The Poplarville Board of Aldermen unveiled a new promotional video for the city during Tuesday’s regular meeting.
The video, filmed by local filmmaker Frank Ladner, will be used for promotional purposes and be featured on the county and city websites, Mayor Rossie Creel said.
“Thank you for your confidence in me,” Ladner said, adding that he hopes his personal love of the city will help inspire others to invest in the community.
In a separate matter, the Board approved the budget and millage for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, keeping the city’s millage rate steady at 54.5 mills.
Alderwoman Anne Gendusa Smith assured attendees of the meeting that their taxes would not be raised to fund infrastructure repairs and improvements scheduled to be complete across the city.
In a separate matter, the Board approved a proclamation from the Picayune Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to declare September 17-23 as Constitution Week throughout the city.
The Board also approved a resolution between James Properties, LLC and the city stating that the city will use the TIF plan to reimburse the company for certain infrastructure expenses.
The resolution is part of the ongoing effort to construct the College Square Retail Center at the corner of Highway 11 north and West North Street.
It also approved an interlocal agreement with the county to pledge 100 percent of the added ad valorem tax in the city, 50 percent of the additional sales tax and 50 percent of the county’s additional ad valorem tax.
The Pearl River County Board of Supervisors approved the agreement at its meeting that same day.
In other matters, Poplarville Fire Chief Jonathan Head said he’s applied for a Department of Homeland Security grant for a threat hazard assessment that will also supply the department with 25 radios.
Head also updated the Board about the status of Hurricane Irma currently, which was near the Caribbean Sea as of 5 p.m. that night. Head said the storm is projected to head toward Florida and be a category 4 or 5 storm.
“We’re still uncertain at this point,” Head said.
The main thing is that all city employees and their families be prepared and follow safety precautions, he said.
“If it does enter the Gulf, we need to be prepared to handle it,” Head said.
More information from Tuesday’s meeting will be published in Thursday’s Item.