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The top five priorities garnering unanimous votes were economic development, downtown revitalization, systematically replacing equipment, continued paving and tending to infrastructure needs.
"Along with the county, we purchased 400 acres for Linbrook Business Park," Massengill said. "We've constructed Phase One, which is the water well and a million gallon tank, and we've begun Phase Two, which is roads and sewer and water."
Massengill said the city's Web site has also been a positive accomplishment toward economic development, as well as the finalization of the speculative building, which will have a tenant shortly. In addition, the board has continued to work with the Industrial Development Foundation to make Brookhaven an attractive place for industry.
Another stride in the right direction of economic development is the city's first comprehensive plan in 25 years, the mayor said.
"This should direct the city in years to come and will be presented to the board and the public very soon," Massengill said.
Downtown revitalization has also been moving along smoothly, with the Bradford pear trees in the downtown areas having been replaced with sasanqua trees, which bloom year round.
"We also installed attractive lighting on Whitworth and Railroad avenues," Massengill said, adding that the city's holiday decorations were improved and tax incentives have been implemented for downtown development.
"We'll also continue to strive to find an attractive business for the burned corner and we'll do all we can to see that the downtown remains a vital part of this community," he said.
Equipment replacement has continued, with several thousand dollars being figured into the budget each year to work toward keeping city equipment updated.
"We want to be able to replace it when it's needed and not when it completely wears out," Massengill said. "And we still have more to go, among the more costly of those being that we need a new fire truck and a new dozer at the landfill."
Streets in all six wards have been paved as funding has allowed, the mayor said, with other streets being identified and scheduled for improvement.
Massengill said in the last few years Monticello Street and Highway 51 have been repaved with the help of the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Approximately $4 million worth of paving has been done in recent years, he said, but there is still much to be done.
Many infrastructure needs, which are not always immediately evident because some are underground, have been addressed through the last term, Massengill said. He cited sewer projects, reworking of two water wells, and the purchase of generators for lift stations, and the water, police and fire departments as strides in the right directions.
"And we've completely renovated the old highway patrol building for our new police department, and they'll move in in the next couple of weeks," he said.
Massengill also reminded the board of the removal of 15 years of accumulated sludge at the wastewater treatment plant, improvements at the airport, the addition of cluster lighting at Interstate 55 Exit 40, and other projects that have been a part of the current term.
Also, the current administration weathered Hurricane Katrina, Massengill said, seeing to the cleanup and dealing with the aftermath and devastation.
"There have been some days of joy and some days of not so much joy," he said. "But particularly those of you who will be running for office, think about these things and pass them along to your constituents."
