Leaders praise city crews over storm cleanup

Published 5:00 am Thursday, May 7, 2009

The cleanup from Sunday’s storm is another example of how cityemployees work together to get things accomplished, Mayor BobMassengill said Tuesday at the board of aldermen meeting.

“First of all we’d like to thank the city workers for all theydo and have done the last few days – they’ve done a great job,”Massengill said.

Massengill also expressed gratitude to the utility companies fortheir quick response and hours of work. He read a letter fromEntergy Customer Accounts Manager Kenny Goza, who thanked the city,especially Public Works Director Steve Moreton, for theircooperation while the recovery efforts were ongoing.

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Meanwhile, Massengill advised aldermen regarding the updatedcomprehensive plan with edits from a meeting held March 31 withSlaughter and Associates’ Sue Chamberlain. The new edition is stilla draft, the mayor said, but aldermen are to look it over, and apublic hearing will be held May 26 at 6:30 p.m. in the cityboardroom.

Copies of the comprehensive plan will be placed at theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, the Lincoln CountyPublic Library, The DAILY LEADER, and there will be a link on thecity’s Web site, www.brookhavenms.com.

Citizens will be given the chance at the public hearing to givetheir opinions and ideas on the long-term plan.

“We’ll come together with interested citizens who will makecomments that night and we’ll hear what they say and revise oradopt the plan,” Massengill said.

The board also set a date for another public hearing on June 9in the boardroom at 6 p.m. to discuss city sewer systemdevelopments. There are six projects being funded through staterevolving funds, and citizens can weigh in on their opinions onproposed improvements.

Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell also said a few words on hisachievement of a Certified Municipal Official ProfessionalDevelopment Level Certificate. Ward Four Alderwoman Shirley Estesalso achieved her CMO Basic Development Level Certificate.

Both of the distinctions were recently awarded by theMississippi Municipal League. The specialized training formunicipal officials is offered through the MML and can be attainedthrough classes and training done on their own time.

“I attended a lot of meetings to attain this in a four-yearperiod,” Maxwell said. “It’s certainly given me an education levelI didn’t have before … I’m proud of it and I hope it will bebeneficial to the city of Brookhaven.”

Maxwell said he had checked into how many other public officialshad attained the Professional Development Level in four years andfound it to be “surprisingly, just a handful.”

“It took 70 days of me away from my work and attending meetingsto do that,” he said.

Massengill said the distinctions were an honor for Maxwell,Estes, and for the city.

In other business, Ward Two Alderman Terry Bates requested 200feet of 36-inch pipe by the Alexander Junior High School and Dr.A.L. Lott basketball courts, because he said there is a ditch thatholds water and the basketballs will bounce down into the ditch. Heexplained that after a heavy rain, the water can cause a dangeroussituation for young children, and to put in piping of some kindwould keep open water from gathering there.

The board decided to gather possible prices and discuss theproject at the May 19 meeting.