The City of Natchez will ask the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service for funds to correct flooding problems in the Buckners Avenue area.

City Engineer David Gardner told the Natchez Board of Aldermen will cost about $150,000 to make drainage improvements to the area, where residents said some houses flood after major rains due to runoff from surrounding streets.

The city also plans to ask for funds to correct flooding in the North Wall Street area and should start a comprehensive drainage study in the future, Gardner said.

Later in the meeting, aldermen approved a seven-year abatement of restoration taxes for Wilcox Energy Co. The company will continue to pay other taxes.

They also voted to set an appeal hearing for June 13 for Ronnie Herbert, whose application for a new grocery and washeteria on North Union Street was recently denied.

City officials announced that Natchez received $45,000 in grants for sewer improvements for the Glenwood Subdivision and Dunleith areas and a $10,000 state grant for police to conduct public awareness campaigns on seat belts, child restraints and impaired driving.

The city also got a $6,816 solid waste assistance award to buy four recycling bins for downtown Natchez.

Also in Tuesday’s meeting:

— City Attorney Walter Brown said he had sent testimony on behalf of Mayor Larry &uot;Butch&uot; Brown to a Congressional committee considering a bill that, among other things, would add 150 acres to the Natchez Trace project, extending it to Liberty Road.

— Tourism Director Walter Tipton announced that, starting in July, the state will begin picking up the $28,000-a-year tab for security at Natchez’s visitors center.

— Aldermen said they plan to meet with Tipton soon to make sure the rates for renting the city’s new community center will be affordable but will not undercut rates charged by local hotels.

— Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell and Natchez Police Chief Willie Huff received recognition as part of the city’s PROUD (Presentations Representing Our Unique Diversity) Program.