The Bruce Board of Aldermen looked over appraisals for some property they're considering purchasing, hired a new policeman, and debated how to handle an issue at Haworth in a special called meeting of the board Thursday night.
The appraisals were for 37 acres of land that adjoins the town's current rubbish site off of Hwy. 9 north of Bruce. The town's current site is full of limbs and concrete and they're looking to add to the site.
The three appraisals from Paul Lowe, Heath Appraisers and Houston Real Estate, averaged $54,000 for a price of $1,468 per acre, which is the maximum the town can offer.
The board authorized Mayor Rudy Pope to share the information with the landowner and see if he will accept. The landowner is also responsible for splitting the cost of the three appraisals which totaled $2,550.
Mayor Pope informed the board of a recent inspection at Haworth by corporate officers that found a few issues for the town to address. The primary issue was a fire protection tank that connects to the plant but sits on town property.
The tank is in need of a major renovation, which Mayor Pope said would be very costly. The town has maintained the tank in the past, he said. The board agreed to see if they could donate the property the tank sits on, less than half an acre, to the company and they could then take all responsibility for the tank.
The board approved the hiring of Thomas Sosa as a new policeman to succeed Mike Campbell who recently retired. Sosa just graduated from the Police Academy.
Mayor Pope said there's been some complaints of people dropping dogs out at The Dog Lovers League shelter on city property near the lagoon when no one is around. Mayor Pope said they thought cameras were going to be put up and the police would be investigating the issue.
He said the fine for such an act could be as much as $1,000.