Poplarville’s Board of Aldermen approved installation of a security system at the city park, and provided payment to the contractor conducting work to make the library and park ADA compliant.
Board member Shirley Wiltshire said the board took action to increase the security of city property after several instances of vandalism have been noted. Wiltshire said one of the more recent instances involves damage to the brickwork at the pavilion, allegedly caused by an unknown suspect using a sledgehammer.
Board member Maggie Smith said there have also been instances of damage to the bathrooms and playground equipment meant for children with disabilities.
Tuesday night the board accepted a lower estimate on the security equipment, which included four cameras, a display and recording equipment for $1,700. Installation was included in the quote. That price was half as much as a previous quote received from a private business.
Wiltshire said the Poplarville Police Department has volunteered to pay for $1,000 of the price of the system by using drug forfeiture funds. The city will cover the difference.
The board also approved paying a cash request of $2,900 for Americans with Disabilities Act work ongoing at the local library and city park. Work at the park and library is being funded through a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant.
Wiltshire said the work at the Poplarville Library will bring it into compliance by moving the entrance to face Julia Street and conducting layout renovations to the interior.
Wiltshire said part of the work at the park will entail installation of about $30,000 worth of new playground equipment for children with disabilities at the city park.
Smith said the park’s sidewalk to the bathrooms will also meet ADA compliance once the project is complete.
In November Poplarville will join other Mississippi municipalities in becoming smoke free. While most businesses in the city already have a no smoking policy, Tuesday’s approval to adopt a smoking ordinance will officially go into effect in time for the the Great American Smokeout planned for Nov. 20, Wiltshire said.
In a separate matter the board set a trick or treat curfew for Halloween night, which is Friday Oct. 31 at 10 p.m., Wiltshire said.
The next board meeting will be held Oct. 21 at 5 p.m.