NATCHEZ — The Natchez Board of Aldermen voted 4-3 at its meeting Tuesday night to sign the inter-local fire protection agreement with the county.

Mayor Jake Middleton said he met Tuesday with Adams County Administrator Joe Murray and the county’s attorney. He said the general consensus was that the city and county would meet as many times as necessary this fiscal year, before budgets are adopted, to discuss fire protection.

Middleton said Murray informed him that if the agreement was not signed soon, the city and the county could both stand to lose fire rebate money they receive from the state.

Middleton said both the city and the county agreed that the amount the county currently pays the city for fire protection needs to increase.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said the city has requested more money from the county the past several years, and this situation has continued to come up.

Mathis made a motion that the board table action on the fire protection agreement until the board’s next meeting on Nov. 8 so that both boards could meet and discuss fire protection.

Ward 2 Alderman James “Rickey” Gray asked Natchez City Clerk Donnie Holloway about the potential loss of rebate money without an agreement.

Holloway said he could not say for sure, but he did not think that would happen.

Gray said he would like to have the entire board of aldermen meet with the entire Adams County Board of Supervisors so all discussion regarding fire protection could be put on the table prior to entering into the agreement.

The board voted against Mathis’ motion with Mathis, Gray and Ward 4 Alderman Ernest “Tony” Fields voting for the motion and Ward 3 Alderman Bob Pollard, Ward 5 Alderman Mark Fortenbery and Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard voting against the motion. Middleton broke the tie, killing the motion.

Pollard, Dillard, Fortenbery and Middleton then voted to sign the agreement, and Mathis, Fields and Gray voted against signing the agreement.

Mathis called for a roll call vote for both motions.

4 The board met in executive session during the board’s finance meeting to discuss a personnel matter, redistricting and a possible litigation regarding a contract with Plantation Oaks Landfill related to Waste Pro USA’s request for a permit to operate.

Gray asked Natchez City Attorney Everett Sanders why the board needed to meet in executive session to discuss redistricting.

Sanders said the legality of the proposed redistricting plan needed to be discussed in executive session to avoid potential lawsuits.

4 The board voted to issue a permit for Waste Pro USA, a waste management company that will be offering commercial waste pickup for businesses in Natchez.

Fields asked Sanders how Waste Pro USA would affect Waste Management and a prior contract the city.

Sanders said there is a contract between the city and Plantation Oaks Landfill whereby the permits the city grants for garbage pickup are contingent on trash flow being directed to that landfill.

Waste Pro USA Senior Vice President Wally Carter said he believes such a contract that directs private garbage pickup to his, and to his and his attorney’s understanding, is against Mississippi law.

Sanders said his suggestion was to get the attorney general’s opinion on the contract.

Sanders said after the meeting that he would not be seeking the attorney general’s opinion, but he would be reviewing the contract the city has with Plantation Oaks Landfill, which he said is essentially owned by Waste Management.

Sanders said the contract was drawn up in 1988 and has a clause that says if any other waste companies are granted licenses by the city, their trash flow must be directed to the landfill.

4 Mayor Jake Middleton read a proclamation prepared by Mission Mississippi that proclaimed October “Racial Reconciliation Celebration Month” in Natchez.

4 Greg West invited the board to attend the Natchez High School WATCH D.O.G.S. kickoff event at 6 tonight in the school’s cafeteria. D.O.G.S. is an acronym for dads of great students. West said the nationwide program helps students to be positively impacted by the committed involvement of fathers and father figures in their lives.