The Brookhaven Board of Aldermen approved the purchase of two police patrol vehicles during its recent regular meeting.

Ward 6 Alderman Andre’ Spiller made the motion to purchase the vehicles, and to keep the cost below $80,000.

“We talked with Chief [Kenneth Collins] about it,” Spiller said.

The city has received a check for insurance on one patrol car that was previously totaled in a wreck, Mayor Joe Cox said.

“I’ll vote for it, but it has to be a patrol vehicle, not a pickup,” said Ward 4 Alderman Jeff Henning. “And we buy the color we want and not pay $3,000 to wrap it.”

Henning then seconded the motion, and the aldermen voted 7-0 in favor of the purchase.

The Board also approved to remove a 2016 Ford Taurus from the PD inventory and scrap the vehicle. It was a total loss in a wreck and has been filed on insurance.

 

In other business

• Awarded the off-road diesel bid to James Case Oil at $2.91.9
• Approved Public Works Director Krix Xifos to attend the MSRWA Conference May 28-31 with the City paying registration, lodging and meal reimbursement.
• Approved to form a Cemetery Committee with representation from each ward.
• Approved City Clerk employee April Suchy to attend PERS training June 7 in Pearl, reimbursing for mileage.
• Approved Ad Valorem Tax exemption applications and resolutions for Rex Lumber-Brookhaven LLC and Brookhaven Pellets LLC for 10-year periods each on improvements made to facilities in 023, subject to State approval.
• Approved the lower quote of $24,500 from Greenbriar Digging Services for the Ingram Street Valve Replacement project. The other submitted quote was $27,580 from Mitchell Contracting.
• Approved termination of Anfernee Clair and Chris Markham from the Water Department.
• Approved the hire of Randy Hudson and Gavin O’Rorke as laborers in the Water Department at $10.55 hourly each, pending drug tests and physicals.
• Approved the hire of three uncertified firefighters at $32,000 annually, pending drug tests and physicals — Samuel Porter, John Knight, and Colton Etheridge.
• Approved a length of service increase for 5 years for Airport Manager John Coleman, from $16.23 to $17.23 hourly, effective May 1.
• Approved a length of service increase for 5 years for Street Department Equipment Operator Maurice Brown, from $16 to $17 hourly, effective May 8.
• Approved a length of service increase for one year for Street Department Laborer Mitchell Collins, from $10.55 to $11.55 hourly, effective May 8.