NATCHEZ — City officials say five faces are better than one.

In an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., Mayor Jake Middleton and City Engineer David Gardner will be attending an El Camino Corridor meeting.

Director of Tourism Connie Taunton, Tourism Committee Chairman and Alderman Bob Pollard, and Natchez National Historical Park Superintendent Kathleen Jenkins will be discussing the Natchez Visitors’ Center.

And all five will be lobbying for Natchez in meetings with Sen. Thad Cochran, Sen. Roger Wicker and Representative Greg Harper this week.

Taunton, Jenkins and Pollard will first lobby on Wednesday for support in a proposed change of hands for the visitors center.

The city owns the visitors center, and the Natchez National Historical Park leases office space in the building.

Tourism and city officials are looking to reverse that.

Taunton said it would be beneficial, because the park service could do more with the building.

“The visitors center is a little over 10 years old now, and we don’t want it to come stagnant and to where the exhibitory is outdated,” she said.

Taunton said the park service has more financial resources, and a lot of ideas to move the building forward.

But to transfer the building from the city to the park service, Taunton said legislation has to be passed.

And so the three officials will be asking for the city’s congressional delegation’s support.

While rallying support, Jenkins said she will also be giving a list of the park service’s needs in the transition.

She said she cannot ask for money, but she can outline her needs in hopes of being considered for an appropriation.

In order to fully staff the building, Jenkins said the park service is going to need an annual increase of more than $1 million in its budget.

“That would allow us to build up the staffing levels so we could provide a much-enhanced experience,” Jenkins said.

Pollard said he is going as a city official and as the tourism committee.

He said this visit is well timed, with Gardner and Middleton both being there as well.

“It’s more effective when you have a larger group (lobbying) than going as individuals,” he said.

After Gardner and Middleton finish up with the El Camino meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, they will be meeting with the congressional delegation on Thursday.

Middleton said he and Gardner have worked to put together an organized package of several high priority city projects that need funding.

The city will be asking for $3.5 million to complete the North Natchez Drainage Project and $3 million for the Heritage Trails Project, which would connect the Natchez Trails Project to the Natchez Trace via the Forks of the Road.

The city will also ask for $26.5 million for revitalize the West Stiers Lane area, and $11.8 to do the same to Marblestone Road.

Gardner said both areas are in dire need of tending to dilapidated houses, new infrastructure, sewer, drainage and more.

“It’s going to be a massive undertaking because some of the streets are deplorable; the housing is bad. It’s a very much-need neighborhood revitalization,” he said.

The city is asking for $5 million for renovations for the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

“What we’d like to do is turn that thing into a music and arts center for young people,” Middleton said.

Finally, the city is asking for $7 million for a recreation complex.

Gardner said he hardly expects all the requests will result in appropriations, but it’s still important to lay the cards on the table.

“It’s been my experience that when you go up there, you may not get everything you’re looking for at one time, but it’s an ongoing effort,” he said. “I don’t anticipate everything getting funding this go around, but I do anticipate some favorable responses,” Gardner said.

Pollard said it’s important for city officials to make their presence known.

“They like to look up and see friendly faces,” Pollard said of the delegation.