NATCHEZ — Chancery Court Judge Vincent Davis will review objections to the validation of approximately $34 million in school borrowing at two hearings starting at 9 a.m. today in the chancery courtroom in the Adams County Courthouse.

Monday Davis denied a request for a continuance by Kevin Wilson, one of more than 400 objectors to the issuance of school bonds for the construction of a new Natchez High School.

Davis will hear objections to the Natchez-Adams School District’s efforts to borrow $9 million in bonds backed by a tax-increase to Adams County residents. The district also plans to raise $25 million through a lease agreement in which the school buildings are used as a form of collateral.

In February, Davis issued a 90-day continuance for the hearings at the request of Wilson and his attorney Paul Koerber so that Wilson could gather more evidence for his case. Davis, Koerber and attorneys representing NASD agreed to move the hearings to April 25.

On April 18, Wilson then filed for another continuance stating objectors had not been provided adequate notice of the hearing, that he and his attorneys needed additional time to collect evidence and that Wilson was scheduled for back surgery on the same day as the hearing.

In his order to deny Wilson’s request, Davis said objectors have had adequate time to gather evidence “regarding the limited issues in this case” and have been adequately notified as required by law.

“Citizens have appeared for a hearing in this matter three times,” Davis wrote. “It is reasonable to assume that at least some of those citizens adjusted their schedules to attend each hearing, only to find out that the hearing had been rescheduled. It is unreasonable to ask the citizens to adjust their schedules again.”

As to Wilson’s back surgery, Davis said Wilson should not have scheduled the back surgery for the same date of the hearing.

“If Kevin Wilson’s medical procedure was scheduled before the Feb. 14th order (for a continuance) was entered, he should have filed a motion for continuance very shortly after the entry of the order,” Davis wrote. “Once the hearing was rescheduled — at his request — to April 25, 2018, he should not have scheduled the medical procedure.”

Previously, Wilson subpoenaed several local leaders and employees of the school district to appear and testify to the court.

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood also filed a motion to intervene, which was granted by the court, giving Hood leave to respond to Wilson’s objections. Hood responded by saying Wilson’s objections “fail as a matter of law.”