Work on the King’s Daughters Medical Center/Brookhaven Water Supply Well has just about reached completion.

Engineer Mike McKenzie, with WGK Engineering, told the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen Tuesday that the equipment has finally arrived to get the well completely operational. 

“Entergy will just need to set the transformer and pull service, then we’re on track,” McKenzie said. “Hopefully, the well will be on automatic very soon.”

Mayor Joe Cox read a letter from the office of Gov. Tate Reeves approving a matching grant of $586,236 through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

The board also approved pay request No. 12 to Greenbriar Digging Services in the amount of $11,641.50 for work completed on the well.

Construction and trash

Engineer Ryan Holmes, of Dungan Engineering, also updated the board on the construction of the Brignall Road bridge. 

“They’re making good progress. We hope to wrap it up in a couple of weeks, if things keep going as they have and the weather is good,” Holmes said. “We’re well ahead of schedule.”

ADSI regional manager Jimmie Moore and area manager Charles Lundgren were present at the meeting to answer concerns from board members.

“My main concern is cans being left in the middle of the street,” said Ward 2 Alderman Shannon Moore. “I’m afraid it’s going to cause a bad accident.”

Lundgren said he has already addressed it more than once with his employees, but that the root of the issue was a need for repeated training due to weekly turnovers.

“‘Turnover’ is an understatement,” Jimmie Moore said. “Across the state, it’s a constant problem with getting people who want to work. We’re doing the best we can to keep qualified, trained workers to pick your trash up.”

“A cart can do a lot of damage to a vehicle,” he said to Alderman Moore. “We’re working on that, sir.”

In other business, the board:

• Took no action on a recommendation from the Planning Commission. The commission denied a rezoning request on Field Lark Lane to commercial, after input from neighboring property owners. The commission’s decision stands since the aldermen did not vote on it.
• Received and awarded the off-road diesel bid to R B Wall at $3.56/gallon.
• Received the December 2022 Municipal Court report showing revenue of $16,786.85, with $4,309.30 to go to the State.
• Received the December 2022 Fire Department run report showing 24 runs in the city and one outside the city limits.
• Approved to sell and remove BFD 1993 E-One Custom Fire Pumper from inventory.
• Approved to advertise for bids on city-wide lawn maintenance, including exit 42 of Interstate 55.
• Approved to advertise for bids on demolition of designated properties.