Work beginning soon to renovate Natchez Convention Center

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Work should begin by the new year on upgrading the Natchez Convention Center after city aldermen Tuesday approved a contractor’s proposal of nearly $700,000 for the renovation’s first phase.

Smith Painting & Contracting was the sole bidder for the project. It’ll focus on the building’s main assembly hall and include new wall coverings, new carpet, new paint – including the removal of the cracked paint blemishing the upper ductworks and ceiling –  and repairing the moveable walls.

About $3 million has been set aside for the 21-year-old convention center’s renovation, which is being done in phases.  

The Board of Aldermen also approved another builder’s proposal to refurbish the Natchez Civic Center for a cost of about $300,000. Hope Enterprises was deemed the best of three contractors’ bids. The job will include general renovations, such as installing new flooring, doors and appliances.

“Work will soon begin to transform both properties, beginning with complete renovation of the entire Convention Center exhibit hall,” said Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson. “This will mean great things for our ability to host future events and conferences.” 

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The board voted to increase the amount of money budgeted to renovate the Duncan Park Golf Clubhouse. As construction costs have soared above the $1 million city officials initially envisioned for this, the amount allocated is being boosted with the funds the city has borrowed through bonds and $400,000 from private donations.

Aldermen have had to turn down contractors’ bids twice for the project because their costs busted the budget.

Built in 1948 as a U.S. Navy Reserve facility, the Duncan Park building is a state-designated historic Mississippi Landmark the city has been using as a golf facility but now in disrepair.

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Aldermen voted to move forward with plans to purchase a new fire truck costing about $677,000. Natchez Fire Chief Robert Arrington said the pumper truck is “absolutely” needed to better enable city firefighters to do the job and also help ensure city propertyowners’ insurance rates don’t increase.

City Clerk Megan McKenzie said money for the Natchez Fire Department truck could come from a combination of sources: about $200,000 from surplus funds the city has from the state for fire protection and $400,000 from a loan. In addition, the Adams County Board of Supervisors could be asked to seek money from a state grant program to help pay for the truck. The county board pays the city for having the NFD fight fires outside Natchez. 

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The board agreed to consider building a roundabout at the intersection of John Quitman Boulevard and Auburn Avenue, which has been deemed among the most dangerous and accident-prone traffic crossings in Natchez. A roundabout provides a continuous, one-way flow of traffic in a circle. It has fewer points of conflict than a traditional intersection. according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and brings a 37 percent reduction in collisions.

 

The Quitman-Auburn intersection is “by far the most dangerous” of those analyzed in Natchez, said Community Development Director James Johnston, who pointed to difficulties Auburn Avenue motorists have at the stop sign there as they look westward for vehicles traveling on Quitman Boulevard.

Johnston, who’s been aided by MDOT in studying alternatives, said there’s not enough traffic to justify making it a four-way stop.  Converting  the intersection into a roundabout is considered the best solution.

Aldermen agreed to further review roundabout concepts and potential funding with MDOT’s assistance.

 A photo of a roundabout and information can be viewed at the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s website: drivesmart.mdot.ms.gov/roundabouts/

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About 500 city street lights have been replaced throughout Natchez since last month as brighter and better bulbs are being installed by Entergy, according to Gibson. Plans are to have about 300 more of the energy-efficient LED lights in place by the end of December.

City park lights are also being upgraded as part of the ongoing improvements of Natchez’ recreational facilities. A formal unveiling of Jack Waite Park’s new features is scheduled for Thursday at 4 p.m.Ceremonial unveilings are also scheduled for Osceola Park on Choctaw Street (Nov. 30) and Duncan Park (Dec. 14).

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The mayor and aldermen closed the public out of discussions Tuesday about a “development agreement” for the old Broadway Street railroad depot. While the city’s tourism agency – Visit Natchez – has plans to use part of the city-owned building, discussions have been previously underway about private developers suggesting uses for the other part.

The exterior of the circa 1915 building was renovated a decade ago, but various delays and foiled development plans have left it a gutted, empty shell inside. However, with state and city historic preservation funds now allocated, contractors’ bids are being sought to remodel the interior into a tourist information center and public restrooms.  A Nov. 28 deadline has been set for those proposals and costs being submitted for the mayor and aldermen to consider at their early December meeting.

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Progress continues for installing a columbarium at the Natchez City Cemetery and landscape the grounds. The vaults for cremated ashes are being installed on a tract of land overlooking the Mississippi River across the street from the city burial grounds’ first gate driving from town. The property was donated to the city last year by Al Walker of Natchez in honor of partner Keith Karlson, who died in 2016.