NATCHEZ — The Adams County Board of Supervisors is seeking to clarify its position on funding a director for the consolidated county-wide recreation district.

Adams County board of supervisors attorney said the supervisors authorized him this week to send a letter to the City of Natchez and the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission, saying the board would pay $45,000 toward the funding of a joint director.

The recreation commission has requested the city and county work together to jointly fund a director, who can then properly plan any recreation consolidation efforts.

The initial proposal from the recreation commission was for Adams County to pay $45,000 in salary, while the city would pay $15,000 in salary, employee benefits and provide a vehicle.

While both entities have agreed to forms of those proposals, they have not come to a consensus about specifics. At the last joint meeting of the supervisors, aldermen and Natchez-Adams School District’s board of trustees — the NASD contributes land to the proposed recreation consolidation — several alternative plans were floated, to which no party agreed.

Largely at issue was how much funding each body would provide to the overall project rather than the director specifically.

Adams County Supervisor David Carter, a former recreation commission director who has served as the board’s liaison to the city and the commission for the project, said the letter was intended to be a formal statement of support for the director’s position.

“We wanted to clarify that we supported it,” Carter said. “We had said it before, but never in an official motion. Whenever the recreation commission comes forward with a question, we will try to provide the answer.”

Carter said the only stipulation connected with the pledge was that the recreation would have full oversight and control of the hiring process.

Carter said having a director in place is the first step to answering other questions.

“Having a qualified recreation director and board would help much with the issues we have been facing,” he said. “I think there is a lot that can be done right now without building a new complex. If they can hire somebody to turn around the facilities we have, when the time comes, we can move forward with additional infrastructure as needed.”

Natchez Alderman Mark Fortenbery, who serves as the city’s liaison to the recreation commission, said the city board has not discussed the matter since the last joint meeting.

“Anything is still up to negotiation,” he said. “Nothing is set in stone at this point.”