TYLERTOWN — There has been no movement in the Walthall governments’ lawsuit against Brigade Manufacturing.
Tylertown board attorney Joseph Stinson told aldermen Tuesday that nothing has changed since the first of the month, when he gave the board a lengthy update in executive session.
Conrad Mord, the board of supervisors’ attorney, gave supervisors the same message Wednesday.
Jamie Davenport, who has taken control of the company from the Richard Davenport Family Trust, told the Tylertown Times this week that he has offered several proposals to the town and county to settle the matter.
The town and county sued Brigade in September for payment of about $150,000 in back rent on the building the company leases in the industrial park near Tylertown High School; and for the possible eviction of the company.
Davenport said he is seeking to have a new rent payment schedule approved and to continue the company’s operations in its current site.
“We would love to pay the entire amount in one lump sum, but we are in no position to at this time,” Davenport told the Times.
The new owner said the plant now employs 120 people and could add another production line and up to 70 more employees if the company can continue operating.
He added that the company could move into an empty building anywhere, but would like to remain in Tylertown with its trained cut-and-sew labor force.
Brigade’s travails are also affecting a neighboring company.
Todd Nace of Factory on Main told the Times that that company has been discussing moving across the street into the same facility as Brigade. Factory on Main shut down a production line earlier in the year, but Nace was able to get some of his former workers hired at Brigade.
Nace said the Brigade building has office space for Factory on Main managers, and Factory on Main might be able to contract with Brigade to shift the manufacture of T-shirts from North Carolina to Tylertown.
Depending on the outcome of the Brigade matter, Factory on Main could continue and expand, move elsewhere or shut down, Nace said.
Aldermen took the brief progress report from Stinson without comment.
In other Tylertown business:
• Aldermen accepted a bid of $91.25 per ton from Dickerson and Bowen for labor and materials laying up to 1,200 tons of asphalt to pave various city streets. Total cost at 1,200 tons was $109,500.
The only other bid came from Warren and Warren, which bid $93.90 per ton. At 1,200 tons, the total would have been $112,680.
• The board approved advertising for bids to sell the old theater building the town owns downtown.
“I’ve had a lot of inquiries,” Mayor Ed Hughes said.
Tylertown aldermen will meet again Dec. 5.
