NATCHEZ, Miss.– Mayor Dan Gibson had to break two tie board votes Tuesday to appoint a Natchez beautification director and conduct an airline passenger study as city aldermen deadlocked 3-3 over his proposals.
As the mayor revives the “Keep Natchez Beautiful” program, Tracy McCartney has been hired to spearhead efforts to spruce up the city, prevent litter and encourage recycling. She’ll be paid $9,600 a year plus reimbursements for expenses.
As the city continues its efforts to lure a commercial airline to the Natchez-Adams County Airport, a study will be done to determine the area’s demand for plane-passenger service. A consultant will be paid up to $12,000 to get a count of how many Natchez-area residents rely on nearby airports to catch flights.
Gibson said an updated passenger-tracking study is needed to show prospective airlines how many people in the area fly commercially. “This is data that is critical to recruiting a commercial airline,” he said.
Siding with Gibson in paying consultant Jeremiah Gerald to conduct the study: aldermen Valencia Hall, Sarah Carter Smith and Curtis Moroney. Voting against: aldermen Billie Joe Frazier, Felicia Irving and Ben Davis.
After voting to break the tie, Gibson expressed dismay three aldermen would be against any effort to restore airline service to Natchez-Adams County.
However, the dissenters said they voted against the city paying the full $12,000 costs of the study when luring an airline has been a joint effort of city officials, the Adams County Board of Supervisors and the Natchez-Adams County Airport Commission.
“We’re not against (attracting an airline). All we’re saying is we want the county to put their share into it,” Davis said.
The mayor and the three Natchez-Adams boards have been collaborating since 2021 to bring regularly scheduled air-passenger service to the airport, which has been without for about three decades. While several small carriers have met with local leaders and expressed interest – including Southern and Elite airlines — none have actually come through in including the Natchez-Adams County Airport on their routes.
Gibson said he’ll be meeting next month with more airline executives and expressed hope a deal will be made in early 2024.
A previous study showed more than 800 people per week in the Natchez area are driving to catch flights at airports in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Jackson and other cities – a positive indication the Natchez-Adams County Airport would have enough passengers for an airline to make a profit.
Gibson has also said American Cruise Lines has indicated a special interest in giving riverboat passengers the option to fly commercially in and out to get on or off vessels docked in Natchez.
The city and county in 2022 were awarded a $750,000 federal grant that’s considered an essential subsidy to attract an airline.The Federal Aviation Administration funds are to be combined with $500,000 in city-county money as a “risk-mitigation” subsidy. This is to help cover start-up costs and ensure an airline makes a profit bringing planes to Natchez-Adams County on a routine basis.
The airport had commercial passenger planes landing here between the early 1950s and late 1980s and again briefly in the mid-1990s, according to the airport’s historical records.
The pursuit of an airliner comes as various structural improvements have been made in recent years at the airport to enhance its capacity to accommodate commercial airplanes. The work has been partly paid for with $3.8 million in federal funds received for resurfacing runways.
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In urging the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday to approve McCartney’s appointment to manage the city’s beautification program, Gibson said it’s been dormant a few years. “I want Natchez to regain its place as the cleanest and most beautiful city in the state,” he said. “This is a step forward in that direction.”
“It’s also a step forward in disrespecting your board,” said Irving, who complained the mayor didn’t consult with aldermen before he brought McCartney’s appointment up for consideration. Irving said volunteers or city employees could manage the city’s beautification campaign rather than a paid director.
Agreeing with Irving were Frazier and Davis in voting against McCartney’s appointment.
Siding with Gibson for the Keep Natchez Beautiful director were Hall, Smith and Moroney.
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