The Poplarville Board of Aldermen discussed the upcoming election process during Tuesday’s meeting.
City Clerk Jane O’Neal said she received quotes to use voting or scanning machines for the primary election in May. But, due to the cost, O’Neal recommended on behalf of the municipal election commissioners that the Board chose to use paper ballots and count them by hand at the end of the night.
O’Neal said renting the machines would have cost the city about $4,000 in total.
O’Neal also recommended leasing or renting a scanner for the general election in June to help count ballots.
These measures would mean counting the ballots could take place at city hall, rather than transporting the ballot box to the county courthouse, she said.
O’Neal also noted that because the mayoral race only has three candidates, all of which are Republican, the primary election in May will essentially decide the next mayor of Poplarville, barring a runoff election if there is no clear majority.
“That’s why it’s so important for everyone to come out and vote,” Alderwoman Shirley Wiltshire said.
In a separate matter, Public Works Superintendent Sam Hale said surveyors were on-site this week gathering data to plan construction of the new Public Works building on North Jackson Street.
During the last Board meeting, Necaise organized a committee consisting of himself and Aldermen Glenn Bolin and Jason Pearson for the project.
At the engineer’s request, the committee decided to hold a workshop on Thursday afternoon to discuss the project.
Poplarville Fire Chief Jonathan Head requested permission to sign on two new volunteer firefighters, Casey Gunn and Jeremy Stillwell, who both live in the Poplarville area. The Board approved and welcomed them to the city.
The Board also granted Head and two other firefighters permission to attend a joint search and rescue training session in Picayune from April 6 to 8.
Head said that for the past year, several agencies in the county have trained for possible disasters that would require coordinated efforts.
In other news, the Board:
-Approved hiring one full time meter reader at a rate of $10 an hour in the Public Works Department.
-Approved an event request for the annual Chamber Easter Egg Hunt at the town green on April 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.
-Approved a request from private citizens to hold a graduation party at City Park on May 20.
-Decided to have a representative from AT&T attend a meeting to discuses extending the city’s contract with the company.
The next Board meeting will be held on April 4 at 5 p.m. in City Hall.