Developer John Persons agreed to pay $3,500 of the estimated cost of $5,000 for a 12-inch bore to create a tunnel under Bethlehem Road to allow gas and water lines to reach six homes Persons is building there.

Person and his engineer, Byron Houston of Batesville’s Houston Engineering, had previously met with city officials and secured a pledge that the city would bear the expense for three small bores for water to the site. Tuesday’s decision will allow the full complement of city services for the six homes currently planned and for 11 more that Persons plans to develop when the initial six have been completed.

The decision was reached after Person, Houston, water and sewer superintendent Ricky Shirey and city engineer Blake Mendrop left the meeting room to discuss the change in plans.`

"We are going to do it right and do it now instead of piece mealing it," Shirey said when the men returned to the meeting. City officials agreed to shoulder the same expense that the city would have incurred for the smaller bores – about $500 each, according to Shirey – if Persons agreed to pay the difference for the larger bore.

City officials also stipulated that Person adopt a restrictive covenant language that would prohibit Bethlehem Heights residents from opposing annexation by the city should the annexation be proposed.

In another city development related to housing, aldermen voted to turn down a housing grant available through the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) when it became apparent that the developer could not locate a sufficient amount of land in the city.

Charlie Sanders of Sanders Lumber and Construction of Senatobia had successfully applied for a home program grant for the city which required the city to handle the grant money. When he was unable to locate sufficient land in the city to build the homes he approached city officials about an interlocal agreement that would allow him to use the grant for home construction on lots both in the city limits and in the county.

"The city has got a grant at this moment, but we’re going to lose it if we don’t use it," Sanders said.

However, assistant city attorney Colmon Mitchell said that he had contacted MDA, and was told that the issue of the city administering funds used for home construction outside city limits created legal problems that would consume much of the time left before the time expired for the grant’s utilization.

Alderman Rufus Manley made the motion to turn down the grant. It passed unanimously

Warren and Fire Chief Tim Taylor asked the mayor and aldermen for a resolution that would give Warren written basis for his additional duties at the Tuesday, Feb. 6 meeting of the Batesville mayor and board of aldermen.

Privilege licenses became an issue during a routine audit when auditors discovered that city businesses had not been required to buy annual privilege licenses during the last five years.

Collections began immediately, levying the cost of each year’s license plus penalties in order to bring collections up to date.

In other fire department business, the fire chief received permission to purchase a covered trailer in which to house and transport the extensive array of fire safety education props that Batesville firemen use in their ongoing fire and life safety education efforts.

Aldermen unanimously approved Taylor’s purchase of the trailer from the department’s Risk Reduction Fund.

Aldermen also approved attendance by city personnel from the water, sewage treatment, fire and police departments to attend various continuing education seminars and training.

Following executive sessions to consider personnel matters, aldermen voted unanimously to rescind an action last month which allowed William Wilson to take part-time employment at a non-city job.

Aldermen also voted unanimously in a disciplinary action to reduce police officer Dean Jones in rank and pay.

There will be no election in District 4.