NATCHEZ — As the time to create next year’s budget looms, a number of entities approached the Natchez Board of Aldermen at Tuesday’s regular meeting in the Council Chambers building.

Humane Society seeks to ink new contract

The Natchez-Adams County Humane Society proposed a new contract with the city that would considerably increase the amount the city allocates the society annually.

NACHS President Robert Greene and board member Deanna Bowser presented the proposal, which requested a $5,000 monthly payment from the city. That would lead to a low-end annual allocation of $60,000, more than double the $25,000 the city has traditionally given the society.

Further, Bowser said the contract could require additional payments if NACHS expenses for intake of city animals exceeds the $5,000 monthly fee. Such costs for just the first six months of 2017 totaled approximately $47,000, Bowser said.

Subsequently, some confusion arose regarding whether those costs apply only to animals brought to the NACHS shelter by the city’s animal control service or any animal within city limits taken to the shelter by any means, including by citizens.

“My concern is animals that are captured by the animal control officer that are delivered to the Natchez (-Adams County) Humane Society,” Grennell said. “That’s our responsibility.”

Regardless, the NACHS representatives pleaded that they need additional funding to bring the humane society into “a new era.”

“We need to get more funds in because our expenses are extremely high,” Bowser said.

Bowser said NACHS annual expenses exceed $300,000.

“Really, what we get from the city and county … They don’t even (make a) drop in the bucket for our expenses that we have,” Bowser said.

Ward 3 Alderwoman Sarah Smith asked the NACHS to consider a flat rate, which would make planning the city’s budget simpler than the proposed fee structure.

The board decided to allow city attorney Bob Latham to review the contract and take it under advisement.

New extrication equipment approved for NFD

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Natchez Fire Department Chief Aaron Wesley requested funding for tools and gadgets that would enhance his department, though only one proposal was approved immediately.

First, Wesley requested approval of a new exhaust capture system, which he estimated would cost approximately $120,000. Firefighters, Wesley said, are more at risk of cancer than the average human because of the extensive amount of time spent in fire stations, where the truck bay is typically connected directly to the living quarters.

Then, Wesley proposed the need to implement a new GPS system in all fire trucks in order to locate burning buildings more efficiently. Wesley said the GPS system would cost approximately $31,000 to install, with annual payments of $6,200 thereafter.

Finally, Wesley requested new extrication equipment, which he said would cost approximately $25,000. The new equipment would replace the current set, which has been used for the past 18 years.

Wesley justified that the costs would be covered by extra funds in the department’s budget, which resulted from having less staffed firefighters than anticipated.

Interim city clerk Megan Edmonds noted her office would prefer to only spend money on items that are crucial to city departments.

“What is not absolute necessarily (vital) to keep these budgets running, we would like to not spend while in the budget amendment and budget preparation process,” Edmonds said.

Mayor Grennell “strongly recommended” that the board purchase the extrication set, identifying it as an immediate need for the city.

“(Wesley) is correct — with these new vehicles, the materials have changed, and the old Jaws of Life that we have can not effectively cut these vehicles,” Grennell said.

Ward 5 Alderman Benjamin Davis, who serves as the board’s Fire Commission chairman, motioned to approve the purchase of the extrication equipment, which the board approved unanimously.

GIS Director requests funds for aerial photography program

Adams County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) director Peter Dale also approached the board with a funding request — this one for $10,000.

The GIS database is a “smart-mapping” system, where users can pull up all sorts of information — from city zoning, to schools, to fire hydrants, etc. — all on an interactive website.

Dale said the funds would be part of an interlocal agreement for a statewide aerial photography program that would help update the database, which Dale said is used daily by 911 dispatchers. The program was last conducted in 2013, since then many new infrastructure changes have occurred, Dale said.

Dale simply requested the $10,000 be earmarked for future use with the program, which will not occur until January or February, Dale said. He also noted that the final cost to the city could be less than $10,000.

Dale said that his department, Adams County, Natchez Waterworks and the 911 commission have already agreed to contribute to the costs of the program, which Dale conservatively estimated would total $40,000.