NATCHEZ — Don Woodfork said he has worked too hard to see his house demolished by the City of Natchez, but he isn’t sure how to begin work to correct the problem.

Woodfork told the board of aldermen Tuesday he is financially prepared to make needed repairs to the 111 McIntyre Blvd residence, but he isn’t sure how much good they will be because of what he said is a city caused drainage issue.

“I’ve come in front of this board many times and said that I plan to make the repairs, but can’t start until the drainage pipe (in the back of the residence) is fixed,” he said. “I’ve been told the city would fix the drainage, but not one rock has been placed.”

City Planner Bob Nix said the property was placed on the dangerous structure list because a portion of the foundation is missing in the rear of the house, the porch is rotted and there are drainage concerns on the property.

Woodfork appeared before the board after receiving notice that the city plans to begin the process of adjudicating 17 dangerous structures.

Mayor Jake Middleton told Woodfork that the city never promised to do the work on the property. Middleton said he told Woodfork in the past that he would do anything he could to assist in resolving the problem, a statement Middleton echoed during the meeting.

“We have done some drainage repairs in the city and there area more we still need to do,” Middleton said. “I promised you I’d do everything I can and I still will.”

Woodfork was the only property owner to speak at the public hearing about the issue.

Other properties are located on Beaumont Street, Caddo Street, Garden Street, Maple Street, other properties on MyIntyre Boulevard, October Street, Old Mimosa Lane, Purnell Street, North Rankin Street and North Union Street.

The board passed the motion to allow Nix to continue demolition proceedings on the properties, but Middleton said Woodfork’s property should be moved to the end of the list because he has made an effort to bring the house up to code standards.

Also, any building located within Natchez’s historic district has to be approved for demolition by the Natchez Preservation Commission also, Nix said.

The board also began the process of voting for new appointments and reappointments for the Natchez Planning Commission.

Currently eight of the nine members are serving without proper reappointment. The city received interest from two other individuals about serving on the planning commission.

Alderman Dan Dillard said he believes the board needs to remove two people from the board to make room for the two people who want to serve.

“Two of the eight need to be retired,” he said. “It makes sense to me that the two longest serving be removed, but who that is has been almost impossible to establish.”

The current members of the planning commission are Linda Futrell, Ed Godfrey, Charles Harris, Emma Rose Jackson, Deborah Martin, Cheryl Morace Rinehart, Key Smith, Karen Stubbs and Jacqulyn Williams.

Only Smith has a current board appointment to the commission.

Liz Dantone and Butch Johnson are seeking seats on the board.

The board was asked to list the eight people they wanted to join Smith on the board.

Nix said Tuesday afternoon that the appointments wouldn’t be announced until the next board meeting because he had not received ballots from every alderman.

Nix also reported that progress has been made in relocating at least one family that was living in an unsafe structure.

He said the mother and daughter living at 820 N. Rankin St. have been relocated to an apartment and have cooperated with the city’s efforts to demolish the structure.

“The woman living there had a network of people who supported her, and we were able to work with her and that group to reach this conclusion,” he said.

Expenses for the move and rent for the apartment are being paid by Catholic Charities, Nix said.

“Her standard of living is much improved,” Nix said. “We are happy with the way things have worked out for everyone.”

But still there are roadblocks before the structure can be removed.

Nix said there are a large number of cats that live in the house and the planning department is seeking to get permission from the house owner to allow animal control to remove the cats.

Nix also said the property will also need an environmental assessment to determine if there are harmful viruses or other dangerous bacteria growing in the house.

“We are dealing with these issues very sensitively in an effort to improve the city and improve these families living conditions,” he said.