NATCHEZ — City of Natchez officials gave an update on city business and projects slated for 2014 to a crowd of approximately 30 residents during Friday Forum at Natchez Coffee Co.

Information Technology Director Ed Bowser said the biggest project the IT department is currently working on is setting up phone, Internet and other technology for the Natchez Transit System at the new regional transportation facility. Bowser said he and his assistant, Bridget Chappell, are working to set up the technology, so NTS can hopefully begin taking calls at the center next week.

Bowser also said the work to install laptops in Natchez police patrol cars has been completed. Bowser also mentioned the IT department helped assist the police department in tracking the cell phone of McKinley Brady, who was arrested Thursday night in Baton Rouge, where he fled after reportedly shooting Kendrick Tolbert, 28, outside a Beaumont Street house last week.

The city, Bowser said, is looking into possibly installing a laptop in one of the Natchez Fire Department trucks.

Three Natchez fire stations previously did not have Internet service, but Bowser said the city has installed Internet access and is working to bring the technology in the fire department more up-to-date.

Bowser said the IT department will also be working in the coming months to choose a vendor to update the city’s website, which will include online bill payment features.

Mayor Butch Brown said he predicts that by “this time next year, we will have award-winning technology” in the city.

Ward 4 Alderman Mark Fortenbery, who is chair of the city’s recreation committee, said the city and Adams County have been working to get the ball rolling on improvements to recreation facilities.

Fortenbery said work would include improvements to the Duncan Park ball fields, tennis courts and other areas.

Brown said landowners have agreed to sell property near Duncan Park, which would add six acres to the park and allow an entrance to the park to be made off John R. Junkin Drive.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith said she would like for an adult playground, which would promote fitness, added to the park.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said she is pleased work on the final phases of the North Natchez Drainage Project, which has spanned more than 10 years, is being done this year.

Arceneaux-Mathis also highlighted the Special Needs Assistance Program grant, which will help fund repairs for houses of several elderly and disabled Natchez residents.

Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard, chair of public properties, highlighted the sale of surplus city properties, including the former Margaret Martin school football field, that he said should help create a fund balance of approximately $360,000 for public properties this year.

City Engineer and Water Works Superintendent David Gardner highlighted several projects the engineering department is working on, including the Bridge of Sighs, restoration of the historic colonnade on the bluff, street overlays and the Natchez Trails Project.

“It’s about $15 to $16 million in current projects,” Gardner said. “If you total up Water Works and the city, what we’ve done (in the past four or five years), what we are doing and what we’re going to do, it’s about $45 million in projects.”