The corner of Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive and Monticello Streetwill be busy in coming weeks – not just with traffic, but with theSpirit.

Minister Tumoria Dennie spoke to the Brookhaven Board of Aldermenat Tuesday night’s meeting to ask for permission to hold a tentrevival on that corner on designated nights between June 14-June26.

“We want to lift up Jesus and let the youth know that God has aplan for their lives,” she said. “We need to let them know there ishope.”

Dennie told the board she was simply asking for the permission tominister to area residents, but she also asked them to turn theireyes and their budget sheets to the east side of town.

“I’ve been here for 17 years, and there’s a cry in that area forhelp, for something to be done,” she said. “We need to pour somemoney into that area for the youth.”

Meanwhile, Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson said he alreadyhas the permit signed for the revival.

Dennie told the board there needs to be something for kids to doother than turning to the streets.

“Do you understand what I’m saying? Do you feel me? Because I feelthem,” she said.

She said when she first moved to town was when the local swimmingpool was closed. Since then, Dennie said, there has only been thebaseball field in the area.

Ward Two Alderman Terry Bates said he was interested in hearingDennie’s ideas.

“Come sit down with me and we’ll work on it,” he said. “It lookslike it’s going backwards and I don’t know why. If I’m the problem,I’m willing to step down, but I’ve been trying.”

Another conversation centered on what members of the public shouldbe allowed to bring to the board for discussion.

Bates asked about a recent situation where some members of thegeneral public had asked to be put on the agenda to discuss thecity’s drug policy. However, acting under the authority of theboard, City Attorney Joe Fernald had advised them that they shouldrefrain from making that visit.

“It was a topic no private citizen has a right to raise with theboard,” Fernald said. “It’s not a proper topic. They wanted torepresent that someone got a bad deal on a drug test.”

Fernald went on to say that only city employees and their legalrepresentation have a right to bring grievances about cityemployment policies, and then it generally becomes an executivesession matter.

In addition, officials pointed out, there have been severalmeetings where members of the public have commented on topics thatdid not directly affect them and were not changeable, and it haswasted board time.

“There have been three or four meetings where people have spoken onthings we didn’t need to talk about in a meeting,” Fernaldsaid.

Bates said he was just checking up on the policy.

“I was just asking the attorney are we legal,” he said.

Mayor Les Bumgarner assured Bates that Fernald has the power toanswer such a request with a suggestion like he did. In addition,he said, the nature of being the city attorney is to be sure thatboard proceedings are well within the law.

“Most of what Joe gets involved in is about what’s legal,” hesaid.

Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron suggested that people who come tothe board be held fast to a five-minute limit, as well.

“When they come, they should stick to what’s on the agenda,” hesaid. “It should be five minutes, not 30, not an hour.”