Picayune’s city council discussed new signs in the historic district, amending the budget to purchase new city vehicles and accepted federal funding to conduct asphalt work at the airport.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Fr. Jonathan Filkins presented the city with a check for $4825 worth of donations collected by the Picayune Lion’s Club. The funds will be used to install signs near the intersection of Goodyear Boulevard and Main Street to direct people towards the city’s historic district.

The budget to install the signs was estimated to be $2,500, so the remaining funds will be used to further enhance the area where the sign will be installed, Filkins said.

The council approved the purchase of four new vehicles for various departments in the city. City Clerk Amber Hinton said $17,000 will be used to purchase a new vehicle for the Recreation Department, $37,000 will be used to purchase two vehicles for the Utility Department and $24,000 will be used to purchase a vehicle for the Fire Department in order to provide the Fire Marshal with a newer vehicle. Hinton said the vehicles are being purchased to replace older vehicles in need of major repairs. These purchases will not adversely affect the city’s budget, Hinton said.

Taxiway work is planned to take place at the municipal airport. City Engineer Brooks Wallace said the project is estimated to cost $479,410, with 90 percent of the funds coming from a federal grant. The state will kick in five percent of the cost while the city will pick up the remaining five percent, Wallace said. The council approved a motion to accept the funding. Wallace said the work will entail overlaying all of the asphalt at the airport except for the runway. Bids are expected to be presented the council sometime in July and the work should be complete by December, weather permitting.

A motion to apply for $100,000 in Airport Multimodal Funds to perform drainage work between the hangars was approved by the council. If approved, the city will be required to provide a $24,000 match, Wallace said.

City resident Raymond Yaeger asked about progress concerning construction of the Highland Commons Parkway. He said he and his wife have regular appointments at the hospital would appreciate the easy access the complete road would provide. City Manager Jim Luke said he and Wallace recently had a discussion with the developer, who assured them construction of the road is moving forward. While a completion date was unavailable, Wallace said the developer has been working on the road base for the past month.

The council announced that Code Enforcement officer Chad Frierson will be leaving city employment to take a job with Hattiesburg’s public works department. Frierson has been a Picayune employee for the past eight years.

In other business the council;

— Authorized a T-hangar lease agreement between the city and Rick Thomason.

— Approved a request to allow Cloud Nine Aviation tax exemption for the year of 2012.

— Approved a motion to allow Coast Electric to use the field at Industrial Park for staging trucks and materials after a disaster or emergency events.

— The next council meeting will be at 5 p.m. April 15.