Tuesday, the Poplarville Board of Aldermen once again addressed the needs of the building located at 101 N. Main St.
The building currently houses the Poplarville Chamber of Commerce and Poplarville Historical Preservation Society’s Museum.
However, the building has become infested with Formosan termites and was recently condemned, meaning it was deemed unsafe for people to enter the establishment.
At the last meeting, the board decided to secure bids for the removal of the roof. This action will determine if the building is still structurally sound.
City Clerk Jody Stuart told the board that city public works director Sam Hale, who was not in attendance Tuesday, gave her one estimate for the removal of the roof. The estimate was received from Keith Watt and totaled $1,410 for removal of the roof, cleanup and labor.
However, Aldermen Jason Pearson said representatives from Pearl River Community College reached out and offered to remove the roof at no cost to the city. But, by Tuesday’s meeting, Pearson had not heard an affirmative answer from the college.
“They are checking into the liability issues,” he said.
It’s still unclear as to whether college personnel or students would complete the job, Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise said.
The board decided to take the matter under advisement until they received more clarity.
Necaise told Poplarville Historical Preservation Society President Joan Bassett that Shannon Marshall of New Beginnings Church offered his church building for storage of the museum’s contents.
Due to the fact that they don’t know how long the items will have to be stored there, Bassett asked Necaise to see whether or not the building will be climate controlled. Bassett is also searching for a pest control company that can treat historical items for Formosan termites. However, she told the board she has not seen any signs of termite damage to the museum’s items.
Alderwoman and Poplarville Chamber board member Maggie Smith said that Mike Cambry offered a free storefront, the chamber would just have to play the electric bill. Smith still has to meet with the chamber’s executive board about the possible move.
In other action the board:
–Alderwomen Shirley Wiltshire and Maggie Smith volunteered to schedule a meeting with city code enforcer Guy Holston in order to help him compose a spreadsheet regarding blighted properties throughout the city.
–– Approved the Dec. 31, 2015 retirement date of Poplarville Police Chief Charlie Fazende.
For more from Tuesday’s meeting, check out Thursday’s edition of the Picayune Item.
The next board of aldermen meeting will be on Nov. 3 at 5 p.m. in the boardroom at City Hall.