NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Board of Aldermen has confirmed the appointment of an historic preservation specialist to be Natchez’ city planner.
Mingo Tingle worked nearly 21 years at the Mississippi Department of Archives and Historic performing duties that included overseeing the upkeep of state historic sites and helping private property owners properly plan their preservation projects.
“He’s got great experience in city planning at Archives and History,” Natchez Alderman Sarah Carter Smith said Tuesday as the board voted to hire Tingle.
He worked at the state agency in various positions from 2002 until 2023, when he left to take a federal historic properties preservation job at the U.S. General Services Administration, according to his resume Tingle posted on the LinkedIn website.
He begins his Natchez job May 4 as the city’s chief administrator of zoning and architectural regulations. Former city planner Frankie Legaux resigned in December.
The city planner’s duties include making recommendations to the Natchez Preservation Commission, which regulates the design, restoration and construction of buildings and fixtures in Natchez’ historic district to ensure they’re architecturally appropriate.
In his LinkedIn postings, Tingle said his experience includes “working directly with the public to make sure that the needs of property owners are met while ensuring that historic properties are restored using federal and state guidelines.”
“I have gained knowledge in building design, historic building materials and trades and architectural history that allows me to work with the public to give them the best advice in how to properly rehabilitate their historic properties while meeting their needs for the reuse of the historic buildings.”
Tingle will also advise the Natchez Planning Commission, regulates private land uses and where businesses and residences can be located to ensure they’re properly situated.
The Board of Aldermen voted 4-1 Tuesday to appoint Tingle. Aldermen Valencia Hall, Felicia Bridgewater Irving, Ben Davis and Curtis Moroney voted for him while Alderman Billie Joe Frazier was the lone dissenter. Smith didn’t vote as she presided over the meeting as mayor pro tem in Mayor Dan Gibson’s absence.
There was scant dialogue during the meeting about Tingle’s hiring and qualifications. His salary was not discussed.
Former city planner Rico Giani has been working for the city since January on an interim, part-time basis being paid $4,100 a month.
Tingle is an alumnus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
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