Tuesday, Douglas and Phyllis Daniels, longtime residents of Shivers Street in Poplarville, spoke to the Poplarville Board of Aldermen about the potential health hazards of an unkempt pool in their neighborhood.
The swimming pool in question is located at 1425 Shivers Street, Phyllis Daniels told the Board, and has been in a state of disrepair for several years. The water has turned green from algae and is covered in flies and frogs, she added.
“This is a health hazard for the neighborhood and town of Poplarville,” she said.
Poplarville City Code Enforcement Officer Guy Ray Holston said the owners have done just enough to appease him but now they won’t answer his phone calls.
Daniels, who began her efforts in May, told the Board she has contacted the number taped to the front door. She has been unable to get in contact with a representative from Dakota Assets in Texas, the owners of the property.
Jim Brister, a real estate agent in Picayune, is the listing agent for the property, Daniels said. Brister told Daniels that Dakota Assets approved $8,000 to be paid to a preservation company to take care of the property.
They put in some new pickets and some chemicals, she told the Board.
However, she visited the area today and discovered the pool to be as bad as when she first complained. The outside of the home, she added, is full of mildew.
Alderman Byron Wells told Daniels he will have Poplarville City Attorney Nick Thompson obtain the addresses and have Holston send letters. If they are returned, then the city can take action on the problem, Wells said.
Douglas Daniels said he just wants Shivers Street to “look right” again, he told the Board.
“I’ve got 15 grandkids coming next week and there’s nothing but a few bushes between our house and the pool,” he said.
In other action:
• Poplarville Public Works Director Sam Hale informed the Board about his intent to replace some damaged crepe myrtles on Main Street. The incident involved a single-vehicle car accident on April 26. Eight of the trees were destroyed, Hale told the board. Hale plans to replace them with eight Arapahoe crepe myrtles at a cost of $115 a piece with a $75 charge to plant them, Hale read from a quote from Evergreen Nursery. Poplarville City Clerk Jane O’Neal suggested Hale wait until they know what the driver’s insurance company will pay. The Board approved a motion to allow Thompson to pursue a claim with the insurance company.
• On June 30, Hale told the Board that county workers had destroyed a fire hydrant on Old Williams Highway with a bush hog. It cost the city $2,019 in labor and parts to replace it. Hale asked the Board if they wanted him to pursue this incident with the county’s insurance.
“We’ll take care of labor if they’ll take care of parts,” Alderwoman Shirley Wiltshire said. “That’s good faith.”
• Poplarville Fire Chief Jonathan Head told the Board that they have started hydrant testing, completing 10 on Tuesday. In another matter, Head told the Board he contacted Comcast regarding repairs to the severe weather sirens who told Head he believes it is a programming issue.
“He would be able to go and reset it and place it on our frequency and be able to reprogram both sites and a couple of radios,” Head said. “He will be able to test them and make sure they are in working condition. It is scheduled for possibly Friday.”
• The Board approved travel, including meals and course cost, for firefighter Camron Ladner to attend the Candidate Physical Agility Test at the Mississippi Fire Academy on November 1.
• The Board approved travel for four full-time police officers and one part-time police officer to attend Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Training Program at the Imperial Palace Casino in Biloxi.
• The Board approved the addition of Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. and K-9 Supervisor Brian Anthony to the Poplarville Police Department’s part-time list. He will be bringing a 3-year-old canine trained in narcotics and protection, Raby said. Anthony will train Poplarville Police Officer Chris Netto regarding K-9 handling. The only cost to the city will be for dog food and veterinary bills.
The Board will hold a budget workshop this Friday at 8 a.m. in the boardroom at City Hall. The next regularly scheduled Board of Aldermen meeting will be held on July 19 at 5 p.m.