by David Hamilton

NATCHEZ — George F. West St. Boulevard resident Irma Woods said speeders have destroyed four mailboxes in front of her house, a situation that has frustrated her and her husband.

“This is like a raceway through here,” Woods said.

Woods said the man who smashed into her mailbox did not have insurance, meaning she will likely have to pay a deductible and could face an increase in insurance premiums.

Woods and her husband, Willie Woods, have been asking for the speeding issue to be resolved for more than two decades now.

Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell met with the couple over the weekend. Grennell said police patrols and speed-monitoring radar use in the area would increase immediately.

“We’re sending a strong message that if you speed on George F. West, you’re going to get caught and you’re going to get a speeding ticket,” Grennell said.

The Woods are not the only ones who have had issues with reckless drivers. Irma Woods’ sister Hattie Brice, who lives across the street, had a driver lose control and smash through her house right into her bedroom.

While the property damage is certainly an issue, the biggest worry for Irma Woods is safety.

“We’re concerned about the safety of our children; we’re concerned about our own safety,” Woods said.

Even simple matters can be hazardous for residents living off George F. West.

“People like Mrs. Woods, they’re afraid to back out of their driveway,” Grennell said.

While the additional patrols targeting speeders may help in the short-term, Grennell said he is working on long-term solutions.

A potential resolution would be to add speed bumps in the area.  Because the George F. West is federally funded, however, Grennell said the city must go through some additional hoops to make that happen.

Grennell said a petition must be filed to request that speed bumps be added, with 75 percent of residents in the area signing on. That petition would then be sent to a local committee for consideration.

The petition to get speed bumps installed is an idea that Woods said makes the most sense.

“Personally, I think the speed bumpers would be the best thing,” Woods said.

Grennell said Natchez Public Works Superintendent Justin Dollar would present the matter before the board of aldermen in today’s meeting.