The Poplarville Board of Aldermen heard a presentation from a representative of Waste Management at their regular meeting Tuesday night.

Pamela Ducas, the area representative for the company, spoke about grant opportunities available to the city.

Mayor Brad Necaise also said City Clerk Jane O’Neal found a grant opportunity that can assist city representatives in attending the annual Mississippi Municipal League convention in Biloxi.

In a separate matter, Poplarville Code Enforcement Officer Guy Ray Holston was absent from the meeting, so the Board delayed decisions on several property cleanups in the city.

Several of the properties have previously been granted extensions for several years but have not responded to recent requests from the city.

Public Works Superintendent Sam Hale said the final stages of repairing the section of Main Street where work took place earlier this month would be finished in early December.

According to representatives with Dungan Engineering, the contractor will begin construction again on Dec. 5 and end Dec. 10, depending on the weather.

The Board also approved the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce to pay for repairs to the old City Hall building.

Hale said a new quote came in from Carl Penton for $700 to do the same work as the original $975 bid from Keith Lott Construction.

Penton would also donate labor and paint the walls, Hale said.

Chamber President and Alderwoman Maggie Smith said the Chamber would pay for those repairs.

Hale also discussed several water leaks that have occurred throughout the city due to the fluctuation of rain and dry weather.

In other departmental reports, Poplarville Fire Chief Jonathan Head said their mechanic identified the problem with the transmission in one of their ladder trucks and is working on finding the most cost effective method to fix it.

Firefighter Donny D’Antonio completed his training at Mississippi Fire Academy, receiving full certification and is back at work in Poplarville, Head said.

He also received approval from the Board to send Camron Ladner to the academy at a cost of $500, which includes housing, use of the training truck, meals, travel and shift coverage.

Head said he hopes to have Ladner in the next available class beginning in late February.

The Board also granted permission for family members to ride with Santa on the fire department equipment during the Poplarville Christmas Parade on Dec. 2.

This year, the Board decided to hold a joint city Christmas party at the fire department on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.

Before entering into executive session to discuss a personnel matter in the Poplarville Police Department, the Board adopted a municipal court procedure presented at the last meeting by Municipal Court Judge James Hal Breland and City Prosecutor Clay Cranford. The policy allows offenders to settle fines through payment plans with the city.

See tomorrow’s Item for more details from Tuesday’s Board meeting.