Poplarville’s animal control ordinance was amended by the Board of Aldermen during Tuesday’s meeting to eliminate sections that prohibited giving away live animals as a prize, selling animals younger than eight weeks old or in quantities less than 10 and prohibited using devices to make animals complete a task.

Larry Davis requested the Board consider amending those sections because he believes animal ownership for kids can lead to a future career in an animal related industry like running a dairy. Davis said the section about the use of devices concerned him because it could be applied to rodeos, where planks are placed on bulls to make them buck and Davis said the section prohibiting selling animals in quantities less than 10 could prevent the sale of animals such as chickens at the farmers market.

The ordinance was adopted in 1994, said Alderwoman Shirley Wiltshire, who suggested that in addition to amending the ordinance, the Board consider looking over the ordinance and changing the language.

The Board also passed a motion to draft a waiver provision that could be used in the future if anyone comes to the Board and wants to do something the ordinance forbids.

In a separate matter, the Board rescinded and amended a resolution made on June 4 that authorized and approved a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority to build an outdoor stage and restrooms in City Square Park, also known as the Town Green. The city is in the application process for the $150,000 grant, so it has not been awarded yet.

Previously, the Board authorized up to $15,000 to provide the required 10 percent match from the city as required by the grant, according to previous coverage.

The amended resolution authorizes up to $27,707 in matching funds from the city. Mayor Rossie Creel said that after preliminary drawings were done, it was clear the project would cost more than the $165,000 of potential funding between the grant and the city’s match.

In other business the Board:

—Entered executive session to discuss potential litigation in the Code Enforcement Department. No motions were made after executive session.

—Took requests from Sam Hale in the Public Works Department to engage Redd Pest Control Solutions for termite baiting service at the police department, new public works facility, City Hall, City Park and the Poplarville Public Library under advisement and instructed Hale to seek quotes from other businesses for the same service.

Cutline: Larry Davis asks the Board of Aldermen to consider amending sections of the animal control ordinance that relate to selling and giving away live animals at Tuesday’s Board meeting. Davis discussed the impact animal ownership can make on children.