Tuesday, the Poplarville Board of Aldermen discussed flag etiquette and neighborhood street patrol.
Recently, Mayor Brad Necaise said he received correspondence from concerned citizens regarding the proper lighting of flagpoles outside city buildings.
The flags either have to be lit properly at night or taken down in the evening, Necaise said.
“In order to properly light all the flags, it would cost about $11,000,” Necaise said. “We opted to take down the flags each day at dusk and put them back up in the morning. The police and fire department will each take care of their flags, while public works employees will take down the remaining flags.”
The board also discussed their options regarding drivers who speed down city streets.
Capt. Rossi Creel with the Poplarville Police Department said their officers put in between 100 and 160 miles a day driving around neighborhoods and being visible.
“If residents aren’t home, they won’t see our guys there during the day,” Creel said. “We attempt setting up radar on some streets, but some streets are not heavily traveled and spending an hour there is not good time management. The practices we do use are effective.”
Necaise said one of the biggest concerns is a child who might be playing in or near the streets.
The board tabled the issue until a later date so that Necaise could research techniques in other municipalities including speed bumps.
In other action the board:
–– Heard from two candidates running for office in Pearl River County. HUD housing specialist Patrick Collins is running for District I Supervisor and said one of his main objectives is to unite Pearl River County.
“We are not going to get economic opportunities here unless the northern and southern ends of the county come together,” Collins said.
Retired federal agent Mike Tyson has 36 years experience in mostly drug enforcement. He is running for Senate District 47.
“I’m a public safety guy and I think that I can have an impact up there,” Tyson said.
Necaise thanked both candidates and said meetings are open to any candidate who wishes to address the board.
–– Poplarville Public Works Director Sam Hale said during his talks with city engineer Jason Lamb regarding the city’s splash pad, Lamb indicated that it would be around mid-May before a pre-construction meeting could be held. No reason was given, Hale said.
–– Hale said 24-hour surveillance signs were installed at City Park.
–– Approved the preparation of a cost estimate by Lamb to widen Jacobs Road.
–– Set up an aldermen workshop at PRCC on May 4 to discuss items such as the noise ordinance, pet and animal control ordinance and a social media policy.
–– Approved notifying G&K Uniform of the non-renewal of their contract.
–– Approved a 5-year postage meter lease for $83.82 per month, which is down from $102, Necaise said.
–– Approved a 4-year copier lease for $180 per month.
The next board meeting will be held on May 11 at 5 p.m. in board chambers at City Hall.