Brookhaven officials met with landowners Monday night to discusscorrections and renovations the city wants to see made on theirrespective properties.

During a public hearing held at the Lincoln County-BrookhavenGovernment Complex, seven properties were presented as needingwork. Landowners were given the opportunity to respond and askquestions of Building Inspector Walter Temple, Mayor Bob Massengilland the Board of Aldermen.

No vote was taken Monday night, but each individual propertywill be voted on in the Board of Aldermen meeting on March 20.

Three of the properties were represented by Lawrence and GwenSmith.

The first was what is projected to be the community center atthe Emmanuel Temple Church. Besides the condition of the building,there are buses and debris on the property that the city would liketo see cleaned up or removed.

“When I look at that building, I see me before I came to knowthe Lord,” said Gwen Smith. “I was tore up from the floor up.”

Smith said the buses and mobile homes on the property are alloperational, and just haven’t been moved because nobody has taken atrip in them. She also said the activity center is being renovatedand that the toilets and other appliances will be picked up forinstallation on May 5, 2007.

The second property involves a two-story house at 215 RailroadSt., deemed by Temple to still be structurally sound. The city hadasked the property owners to clean up the lot and remove thedebris, as well as renovate or demolish the house.

Lawrence Smith said he had planned to renovate the house but washaving trouble getting the permit he needs to do it. Templeaffirmed that part of the hangup is legal.

“Well, assuming you could have the permit today, are youplanning to renovate and clean it? And what is your ideal timeframe?” Massengill asked Smith.

Smith replied he is hoping the company that approved his loan torenovate the property will follow through after the time lapse dueto his inability to get a permit.

“We’ve been dealing with this for a long time,” said Ward OneAlderman Dorsey Cameron. “I’d like to believe what you’re saying,but we’re going to need to see some progress this time.”

Smith assured Cameron he would begin work as soon as the permitwas issued.

The Smiths also spoke on behalf of Big Bargain Auto, a “used carlot” that has had no power or running water since HurricaneKatrina.

Smith said at least three of the cars are in talks with theinsurance agencies about whether they can recover any of the lossesalso caused by the hurricane. Smith said he recently hired a newmechanic to strip some of the cars on the lot for parts.

This led aldermen to ask Smith if his business was conductingnormal business hours. Smith responded that it was not.

After promising to have the cars off the lot by April, Smithsaid that he would obey the laws “if they are just and fair andequal.”

Other property discussed last night included a dilapidatedtrailer at 208 Fulton St., owned by the J.B. And Janie BaileyEstate. Gleniel McGee, who pays the taxes on the land along withSam Gayten, spoke about the situation surrounding the property.

“The trailer on the property doesn’t belong to me, so I don’tknow what to do,” said McGee, who told the board she had informedGayten of the meeting, but he did not attend.

McGee said it had been about five years since the trailer hadbeen occupied, but that there were plans under way to renovate itand find a tenant. Temple said he did not believe the trailer couldbe repaired.

Peggy Charles was present to speak on behalf of the abandonedhouse at 702 Choctaw St., owned by the Louise Blades estate.Charles recently purchased the land and is hoping to have thestructure torn down very soon.

“I was going to try to do it myself, but then I figured out Ican’t, so I’ve got someone else to do it,” said Charles. “I hope itwill be done in no more than a month.”

Two other properties were discussed, all of which were owned bypeople who had been in touch with Temple and expressed theirintentions to renovate or demolish. They were at 700 Railroad Ave.and at 155 West Enterprise St.