NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Adams County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of $1,600 worth of hand sanitizer totaling 20 gallons Monday. It will be used to refill dispensers for county employees on the job at county facilities.
County Administrator Joe Murray noted county government has had to make such emergency purchases – including for new laptops – in response to the coronavirus crisis, which is a catastrophe the county could be reimbursed for by the federal government. President Trump has declared it a disaster in Mississippi.
“Our continued partnership and collaboration with the Trump Administration will be critical as we deploy every resource available to protect the health and well-being of all Mississippians,” Governor Tate Reeves said Monday in announcing the president’s disaster declaration.
The pandemic is forcing more expenditures of public funds while also crippling the economy. This will prove to be a financial burden on Adams County as expenses rise and tax revenues decline. “Our money situation is not getting any better everyday,” said Murray, who pointed to the need to be more cost-efficient in county operations and to carefully watch spending.
He bemoaned the county having to spend $46,000 for preliminary designs and plans for erosion-control projects that would up not getting done because they proved to be too expensive. He said “that’s a lot of money to throw out the door when we need it the most.”
For a separate project, a divided Board of Supervisors did vote Monday to pay $45,000 for engineering designs prepared for the river levee the county is building at the former Belwood golf course by the Mississippi River. The board voted 3-2 to pay Natchez engineering firm JKS (Jordan, Kaiser and Sessions) for its work. The state has provided $1 million for the phase-three construction of the levee, which is being built to block floodwaters from prospective industries that could locate on the county-owned land.
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In other action, the Board of Supervisors expressed support for Natchez’ plans for a riverboat docking facility. The city is seeking federal funds to help build the wharfage on the Mississippi River.
After trying without success for several years to get state and federal funds, the Natchez Board of Aldermen and mayor are making another bid for the money.
The dock would accommodate passenger riverboats operated by The American Queen Steamboat Co. and American Cruise Lines that stop in Natchez with tourists. However, they’ve halted cruises during the coronavirus crisis for the uncertain future. Viking Cruises is also planning in 2022 to begin operations on the Mississippi River.
The Natchez Board of Aldermen last month did agree to initiate negotiations with Viking and American Queen officials about leasing city-owned property beyond the end of Silver Street on the river. A previous proposal had the docking facility down Roth Hill Road on the river near Magnolia Bluffs Casino.
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