By Myra Bean

The Crowder Mayor and Board of Aldermen learned they cannot replace the shop building without flood coordinator approval in last Thursday, May 4, monthly board meeting.

Mike Hankins, in his water and fire report, said the shop is located in a potential flood zone. The floor has to be 12 inches above the flood zone. So an engineer has to be hired.

Board Attorney William Sanders will report more information on the matter.

Hankins said the town’s backhoe will not run as the injector pump is out. He was trying to get it repaired.

Police Chief Willie Harris got permission from the board to take the Dodge Charger to Heafner Motors to be put on an diagnostic machine.

Harris said there is some blight around the city and he has been handing out warnings. The town towed three vehicles which were stopped and ticketed for no insurance. The owners will have to show insurance proof to pick them up.

Harris said if they go out and have an accident without insurance, the city could also be held liable.

There were some shots fired on Humphrey Avenue April 1, he said. U.S. Marshalls have picked up Harvey White so he is no longer in the jail, the chief said.

Panola County Emergency Management Operations Director Daniel Cole, along with Marlon Logan, appeared before the board to outline what Emergency Management (Civil Defense) purpose is and how it serves the Crowder area.

He said his office assists E911 system, Homeland Security, Search and Rescue and the Census Bureau.

Cole  also spoke about Project Lifesaver bracelets that are available. It helps cut down on the search and rescue time if someone is wearing one. They have used it on a few people and went right to where they were. Hunter Lawrence conducts that project for the office.

The office will also help put up road name signs in Crowder at the request of Mayor Tommie Dorris.

Nakeshea Watts of the Tobacco Free Coalition Board attended the meeting in the absence of an ill Pearl Watts. She spoke about barring smoking in public places. It will open the door for grants because the town is working to be healthier.

In other business, the board passed a resolution for Fair Housing Lift station grant for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

The reoccurring subject of the now defunct school came up. The school board wants the town to buy the building for $1 without getting it tested for asbestos. The town refused again.

They want the building torn down, but asbestos abatement will cost whichever entity owns the building at the demolition time.

The Crowder board meets the first Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. in City Hall. The next meeting is May 2.