NATCHEZ — In his last board of aldermen meeting, Mayor Phillip West gave his final mayoral action in the form of a tiebreaker.

The board was split down the middle on a vote to give incoming projects worth $40 million or more a 15 percent discount on building permit fees.

In a motion made by Alderman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, if a $40 million project were to come to Natchez, they would be offered a $15,000 discount on building permits.

The board’s ability to waive or discount permit fees is found in an amendment in the code of ordinances that was adopted Nov. 19, 2006.

Mathis read from the amendment stating that “building permit fees can be waived by the board if its a not-for-profit organization or an economic development facility.”

In addition to being a $40 million-plus project, Mathis also added that the industry must employ 100 or more people.

Alderman Bob Pollard said he was not in favor of the discount because the city wasn’t in a position to do that.

“The city cannot afford to waive fees right now,” Pollard said.

The vote was split between Mathis, Alderman Theodore “Bubber” West and Alderman Jake Middleton, all voting yes, and Alderman James “Ricky” Gray, Alderman David Massey and Pollard, all voting no.

West voted in favor of the discount and the motion passed.Massey, “Bubber” West and Phillip West all gave their farewells at the end of the meeting.

Massey, who has served 20 years on the board and has been added to the Hall of Fame, said many things have changed since he took office.

The week before he took office, the second Mississippi River Bridge was dedicated, there was no Natchez Association for the Preservation of African American Culture museum, only a nine-hole golf course, no casino, no veterans memorial, no visitors center and no community center, he said.

In his time on board, the city purchased the council chambers, built a new jail, public works facility, municipal court and brought in the federal courthouse.

“We did it the hard way,” Massey said of all those accomplishments.

He said in his 20 years on the board he saw racial unity being brought to the city.

“With a majority white board we hired the first black police chief, the first black fire chief, the first black city planner and the first black senior citizens center director,” he said. “We didn’t do it because those people were black but because they were most qualified.”

“Bubber” West said he was pleased to be able to serve the city for 17 1/2 years.

“We made a lot of progress in Natchez,” he said. “Natchez is not the same way it was 17 1/2 years ago.”

He said the economic climate, personality and appearance of Natchez have all changed.

He said he has enjoyed working with the “best department heads and employees in Mississippi.”

Phillip West echoed his statement in his goodbye.

“The City of Natchez has the most competent employees and department heads in the State of Mississippi,” he said. “Without them, the city would be nothing.”

He expounded on the hard work the board has put into serving the city the past four years and it took each member’s unique personality and voracity to accomplish what was accomplished.

“Thank all you and may God bless you,” West said.

Mathis, Gray, Pollard and City Clerk Donnie Holloway all gave their appreciation to the outgoing board members.

Before the meeting was adjourned, Mathis had her swearing-in, as she would be attending a National Education Association conference during the July 1 swearing-in ceremony.

In other business,

4 Grow Natchez Gardens, a nonprofit organization, donated profits from a recent tour, $500, to the Worthy Women of Watkins Street Cemetery.

4 Darrell White, director of the NAPAC invited the public to attend this weekend’s 14th annual Juneteenth celebration.

4 The board approved to look into Catholic Charities request to store clothing from their thrift store in a spare room at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

4 The board approved a resolution to donate city owned property at the corner of St. Catherine and Junkin streets to the Friends of the Forks of the Road Society.