Monday, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors heard from Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise about a sinkhole on Main Street and from the director of the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, Leonard Bentz.
Necaise told the board that a center section of road underneath the railroad overpass on Main Street is sinking.
“There’s some detail related to a spring,” Necaise said. “Representatives from Norfolk Southern and MDOT have looked at it and the Pearl River County Utility Authority made a video. We would like for the board to take under advisement the possibility of partnering with us to try and repair this. It’s an emergency situation.”
Poplarville Public Works Director Sam Hale said the problem is occurring because of a 78-year-old culvert that has failed. The problem, Hale said, is about 25 gallons of spring water flowing through those culverts per minute. Every time a garbage or large truck passes through, it sinks more.
A turnback agreement appears to indicate that it is the county’s responsibility, board attorney Joe Montgomery said. However, he needs more time to research the agreement and Necaise said he would research state funding.
In another matter, Bentz from SMPDD, said the district is not receiving the funding that it takes to run the programs in Pearl River County.
The SMPDD currently provides meals on wheels, congregate meal sites and transportation for the elderly in the county, Bentz said.
“Historically we’ve been able to pick up for the lack of funds,” Bentz said. “We’ve taken the stance that we need to make sure we are being prudent with our funds at SMPDD. If we can’t get the funding to match federal programs, we are going to have to make cuts to programs and I’m not going to make that decision, I would like that to come from the board.”
Bentz said the county would need to pay about $24,000 more to cover the shortfall.
The board voted to approve the payment.
“We want to ensure that none of our senior services get cut,” District IV Supervisor Patrick Lee said.

In other action the board:
–– Approved travel for six deputies with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department for two training programs in Gulfport and Biloxi. The first is for cell phone investigation training and the second is for handwriting and statement analyst training.
–– Declared Monday, May 25 a holiday in observance of Memorial Day and Jefferson Davis’ birthday.
–– Approved Lt. Joann Graham’s enrollment in Partners for PRC Leadership program.
–– Heard an update from County Engineer Les Dungan regarding ongoing construction in the county. The first update concerned E.T. Poole Road. Dungan said the contractor is working with the railroad company to obtain a permit, but he anticipates this happening soon. The Barth Road bridge is complete, Dungan said, and with the drier weather contractors are working on the bridge approach. The Richardson-Ozona site has been cleared, but contractors are allowing it to dry before resuming work, Dungan said. Dungan also gave an update on county storm shelters. Last year a manufacturer representative inspected the site and outlined changes, which included the inoperable air conditioners, Dungan said. The units were tested again once the weather warmed up and they failed, he said.
“We are waiting on a response from the contractor and some of the easier changes have already been done,” Dungan said. “The shelters were built with grant money and in doing so the architect had to follow FEMA guidelines which required elaborate air conditioning units. It should take about seven days to get the units working again.”
–– The next board meeting is Wednesday, May 20 at 9 a.m.