Mayor Phillip West defended his recent order to demolish the Natchez Pecan Factory in Tuesday’s board of aldermen meeting.

West said although his statements were not necessarily the opinions of every board member, he wanted certain comments on the record.

“I respect (the Mississippi Department of) Archives and History for the important role they serve, but as mayor of the city, it is my duty to protect the citizens’ welfare,” West said.

But what MDAH did was “beyond the spirit of the law,” he said.

“If any laws were broken, they were not broken by me,” West said.

He said he had been told about what he called the situation at the pecan factory before, but he did not realize how serious it was until he heard from aldermen and others recently.

According to Police Chief Mike Mullins, there have been no reports filed recently regarding the building.

West issued an executive order last week to demolish the former Natchez Pecan Shelling Company building, which MDAH had designated a state landmark, citing an emergency safety situation.

Although developers Worley Brown, LLC, hold the deed, the sale of the land by the city is being disputed in court.

West said that was why he decided to act, using city equipment and workers to demolish the property.

“I felt it was too much of a danger to remain for two years,” he said. “If someone got hurt or killed, the suit would not be against archives and history. It would be against the city.”

West said after the meeting that other buildings around town were dangerous, too, but that the pecan factory was a danger because it was in a highly traveled area.

“Those buildings are not on the bluff,” he said.

The board unanimously approved putting his statement on record.

In 2005, MDAH officials said they would approve the building’s destruction if the city and developers met a number of requirements, such as submitting designs for the condominiums proposed to take the building’s place.

MDAH officials said they never issued a permit to demolish the pecan factory, and thus, the mayor broke state law.

West said the department had been made aware on numerous occasion about the situation, which he said included vandalism, children skateboarding and others going in and out of the empty building.

He also said the department did not take an interest in declaring the property a historic landmark until plans were laid for development of condos.

Also in the meeting:

4The board agreed to take a bid for the resurfacing of the North Natchez Tennis Court for $7,500 under advisement.

4The board met in executive session to discuss the county’s proposed utility authority. In open session, they voted to endorse legislation regarding the establishment of such a utility.