Jasper County citizens with unpaid fines should be aware that the Bay Springs Police Department is reviewing old cases and starting an initiative to collect on all debts. “We are actively collecting any kind of fine that people owe the city in municipal court,” said Chief Jimmy Herrington as he addressed the mayor and Board of Aldermen on the February 16 regular meeting. Residents who owe fines will receive a letter informing them that after 90 days they could be arrested. “We’re about to start picking up people and implementing a work program where people will pick up litter to pay off their fines,” said Herrington.

Another issue discussed by the board at the meeting was that of the reimbursement of SKL Investments, Inc., based on a clerical error made three years ago. According to City Attorney R. K. Houston, SKL Investments, Inc. attended a city tax sale and paid the taxes on numerous pieces of property totaling $2,258. Recently, the company inquired about the deeds to some of this property, as they were under the impression that they had purchased the land by paying the taxes during the tax sale. Because of the clerical error, however, the original owners of the land are still in possession of the land even though SKL Investments had paid the taxes to purchase the land.

A motion was made and approved to reimburse SKL Investments, Inc. the $2,258 which the company paid plus the legal rate of eight percent interest, which totals nearly $2,700. Houston said that further review of the law would need to take place before the city could contact the original landowners involved. Approximately 20 properties are involved in this matter with the highest property taxes being paid by SKL Investments at the time to be $550. As the matter stands today, the city will acquire the debt unless the local landowners are legally obligated to repay the back taxes.

Jamie Holder, owner of Hol-Mac Corporations attended the board meeting to speak about possible building renovations for the upstairs building of Bay Springs Florist, which is located downtown. Holder’s plans for the building are to remodel the space into an apartment for new Hol-Mac employees, though residential zoning laws and other considerations must be confirmed before any construction would take place.

Tammy Chisholm, spokesperson with Relay for Life, also addressed the board to ask if the city of Bay Springs would sponsor the fireworks display at Smith Park on April 16 for the organization’s rally. The board approved the request to pay for the $500 show.

Other approvals made by the board include but are not limited to the approval of claims and minutes and the approval of various requests to use City Hall.