NATCHEZ, Miss. – Aldermen today appointed former city planner Rico Giani to replace Frankie Legaux on an interim basis while city officials search for someone to take the job permanently as Natchez’ chief administrator of zoning and architectural regulations.
Legaux resigned Dec. 31 after about five years of service with the city in two separate stints regulating the appearance and locations of structures within the city. She served her first time as city planning director from 2012 to 2015. Giani then replaced her when she took another city planning job in Texas. Giani served as Natchez’ city planner until 2022, when he left to join an architectural/municipal planning firm in Charleston, S.C. He’ll be working for Natchez part time and paid up to $4,100 a month while still at the firm.
Giani “is well-versed in this capacity,” said Alderman Valencia Hall, who recommended he be appointed interim city planner by the Board of Aldermen. Hall said Legaux has retired. “We do wish Mrs. Legaux well,” said Mayor Dan Gibson.
Among the city planner’s duties is making recommendations to the Natchez Preservation Commission, which reviews, approves or rejects architectural changes made to structures in the town’s historic district.
The Board of Aldermen today also appointed Rebecca Schiele McGehee to the nine-seat commission to replace Mac Hazlip. Stratton Bull also applied for the appointment.
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