Brookhaven aldermen voted Tuesday to pursue a Rural Developmentgrant application to install new lighting downtown.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Cliff Brumfielddetailed the project that could see “historically correct” lightssimilar to those on the Mississippi School of the Arts campuserected along downtown streets. Also, new signage to attract peopledowntown could be put up on Brookway Boulevard and possibly onHighway 51, he said.

City officials were supportive of the project.

“A vital downtown is important to us all,” said Mayor BobMassengill said.

Massengill said he had spoken with Rural Development officialsabout the project. He said they seemed eager to helpBrookhaven.

“This looks like an ideal project,” the mayor said.

With the grant, the city could get up to $225,000 to install the”teardrop” lighting, Massengill said. The city’s costs toparticipate in the project were not immediately known, butMassengill said it is a better alternative than the city pursuingthe project on its own.

“If we try to do this ourselves, it’s going to take a lot ofyears since we can only go a block at a time,” Massengill said.

Alderman at large Les Bumgarner said he is “100 percent” infavor of the project.

“Towns that have well-lit downtowns seem to be doing muchbetter,” the alderman said.

Massengill pointed downtown revitalization was one of theboard’s identified priorities for the current term. A motion byWard Four Alderwoman Shirley Estes to pursue a grant was passedunanimously.

“It could really jump start us and get us going,” Estessaid.

In other activity, officials delayed a decision on apresentation from Brumfield regarding the sale of nine industrialpark acres for a commercial project. Brumfield said the proposalconflicts with covenants governing the industrial park.

City Attorney Joe Fernald said a similar proposal for aconvenience store was rejected about five years ago.

“We refused to do it because it violated the covenants of theindustrial park,” Fernald said.

The matter was turned over to Fernald for his review. A decisioncould be made at the next city board meeting.

Also appearing before the board last night was King’s DaughtersMedical Center Chief Executive Officer Phillip Grady. He had beensummoned to the board after Ward Two Alderman Terry Bates expressedsome concerns about the wait time following a recent trip to theemergency room.

Grady discussed the procedure involving how patients areevaluated and treated when they come to the ER. He said lengthy ERwait times are a problem across the country.

“We have a problem with a lot of people using the ER for thingsother than emergent care,” Grady said.

Grady said KDMC sees about 20,000 people a year in its emergencyroom. He said the hospital officials are not satisfied with its ERwait times and are taking steps to address concerns.

Grady briefly discussed an $11.2 million renovation that willupgrade the emergency room and other areas of the hospital. He alsotouted a new Quick Care clinic that is scheduled to begin seeingpatients next Wednesday.

In other business, Massengill informed the board that the oldMississippi Highway Patrol property had appraised for $250,000.

Aldermen are considering whether to relocate the PoliceDepartment to the building on Highway 51 or to sell the propertyand build a new Police Department facility with the sale proceeds.Massengill said he hoped the board could make a decision at thenext meeting.