The Picayune City Council met Tuesday evening to discuss tobacco prevention initiatives, animal shelter updates, election precinct concerns, and proposed revisions to ordinances affecting local food truck operators.

Bonita Wynn, assistant program director for the Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalition serving Pearl River and Hancock counties, briefed the council on the group’s local outreach. She outlined youth vaping prevention efforts like the “Catch My Breath” curriculum, adult cessation support, and the upcoming “No Menthol Sunday” in May—a nationwide push to curb menthol tobacco use in Black communities.

Elizabeth Treadway, director of the Pearl River County SPCA, shared an update on the city’s animal shelter. She reported a 94% live release rate in 2024, qualifying Picayune as a no-kill community. Still, she said adoption times have slowed nationwide, especially for large dogs. The shelter is complete and does not accept owner surrenders of large adult breeds. Treadway encouraged residents to wait until kittens are at least eight weeks old before contacting the shelter. She also announced that the “Wellness in the Park” event will return to Crosby Commons this weekend due to growing attendance.

Police Chief Joe Quave presented two proposals, both of which were approved by the council. The first was a memorandum of understanding with the Pine Belt Crisis Intervention Team to strengthen the department’s mental health crisis response. The second was a grant application to Norfolk Southern’s Safety First program, which would fund a drone for use in railroad areas.

The council also voted to reimburse Estelle Guillory $3,768.75 for a city vehicle she chose not to keep after learning its mileage had been inaccurately reported. Though the car was sold “as is,” city officials said the refund was necessary to maintain public trust.

During council comments, Councilman Frank Ford and City Clerk Harvey Miller addressed problems that emerged during the April 1 municipal primary election. Due to outdated districting data, some residents received incorrect ballots. The issue wasn’t caught until late 2024, but officials said they are working to correct precinct lines before the next election.

Councilwoman Jan Stevens and Councilman Larry Breland echoed resident concerns about voting confusion and pointed to neighborhoods like Brookdale and Weems Street that lack nearby fire hydrants. Fire Department staff said they would assess the coverage and follow up with the council.

During the public comment period, food truck owner Temple Wood asked the council to consider revising an ordinance that requires owners to be within 20 feet of their truck during operation. Wood, who is undergoing cancer treatment, said the rule limits her ability to run her business. She also called for better access to utility hookups for food trailers.