Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

NATCHEZ — The Natchez Mayor and Board of Aldermen have called a special meeting for Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber, 115 S. Pearl St., across from City Hall.

Topics of the meeting include appointing a municipal judge to fill the remaining term of Lisa Jordan Dale, who has resigned to join the staff of Sixth Circuit District Attorney Tim Cotton. Aldermen must also appoint a municipal judge pro tem to replace Jack Lazarus, who resigned recently to become city attorney.

Also on the agenda for the meeting is discussion of the issue with the Canal Street Bridge. On the advice of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the city issued a weight limit on vehicles that can travel on the bridge. It is open only to traffic of vehicles weighing less than five tons.

During an inspection recently, MDOT officials said they found deterioration with three of the eight steel girders that support the bridge. Vehicles weighing five tons or more, like buses carrying tourists or emergency vehicles like fire trucks, must use alternate routes.

The special meeting Thursday is expected to end with an executive session to discuss personnel matters.