NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is currently seeking approximately $228,000 to protect city infrastructure at two sites from being damaged by future flooding.

Natchez City Engineer David Gardner said the grant money will raise the lift station that serves D.A. Biglane and Silver streets approximately 6 feet. He said raising the lift station will prevent it from being submerged during high water.

“When the lift station is inundated, it cannot be operated and must be shut down,” Gardner said. “The lift station serves all of the Under-the-Hill area, which includes multiple businesses and residences.”

The grant money is awarded through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funded by FEMA and MEMA. FEMA pays 75 percent of the grant, and the 25-percent local cost match is split between the city and MEMA.

Gardner said the estimated total project cost to raise the lift station is $70,300. The city will pay approximately $8,700 for its half of the local cost match.

The city, Gardner said, spent approximately $20,000 to waterproof the walls of the lift station during the flood last spring. The expense is being reimbursed with part of the combined $156,000 the city, and Natchez Water Works recently received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and MEMA for flood damages.

A separate application will be submitted, Gardner said, to raise the elevation of a portion of Cooper Street approximately 5 feet. Gardner said a higher elevation of the existing gravel road would allow vehicle access to the three houses on the street during high water.

The estimated total project cost for Cooper Street is $157,950. The city will pay approximately $19,700 for its half of the local cost match.

The city was approved during the pre-application process, Gardner said, and will soon submit final applications.

Gardner said the city had planned to submit an application for a $136,000 grant to install a generator at the Natchez Wastewater Treatment Plant. The generator would allow the plant to operate during power outages.

The grant money for the generator comes from a separate fund under the grant program. Gardner said he has been told that fund has been depleted, and he said the city will more than likely not apply for the grant until the fund is replenished.

Gardner said since the grant for each project is applied for separately, the approval of one project does not depend on the approval of the other project.

“We could get both or one, or possibly none,” he said. “We’ve done our work, and I have high hopes that we will get the grants.”