Tuesday, the Poplarville Board of Aldermen approved two new change orders to the ADA projects involving city park and the library. The board also heard from two department heads regarding needs that should be addressed during the next fiscal year’s budget hearings.
Jason Lamb, engineer with Hattiesburg’s Walker Associates, PLLC, informed the board of two changes to the projects.
The first, Lamb said, concerned the library.
“Last Monday, contractors removed the door to the community room,” Lamb said. “The initial plan was to salvage the existing door frame. Upon installation, it was discovered that the new door was four inches too short.”
Lamb said it will take about four to five weeks for the new door to arrive, however the old doors are in place and the building is secure.
Lamb suggested to board members that in order to avoid another problem with the door, he recommended the frame be replaced as well.
The cost to replace the frame is $1,100, Lamb said.
The city park is also being brought up to ADA standards and Lamb said contractors are waiting for the playground equipment to arrive.
The equipment is set to be mailed Feb. 4, Lamb said. However, the initial contract was scheduled to end on Feb. 8. Lamb recommended extending the contract until March 15.
The board approved both of Lamb’s recommendations for the projects and approved closing the park to the public between Feb. 9 through 13, as crews will be out working.
Picayune Police Chief Charlie Fazende suggested the board consider raising the pay rate for part-time police officers during the next budget season.
The current rate is $10 per hour, Mayor Brad Necaise said.
Necaise suggested that Fazende research the part-time pay rates in similarly sized municipalities in the area and bring those figures to the board.
Public Works Director Sam Hale also asked the board to consider budgeting equipment purchases next year, specifically a mini excavator.
Hale said when dealing with wet conditions, it is hard to get a backhoe in place to repair water lines. At times, there are situations when the water lines lay too close to a gas line and then workers must dig by hand.
Necaise asked Hale to research prices for the equipment.

In other action the board:
– Held a public hearing in regards to 430 N. Main St. There was no one to speak on behalf of the property, so the board declared it derelict.
The next board meeting will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 5 p.m. in the chambers at city hall.