Jordan said the caps could easily be mixed in with other metals and sold. Chance, however, said other cities are seeing the same problem, and authorities in those cities say it may be gang related.

“These wangsters — want to be gangsters — this is another way to mark their territories,” Chance said. “What they don’t realize is they are putting peoples’ lives in danger.”

“It’s going to retard our progress in suppressing that fire,” Jordan said.

Other council action included:

• adopted a resolution authorizing Laurel to enter into a contract with USA Pools for the care of the pool at the Laurel Sportsplex — voted 7-0.

• accepted a donation from Dixie Youth Baseball for the construction of a pressbox — voted 7-0.

• accepted the lowest bid from Reeves Construction, Inc., for the pressbox at the Sportsplex — voted 7-0.

• appointed Susan Vincent to the Board of Commissioners of the Pine Belt Regional Solid Waste Management Authority — voted 7-0.

• changed the Aug. 5 Council meeting time from 5:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to avoid a conflict with the National Nigh Out Against Crime — voted 6-1, with Thaxton voting against. Thaxton voiced concern that the change will set a negative precedence for future conflicts.

• changed zoning on a parcel of land in Ward 5 from I-3 to R-3 to permit the construction of townhouses on eight acres of land belonging to Allen B. Nunnally — voted 7-0.

• adopted a change to increase the mileage reimbursement rate to 58.5 cents per mile in accordance with IRS regulations — voted 7-0.