City looks to improve traffic safety

Published 10:21 am Wednesday, February 3, 2016

The city’s Board of Aldermen is working in small steps to make Brookhaven a little safer.

In Tuesday’s board meeting, Ward 3 Alderman Mary Wilson proposed that the speed limit be lowered to 15 mph on Center Street with a sign to reflect the change.

Alderman-at-Large Karen Sullivan is working with the Mississippi Department of Transportation to investigate the site of many traffic accidents in Brookhaven. Thirty-one people had accidents at Brookway Boulevard and I-55 in 2015.

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“MDOT is doing a study at the site of where I had an accident and 31 other people did last year,” Sullivan said. “Traffic has really, really picked up going west on the boulevard.”

Alderman Ward 5 Fletcher Grice updated the board on the first safety training session for city employees held at the city barn Tuesday morning. Grice said there was great participation with about 30 people in attendance, and the session was held at no cost to the city. He thanked Bert Wilson, street solid waste superintendent, and Kris Xifos, water superintendent, for their help and organization of the session.

“I think it went great. It’s so common because you work in the same environment everyday but you don’t think about the safety precautions until your hand is hanging by a thread or you’re bleeding out of your face,” Xifos said. “I think the guys sitting in front of these videos and getting to see reenactments and getting that idea of safety is a real good thing that will make them take a slower more cautious step when they’re doing what they do. Everyone wants to get home at the end of the day but everyone wants to get home in one piece, so I’m pumped about it and

In other business, the board:

• Approved to hire Charlette Brown as an office clerk in the water department with a starting salary of $9.18 per hour beginning Feb. 8.

• Approved a raise in salary for Zech Brown in the water department. Zech passed the water certification test and has been aiding and assisting with plant operations.

• Received and awarded off-road diesel bids.

• Approved the minutes of the Jan. 19 meeting.

• Approved the January salaried payrolls and the transfer of funds to cover: general, $412,603.44 and water and sewer, $21,151.90.

• Approved January weekly payrolls and the transfer of funds to cover: general, $51,282.44; water/sewer, $35,914.07 and solid waste, $4,667.87.

• Approved the lower quote (Consolidated Pipe) for manhole rings and water valve box risers for paving project. The quote from Consolidated Pipe was $43,500 and the quote from East Jordan Iron Works in $58,180. The payment for these manhole rings and water valve risers will come from the paving budget.

• Approved to re-appoint James Tillman to the school board for a four-year term effective March 1.

• Approved Aaron Welch to attend the Fireground Leadership Class at the State Fire Academy on Feb. 22 to 25. The cost of the class is $360.