NATCHEZ — Local leaders met Friday with state representatives to discuss priorities and projects ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

Natchez Inc., Adams County and City of Natchez officials discussed four main issues with Rep. Robert Johnson (D-Natchez) and Rep. Sam Mims  (R-McComb) at a legislative luncheon at the Carriage House Restaurant.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell said the luncheon — to which all area representatives were invited — was to present the city and the county’s four-part legislative priorities for the upcoming session.

The issues presented were:

-Refurbishment of the Natchez Visitor Reception Center;

-Leisure and recreation district status for Natchez;

-Acceptance of partial payment of property tax;

-Usage of Mississippi Department of Transportation funding to assist with the North Natchez Drainage Project.

Johnson said he is impressed with the unity of the entities coming together in their presentation.

“The county, the city and Natchez Inc. knew their priorities, what their needs are,” he said. “They have four specific issues for us, and I believe that is manageable, especially in a tight budget year.

“This was a good exchange of ideas and information.”

Mims said he is also pleased to see the county, city and Natchez Inc. on the same page.

“It was good to see these organizations come together to share their ideas for the 2017 legislative session,” he said.

Natchez Inc. Executive Director Chandler Russ said the city-owned visitor’s center has not received a major refurbishment in 20 years, and it is facing structural issues with its floor, elevator and cosmetics.

Interim Tourism Director Jennifer Ogden Combs said Natchez receives 700,000 tourists each year.

Russ said many of the visitors funnel through the visitor’s center.

Russ estimated the cost of refurbishment would be approximately $1.65 million.

The visitor’s center houses the city’s Office of Tourism Management, the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, the state welcome center staff and the National Park Service, the largest occupant.

Johnson said since the visitor center is city-owned, efforts to obtain state money would be “almost impossible.” Other visitor’s centers around the state that receive funding are owned by MDOT. He suggested Natchez consider turning it over to MDOT or the park service.

Natchez National Historical Park Superintendent Kathleen Bond said she thinks the state, National Park Service and the city want to work together.

“It is all about the visitors of Natchez,” Bond said. “A great number of organizations have a similar mission, and we all have to figure out what is best.”

Grennell said he was not against the city giving up ownership of the visitor’s center; he just wants to see the facility improved.

Russ said the city would also like to see Natchez included in the to-go cup legislation other municipalities, including cities on the coast.Sen. Bob Dearing (D-Natchez) has pre-filed an amendment to include Natchez.

The legislation allows cities to establish special leisure and recreation districts. In the districts, open containers sold by certain businesses would be permitted off premises.

Russ said the legislation would create business opportunities for downtown businesses.

In regards to property tax, Board of Supervisors Attorney Scott Slover said business property taxpayers are only permitted to make a full tax payment.

By state law, the county cannot accept a partial payment for taxes. A property owner must pay all of it or none of it.

“It is not helpful to the taxpayers, and it is not helpful to the city,” Slover said.

Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said even when the tax collection is sent to a private agency, a person might pay $900 out of $1,000 owed, but will still be paying interested on the full $1,000.

“There has to be some way to help people get credit for what they are paying,” Lazarus said. “And for us, if someone walks in the door with money, we want it. We don’t want to turn away people wanting to pay.”

Johnson and Mims both suggested the city and the county bring this issue up at annual government association meetings and see if a resolution could be submitted to the state.

“I think we would be hard pressed not to take it if all were in agreement,” Johnson said.

For the North Natchez Drainage Project, an approximately $700,000 match for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 592 funding is needed to complete project, Russ said. Over more than a decade, $11 million has been spent on the project, Russ said.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said the project is about keeping the city from collapsing.

“We appreciate everything you have already done for us with that project,” she said. “The project has lagged for a while, and as it has lagged, it has grown in cost. We need to finish this up.”

The project aims to replace underground drainage pipes and equipment.

District 4 Supervisor Ricky Gray, who once represented a city ward  where work would take place, emphasized the city is celebrating the tricentennial. He said as one of the oldest cities in Mississippi, Natchez also has some of the oldest infrastructure.

“Living in a community where the infrastructure is that old, maybe we can get some special legislation to help us out, since we are the oldest city (on the) Mississippi,” Gray said.

Johnson said the city should consider the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for funding.

“I would just request you keep an open mind,” he said. “This seems more like an environmental project, and MDEQ has more funds.”

Grennell said he thinks the meeting went well.

“I am glad Representative Johnson was honest about our chances to get legislation approved,” Grennell said. “If we need to take a different approach, we will do so.”