NATCHEZ — To balance the budget, the board of aldermen have approved a $500,000 loan with a 2.95 percent interest rate from Concordia Bank and Trust.

At a previous board of aldermen meeting, City Clerk Donnie Holloway requested a loan of $1.1 million to balance the budget, which reportedly has been thrown askew by money transfers from the general fund to other city departments.

These loans, given to defray costs not budgeted by departments, have been accumulating for several years, and Mayor Jake Middleton has vowed to put a stop to them.

Beginning last week with a two-day set of budget hearings with department heads, the aldermen began combing through the budget to better understand how the money flows.

Additionally, the board wanted to look for any potential savings to supplement the $500,000 loan.

Middleton has called a workshop for 4 p.m. Tuesday as an extension of the previous budget hearings.

He said all items discussed during the budget hearings will be rehashed, and the meeting will also give the board an opportunity to make budget decisions.

Alderman Dan Dillard said he was glad the city was spending time reviewing the budget, and he said he found it helpful.

“This board is committed to getting a firm grasp on the budget,” he said. “This workshop should be very productive.”

In other news,

4 City Building Inspector Paul Dawes asked for the board’s approval to move forward with the demolition of 16 dilapidated properties.

He said the owners of the properties have been notified several times of the city’s intent to demolish, and none have replied to the letters that were sent.

The properties are:

4 1 Lynn Lane.

46 Mimosa Lane

46 Woods St.

4Nos. 15 and 48 Brenham Ave.

415 Reynolds St.

4Nos. 52 and 115 Parker St.

458 E. Oak St.

4Nos. 107, 1228, 30 and 34 Daisy St.

41234 Watkins St.

4268 W. Stiers Lane

4No. 5 Lincoln St.

The property owners were also asked to appear before the board of aldermen to petition, and only two appeared.

Only one property owner, Carolyn Wright, of Montgomery, Ala., requested that her 48 Brenham Ave. residence not be torn down.

She said although she is an absentee owner, she has made an arrangement for someone to cut her grass and weeds, and will continue to monitor the property, albeit from afar.

“I am deeply rooted in Natchez,” she said. “I’m trying to do the best I can. I wish you would just please give me a little time.”

Dawes requested she board the windows of the house, and Wright acquiesced.

The board said they would give Wright time to hammer out the details with Dawes.

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis moved that the list of properties be approved pending City Attorney Everett Sanders approval. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

4Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins requested the board’s approval that he accept $500 in donations for a new police canine to replace the one that retired several months ago.

He stated he needs $8,400 total.

4City Planner John “Rusty” Lewis requested a public hearing for the June 9 aldermen meeting for a text amendment that would allow the industrial sales in the I-1 industrial district.

4Valencia Hall, Woodlawn Neighborhood Watch chair, requested additional police patrol, as large groups of young men and women have begun to congregate in the neighborhood during the daytime and have proved to be a nuisance.

“We are very concerned about the safety of our residents,” Hall said.

4Alderman James “Ricky” Gray requested all parents watch their children, as school has let out and summer has begun.

“I understand that school is out, but as parents, we have responsibilities — know where your kids are,” he said.

He also encouraged community policing of children to keep them out of trouble.

“They say it takes a village. We need to create a village for these kids,” Gray said.

4Alderman Bob Pollard requested City Engineer David Gardner get estimates on fixing the culvert at the front of Woodhaven Subdivision, which has collapsed four feet and poses a threat.

“If we don’t do something immediately, it’s going to become an emergency,” he said.