Utility bills need to be paid, changes to municipal court announced
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Residents served by utilities provided by the city of Picayune will soon want to ensure their accounts are paid in full to ensure their services are not disconnected, and anyone who has a municipal court date will need to be aware of how court proceedings are currently being held.
According to a statement issued by the city of Picayune, the state’s order preventing service providers from disconnecting that service for non-payment expired Tuesday.
Residents who have unpaid accounts could now see their service disconnected if they don’t pay in full by June 14 at 5 p.m., according to the statement. Late fees will be added to unpaid accounts starting June 21.
To get a balance on an account, call City Hall at 601-798-9776.
The Municipal Court is implementing new procedures for those who need to attend a court proceeding, according to an instructional video posted on the Picayune Municipal Court website.
Anyone who has a court date and is on the docket will need to check in at a registration station set up in front of the Municipal Court building, which is also known as the city of Picayune’s Criminal Justice Center, located on Main Street. Once the clerk confirms that person is on the docket, they will be asked for their cellphone number and be provided with a packet of information to fill out, with their own pen, while they wait to be called into the courtroom via text message. While they wait, the person on the docket will be asked to fill out the packet of information. People will only be allowed in the courtroom once they have received a text.
Those without cellphones will be asked the type of vehicle they are in and to wait in that vehicle until they are notified they are next via a clerk who inform that person at their vehicle.
When entering the court, a bailiff will review the paperwork, and conduct a check of the individual for staff safety. Personal items such as purses and bags will not be allowed in the courtroom.
After their business is complete in the courtroom, the individual will be asked to exit via a door in the back of the facility. To see the full video, go to http://picayunemunicipalcourt.yolasite.com/.
