| Bruce Board Sets Interviews For Prosecutor, Public Works Director |
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By JOEL McNEECE The Bruce mayor and board of aldermen agreed to interview candidates for two city positions during a lengthy meeting dominated by discussions about stray dogs, water leaks and the community building. Attorneys Ben Suber of Bruce, Kevin Howe of Calhoun City, and James Maxwell, currently in the process of moving back to Calhoun County from Louisiana, have all applied for the City Prosecutor job. The board agreed to interview each of them beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 8. Mayor Robert Edward Oakley said 49 applications have been received for the public works director position. Eighteen of those are from outside of Mississippi. Aldermen were instructed to each identify the candidates they thought worthy of an interview and then those would be scheduled. The position became open with the retirement of Larry Blackwelder in December. Joe Farmer is acting as interim public works director. Gina Bridgman presented the board a report on the city’s 2008-09 audit she recently concluded. Bridgman said Bruce is a “very well run city,” based on its finances, marvelling that it only has $78,000 of debt, $64,000 of which will be paid off this year. When asked what changes the city might need to look at to improve further, she noted the utility rates may need raising. The city is currently covering losses in the water department with general fund money. In a somewhat related matter, the board began a lengthy discussion regarding water cut-off policies and several issues created from the recent hard freeze. The board was informed of two cases where busted water lines due to freezing temperatures ran up huge water bills, one over $700, while the property owners were out-of-town. City Clerk Rita Talford said several others with smaller bills reported the leaks to the city and those bills were adjusted based on city policy – an average of the high bill and the two previous. The board agreed to charge the two cases presented $50 each and opened the door to other cases for the same adjustment if they can prove the leak was weather related. The board authorized the shutting off of water to one home in the city where Water Superintendent Rodney Gray said the sewer is running out under the house. The board noted the water shouldn’t be cut back on until the property owner fixes the sewerage problem. Mayor Oakley told the board about a recent dog attack in which a couple of dogs tore up cages and killed some pet rabbits in someone’s backyard. Mayor Oakley said the “dog issue” is one that comes up repeatedly and asked the board to give serious consideration to how the city should address the problem long-term. The board has wrestled with renovating the community building in Bruce Park for months. The public has been blocked from renting the building until April to allow time for the project, but the board continues to run into problems regarding how to fix the building to proper codes and standards. Tuesday night the board agreed to allow the mayor to consult with an architect regarding the project and get advice as to how the city should proceed, if at all, with the interior renovations. The board agreed to advertise the road project entering Haworth (United Chair). The city received a grant for the project, but the city’s match for the grant involves ditch work. Mayor Oakley said TVA has cautioned that property could be considered “wetland” and the ditch work not allowed, which would eliminate the city’s required match. The city has 18 months to spend the grant money. No time table was provided the city as to when the TVA study may be complete. |