EDA&160;Chairman Wally Kirk said his board is having a hard time attracting strong candidates to direct the Natchez-Adams County Economic and Community Development Authority.

And Kirk does not think that situation is likely to change anytime soon.

&uot;We are still continuing the search for a director, but it is difficult at this time to attract the right caliber of person,&uot; Kirk said.

The EDA&160;has been without an executive director for the past year and a half, and its funding has also been in jeopardy. The county currently funds the EDA at $175,000 a year, and the city funds it at $50,000 a year, according to their budgets. The city’s contribution was shrunk when the EDA lost its executive director, Andi Quartey, in early 1999.

And Natchez aldermen and Adams County supervisors have disagreed about how many people – and exactly who – should serve on the board. The board now has 15 members, but many people have suggested the board needs to be smaller. The last arrangement discussed called for a five-member board, with four appointed by the county and one being the sitting Natchez mayor.

But neither board could agree on a final plan and never submitted a bill to the Legislature to change the makeup of the board. The Legislature created the joint city-county authority, so it must approve any changes to the authority’s board.

&uot;It’s unlikely we’ll get (a director) until (the city and county) get it resolved,&uot; Kirk said.

The city and county may try to squeeze a bill into the as-yet uncalled special Legislative session on economic development – but that may be a long shot. Rep. Andrew Ketchings, R-Natchez, said he does not know whether Gov. Ronnie Musgrove – who sets the agenda for special sessions – will allow a local and private bill in the session. &uot;If he lets us do something he’ll have all kinds of cities and counties asking for things,&uot; said Ketchings, who serves as associate director of the EDA.

Ketchings said he will stay in that position until the EDA finds a new director.