NATCHEZ, Miss. – Aldermen agreed Tuesday to allocate another $100,000 to the city budget for building two tennis courts at Duncan Park after contractors’ bids showed construction will be more than originally projected.
With a $407,600 bid, Stubbs NK Contractors of Natchez was the lowest of the companies seeking to build the tennis courts in the initial bidding process.
While the board rejected the overbudgeted proposals, it boosted the tennis courts’ construction budget and voted to seek new bids to fit within the increased amount of funds set aside.
Adding two courts to the city’s eight-court tennis facility is part of the $2 million recreation project the board and mayor initiated in 2021 by borrowing money through bonds to enhance Natchez parks and sports venues.
The additional $101,000 the board approved for building the tennis courts will be from extra money Natchez has in its general fund, according to city officials.
—–
Aldermen also agreed to get contractors to submit prices for renovating the old Duncan Park canteen building. The scope of the work will be mostly reroofing and new exterior paint. Plans are underway to lease the city-owned building to the Natchez Veterans of Foreign Wars post for its use. The building will continue as a city voting precinct when the VFW occupies it.
The old canteen – once a popular spot for Natchez youth to socialize – is on the grounds of Auburn, the city-owned mansion built in 1812 at Duncan Park. The canteen is attached to Auburn’s brick dairy, which was built in the late 1830s, according to historical accounts.
—–
Sparks flew Tuesday as Mayor Dan Gibson argued with aldermen Felicia Irving and Billie Joe Frazier over the work of the mayor’s executive assistant. As Irving asked what funding grants Richard Burke has helped the city get, Gibson rebuked the alderman and said the board meeting can’t be used as “an opportunity for an attack on Mr. Burke.”
The mayor alleged Irving went “against the grain” of state law by trying to discuss the performance of a government employee with “disparaging comments” in a public meeting. State law allows boards to ban the public from hearing discussions about personnel matters, but it does not require such meetings be closed.
Frazier said Irving was merely asking questions. He told Gibson it’s “not a reason to get hostile” as the visibly angry, gavel-pounding mayor admonished Irving for questioning the work done by the mayor’s assistant.
“You can’t stand criticism,” Frazier said to Gibson.
—–
The mayor and aldermen honored long-time Natchez Stewpot employee Johnnie B. Davis for her 35 years working at the diner that provides free meals to indigent people. Davis’ dedication had her working there early morning till afternoon most days of the week helping cook and serve a total of 2 million meals since 1988, according to Mayor Dan Gibson, who read a framed proclamation presented to Davis.
Great reporting. The Mayor certainly didn’t have a problem mentioning Richard Burke’s name when he asked the City to pay over $2000.00 for his education forW grant writing. Where’s the buck for the money? Did he graduate or get a certificate? It was absolutely the City’s business to know and the mayor was out of line. He gets defensive and rude when he doesn’t want to disclose public records to the Board of Aldermen. His behavior is out of order. We pay taxes here. Where is our money going? Why all the bonds and grants? We have a $4.6 million deficit from last year. People need to wake up! We need to hear the truth from the mayor about our City finances. Having a childish temper tantrum doesn’t cut it!
As for the Stewpot, I am sure they are saying, “No applause, just send money.” Applause doesn’t feed the indigent. Financial support from the City is what is needed especially since we throw money around for less benefits to the City.
We pay the our own City Cemetery $84k a year while the Cemetery Association takes in all the money for the sale of city property, makes up their own deeds for the City signed by the overseer, digging of graves, has two – three huge fundraisers, doesn’t show the city the city books and then we give Watkins Street Cemetery a measley $7,000 per year that is so begrudgingly paid out that the fund is holding money from the last two years.