The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen discussed the removal of dangerous, dilapidated houses in the city during its final meeting of 2022.

Ward 6 Alderman Andre’ Spiller asked Public Works Director Keith Lewis if the bulldozer at the landfill could be utilized on weekends to tear down houses slated for public destruction.

“Can we tear them down and contract the removal then?” Spiller asked.

“Yes, we can do that,” Lewis said. “Once we’ve got the houses approved to be taken down.”

“What recourse do we have to pay for this other than tax liens on the properties?” Ward 4 Alderman Jeff Henning asked. “The sale never seems to happen. We clean it and don’t even own it.”

The Mississippi State Constitution closely regulates what can be done with houses deemed dangerous and marked for destruction by municipalities, said Board Attorney Bobby Moak.

Aldermen voted 6-0 — Alderman-at-large Don Underwood was absent — to approve sending letters of notice to owners of mobile home parks where dangerous activity had recently taken place. The letters were to advise owners to make improvements of lighting and accessibility.

Moak said in the 60-day period of Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, 2022, law enforcement had made 32 calls to the Pinehaven mobile home park; eight recently to Cain’s park; and 30 to Gannell’s.

In other business:

• Aldermen approved closing the City Park at Hartman and Lipsey streets at 5 p.m. daily.
• Approved Moak to attend a one-day mid-year meeting of city attorneys in Jackson during January, at a cost of approximately $50-100.
• Accepted the single bid from SunCoast Infrastructure of $6,850 to repair a sewer line near Magee Drive.
• Hired Jeff Means as an operator in the Solid Waste Department at an hourly rate of $11.75.
• Awarded the off-road diesel bid to RB Wall at $3.89.
• Received Municipal Court Report showing revenue of $12,174.52; $2,924.70 to the State.
• Received the November Fire Department report showing 31 runs in the city and one outside the city.
• Approved lighting agreement with Entergy to install LED lights on Hwy. 51 N from Industrial Park to New Sight Road at a monthly cost of $3,336.72.
• Approved firefighter Chris Davis to attend Paramedic School at Copiah-Lincoln Community College beginning Jan. 9, 2023. City will pay cost of class and reimburse for mileage as necessary.
• Approved beer permit for Family Dollar Store, 600 E Monticello St.
• Approved the low bid of $12,000 from Greenbriar Digging Services to move a water line at Brignall Bridge.
• Approved the installation of a four-way stop at the intersection of North First Street and East Enterprise Street.