By Myra Bean

The mayor and board of aldermen for the Town of Pope held its regular board meeting Monday, Oct. 7.

Board attorney Tommy Shuler presented a letter from attorney Charlie Baglan about the Nelda Ballard who appeared before the board because her septic tank top fell in.

The board discussed the letter and reiterated Ballard was responsible for her own tank.

Pope City Clerk Tracy Holcomb was voted by the board to be the representative for Pope to go to a class for the outstanding obligation for tax refunds. The legislature voted on House Bill HB991 where funds owed to cities can now be collected by deducting from state income tax refunds.

Each municipality which wants to participate has to send a representative to this class.

State representative candidate Brady Williamson was a guest and told the board about himself and why he settled in North Mississippi.

Shuler also announced the town has until Oct. 22 to opt out of the opioid class action lawsuit. He said there was no reason to opt out unless the town was going to hire its own attorney. The board took no action to opt out of the lawsuit.

Sewer Project

Engineer Chad Wages presented an invoice from Brocato Construction for $6,303.94 for services. The money will be reimbursed by MDOT. Wages presented the signed contract for the construction part of the project from Brocato.

He is in the process of making sure landowners are in final agreement with the easements part of the project. Most are good, he said. There was one person who still had questions.

The homeowners will be paid a combined approximately $20,000 for easement rights, according to Wages.

MDOT has approved a start date of Nov. 1 and to be completed in 130 days, around the end of February.

The sewer project will be done in conjunction with the bridge replacements going into Pope town limits on Highway 51. A new road which will be built along side the existing road. Upon completion of the new road and bridges, the old road will be closed and out of use.

Upcoming Events

Pope Church of God will have a Fall Festival, Sat., Oct. 27 beginning at 4 p.m. Everything is free.

Melissa Meek-Phelps agreed to organize the Pope Christmas parade. A date has not been set yet.