Beer light wine referendum petition update By BUTCH WEIR Editor, The Poplarville Democrat The Poplarville Board of Aldermen learned Tuesday that city voter rolls were in the process of being updated by the Pearl River County Circuit Clerk’s office in anticipation of receiving petitions on the beer/light wine referendum. At the board’s last meeting Poplarville resident Roland Fandal presented a sample petition requesting the city hold a referendum to allow the sale of beer and light wine in the city of Poplarville. As part of the petition process, the city has to determine the number of qualified voters within the city. Valid signatures of 20 percent of the total number of the city’s registered voters is required before an election on the matter can be called. Mayor Brad Necaise said he would like to set a town hall meeting “to discuss with the folks who are concerned about the petition, what it means and what it doesn’t mean, in a public setting.” To that end Necaise said Mike Cambry, owner of the large dining hall across from Hancock Bank, has offered as a place for the meeting the use of that room at no charge to the city. Necaise said the meeting’s purpose would be to provide factual, detailed information about the petition and the process involved in the holding of an election, if one should be called. “So, I think there are just a lot of things around what it (the petition and election process) looks like that we as leadership need to clear up for the folks who might have questions.” Board Attorney Martin Smith said important information for that meeting would be what kind of limitations the board would establish on regulating the sale and consumption of beer and light wine. “Once the initiative like that passes it’s wide open, subject to whatever limitations this board places on that … limiting the hours of sales, the location of sales, the premises from which sales can be had, the prohibition against open containers, the prohibition against on premise consumption, minimum age of purchase and all that. “So that’s probably of primary interest for a public hearing,” Smith said. After Necaise asked the board for comments and received a “Good idea” on the plan for such a meeting, he asked for suggestions on a date for the meeting “to create that awareness and the public be advised and if they choose to turn out, they can.” When Necaise suggested a Tuesday between the board’s regular meeting date of the first and third Tuesday’s as a date Smith interjected, “You are assuming that, that petition is going to be sufficient to call that.” Necaise replied, “I am assuming, yes. But, I’m also suggesting that we need to book a town hall meeting two, three weeks out just in case something should change.” After some discussion the board ruled out Mondays or Tuesdays and settled on Thursday, Sept. 12, from 6-7:30 p.m. in the large meeting/dining room across from Hancock Bank. In other matters, the board: *Increased the limb pickup fee to $25 for a small load and $45 for a large load. *Approved sending courtesy letters to three owners of property at 302 North Main St., Orr St., and on Karalee St. about property cleanup. Code enforcement director Guy Ray Holston said the city has spent several thousand dollars through the years in mowing costs on some of these properties. Another property owner mows once a year, but only after receiving notice from the city. *Postponed a meeting with David Neely of the Mississippi Development Authority at his request. *Authorized selling a vehicle previously removed from inventory as surplus equipment. *Discussed a request from Cassie Saizan on renting the city park gazebo for a three hour event but took no action pending her researching purchase of special event insurance. *After discussion approved a 24-month contract for uniform rental at a savings of $100 per month. *Discussed a motion to approve a DUI funding grant that in the past assisted with police salaries. The board was told the grant had changed its funding to overtime only and that paperwork associated with the grant had increased. After discussion, the motion to apply for the grant failed. *Amended the budget on several items for various unexpected repairs of equipment and streets, and a matching fund payment. *Noted the donation of 100 lbs. of catfish for restocking the city lake but found out that the lake had increases in algae and “torpedo” grass and needed better management practices to improve lake health. *Approved Alderwoman Shirley Wiltshire applying for a $1,000 landscaping grant. Also noted that the Main Street planters needed major repairs and discussed the possibility of working with Pearl River Community College masonry classes for upgrades to the planters. *Discussed replacing the downtown street signs and noted the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce was researching application for a grant for that. *Went into an executive session on personnel matters. The board adjourned until 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Posted on: Wed, 21 Aug 2013 21:43:27 +0000