A business operating out of a home was a point of contention for two Picayune residents at Tuesday’s Picayune City Council meeting.
Dr. J. Abraham Rodriguez and Jack Pruitt told the council that several things about the business operating out of the home along Country Club Drive bothers them, two of which are the large number of vehicles and equipment parked at the home and the burning of trash on the property.
They say the vehicles and equipment belong to Lee Adams Construction, and their presence is an eyesore.
Pruitt said previous to the business setting up shop in a residential area, he had a lovely view of the adjacent lake. Now all he can see is what he described as a parking lot for a construction business.
“I think the city needs to step up and do something about this,” Pruitt said.
Rodriguez said the people living there have been burning trash on the property.
“I’ve never seen such a lack of respect for private property in my entire life,” Rodriguez said.
The council said they will look into the situation.
A new member has been appointed to the Pearl River County Utility Authority Board of Trustees to replace Steve Lawler. The council approved a motion to appoint Mike Pind to the seat.
Before the motion was approved, Councilor Larry Breland asked for information about appointees to be included in their pre-meeting packet in the future. He also asked for more diversity when appointments are made.
In other business the council approved a motion to apply for the 2016 Multimodal Transportation Improvement Project. Grants Manager Christy Goss said that if the grant is approved the funds will be used to conduct drainage work between two sets of T-hangars at the Municipal Airport.
The grant requires a match that can be as little as 1 percent, but since this is the second time they are attempting to receive the grant, they opted to agree to pay 20 percent of the cost to conduct the work. City Engineer Vernon Moore said the project is estimated to cost $100,000.
The city should know by July if the grant is approved.
In spite of the recent heavy rainfall City Hall did not suffer a minor flood like it did shortly after two heavy rainstorm events in 2013. Public Works Director Eric Morris said the recent work along Williams Avenue helped keep the water from coming into the building.
The council also approved some amendments to City Ordinance 920, which prohibits the sale and consumption of alcohol at public parks. City Attorney Nathan Farmer said the change was needed so Ordinance 920 did not conflict with Ordinance 915, which allows the sale and consumption of beer and light wine only at Crosby Commons provided a special event permit is secured from the city manager in advance.
“We just wanted to make sure it was clear,” Farmer said.
In other business the council:
— Approved a request to apply for Bureau of Justice Bullet Proof Vest Partnership grant, which helps replace the equipment in the police department.
— Approved a request to pay off a seized vehicle for a total of $400 using Special Police Drug Funds and then surplus the vehicle.
The next council meeting will be May 5 at 5 p.m. in City Hall.