City finalizes Brignall sewer purchase

Published 10:05 am Wednesday, March 2, 2016

A motion by Ward 1 Alderman Randy Belcher and seconded by Ward 3 Alderman Fletcher Grice marked the end of a project Belcher has been working on for the people of the Brignall community for several years.

“Officially, finally,” said Brookhaven Mayor Joe Cox said at a Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday.

While Belcher expressed excitement about paving work on Brignall Road, the real undertaking in the area isn’t readily visible. The city has been working out the transfer of ownership of the Lincoln Rural Water System to the city since the annexation but especially since 2013.

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The Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to approve the sales agreement of the Brignall Sewer District. It was met with comments of approval and board members said it is good to have it finally taken care of.

The sewer district is part two of the transfer — the water system purchase was finalized in September. Since annexation, the Brignall community is now within city limits making it more sensible for its water and sewer to be handled by the city. The city will pay approximately $37,374.80 for the system.

In the past, whenever the Brignall Water System and Brignall Sewer System has had a problem, officials from the community would have to contact repairing entities on their own. With the purchase of the systems, the city will now be able to take care of all repairs, problems or concerns regarding water and sewer.

In other business:

• Brookhaven Police Chief Bobby Bell addressed the board with a request to hire a part-time custodian at the police station. Bell said they have been using a Mississippi Department of Corrections trustee, but his availability is sporadic. Cox said they would look into the going rate for a cleaning person and perhaps offer a suggestion for hiring.

• Ward 4 Alderman Shirley Estes inquired about the lights that make the Homeseeker’s Paradise sign downtown visible at night, having just recently made sure the lights were working. Cox put the mystery of the on-again, off-again lights to rest, stating that the switch controlling the lights is located in the basement of Trustmark Bank, which someone had shut off accidentally.

• The board approved the lower quote to hook up water services on Livingston Road. The quotes were: $10,800 by Greenbriar and $13,525 by Red Oak Construction, L.L.C.

• Aldermen approved the minutes of the regular meeting of Feb. 16 and reconvened meeting of Feb. 19.

All members of the board were present at Tuesday’s meeting. The board entered into executive session for the purposes of discussing possible litigation.