During Tuesday’s Poplarville Board of Aldermen meeting, city code enforcer Guy Ray Holston condemned the city’s building located at 101 N. Main St.

The building currently houses the Poplarville Chamber of Commerce in the front and the Poplarville Historical Society Preservation’s museum in the back.

According to previous coverage, public works director Sam Hale informed the board that termites had infested the back of the building. The board voted to approve treating the building for termites.

However, upon further inspection of the museum, Holston and Hale told the board the problem has worsened.

Marcia Johnson, of Marcia Johnson Construction, Inc., presented the board with an estimate of repairs.

“You can fix the building, but you don’t know the unknown,” Johnson said. “You’ve got a roof on top of a rotted roof with wood under there. The termites are all up under there and if that collapses, your new roof collapses on top of that. You’re going to have to take the top two roofs on when you fix it.”

The cost estimate for the repairs is $34,000, Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise read from the estimate.

Johnson told the board the termite problem is severe and would not recommend having people in the building. The termites have also moved to the front of the building. She told the board, the repairs might last 20 years or two months.

“My first thought when I saw the building was to save the money and tear it down,” Holston said.

However, even if the building is torn down, it still must be treated for termites, Johnson said.

Necaise said time is of the importance and the longer they wait, the worse the conditions will become. Also, the money for repairs is not available and there are roads in the city in need of repair.

The board acknowledged the condemnation of the building by Holston.

The board will immediately notify the occupants of the building, Necaise said. Instructions will be forthcoming regarding the investigation and removal of contents.

Holston also told the board that anything made out of wood would have to be treated.

In other action:

–– The board declared Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week. Picayune Chapter DAR member Gloria Penton attended the meeting and presented the board with a poster to hang in City h Hall.

–– Hale told the board that new fire hydrant feature for the city’s splash pad had arrived and may be installed next week.

The next board meeting will be held on Oct. 6 at 5 p.m. in the boardroom at city hall.