Poplarville’s Board of Aldermen heard the other side of grievances concerning a local homeschooling program during open session at Tuesday’s meeting.
At a previous meeting, held on Oct. 18, the Board heard testimony on behalf of Kimera Torrence, who provides a tutoring service out of her home on N. Jackson Street.
Torrence’s neighbor, Jim Brown, spoke before the Board during Tuesday’s meeting to voice complaints about noise and traffic problems.
Brown presented the Board with minutes from meetings held on Feb. 1 and 21, 2011, in which he said the Board declined Torrence’s request to operate a private tutoring service out of her home on North Jackson Street.
Brown said he moved to Poplarville in 2001 and renovated an old home because he likes the “small town and friendly people.”
His said his complaint is with the inconveniences to him caused by the tutoring service, which is located in a residential zone.
“We think what she’s doing is commendable, but she’s doing it in the wrong place,” Brown said.
At the Oct. 16 meeting, the Board made a proclamation that Torrence was not in violation of the zoning codes, granting her “prior existing lawful non-compliance use,” according to previous coverage.
Brown contested that proclamation, saying he does not think it applies because of the Board’s previous denial of her request in 2011.
Board attorney Nick Thompson advised Brown that at this point, he could petition the zoning commission about whether she was in violation, or take legal action against Torrence on the basis of infringing on his personal right to peace.
After similar complaints, Thompson said a previous Board asked a former Board attorney to investigate whether she was in violation, but no action was taken.
Thompson also said he does not think the Board took any action on the matter until the Oct. 18 meeting and said Torrence was not in violation of city codes.
“The board simply made the very focus, specific determination, that the use of her property is not in violation of the ordinance,” Thompson said.
Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise made several attempts to interject during Brown’s presentation, to which he replied, “I’ll get to you in a minute,” and turned his attention away from the mayor.
Necaise then pounded the gavel, calling order to the meeting, upon which time Poplarville Police Chief Butch Raby stood up and said he would escort Brown from the building if he did not respect the mayor.
Brown later referenced a quote from Necaise from a previous Picayune Item article detailing the events of the Oct. 18 meeting in which Necaise said there was a lot of hate involved in the situation.
“You’ve proven tonight that they were the right party.
They convinced us, and you’ve confirmed it,” Necaise said. “You’re not a nice man and I would not want you to be my neighbor…I made a reference to hate because it sounded very hateful.”
Torrence was also present at the meeting but did not address the Board.
No action was taken on the matter.
For more information from Tuesday’s meeting, see Thursday’s Item.