NATCHEZ — The contractor that the city just hired to overlay the four major arteries in town — W.E. Blain Companies — is the same contractor that is being sued by Concordia Parish.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury filed suit June 10, alleging that the contractor laid improper foundations and used improper surfacing methods, which resulted in uneven roads.

Newly paved roads in the parish began falling apart within a year of their creation.

The City of Natchez, however, has placed a safeguard to prevent the problem that occured inthe parish, officials said.

City Engineer David Gardner said the city is in the process of hiring a retired civil engineer to act as a site manager.

“I’ve got a retired civil engineer who’s scheduled to do our inspection for us,” he said. “I’m working out the details.”

Gardner said this is typical practice of the city when projects are being conducted.

“Not only are they our eyes and ears on the project, but they keep a project record on daily activities,” he said.

Gardner said this person will make sure that the contract is adhered to, requirements are met and conditions are measured.

“It really protects me and it also protects the contractor,” he said.

This is not because Gardner distrusts the company.

“I have no doubt that they’re going to do a good job for us but it’s always good practice to have an inspector on the job,” Gardner said.

And Gardner said Blain Companies has proved its worth to the city in the past through multiple projects.

“Blain has done a lot of work for us,” he said.

Gardner said when he worked for MDOT as a project engineer, one of the projects he worked on was John R. Junkin Drive, adding in new curbs, gutters and storm drains.

He said that road still looks fine and that was between 16 and 18 years ago.

“That’s just one example,” he said. “They’ve been working for me for 25 years.

“I have no problem with them, they do a good job for me.”

Blain Companies’ bid of $1,298,208.60 was accepted by the board of aldermen Tuesday night at their regular meeting.

It was the only bid.

Gardner said he doesn’t mind that it was the only one, and it works perfectly for the city.

“I’m not concerned at all that we had one bid, in fact, they were inside our budget,” he said.

“We had estimated what the cost was and they were right in range of that, I’m not concerned that it’s high or too low.”