WEST POINT — Ward 4 Selectman Keith McBrayer presided over Tuesday’s board of selectmen meeting in West Point due to the absence of Mayor Robbie Robinson.
The mayor’s absence meant decisions made by the board have been left for Robinson to approve when he returns.
The selectmen agreed to approve the leasing of 16.5 acres adjacent to the Jesse Harmon Sportsplex for $60 per acre for one year. The land will be used to grow crops.
The lease on Kingdom Covenant Church on 304 Cortell Street has been terminated by the board of selectmen. Ward 5 selectman Gary Dedeaux noted that rent payments from the church have been past due for more than one year.
The selectmen approved the travel for members of West Point Fire Department to attend training courses in Meridian. They also approved the hire of new fire fighter Seth White. WPFD fire fighter Kevin Acker will be attending a Fire Instructor Class March 30-April 3 where he will be leading courses, according to chief Ken Wilbourne.
Police chief Tim Brinkley noted that this time of year is common for his officers to get their 24 hours of required annual training in, too. This year, he said many of the training opportunities cover officer involved shootings.
“Some of those incidents in Missouri and in New York, we’re feeling those in West Point,” Brinkley said.
The police chief also noted that block parties that obstruct city roads are not permitted in West Point. He said as the weather warms up, calls to his department requesting permission to host such parties and consequently complaining about noise and obstruction from such parties increase.
The city will be conducting an active shooter drill at West Point High School March 28 at 9 a.m.
In other city business, the selectmen voted to approve the declaration of public nuisance status on four properties, one of which will require landscaping to clear overgrowth from the city and the rest of which will be demolished. A home a 712 Little Street will have its overgrown shrubs trimmed by city public works. Properties at 417 Mayhew Street, 463 Griffin Street and 147 West Morrow Street will be destroyed. A price tag for those demolitions has yet to be determined.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 33 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
