The Natchez candidates for mayor say they will more wisely manage public dollars to allow more efficient operations in quality of life programs such as police, fire, parks and roads.

Ward 4 alderman Tony Fields, former Adams County Supervisor Darryl Grennell and former city IT director Eric Junkin are all vying for the Natchez mayoral seat.

Recreation

Fields said the city should utilize the experience of its new YMCA partners, now that the group has committed to Natchez.

“Our focus should now be on programming and a complete wellness center,” Swim meets and soccer tournaments will be energizing for our youth and community; and, I have met with YMCA representatives to outline other services they have to offer with after-school tutorial programs and mentorship. Our area schools with gymnasiums offer the most opportunities for tutoring, recreation, fitness and mentoring programs for our youth.

“I will advocate for public schools to partner with the YMCA utilizing federal funds to provide teachers for students to receive extra help after school. The development of the “Bean Field” and how we move forward with the overall complex should also be a high priority of focus.”

Grennell said a wish list of the next steps in recreation were less important compared to how those steps will be paid for.

“Only through sound management of tax dollars, creating job growth and aggressively pursuing other available funding sources will the city have the resources we need for a successful recreation program,” he said. “Those who question recreation expenditures should remember that one of our main goals is to bring more out-of-towners into Natchez for sports tournaments, which will increase sales tax receipts and provide revenue to our retail and service industries. To do this, baseball and softball fields need to be designed and developed.

“Top-notch recreation facilities can provide growth on both the personal and the municipal level, and that’s why I’m for them.”

Junkin said well thought out plans already exist for a recreation complex in the city.

“Our current focus needs to be on completion of this part of the overall project that has been in planning for more than ten years,” he said. “After that, I suggest we continue to pursue the proposals already in place. But more importantly, focus on allocating money for maintaining recreational facilities that we have or are building.

“The city needs budgets in place for maintenance and operation of all current and proposed facilities; including grounds, buildings and restrooms. My plan to implement a five-year budget planning process will ensure that the maintenance funds are available in the short term, while predicting what remaining funds the board can direct toward future projects.”

Streets

Fields said many of the streets and roads in town need immediate attention.

“Currently our streets are ranked according to condition by a computer program through data input,” he said.

record stating my displeasure with the fairness and accountability of the program.

“I’m a proponent of offering a specific allocation of funds each year to each aldermanic ward. Each alderman can then implement a program and be accountable for ensuring the worst streets in each ward get the proper attention. With this approach, no area of the city will appear neglected and the program will reach more residents.”

Grennell said technology can be used to help improve the streets.

“I firmly believe that if a pothole forms it should be repaired within an eight-hour period,” he said. “We already have the equipment to do this. To expedite this process, I am working on a ‘Natchez app’ that will allow instant reporting of potholes and broken streetlights, either by inputting street names or by using your smartphone’s GPS capability. For those without smartphones, we’ll have an easy-to-remember number residents can call for repairs.

“The Natchez app will also update citizens and tourists on traffic, weather and the full spectrum of city services. This is an inexpensive way to enhance almost every aspect of the Natchez experience.”

Junkin said the streets are in dismal condition, as the city is not doing enough.

“This is one of the primary reasons citizens come together to form a city,” he said. “The City Board of Aldermen must allocate appropriate budget money to repair our streets and infrastructure, and then city administration must use the money for that purpose. City administration is responsible for finding the most efficient ways to use the allocated money to provide the best infrastructure available.

“The city streets and sidewalk repairs will get faster, smoother and overall less costly with every job. And the detailed facts for every job will be publicized on the city website.”

 

Parks

During Fields’ eight years on the board, improving the city’s parks has been a main priority, he said. Jack Waite and the Theodore West Concord parks, both in Ward 4, have received upgrades or are scheduled to. Duncan Park is also a priority, he said.“Duncan Park tennis courts have been resurfaced,” he said. “The park will also have upgraded walking trails and equipment. The city will be opening bids on May 3rd for a new tennis center with restrooms at Duncan Park.

“As mayor I will work to upgrade and improve the ball fields, bleachers, and fences at Duncan Park and get a study done on improvements to the golf clubhouse. I am committed to improving our city parks and enhancing all recreational opportunities.”

Grennell said no excuse exists for inoperable restrooms, spray grounds, fountains and other structures.

“The Duncan Park tennis courts need to be upgraded,” he said. “We also need ADA-compliant restrooms, new concessions and good seating for spectators.

“All parks should be properly cut, clean and safe. There’s no point spending money on new facilities if existing ones aren’t up to standards. Our recreation strategy must include a complete assessment and plan for all our facilities, not just the new ones.

“The Natchez app will give citizens a way to quickly report park and recreation issues that need attention. It will also provide park maps, a pool schedule, athletic tournament schedules and guides to our other recreational resources.”

Junkin said the city has to carefully budget so that it can maintain its current and proposed facilities.

“As mayor, my plan to implement a five-year budget planning process (that) will help ensure that the maintenance funds are available, while predicting what remaining funds could be directed toward future projects,” he said. “Implementing a city wide, publically accessible, to-do list, tied to budget accounts, including impact on the citizens and businesses will allow a logical, factual and fair prioritization of the needs of all.

“The city administration, will produce this to-do list, with budget requirements, prioritize and publicize the list, produce plans to address the list and stick to those plans.”

 

Gangs in Natchez

To keep children off the streets, Fields said recreation, mentorships and after-school programs all have to be accelerated. Law enforcement also plays a role.

“We need to develop a Crime Stoppers hotline strictly for youth to be able to report crime with anonymity,” he said. “If their information results in a crime being solved or an arrest, there will be a mechanism in place to reward the caller for their information.

“I will also be a mayor to get input from the youth and get an idea of what they would like to see from the city. I plan to bring back the Mayor’s Youth Council so our young people will have a voice and involvement in city government.”

Grennell said schools, churches and civic organizations all need a seat at the table when the city makes its recreational planning decisions. Parents also cannot be left off the hook, he said.

“All these institutions offer activities for young people that involve them in their community, teach them values and engage them in constructive activities,” he said. “I will work with local schools and the public library to institute summer academic activities, and also to expand summer lunch programs. We must give our young people the opportunity to make better choices.

“Working together, we can all ensure a safe environment in which our young people can flourish and reduce the prevalence of gangs and crime.”

While Junkin said keeping children off the streets is the responsibility of the parent, he admitted the police department isn’t allocated enough resources to enforce laws.

“I will encourage officers, judges and other city officials to meet with children in the schools in order to start developing a sense of personal responsibility at an early age,” he said. “As mayor, I will promote and encourage the ‘picking up of children’ and ‘giving them a ride home’ when appropriate.

“I will isolate the chief of police and officers from the reprimands of this practice. The city police officers are responsible for enforcing the laws of our community, therefore by the time the city is legally able to intervene there has already been a crime committed.

“This reality does not benefit our children. Some children will learn from a second chance; others will not. It is our responsibility and my commitment to you to give our children that second chance (but not a twenty-second chance).”

 

Funding firefighters and police officers

Fields said since public safety impacts every citizen, it cannot be compromised.

“I will seek incentives and other available resources to continue to address issues that face these employees in particular,” he said. “There are programs available where various national organizations partner with local units of government to address some of the matters that have been brought to my attention.

“Public safety is a quality-of-life variable that not only affects daily living. It also impacts the city’s ability to recruit economic development opportunities.”

Police and firefighters are the city’s first line of defense against crime and first source of aid in emergencies, Grennell said.

“I will meet with those on the front lines and their leaders to identify and resolve morale and governance issues,” he said. “Natchez needs to institute an automatic annual pay raise program like the county does for the sheriff department, so that we can retain the officers that we currently train.

“Once the city’s resources are being wisely managed, and we’re growing the economy, Natchez will be able to offer competitive compensation.”

Junkin said his top priority for the city would be returning the fire department back to the better rating it has had in the past.

“This will not only make it safer for our front line firemen, citizens and businesses, but will also save every citizen and business money on their insurance rates,” he said. “It is not acceptable that we put our firemen into situations that are dangerously unacceptable based on current guidelines.

“Reducing police turnover will improve community relations, and therefore reduce crime, while at the same time making it safer for patrol officers. As mayor, I will implement the use of advanced technologies to enhance police abilities, offload patrol work, improve communication and response time, all while improving law enforcement effectiveness.”

 

Health and wellness

Fields said he envisions creating more partnerships with the Mississippi Department of Health, the local hospital, school district, churches and other entities to increase healthy living awareness.

“The City of Natchez, through its recreation department and senior services department, will provide health improvement related programs activities for residents and visitors of all ages,” he said. “We must do more to educate and involve Natchezians in various programs that impact health.

“We will invest more in city parks, walking trails and bicycle paths so that the community is attractive to those who are interested in physical fitness.”

As a fitness enthusiast himself, Grennell said he understands the health benefits, but also said staying fit can decrease the healthcare costs for the community as a whole.

“I plan to encourage community gardens in order to promote healthier eating, and to get neighbors working together,” he said. “I will use the county extension services to teach our citizens proper food preservation through canning techniques, dehydration and freezing methods.

“At least once a month I will have local doctors, fitness trainers, nutritionists, and yoga/meditation instructors hold seminars on ways our people can improve their health and reduce stress. My “Natchez app” will provide an easily accessible monthly calendar of all fitness and health-related events.”

Junkin said a healthy lifestyle results in a happier, more active and economical life.

“The city, under my administration, will be more walker, jogger, runner and bicyclist friendly,” he said. “Many of our downtown streets have ample space for runner and bicycle lanes without additional expense. These low cost options would also make our city more attractive to all our current and prospective citizens, businesses and tourists.

“I generally support local ordinances that provide for healthier public spaces. Since health choices are not an area that government has direct authority, the city board has to make these types of budget allocations and ordinances based on available funds and projected benefits or impacts to all.”