NATCHEZ — One Natchez alderman said he wants to set aside millage for the upkeep of the city’s buildings while another said he wants to find funding to upgrade public parks when the board finalizes the city’s budget for the coming fiscal year.

Alderman Dan Dillard said he would like to see the city set aside 1 mill — valued at approximately $100,00 — from the tax millage dedicated to the city’s general fund for property upkeep.

“The city (government) is one of the largest property owners in the city, and it sets aside no money for the upkeep of property,” Dillard said.

“It is very hard for the city to make the argument to other property owners that they are not keeping up their properties when we are not keeping up ours. (Many city-owned) properties have been neglected for far too long, it shows and we have to catch up with it.”

During a later discussion, Alderman Tony Fields said he would like for the city to fund the installation of restrooms and water fountains at Jack Waite Park on McCabe Street.

Fields’ comments came after St. Catherine Street Reunion Committee Member Robert Green brought the matter to the board. The park is often busy, Green said.

“There are no bathrooms to use,” he said. “People urinate in the streets down there or they have to go other places to use the bathroom other than the park.”

Fields said the city has requested quotes for the project, but has not gotten a response yet.

Fields also advocated for an expansion of parking at Bubber West Park on North Concord Avenue. Many people park their vehicles in the street around the park, which makes navigating the street difficult, he said.

The owner of an adjacent property has offered to sell the property to the city for $5,000, but the lot has an abandoned structure on it that would have to be cleared away.

Alderman Mark Fortenbery said the cost of buying, clearing and paving the property could run the city as much as $20,000.

Dillard said he did not think the city could provide a venue for the public without doing its part to ensure the venue was safe, and asked if the city could get some kind of legal comment on the situation before making a decision.

While the aldermen were discussing the potential funding and millage allocation, Alderwoman Sarah Smith said the board needs to have a special meeting dedicated specifically to discussing the budget for the coming year, which they have not done yet.

The board set the meeting for 4 p.m. Monday in the conference room in City Hall.

In other news:

4The aldermen voted to confirm the appointment of Kevin Kirby as director of the Natchez Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

Kirby previously served as the cultural affairs manager and director of tourism for the city of Petersburg, Va.

4The aldermen appointed Duncan McFarlane, Phillip West, David Paradise, Kevin Preston, Mary Toles, Anthony Heidelberg and Mayor Butch Brown to the newly-created Community Development Board.

The Community Development Board will oversee the administration of the community development fund, which Magnolia Bluffs Casino will pay $225,000 into annually as part of its commitment to the city.

While he voted for the formation of the board, Dillard expressed some hesitancy because the board did not have any bylaws in place before its members were appointed.

“By appointing members to boards we are delegating our responsibilities to the taxpayers to this board and need to keep them accountable,” he said.

“There are quite a bit of things that will have to be put in place.”

4The board voted to have the city attorney develop an anti-domestic violence policy for employees.