By CHRIS WILSON

Senior Writer

AMORY - In their continuing quest to clean up properties throughout the city, the board of aldermen held another public hearing on March 17 to deal with three parcels of rundown property.

One property at 310 5th Ave. North that was a burned down house, is owned by Henry Grady Wright who recently bought it back from its former owner. The board gave him 30 days to have the remainder of the debris on the lot cleared off. Wright has hired a contractor to clean off the burned house.

A second property at 905 109th St. North is owned by an estate with out-of-state owners. City Planner Russell Butler said no official action could be taken on the property because the owner was not given sufficient notice. This house is vacant and will be considered in the next public hearing to be held May 19.

A third property at 407 6th Ave. North that was owned by Henry Grady Wright but since sold to Donna Lecure is in the process of being cleaned up therefore there was no action taken against the owner.

In other city business at the March 17 meeting, resident Robert Dykes appeared before the board to ask for enforcement of the law against jake brakes. He said he lives on Hwy. 278 East and that the trucks use jake braking to slow their trucks all the time in spite of signs being posted about it. He said it rattles his home's windows at night. Dykes also said that there are police parked nearby but they don't take any action on the matter. "I've been in the city for seven years and got higher taxes and heartache," Dykes said. "I get no satisfaction from anyone." Dykes said he has already talked to the police chief about the truck problem.

In other police related business, Ward 1 Alderman Dan Rogers asked that the board consider the use of ankle bracelets for non-violent offenders who normally would be housed in the jail. The ankle bracelets are a less costly option for cities and counties for handling prisoners. Chief Bowen was not at the March 17 meeting to discuss the ankle bracelets. Rogers was also not present, but participated via conference call.

In other business the board approved a recommendation from the Planning Commission to change a yield sign to a stop sign at the intersection of M. Ave. South and Victory Temple Drive.

Bryon Monaghan appeared at the board meeting to voice his objection to the city's procedure for issuing privilege licenses. Monaghan, who sells produce on Hwy. 278 East, said he wanted to sell some things besides produce and flowers but that the city's Zoning Dept. would not allow it. Monaghan said he wanted to sell dog houses, auto parts, dolls and other items at his stand.

City Planner Russell Butler pointed out that Monaghan's permit is only for produce and flowers because of the type of building he has which is temporary and not built according to regular code for retail businesses.

Monaghan was also upset because he said that another businessman got a permit to sell other items at the former gas station site where Monaghan had previously had his produce stand at the corner of Hwy. 278 and Main Street.

Butler said that the new business at that site had proper permits and was being brought up to code.

Alderman-at-large Glen Bingham told Monaghan that the city is not against him selling out of his produce stand but that if he wanted to sell all kinds of things besides produce, then he needed to have a proper building that met city code.

In other business, attorney Sam Griffie, sitting in for city attorney John Creekmore, said there had been no protests filed on the city's resolution to issue revenue bonds for $5.5 million for infrastructure for the new steel mill. That project will, therefore, move forward.

The board also accepted a recommendation from the Planning Commission to demolish a house at 3rd St. and 7th Ave. North. The house is owned by Felicia Holmes.

A hearing was set for April 21 for a public hearing regarding the city's revised zoning ordinance.

The board met again on Friday afternoon, March 20, in a special called meeting where the aldermen voted to adopt a resolution for the city's police department to participate in a communication grant.