By Rupert Howell

The price of cemetery lots at Rose Hill Cemetery will increase from $200 to $500 for Sardis residents and from $500 to $1,000 for non-residents following action from the board of mayor and alderman at a special meeting held Tuesday afternoon.

City officials also voted to enforce an old ordinance on the books that allows the city to charge a $12 annual fee per lot for maintenance, although board members were not quite sure how to obtain a list of heirs of those who are buried there or others who own lots.

The action came about after the town’s maintenance director, Bubba McDowell, told of hours spent by the entire maintenance department removing trees the city had contracted be cut down as well as other maintenance chores that keep city crews away from other tasks.

Board members also discussed the use of the old hospital building near I-55 as a training sight for a Maryland Haz Mat crew to conduct training exercises for area responders on December 3.
Alderman-at-large Roy Scallorn made the request from Panola’s Emergency Management Coordinator Daniel Cole who assured him that there would be no damage to the facility, according to Scallorn.

That conversation led to a discussion concerning a Desoto County Swat team using the facility in the past for training on a regular basis.

None of the city officials knew exactly who authorized use of that building and it seemed not to be a concern until attorney Tommy Shuler wanted assurance that  a signed release indemnifying  Sardis was included in the previous request from the Maryland Haz Mat crew.

At least two of the officials stated they thought the Desoto County team using the facility made an agreement with the former mayor for use of the building.

In other business, aldermen authorized an appraisal on two buildings, the former Steelematic Building on Monroe St. Ext, and the Mississippi Mills or Klyce Building on Highway 51 south of the ballfield.

Mayor Billy Russell requested the appraisal on the Steelematic Building as a potential purchaser has shown interest, and Scallorn thought it prudent to get the second building appraised along with it.

Aldermen went into executive session excluding the press during a discussion and interview process with police chief candidates.