The Poplarville Board of Aldermen has proclaimed the week of March 31 through April 7 as Pick It Up Anti-Litter Week as part of the Keep Mississippi Beautiful campaign.

Alderman Shirley Wiltshire is spearheading the event to encourage citizens, homeowners, property owners, business owners and community leaders to all do their parts to clean up the city.

Wiltshire also hopes for Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups and other clubs and organizations to take part in cleaning up the litter scattered throughout neighborhoods.

“I think each one of us (aldermen) should take responsibility for our areas of town,” Wiltshire said. “The people of Poplarville need to be responsible for our own streets.”

Citizens may pick up trash bags from City Hall during regular weekday business hours. Arrangements will be made and announced prior to March 31 as to where citizens will be asked to drop off filled trash bags.

Mayor Billy Spiers signed the proclamation which states in part, “the city of Poplarville recognizes that litter is a major factor in economic development and environmental issues that can be prevented if each individual citizen … would do their part.”

In other business, the board of aldermen agreed to apply for the availability of leasing the railroad property where the former NAPA business stood. The city wishes to turn the area into additional parking for the downtown business district in addition to adding green space.

The board agreed to designate the west side of Dauphine Street directly behind First Baptist Church as handicapped parking. The east side of the street will be designated a no parking zone. The zones will be only in the area directly behind the church between Pearl and Willy Streets.

Aldermen also agreed to raise part-time firefighter and police officer pay to $10 per hour to stay consistent with the pay of those departments in other towns. Previously, part-time firefighters earned $6 per hour while part-time police officers earned $7 per hour.

The city approved adding David Ezell to its volunteer firefighter roster and amended the budget to purchase a new lawn mower.