Poplarville’s Board of Aldermen approved motions to make streets around City Square Park one way, and decided to take the next step toward allowing the use of golf carts on city streets.

Due to the current use of the streets around the newest park in Poplarville, and some obstacles, Railroad Street, East Erlanger Street and West Erlanger Street will all now be one way.

City Clerk Jane O’Neal said the change was approved unanimously by the Board during Tuesday’s meeting. Now, traffic along Railroad Street will be southbound only, traffic along East Erlanger Street will only flow westbound and West Erlanger Street traffic will only flow westbound. The creation of markings to establish parallel parking along West Erlanger Street was also outlined in the motion.

O’Neal said the Board approved a motion with a vote of 3-2 to send a resolution to the Mississippi Legislature to allow the operation of golf carts and other low speed vehicles on city streets. Board members Kevin Tillman and Shirley Wiltshire voted against the motion, with Tony Smith, Anne Smith and Russell Miller voting for it. O’Neal said the Legislature will need to approve the request and issue a private bill before the Board can move forward with the creation and implementation of ordinances governing the use of such vehicles on city streets.

The Board also approved a set of usage guidelines for the city’s various public parks. The guidelines are listed on applications that citizens and organizations use to reserve the parks. The regulations include restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles, bicycles and skateboards at the parks and require organizers of events to ensure the park is left the way it was found, specifically litter free.

The resignations of three officers from the Poplarville Police Department as fulltime were accepted during Tuesday’s meeting. Two of the officers, Officers Michael Petree and Trent Boyd, were fulltime and were moved to parttime at a rate of $13 per hour. A parttime officer, Darius Hickman, also submitted his resignation.

A promotion in the Public Works Department was also approved. John Hancock, who was recently named City Employee of the Year at last week’s Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce awards banquet, was promoted to Assistant Public Works Superintendent at a rate of $18.75 an hour.

In other business, the Board:

— Accepted a donation of $1,365 from the Poplarville Rotary Club to purchase benches for City Square Park.

— Took a request from the Fire Department to promote Donald D’Antonio to the rank of Fire Captain under advisement. D’Antonio was recently named Firefighter of the Year at the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.

— Approved setting a curfew of 9 p.m. for Halloween for door-to-door trick-or-treating on Oct. 31, 2018.

— Approved a request from the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce to hold “Trick-or-Treating with Merchants on Main” on Main Street and the Town Green on Oct. 31, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The Board will hold a special workshop Monday at 4 p.m. to finalize street paving plans.