NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez has asked a state agency to reconsider giving the city a grant to raise Cooper Street and Learneds Mill Road to protect the roads from future flood damage.

The city recently applied for a $157,950 grant for the projects through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA pays 75 percent of the grant, and the 25-percent local cost match is split between the city and MEMA. The city would pay approximately $8,700 for its half of the local cost match.

Natchez City Engineer David Gardner said the city applied to raise the roads approximately five feet. Gardner said a higher elevation of the existing gravel road on Cooper Street would allow vehicle access to the three houses on the street during high water.

Gardner said MEMA rejected the initial application and suggested further raising Cooper Street to ensure it would not suffer flood damage. Gardner said raising the roads to MEMA’s suggested height would triple the cost of the project and not meet the grant’s required benefit to cost ratio.

Gardner told the Natchez Board of Aldermen at last week’s meeting that the higher elevation would increase the city’s cost match for the grant and possibly adversely affect the historical character of the area.

Gardner added that because a small number of people live on Cooper Street and Learneds Mill Road, the benefit of raising the roads further would not outweigh the tremendous cost.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis asked Gardner at last week’s aldermen meeting to ask MEMA to reconsider the grant given the historical value of the property included in the project and the fact that the original application met all of the grant requirements.

Gardner said he spoke to MEMA representatives last week, and he said the agency is reconsidering the application.

The application was one of two applications the city submitted as part of an approximately $228,000 project to protect city infrastructure at two sites from being damaged by future flooding.

The city also applied for funds to raise the lift station that serves D.A. Biglane and Silver streets approximately six feet. Gardner said raising the lift station would prevent it from being submerged during high water.

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

Gardner said the city was approved during the pre-application process, and he said he is confident about the city’s chances for final approval.