The Poplarville Board of Aldermen discussed permits for beer and light wine sales, heard the results of the city audit and went into executive session with a representative from Butler Snow to discuss annexing areas into the city limits during the bimonthly meeting held Tuesday.

Mayor Brad Necaise announced the finalization of the purchase of the 75-foot ladder truck for the fire department. He said the truck will help the city maintain their current fire rating and offer a new level of safety for students and staff at Pearl River Community College.

Necaise said he was also encouraged by the approval of Love’s Travel Center building design by the city’s code enforcement because it brings Poplarville one step closer to a vital economic development opportunity.

The facility is set to be on a 12-acre plot near the U.S. Interstate 59 Poplarville/Wiggins exit south of Highway 26, and will offer amenities such as food from national restaurant chains like Subway, Arby’s, and Carl’s Jr., as well as trucking supplies, a tire shop, showers and RV dump stations. The proposed facility will have eight automobile fuel pumps and 76 over night parking stops for big truck parking.

The board approved privilege license applications for beer and light wine with knowledge that they can be amended as necessary.

Board Attorney Martin Smith stressed the importance of drafting concise permit application forms that include categories for businesses and definitions of special events that might qualify as exceptions to the stringent open container law.

Smith recommended three separate applications for vendors in the categories of grocery store, convenience store or restaurants. All three would be required to derive 75 percent of their sales from offerings other than beer or light wine. There will be no advantage to being in one category over another, he said.

As for the open container during special events aspect of the law, Martin presented the board with handouts from festivals in a geographical radius around Poplarville where open containers are allowed.

“We have conducted a lot of research and put provisions into the beer and light wine ordinance to protect the community from free standing beer barns, while wanting to attract larger crowds to our festivals and understanding that many people from other towns are used to being allowed open container privileges at these events,” Smith said.

The final decision of which open container applications will be accepted remains at the discretion of the board.

The board also approved opening city hall on Saturday, May 31 to provide assistance to business owners applying for permits. This will allow vendors to be ready for the first legal sale date of June 1.

Kim Marmalich, CPA and certified forensic accountant for AVL, presented findings of the Poplarville City Audit for 2013.

Marmalich said no issues were discovered and the findings were clean. She reported that revenues for 2013 exceeded expenditures, even with a decline in grant funding.

She commended the city and its employees for their dedication to their jobs and commitment to excellence.

Mike Caples with Butler Snow met with the board on the issue of possible annexation of an area from Hillsdale to Millard for the purpose of economic development. Before more details were revealed in open session, the matter was moved into executive session.

After the meeting, Necaise said that no decision had been made on the scope of annexation being considered.

“We are only in an information gathering stage,” Necaise said.

In other items, the board approved:

—  Departmental reports and commended Rossi Creel on his recent certification as a firearms instructor.

—  Adopted a resolution appointing Mississippi Municipal League 2014 Voting Delegates.

—  Approved a special event request for First United Methodist Church for a July 3^rd parade.

—  Adopted an ordinance establishing and appointing the Historical Society.

The board adjourned until June 3, at 5 p.m.