NATCHEZ &045;&045; After celebrating the official grand opening Saturday night of a new equestrian arena, organizers of the facility can celebrate some permanency for the arena.

Following a request, the Adams County Board of Supervisors on Monday morning agreed to remove a provision in the group’s lease that allowed the county to take back the property, located near Foster Mound Road, with a month’s notice.

The lease provision was set up, arena co-founder Lisa Graves, so that &uot;if industry was to come, we could lose it. But this is industry.&uot;

Graves said the facility could attract many visitors if it hosts regional events.

Supervisors were in support of the arena, which opened earlier this year after the county was without such a facility for several years. The previous facility, which had been located near the Liberty Road convention center, was on land that ended up being deeded to the Natchez-Adams School District.

Supervisor Henry Watts said he had not been in favor of the 30-day provision in the lease, and Supervisor Spanky Felter urged supervisors to take action on it.

Supervisors agreed to have the facility turned over to the recreation department, which attorney Marion Smith &045;&045; who was sitting in for county attorney Bob Latham &045;&045; said would help cover liability insurance.

&uot;There’s been a lot of time, money, donations and dedication to this equestrian center,&uot; Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said.

In other business, supervisors:

4Heard from Jim and Dot Sanders, Natchez residents who live near the Carpenter apartments. The apartments were designed for senior citizens, but the Sanders said they believe the original intent of the apartments is not being followed.

&uot;I see things going on that I don’t think the elderly or handicapped could do,&uot; Jim Sanders said.

The county was not directly involved in the project but used its part of a home grant, together with the city’s, to help establish the apartments. The facility is now run by a private developer.

Because of the county’s original involvement, Grennell asked supervisors to authorize board attorneys to look into whether the grant stipulations are being honored.

4Heard from Debbie Hudson of Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development, who encouraged supervisors to decide soon what project for which they want to seek Community Development Block Grant funding.

The deadline for CDBG applications is Dec. 17, but Hudson noted that the county will have to provide a match in order to be considered. The higher the match, she said, the greater the chance of success.

Grennell said one of the projects being considered is a helipad at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

4Heard from Adams County Port Director Anthony Hauer that the port handled 12 barges last month, with a total of 11,900 tons and $40,000.

4Heard from Adams County Airport Director Clint Pomeroy that renovation projects are well under way at the airport, and a renovation of the north hangar will begin soon. Supervisors give equestrian arena sense of permanency