The Poplarville Board of Aldermen met Tuesday night to hear presentations from members of the Pearl River County Economic Development Council and Pearl River County Board of Supervisors Vice President Hudson Holliday.
Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nuria Arias spoke to the Board on behalf of the members of the county division of the Mississippi Development Authority Ambassador Program, which is designing the council.
The goal, Arias said, is to “explore ways on how we could we create opportunities for Pearl River County when it comes to economic development.”
The group, consisting of representatives of the Picayune and Poplarville chambers of commerce, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors, both municipalities and the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, has spent the past year organizing the council.
Upon formation, each municipality will appoint two members to the council, five will be appointed by the Board of Supervisors, one by Pearl River Community College and one will come from the private sector, Arias said.
Aldermen Byron Wells participated in the ambassadors program and presented information to the Board of Aldermen, who set aside $15,000 annually for the council, Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise said.
The Board expressed its support for the council.
Next, Holliday spoke to the Board about potentially extending Church Street, a project that started several years ago but lost traction, he said.
“I’m trying to put this thing back on the stove and turn the heat up under it and get this project going again,” Holliday said. “Let’s get behind this thing to grow and do some things that are recognizable by the public.”
Holliday said PRCC has expressed interest in working on the project for training purposes.
He asked for the city to move forward with acquiring right of way before determining the best path for the road and bring in an engineer.
“I can’t commit the county to do anything, but I can commit Hudson Holliday to help get it done,” Holliday said.
The Board also heard a presentation from Laurie Jaufre about this year’s Keep Poplarville Beautiful event.
Jaufre said she would like to expand this year’s event, the third annual, to include a walk/run and food at the park after cleanup.
“I drive down the street and it just amazes me how people think it’s okay to throw trash out the window,” she said.
Holliday suggested Jaufre coordinate with District I Supervisor Donald Hart, who wanted to plan a similar county cleanup day in the county.
More information from Tuesday’s Board meeting will be published in Thursday’s Item.