NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez plans to seek grant funding to make a nearly $500,000 renovation to the city fire station on Vaughn Drive in north Natchez.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen granted permission to Community Development Director James Johnston Tuesday at its meeting to apply for a Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG, to make renovations to the building, which was constructed in 1977.

The aldermen discussed the grant application and issues at the fire department mainly during the board’s finance meeting prior to the regular meeting.

The project total would be approximately $500,000, with the city putting up a match of approximately half that amount and $20,000 for in-kind services, Johnston said. The rest would be funded by the grant.

Local architect Johnny Waycaster of Waycaster & Associates has assessed the building and told the board it has several needs.

The building and bathroom facilities do not comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, has fire code violations, water intrusion problems and other issues, Waycaster said.

Other repairs would also include painting the entire building and adding a 950-square-foot addition that will mainly serve as a sleeping area and restroom.

Rotting louvers and trim on the building have allowed birds to nest in the attic, creating a health issues for firefighters because of bird droppings, Waycaster said.

Ward 4 Alderwoman Felicia Irving, whose son is a firefighter, said the fire station also has a rodent problem. Irving said rodents have gotten into her son’s bag and ended up at his house.

Natchez Fire Chief Aaron Wesley said the fire department is currently without a pest-control contract and firefighters have set traps themselves to catch rodents.

“The fire department has been neglected for a long time,” Wesley said. “There are mattresses that are 20 or 30 years old that the guys are sleeping on.

“Some jails and prisons look better than these stations.”

During the regular meeting, Magnolia Bluffs Casino President Kevin Preston requested approval from the board to use $90,000 from the casino’s community development fund to purchase new beds, furniture and other items for the fire department.

Preston said he has toured the fire department’s facilities and seen the needs of the firefighters.

“It’s been an eye-opening experience, to say the least,” he said. “(We want to purchase) new beds, furniture, TVs, so that the men and women who protect us on a daily basis … can live in some better conditions.”

Preston said he would also like to allocate $25,000 annually out of the community development fund for the next four years to purchase equipment for the fire department to replace outdated and non-working equipment.

Per its lease agreement with the city, the casino contributes $225,000 annually to a community development fund. The money is expended based on the recommendation of a committee of local residents and leaders.

In regards to renovating the Vaughn Drive station, Ward 2 Alderman Billie Joe Frazier asked Waycaster if it would be more economical to build a new fire station.

Waycaster said it would not and noted that the building has a relatively new roof and the building just needs to be renovated now because of age.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis reminded the board that the city’s North Natchez Drainage Project is still in progress, and match money for that project will likely carry over into 2018.

The match money for the fire station project would likely need to budgeted for the city in 2018, if the grant is awarded. The funding announcement will likely be made in October or November.

Arceneaux-Mathis said she wants to ensure the city has enough money to cover the drainage project before committing to another project.

Arceneaux-Mathis suggested the city contact the Adams County Board of Supervisors for help funding the project.

The city provides fire protection for county residents. Arceneaux-Mathis said the Vaughn Drive station is positioned in a location that allows for faster access to county residents.

Mayor Darryl Grennell said that when he approached the county previously about replacing chairs at a fire station, the supervisors did not help.

Grennell said, however, he and Johnston would contact the supervisors, make the same project presentation and request funding help.