Tuesday, the Poplarville Board of Aldermen approved the purchase of property located on the east side of South Main Street, Poplarville City Clerk Jane O’Neal said Wednesday.
The property was purchased from James. R. Magee, Wayne Patten and Kimberly Burns in the total amount of $125,000, O’Neal said.
Funding was made possible by a Small Municipalities and Limited Populations Counties Grant through the Mississippi Development Authority, O’Neal said.
The city must match $14,000 and pay a $5,000 administration fee to MDA, she said.
During the meeting, when referencing the Railroad Park lease, Poplarville Mayor Brad Necaise discussed the property and how it will be utilized.
Necaise said the city is considering turning that space into a small retail incubation space, which will be backed by the MBA. This type of endeavor will allow entrepreneurs, who can’t afford a lease, the opportunity to start a business, reach profitability and then move.
However, if this venture doesn’t pan out, the space will still be suitable for community events, he said.

In other action:

–– The board approved the purchase of a factory-rebuilt transmission for the fire department’s 1998 Spartan 750-foot ladder truck at the cost of $17,000 to $20,000, O’Neal said.
–– Approved travel, lodging and meals for Poplarville Police Chief Don T. “Butch” Raby Jr. to attend the Peace Officer Engaged Shootings and the Mindset Survival Training course on March 21 in Tunica, O’Neal said.
They also approved paying for the police chief’s travel, lodging and meals in order for him to attend the Doppler Radar and Laser Operator Certification Course on April 4-5 in Biloxi, the city clerk said.
–– Lesley Osborn and Mike Roniger addressed the board about their plan to bring a food truck to Poplarville, O’Neal said they would like to offer lunch, dinner and late night meals. Their target audience is EMT’s, police officers and hospital personnel who work night shifts, O’Neal said. They plan to invest $70,000 to $125,000 into a truck. It will take about six months for them to put everything together and they will approach the board at a later date with pictures and specification, O’Neal said.
–– The board also approved the mayor’s travel to the 2016 Mississippi Mayor’s Forum, which will be held on the campus of Mississippi State University, O’Neal said. The program fee is $525 and during the forum, mayors will present challenges that face their communities to a resource panel, O’Neal said.
The next board meeting will be held on March 15 at 5 p.m. in the boardroom at City Hall.