By: Health Insurance
Submitted: 2009-12-27 11:36:25 | Word Count: 1114
Mayor Jake Middleton said the City of Natchez is pinching its pennies in the face of a sluggish economy and lower than normal sales tax revenues.
Middleton said the city has saved approximately $275,000 this fiscal year.
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The city began cutting costs in September, when the board of aldermen voted unanimously to terminate seven employees.
Middleton said the public works department will save $92,985 annuallly since terminating Director Eric Smith, Assistant Director Francis Ransom Jr. and two additional employees. The city has since hired a new public works supervisor, Robbie Dollar, who reports to Assistant City Engineer David Atkins. Dollar’s annual salary is $40,000.
Middleton said the savings will allow the city to add an additional $40,000 to the public works materials budget. City Engineer David Gardner petitioned Middleton and the aldermen to increase the materials budget, which had a previous balance of $30,000.
“We’re watching every penny and we’re looking at the possibility of buying used parts for vehicles where we can,” Middleton said.
Middleton said since the terminations of City Planner John “Rusty” Lewis, Land Use Planner Walter Huston and Planning Specialist Dawn Williams, the city has saved approximately $12,000 per month. However, that amount will soon dissipate once a new city planner is hired.
Middleton said five applicants are under consideration, and interviews will begin the second week in January.
“We want to go from a four-person staff to a three-person staff that will include the city planner, an urban planner and an administrative assistant,” Middleton said. “By having a three-person staff, that eventually saves us 25 percent (in personnel costs).”
The resignation of City Grants Coordinator Brett Brinegar saves the city $40,000 annually. The city has entered into an agreement with Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District for grant writing services. Middleton said SWMPDD will not charge the city for its services unless grants are approved.
“(SWMPDD) will get an administrative fee based on the amount of the grant,” Middleton said.
Last but not least, the city will save $119,556 annually once privatized grass cutting work begins March 1. Middleton cast the tie-breaking vote last week in favor of privatization.
“We’re stepping into uncharted waters,” Middleton said. “Now you don’t have payroll, you don’t have maintenance, fuel and repair costs — it’s a good move.”
As a result of the decision, four employees in the recreation department will be laid off. Middleton said he will do everything he can to relocate those employees if a position opens in a department that requires their skills. If no positions become available, Middleton wants to help the employees find work, but it won’t be with the city.
“I plan on making a few phone calls on their behalf. I want to try to help these guys,” Middleton said.
In addition, Middleton said the city is expecting an additional $420,000 in ad valorem taxes and an additional $300,000 in health insurance savings in 2010. The city also expects to retire a $380,000 bond for street work next year.
“We should be in fairly good shape,” Middleton said. “I want everyone to realize the budget is a forecast. We may start out a little bit behind, but I don’t anticipate finishing up behind.”
Future projects
Middleton said 2010 will bring several projects to the city totaling an estimated $15 million.
The city advertised bids for the overlay of the downtown central business district, and a Union Street overlay from Orleans Street to George F. West Boulevard last month.
The downtown overlay, which includes portions of Rankin, Commerce, Pearl, Washington, State and Canal streets, and a portion of Melrose-Montebello Parkway near the Roselawn subdivision, is a $575,000 project financed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Union Street overlay is a $602,000 project financed by the city’s federal urban aid fund. Both projects require handicapped-accessible ramps, sidewalks and curbs in compliance with the American Disabilities Act.
The city will receive bids for the projects Dec. 22. Gardner said he expects a contract will be executed by the end of January, and asphalt work to begin in late February or early March.
The first phase of the Natchez Trails Project — a $2.9 million venture — has been fully funded via government earmarks, matching grants and private contributions totaling $380,000.
The first phase includes 5.6 miles trails running along Broadway, High, Rankin, Washington and Martin Luther King streets. Interpretive signs outlining city history will dot the route.
The city learned last month the project received $607,623 from the Delta Region Transportation Development Program, and those funds will be used to fund the project’s second phase.
Work is also expected begin on the second phase of the North Natchez Drainage Project — a $3.6 million undertaking. Middleton said funding for the third phase of the project — a $4.2 million undertaking — is pending.
“We feel confident we’re going to get (the funding),” Middleton said.
The city will also begin work on wastewater infrastructure improvements. Natchez Water Works was approved for a subsidized low-interest loan of $5,080,00 for the improvements in September.
Funding was made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund administered by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Natchez Water Works will not have to pay back the ARRA portion of funding, which totals $4,318,000. However, the Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Fund portion, $762,000, will be paid back at a 1.75 percent interest rate over 20 years.
Finally, EWP projects on Martin Luther King, North and Bluebird streets, and Oak Hill Drive totaling $155,000 are set the begin next year.
Middleton said the city is awaiting news from the Federal Transit Administration about a grant to fund a $2.9 million regional transportation and maintenance facility to be located along North Shields Lane and Woods Avenue.
Middleton said the center would serve as a hub for city vehicles, and provide transit services to Alcorn State University and other regional locations.
Middleton said if approved the grant would fund nearly 100 percent of construction costs.
“It’s unlimited what we can do with this. We would be the transportation center of southwest Mississippi,” Middleton said. “This would open up a whole new world for us.”
