In Mississippil, the city of Petal's Board of Aldermen has reached a compromise with a local business owner who wants to expand.

The owners of Flathau's Fine Foods received board approval to erect a metal building for use as a warehouse, but must construct an aesthetically appealing fence around the West Second Street property within one year.

Metal buildings have proven a contentious issue in Petal.

In recent years, the aldermen have passed an ordinance prohibiting the use of metal siding - metal buildings must be covered with brick, stucco, wood, or some other type of masonry.

Under the agreement, approved unanimously by the board after Thursday's budget hearing, owners Jeff and Heather Flathau won't be required to add a facade to the commercial metal building warehouse they plan to construct.

Jeff Flathau had said adding a facade would be cost-prohibitive, as would relocating to another site - about two years ago, the cookiemaker spent about $200,000 adding a third metal building to the site.

"One of the concerns was to make sure he doesn't have another [steel building], but we think the fence will buffer that," Ward 2 Alderman Steve Stringer said.

Ward 4 Alderman James Moore called the situation "win-win."