Members from the Pearl River County Library System and Senior Center of South Pearl River County addressed financial concerns at Wednesday’s Pearl River County Board of Supervisors meeting.

Pearl River County Library System Director Carol Phares introduced Poplarville’s new librarian Eden Nitcher before addressing the financial woes concerning the county’s two libraries, the Poplarville Library and the Margaret Reed Crosby Memorial Library.

“With Eden on board we’re looking for new and innovative ways to provide library services to more people,” Phares said.

Nitcher supplied board members with 2014’s circulation results compiled by the Mississippi Library Commission, which compared local library circulation numbers to others across the state. Both local libraries displayed circulation numbers just as high or higher than their counterparts that are open more hours and serve higher populations.

“Even with our lower population, our circulation, which includes books, magazines, newspapers and computer usage was high. It shows our libraries in this community are well used and are a valuable asset,” Phares said.

She asked the board to contribute additional money to their budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. Since the installation of fiber optics, their Internet costs have skyrocketed as well as their long distance bill since more patrons are using their cell phones at the library, Phares said.

The county’s library system currently doesn’t have a budget set aside for books and relies on donations from the community.

“While the $27,000 we’re asking won’t create a book budget, it will go a long way towards helping us out,” Phares said.

Also at the meeting, Darlene Adams, executive director for the Senior Center of South Pearl River County, spoke about the center’s financial concerns. Adams began by praising the board for their support in the past.

“The extra $5,000 you gave us last year blessed us,” Adams said.

The money went towards building maintenance, a karaoke machine and other expenses. This past year, the center has received $2,300 less in donations from a matching campaign fund. Though the extra money from the board made a difference, Adams said they’re experiencing rising operating costs.

She asked the board to consider adding $10,000 to their budget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year. The additional money would be used to cover telecommunication expenses, an electronic tracking system that would allow the center to monitor their activities more efficiently and an expansion to the parking lot.

“We do appreciate you and we work hard to take every constructive criticism on how to use the money given, but there comes a time when you have to seriously take a look at us and help us out,” Adams said.

She encouraged the board to contact her if they have any questions about the data she presented. District V Supervisor Sandy Kane Smith said he’s interested in working with Adams to fix the parking lot issue.

Also at the meeting, the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, along with District IV Supervisor J. Patrick Lee, presented two $750 scholarships to Anna Breeland and Alexandra Samples, PRCC students from Pearl River County. The SMPDD awarded scholarship money to 12 students who will be attending PRCC this fall.

Later, County Engineer Les Dungan updated the board about various county projects, including the Walkiah Bluff Water Park renovation project. Dungan said he’s working alongside the Pearl River Basin Commission, who donated $40,000 for the project, to fix several maintenance issues such as replacing water services in camper hookups and bathhouses and fixing several electrical fixtures.

Dungan said they received three quotes, the lowest was for around $17,000, regarding the installation of new water services.

“I’ll provide the basin with the quotes for the project so they can present it at their next board meeting,” Dungan said.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and International Paper in Bogalusa also donated money, which will go towards renovating numerous items within the park, the Item previously reported.

In other news, the board:

—Approved personnel changes in Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and Pearl River County Tax Assessor/Collector office.

—Approved travel for dispatchers to attend a training event in Moss Point, Miss. on Aug. 17 and 18.

—Approved travel for the fire service coordinator Danny Manley to attend a firefighter combat challenge in Brandon, Miss. on July 31 and Aug. 1.

—Approved travel for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department to attend a prescription drug investigations workshop in Meridian, Miss. from Aug. 3-5, travel to the Mexican cartels and violence event from Sept. 21-23 and travel to the patrol rifle instructor event in Pearl, Miss. from Nov. 16-20.

The next board meeting will be on Aug. 3 at 9 a.m.