Tuesday, the Poplarville Board of Aldermen moved forward with repairs and improvements to the building located at 101 North Main Street, Poplarville City Clerk Jane O’Neal said Wednesday.
In September of 2015, the board was alerted to the presence of Formosan termites at the building, which is home to the Poplarville Chamber of Commerce and the Poplarville Historical Preservation Society’s museum.
On Sept. 15, city code enforcement officer Guy Ray Holston condemned the building, a move that forced the occupants to find temporary offices and storage facilities.
At the Jan. 20 board meeting, local contractor Keith Lott informed the board that, after his audit of the building, there was nothing structurally wrong with it.
Tuesday, the board approved the soliciting of bids for improvements and repair to the building’s exterior, O’Neal said. The purpose is to prevent further exposure to the elements and further infestation by termites, she said.
In another matter, the board voted to take over the outdoor emergency alert warning system, which was once maintained by the county. The city will assume responsibility for two sirens, one located near the high school campus and the other is located behind First Baptist Church.
According to projected maintenance list from Pearl River County Emergency Communications, the projected monthly maintenance for each siren will test the operation of the electronics and the drive motor. Quarterly, there will need to be an activation of the siren using radio commands. On a yearly basis, the drive motor will need to be lubricated and a battery load test performed, the maintenance list states.
It is likely that the two batteries will need replacing every two years at $150 per battery, the maintenance list states.
In other action:
–– The board authorized advertising for annual cemetery maintenance contract services, O’Neal said.
–– The board approved and named the group who will be attending Mississippi State University’s Stennis Institute “Strategic Doing” Workshop in Tupelo on Feb. 4. Members include Alderwoman Shirley Wiltshire and Aldermen Byron Wells, Brenda Wells, Nita Gilpin, Mona Martin, Chuck Bowman, Erin Norra and Mechelle Necaise, O’Neal said.
The next board meeting will be held on Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. in the boardroom at City Hall.