A recent decision by the Picayune City Council has brought back the adopt a flower bed program as part of a renewed beautification effort, and in the same vein, residents should be aware that placing signs on city rights of way is illegal.

Individuals or businesses that would like to donate money to adopt a flower bed in the city now have that opportunity. Those individuals or businesses wishing to participate can choose which flower bed in the city they would like to adopt, said Grounds and Beautification Manager Daryl Smith.

The city has about 35 flower beds up for adoption, and Smith said if more beds are requested, it can be arranged. Each adopted flower bed will be maintained by city employees, all the donor needs to do is designate which bed and what type of flowers and plants they would like. Smith said an estimated cost to donate the flower bed will be provided once the individual or business specifies their kind of flower bed. Costs will be averaged on a yearly basis, which is how long the city will maintain them.

Signs will let the public know which individual or business adopted the flower bed.

Smith said this will be a effort to beautify the city.

Anyone interested in adopting a flower bed can call Smith or Operations Manager Diane Miller at 601-798-9770.

Another effort to beautify the city will involve enforcing the city’s temporary sign ordinance. Smith also would like to remind city residents that placing garage sale signs, or any other type of temporary sign on the city right of way, is illegal. A city ordinance allows Smith and his employees to remove signs from the city right of way. The removed signs will be held by his department for a week so the owner can retrieve them. After that time they will be discarded. Such signs can only be placed on private property.