NATCHEZ — Amid a dispute between the City of Natchez and Magnolia Bluffs Casino, the Natchez Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to amend the city code to allow casinos to install off-premise signs on the bluff.

Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard made a motion to direct City Planner Frankie Legaux to prepare an amendment to the city’s sign ordinance to allow the signs.

Magnolia Bluffs Casino’s sign has been a topic of discussion between city and casino officials lately, and Mayor Butch Brown broke a 3-3 tie vote at the last board of aldermen meeting to allow the casino to move its sign farther up Roth Hill.

In his motion, Dillard stated the off-premise gaming signs be similar to that of the Natchez National Historical Park sign in front of Melrose and be allowed one fixed light.

Dillard acknowledged that some residents may be against gaming, but noted the significant contributions Magnolia Bluffs and Isle of Capri casinos make to the local economy.

“Natchez cannot afford to lose gaming,” he said.

Prior to the vote, tension rose between Mayor Butch Brown and Magnolia Bluffs Casino President Kevin Preston as they argued about the casino’s current off-premise sign, which Brown said had been moved multiple times.

Off-premise signs are not allowed under the current ordinance, and Brown said he has looked the other way regarding the casino’s sign ordinance violations.

The casino was represented by Preston and several casino staff members at the meeting. Preston said the ideal position for the sign would be 10 feet closer to Broadway Street and to the left from its current position.

Dillard specified the sign ordinance amendment apply only to gaming entities, so that it would not result in off-premise signs being allowed for all businesses.

In other news from the meeting:

• After hearing concerns from a resident about the current Natchez-Adams School District Board of Trustees, the board of aldermen voted in support of an elected school board, which would have to be decided by the state Legislature.

• City Attorney Hyde Carby updated the board on the proposed abandonment of a pipeline that supplies natural gas to the area.

Carby said the the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has called a special meeting Thursday and Friday in Washington, D.C., to hear discussion about the pipeline.

American Midstream Partners (AMP) recently filed a request to abandon the Midla pipeline, which runs from Monroe to Baton Rouge through the Natchez-Vidalia area and is the only pipeline supplying natural gas to the area.

Carby said the Public Service Commission has hired lawyers to represent the commission on behalf of the residents of Mississippi.

“Their interests are absolutely aligned with the city’s,” Carby said “I think our interests are going to be adequately covered by the people who are up there.”

• The board presented a framed recognition to the Natchez High School Lady Bulldogs basketball team, which won the MHSAA 5A state championship earlier this year.