The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency approached the city, asking at one time for a 20 percent match on the concrete building that would be used to house refugees in times of severe weather.

However, the city is now only being asked for a 5 percent match, Mayor Les Bumgarner said. The shelter's cost is estimated at around $3.2 million.

The proposed site, the land value of which could be counted as part of the city's match, is on Belt Line Road near the sports complex.

Bumgarner said Lincoln County is not under the flood plain system, but the city is. That is why FEMA and MEMA felt Brookhaven would be the best place for the structure, which would be built of poured concrete walls.

"I can't understand the benefit of a 36-hour storm building myself," Bumgarner said. "If a tornado hits, you could get hit by it going to the shelter. And if your house gets demolished, you still could only stay there 36 hours."

Aldermen discussed how one of the stipulations on the building is that chairs, cots and other furniture will not be allowed in it, which would encourage refugees to move on.

"You're just supposed to come in, wait it out and leave," Bumgarner said.

While the building can be used for other purposes, officials said they hesitate to decide anything on the shelter until they see if and how it works out in other communities that have been asked to put up the shelters. Several cities along Interstate 55 and Interstate 49 will be putting up the shelters under the same agreement with FEMA, officials said.

Ward Four Alderman Shirley Estes pointed out that bringing in refugees for only 36 hours might be impractical, but there could be considerable positives to having it.

"Could it be used locally, for instance if there's a tornado, or when we have to evacuate nursing homes, where do they go?" she said.

Aldermen agreed to consider the situation and talk about it again under further review.

Meanwhile, Bumgarner discussed the appointment of board members to city committees like the planning commission.

Bumgarner said he had done some research and found that the mayor is supposed to be an ex-officio member of every city board. This helps in situations where quorum needs to be met, he said.

Otherwise, the mayor is supposed to appoint new members to the boards, and aldermen are supposed to approve them, rather than vice-versa as it has been done in the past. Bumgarner said he would begin going to the meetings and monitor the attendance of board members.

Ward One Alderman Dorsey Cameron asked if appointees would still be chosen by ward, and Bumgarner assured him that the wards would all be represented on the boards.

The board also had an executive session regarding a personnel matter, but no action was taken when they came out.

Ward Five Alderman D.W. Maxwell did not attend the meeting.