Elsewhere:

Derma

Aldermen agreed to begin eminent domain proceedings against Dianne Harmon for right-of-way to relocate utility facilities. Water and power lines need to be moved to accommodate the widening of Highway 8 to three lanes through town.

The board will hold a public hearing on a community development black grant on Nov. 3 and 10 a.m. The grant would fund sewer lagoon improvements.

No town employees, including police officers will be allowed to carry Taser weapons on their persons or in their town vehicles.

The town hired Calvert-Spradling Engineering to oversee a hazardous mitigation grant for installing a tornado siren.

Town clerk Deneen Russell will attend a seminar on identity theft required by the Mississippi Rural Water Association.

A mini-truck was purchased for the public works department.

Ronnie Windham completed the town's 2007 audit and will perform the 2008 audit.

Derma will provide $200 per month to the Calhoun Economic Development Association this fiscal year.

Full-time employees received a $26 per week raise. The town judge and attorney received raises of $25 per month. Part-time employees, the mayor and aldermen did not get a raise.

The town upgraded software pertaining to the Public Employees Retirement System.

Vardaman

Mayor James Marshall Casey presented a possible grant for the town to purchase emergency generators. The board approved applying for the grant and paying the 5 percent match if the grant is awarded.

No action was taken on a zoning request to pasture horses on a 1-acre house lot in town.

The board accepted an inventory of equipment no longer useful to the public works department and voted to purchase a digital water tester and a pipe locator for the department.

Casey will attended the Rural Water Association's identity theft seminar.

A new computer was approved for the town's water records.

A new police vehicle was scheduled to be delivered this week.

Big Creek

Town marshal David Poynor will attend police training in Natchez Dec. 8-11.

"We don't have any choice," mayor Dwight Devall said. "If we're going to have a policeman, we have to get him trained."

Poynor is required to receive 20 hours of training each year.

The board also set an open house for the new town hall and community center on Nov. 1. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served at former Methodist church building.

The town Christmas parade will be Dec. 13, "rain or shine, sleet, snow or whatever," Devall said.

A town representative will attend Rural Water's identity theft seminar.

The community building's water heater will be replaced.

The matter of insuring the community building was taken under advisement.

Bruce

Aldermen and Bruce Community Living Center representatives neared agreement on a 10-year lease with two five-year extensions.

BCLC officials wanted a longer lease and the ability to put a lien on the building to pay for improvements, such as a new roof and a new heating and cooling system, but "the board is not going to agree to that," city clerk Rita Talford said.

The parties agreed that a new lease would include a provision for higher rents on the building in the number of beds increases.

Zoning board president Carter Parr was instructed to have a meeting each month. PArr said the zoning board had not met since former Jesse Quillen left; Quillen, as zoning administrator, had organized and notified members of meetings.

No bids were received to repair a window in City Hall. Quotes will be sought for the work to be done.

Town property along Highway 9 will be advertised for use as farmland.

The town did not receive a grant for generators for the water system, because the grant program was for rural systems, not town systems. Town officials will try a different program.

Pittsboro

Board attorney Terry James will draw up an easement for the Pittsboro One Stop to use town property.

More lights will be purchased for display at Christmas.

Letters will be sent to certain property owners about cleaning up their property.