes said.

Ward Two Alderman Terry Bates said he worked the second shift atDelphi and was unable to attend the games. However, that didn’tstop him and co-workers from rooting for the team.

“Every game we had it on (the radio), and it was thrilling,”Bates said.

In other business during Tuesday’s meeting, aldermen

named Connley Moak as appraiser for a joint city-county-chamberproject to develop a new industrial park.

City Attorney Joe Fernald said the city is a little ahead of thecounty in pursuing a bond issue for the approximately 500-acre newpark. With an appraiser on board, Fernald said the city and countycould move forward following the county’s Jan. 17 public hearing onits bond issue plans.

“It has to be appraised so we can get packets ready for the bondissue,” Fernald said about the proposed park site west of thecity.

Regarding another project, a public hearing is scheduled forThursday, Jan. 13, at 6 p.m. in the city board room to discuss theCompetitive Community Program’s plan to install new playgroundequipment and upgrade facilities at the Bicentennial Park on MainStreet. The group is seeking a $70,000 state grant as part of anestimated $100,000 project.

“They really need a room full of people to show support for thatproject,” Massengill said.

Also Tuesday, Massengill asked board members to be thinkingabout city priorities and projects that could be eligible forfederal funding assistance.

Previously-identified priorities discussed with congressionalleaders during city officials’ trips to Washington have includedwater tank and water line upgrades in connection with the newindustrial park and a community center for senior citizens.

Bumgarner suggested the city pursue assistance with storm waterdrainage problems. Aldermen are scheduled to meet Jan. 19 with anengineer to review problem areas in their respective wards.

Massengill warned about the expense involved with addressing thedrainage issues.

“Some of the changes that need to be made are going to betremendously costly,” Massengill said.

Massengill said the city has changed over the years and lines insome places are no longer adequate to accommodate the growth. Hehas urged the board to consider a long-range plan for dealing withwater and related issues.

“It’s a different town than it was 25 years ago, and we’ve gotto realize that,” the mayor said.