Poplarville’s Board of Aldermen moved to the next step in its effort to repair city streets and drainage features by setting a date to open bids.

City Clerk Jane O’Neal said the Board approved a motion to set that date for April 25, at 2 p.m., and authorized the bid specifications presented by Jason Lamb with The Walker Associates PLCC.

A request to conduct repairs to Sonny Davis Road was discussed, but no action was taken by the Board. O’Neal said part of the road is inside the municipal limits and the remaining part is the responsibility of the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors. Since repair of the road will require an interlocal agreement between the two governing bodies, the attorney representing the Board of Aldermen, Manya Bryan, will contact the attorney for the Board of Supervisors, Joe Montgomery.

Discussion concerning replacing exiting lighting in the city with LED bulbs occurred again during Tuesday’s meeting. A motion was passed during the last meeting stating the bulbs would only be changed as the old ones burned out. O’Neal said that at the end of continued discussion on the matter during Tuesday’s meeting, a motion was approved to take the matter under advisement so cost projections could be obtained from Mississippi Power.

In other business, the Board approved a motion to acknowledge the resignation of Poplarville Police Officer William “Jeff” Knight from full time. The Board then approved a motion to make Knight a part-time officer with the same department at a rate of $13.00 per hour. Alderman Kevin Tillman voted against the motion to make Knight a part-time officer.

Discussion also took place concerning revising the police officer job description to allow for the hiring of non-certified individuals. O’Neal said a motion made by Alderman Tony Smith to approve the change failed for a lack of a second. Alderwoman Anne Smith made a motion to take the matter under advisement, which Tony Smith seconded. Tillman and Alderwoman Shirley Wiltshire voted against the motion, but Mayor Rossie Creel broke the tie by voting for taking the matter under advisement. According to the agenda, non-certified officers hired by the Poplarville Police Department would be required to attend and pass the Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy in order to maintain that employment.

In other matters, Bryan advised the Board to remove two items concerning the purchase of two used 2014 Dodge Chargers from the agenda, O’Neal said. According to the agenda, one of the vehicles has 100,000 miles on it and an asking price of $7,150 while the other has 95,000 miles and an asking price of $6,850 from Jackson Lease Sales.

The next Board meeting will be April 16 at 5 p.m. in City Hall.