By Myra Bean

Mayor Jamie Howell presided over the regular monthly meeting of the Town of Pope Board of Aldermen Monday night. The board met for about an hour discussing the sewer grant in progress to the lack of ordinances for junk proper to what to do with dogs running free through the town.

They discussed in length the new sewer pipes that will run through town and take some of the burden off the existing line. The board agreed to pay the $10,580.15 invoice for the fifth design.

The board agreed to give the mayor permission to sign the application for submission for the DRA grant funds to extend sewer parts of the MDOT project.

Aldermen tabled a motion to get rid of the pump station and put in a new line for the restaurant.

“It is hard for the restaurants to keep up with this little tank. That is not what tanks were built for,” said Chris Wages, engineer with the MDOT project.

The board agreed to pay the bills of $7,893.

They accepted the bid for Bryant Lawn Care to bushhog the lagoon for $525 per month and $450 per month to mow the town property. New sewer rates were adopted. They will be $21 per month with a processing fee and $50 reconnection fee.

Scott Insurance had approached city clerk Tracy Holcomb about $25,000 life insurance for each employee. She asked the city to pay those premiums which would be $42 per month for the 11 employees or $462 per employe annually.

The motion was tabled as Alderman Michael Boyette was against the city paying the premiums. He wants the employees’ paychecks to be deducted the $3.53 each month.

Some board members are upset there do not seem to be any city ordinances to enforce property clean up. One nuisance property is the Forbes’ property back yard.

The issue arose that Pope needs new fire codes to get the fire rating below seven.

As for the ordinance for aggressive/vicious dogs, the ordinance does exist and Bill McGee said he will call in the county to help control the stray dogs running around. Aldermen report the dogs turn over garbage cans which are left on the roads overnight waiting for the morning pickup.