![Natchez board votes for Eola tax incentive, plan to promote Auburn, picking permanent police chief](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2419/files/2022/06/ntz-seal.jpg)
NATCHEZ, Miss. – Aldermen are endorsing the Eola hotel developers’ efforts to get a state sales tax rebate to help finance the 96-year-old downtown landmark’s restoration that’s projected to cost about $32 million.
The city board voted Wednesday to support the hotel entrepreneurs’ application with the state agency that runs the tax-incentive program aimed at encouraging the development of tourism-related enterprises.
Hopes abound that the long-delayed renovation of the deteriorating Eola will start this year so the hotel can reopen after being closed in 2014. “We’re excited” about “the kickoff to the Eola project” that many people are “eager to see started and underway,” said Chandler Russ, who heads Natchez-Adams County’s economic development agency.
The Eola’s developers include building owner Robert Lubin, consultant Hayes Dent, restaurateur Dickie Brennan and the MMI Hotel Group, according to Mayor Dan Gibson.
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Gibson broke a tie vote to get qualified Natchez police officers wanting to be chief to apply and be reviewed by next Tuesday. Gibson and three aldermen indicated they want to keep interim Police Chief Cal Green permanently, but three aldermen said they want more time and a wider pool of applicants.
Green was appointed on an interim basis as Natchez’ first female police chief in December when Joseph Daughtry resigned to take over the Columbus Police Department. State law limits such interim appointments to three months, so a permanent chief must be in place by March 6, according to city attorney Bryan Callaway.
The board voted Wednesday to notify Natchez Police Department officers interested in being chief to apply within five days. This would be limited to just a handful of applicants since they must have at least 20 years of law-enforcement experience and three years of administrative work.
In a second vote for getting applicants reviewed by the Natchez Civil Service Commission with a recommendation by next Tuesday, the board deadlocked 3-3. In breaking the tie, Gibson said he and most aldermen want the chief to be a current NPD officer and be in place by March 6.
Aldermen joining the mayor: Valencia Hall, Sarah Carter Smith and Ben Davis. Voting against: Billie Joe Frazier, Felicia Irving and Dan Dillard.
This is the same divided vote taken in December when the mayor and three aldermen favored Green as interim chief while the other three opposed the appointment.
Green – a former Adams County sheriff’s deputy with 26 years law-enforcement experience – joined the NPD a couple of years ago. She was selected interim police chief over two other candidates: NPD officers Justin Jones and Jerry Ford.
Dillard questioned why aldermen won’t go beyond the NPD to search for a new police chief. Smith said there are well-qualified officers already in place at the NPD to be chief.
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The board approved a contract for restoration entrepreneurs to operate and promote Auburn, the city-owned antebellum house that the Historic Natchez Foundation is overseeing to maintain as a tourist attraction. The plan is for Kevin and Laine Berry – of “Our Restoration Nation” – to use their designing and marketing skills to attract more visitors and revenues for Auburn.
The Arkansas-based couple – self-proclaimed “serial house restorers” – restore and preserve houses throughout the country and inspire others to do so through their website, podcasts and social media. They’re renovating a Natchez house on Linton Avenue and have featured other Natchez houses.
Law enforcement consolidation should be on the table.