Establishment of a community garden on city property received the approval of the Picayune City Council during Tuesday’s meeting.
Picayune Memorial High School teacher Allison Wheat is working with the Veterans and Citizens Supporting Students club at the school to create the garden. She said the project would bring young and old citizens together to build a garden for the benefit of the community.
Wheat said her aim is to get the two age groups to work together so the younger citizens can learn from those with the knowledge, while the younger students can provide the physical labor.
Picayune Code Enforcement Officer Tom Milar said he found a 50 by 150 foot lot in the area of Jarrell Street, adjacent to residential properties, perfect for Wheat’s needs. Milar said Wheat’s aim was to create the garden in an area of town where it is needed. Once established, the garden will provide free vegetables to residents in the city.
City residents who live adjacent to the proposed garden have already been contacted, and agreed to help keep an eye on the property, Wheat said.
The Council unanimously approved donating use of the lot, which is owned by the city. Water service will also be provided by the city.
In other matters, the Council approved a motion to adopt the Governor’s proclamation deeming Monday Dec. 26, as a day off for city employees in recognition of the Christmas holiday. Councilor Wayne Gouguet asked about the city’s protocol should a city employee have to work during the holiday. City Clerk Amber Hinton said that all city employees get the same amount of holidays off with pay, so if an employee has to work that day, they will get another off. In the case of emergency personnel, they either get another day off, or are paid holiday pay, depending on the circumstances.
The Council had two visitors to their meeting, Our Lady Academy students Hannah Meyer and Betty Clark. Meyer is a Picayune resident and said she brought Clark along to meet requirements as part of a class project to attend a governmental meeting. Our Lady Academy is located in Bay St. Louis.
In other matters, the Council
— Approved a motion to surplus a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria.
— Approved a motion to accept a check worth $83 from Fred’s Dollar Store to be used by the Picayune Fire Department to purchase of items for children and senior citizens.
The next council meeting will be Jan. 3, 2017 at 5 p.m.