POPLARVILLE —
Shortly before the board of aldermen convened for its first January session Wednesday afternoon, alderman Bill Winborn said he will file to run for mayor of Poplarville, challenging current Mayor Billy Spiers.
Then shortly before the board went into an executive session, Spiers was asked by the press if he would seek re-election, and he replied, “I certainly am.”
Spiers has been either an alderman or the mayor here for 32 years.
He’s popular with his constituents and is credited with doing a good job overall. In the last three years, during tough economic times, Poplarville has not raised taxes, but some of that credit would go to the rest of the board of aldermen, too. Spiers credits the board for its good management practices.
All six board members, which includes the mayor, are elected at-large. There are five aldermen and one mayor. They don’t run in districts. They appear to work together well during the sessions, expressing only mild disagreements in an orderly and well-mannered fashion. By far, however, Winborn is the most outspoken.
There’s one thing the Poplarville board of aldermen meeting is not, and that’s boisterous. If anyone gets out of hand, they are quickly called down.
Winborn, after the session ended, said he is good friends with Spiers, and filed because “I have some issues that I want discussed before voters, like expansion of the city’s boundaries.”
However, Winborn jokes, “I am doing the mayor a favor. Who else would file to run against us, and who would vote for me as mayor?”
Winborn is serious about what Poplarville faces, though. He says he wants to expand the city limits to help cushion what he says is an inevitable hike in taxes because of the decline in property values.
Spiers recently helped guide the board through a crisis that resulted in the police department setting up its own dispatching service on Jan. 1 for non-emergency calls. The sheriff’s department threatened to cut off dispatching services unless the city came up with $85,000 a year to pay for two dispatchers.
The resulting answer to the problem will directly save City of Poplarville residents money, since the solution will cost taxpayers $17,000 a year as opposed to $85,000. The board had input into the solution, as well as the police department.
Spiers pointed out while answering the question of whether he would run again that “this board works together well, and we are all interested mainly in the welfare of the city and its residents.” He also points out that all board members were re-elected during the last city elections.
Mississippi will hold municipal elections this year. Wednesday was the first day prospective candidates could file. The filing deadline is March 8. Party primaries are May 8; the runoff, if needed, is May 21, and the General Election is June 4.
Winborn is in his fourth term as an alderman. He is a retired from Movie Star where he was a manager. Spiers was a Poplarville businessman, owning and running Bill’s Fried Chicken. Winborn said he would file “in the next few days.”
During the short first-of-the-year session on Wednesday, the board:
— Approved the Dec. 18, 2012, board minutes.
— Approved the Jan. 2, 2013, claims docket.
— Tabled a discussion of regulation of garage sales.
— Awarded the bid for cleaning up and maintaining Forest Lawn Cemetery to C&W, which at $4,800 a year was the lowest bidder.
— Took under advisement a lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Corp.
— Took under advisement a sewer billing and collection contract.
— Went into an executive session to discuss personnel.
— Recessed to 5 p.m. on Jan. 15.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Poplarville board of alderman Bill Winborn, in the bottom photo, tells the press on Wednesday that he will run for mayor of Poplarville against current incumbent Mayor Billy Spiers, in the top photo. To Winborn’s left is alderman Byron Wells, a former supervisor. Spiers, right, confers with city clerk Jodi Stuart during Wednesday’s board session. David A. Farrell
Winborn to run for mayor
- Local News
-
-
Valente defeats Watkins in precinct 1 race
Tammy Valente won the GOP runoff with incumbent Larry Watkins in precinct one in unofficial results.
-
Deputies arrest meth, cocaine suspects
Deputies arrested a couple on various methamphetamine charges on Tuesday, May 14, following an investigation by Pearl River County Sheriff’s Dept. investigators and the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Deputies also made an arrest for cocaine that same day.
-
Thorman announces candidacy for mayor of Picayune
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Mark Thorman has announced his candidacy and released this statement.)
Hello, my name is Mark Thorman.
I am humbly announcing my candidacy for Mayor of Picayune. -
WAR MEMORIAL
Work on the Veteran’s Memorial Walk in front of the Pearl River County Courthouse is underway. The brick walkway around the historical marker is coordinated by the Poplarville Rotary Club, Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce and Pearl River Community College. The walkway is to honor local veterans.
-
Man wants pay for snakes seized in Miss. porn case
A man serving 30 years after pleading guilty to enticing a teenager to pose for pornographic pictures with venomous snakes has filed a federal lawsuit seeking compensation for the loss of his reptiles.
-
Highland Commons awaits reissue of permits
The Highland Commons Parkway leads to the woods.
Discussion of this project began four years ago, and its purpose is to expedite traffic to Highland Hospital from the interstate, but the road comes to a dead end in front of the Trinity United Methodist Church. -
Primary runoff election is today
In the only race left with more than one candidate, Council Precinct One, have incumbent Larry E. Watkins and Tammy Valente meeting in the second primary election today.
-
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
-
Veterans honored for Armed Forces Day
In observance of United States Armed Forces Day, Picayune Memorial High School hosted the annual Jerry “Chip” Burge Jr. Memorial Armed Forces Reception on Friday.
-
Katrina taught Poplarville valuable lessons
The Pop-larville area learned valuable lessons in disaster readiness from hurricane Katrina in 2005, and those lessons led to improvements which provide a greater measure of security for local residents.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
