Aldermen: Repairs and fine payments
Published 7:00 am Thursday, November 3, 2016
![City Prosecutor Clay Cranford spoke to the Poplarville Board of Aldermen about a new municipal court policy that allows non-violent offenders to pay off fines in monthly payments. Photo by Julia Arenstam](https://www.picayuneitem.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/11/NET-1.jpg)
City Prosecutor Clay Cranford spoke to the Poplarville Board of Aldermen about a new municipal court policy that allows non-violent offenders to pay off fines in monthly payments.
Photo by Julia Arenstam
The Poplarville Board of Aldermen met Tuesday to discuss several successful measures in the city.
Public Works Superintendent Sam Hale informed the Board that the repairs on North Main Street are complete, pending repaving.
Hale also said the repairs to the old City Hall building were complete. The Board is still considering a $975 proposal from Keith Lott for repairs to the ceiling.
The Board voted to bill Inline, Inc. for $1,738 worth of damage done to a marked water main located on Highway 53 that occurred on Oct. 24.
The Poplarville Fire Department informed the Board that the county is under a burn ban by the state.
He also said the ladder truck is plagued by reoccurring transmission issues, but the mechanic would be looking into the problem. The transmission is still under warranty.
Head also announced firefighter Camron Ladner passed his testing and is now eligible to attend the fire academy, where Donald D’Antonio is set to graduate Nov. 10 and will receive a pay increase.
Poplarville Police Chief Butch Raby said he is working with a trucking company after surveillance footage revealed a fire hydrant was damaged by one of their vehicles.
Raby said the company is cooperative.
The Board also discussed a Municipal Court policy that provides people convicted of misdemeanors more opportunity to pay their fines in full if they are having financial troubles.
City Prosecutor Clay Cranford said the policy, implemented in June, allows for those convicted of a misdemeanor, such as multiple traffic tickets, to remain out of jail, as long as they agree to make payments or appear in court once every 30 days. If they fail to appear, an arrest warrant will be issued.
Board Attorney Nick Thompson said the policy gives offenders the opportunity to prove their inability to pay, and allow them to settle their fines through payment plans or community service.
Thompson said the change helps prevent lawsuits against the city.
Cranford said this change also helps alleviate the expense of housing city offenders in the county jail and make for a more efficient courtroom.
Cranford said the policy does not apply to violent offenders.
The Board took the matter under advisement.
The Board also thanked the police and fire departments for their efforts during Monday night’s Trunk or Treat.
“On behalf of the Chamber, thank you so much for everything you guys did…I’ve gotten nothing but positive comments about last night,” Alderwoman Maggie Smith said.
In other news, the Board:
- Authorized City Clerk Jane O’Neal to submit the annual tax receipt report to the State Auditor.
- Acknowledged receipt of the expenditures report.
- Authorized the destruction of old records to be completed by Millcreek Behavioral Health Center.
- Accepted a grant from the Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Grant program for $143,857 to be used in phase two of the City Square Park project. The city’s match will be $22,263. The money will be used toward developing the space on Main Street in downtown Poplarville.
- Continued discussion concerning moving the police department, with no action taken.
The next Board meeting will be held Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. in City Hall.