The Poplarville Police Department is preparing to stay in its current location along Highway 26. Previously discussed plans to sell the department’s current building and merge the police and fire departments into the Fire Department Building on Highway 53 have been put on hold.
Poplarville Police Chief Butch Raby said that as of now, nothing is happening with the merger. Instead, he’s making preparations to repair the current building to better suit the department’s needs.
“It looks like we’re going to be here for a while,” he said.
In the proposed 2018 budget, Raby requested funds to replace the flooring and possibly purchase a new air conditioning unit, he said.
The department has occupied the building, a former church, since the 90s, Raby said.
Previously, the department operated out of what is now the Chamber of Commerce building and a blue building on Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, he said.
“We’d like to upgrade and get more space, but right now with the budget, we’re content at this time to allocate some money to do some repairs,” Raby said.
Additionally, citizen attempts to contact staff at the department have been difficult for several months because the department’s secretary, Missy Lambert, has been filling in at City Hall, he said.
“It’s like were closed; we don’t stay in the building all the time, we’re in and out. People come in needing copies of reports and have to go up to City Hall,” Raby said. “Hopefully we’ll get her back, and get back open.”
In the future, Raby said he hopes more funds can be allocated to replace old wiring, the roof and make other repairs to the building.
“It’s just wear and tear over the years,” he said. “I’m hoping to get it done, if we’re going to stay in it, and get back up to par.”