Casino closure costs city
Published 12:05am Wednesday, June 15, 2011Editor’s note: The original draft of this story contained an error. The Isle of Capri has not officially announced plans to reopen Saturday, despite the announcement made by city leaders at Tuesday’s Natchez Board of Aldermen meeting. Isle officials are currently discussing a time to reopen, but have not finalized those plans, according to and Isle spokeswoman. The Democrat regrets the error and is happy to set the record straight.
NATCHEZ — The Isle of Capri is making plans to reopen after being closed since May 7, but city leaders must still cope with lost revenue.
The casino generates nearly $80,000 a month, Alderman Dan Dillard said. Since it’s been closed for close to six weeks, the city must figure out a way to make up for approximately $120,000 in lost revenue.
“I strongly suggest that we take drastic and immediate action to freeze all hiring and also freeze all natures of purchasing of anything other than essentials to get us through until the end of the quarter,” Dillard said. “And we should certainly freeze, without question, any and all raises.”
He went on to say he knows it will be difficult, but both the police and fire departments should be included in the freezes, because it’s crucial to adjust expenditures.
“I think we have to do this in an immediate manner or there won’t be time left (before the end of the quarter) to manage,” Dillard said. “I know we’ve had good revenues — 10 months that were positive — but I don’t know that it’s going to account for (the six weeks of lost revenue).”
Alderman James “Ricky” Gray said further evaluation is necessary before a motion can be passed.
Mayor Jake Middleton said the issue can be discussed further after the 4 p.m. June 23 public work session, when the Community Alliance plans to discuss the effort to replant trees on downtown streets.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the Mississippi Department of Transportation has reduced the number of annual grass cuttings in the area from six to three, and the city is working to come up with a plan to keep the grass on MDOT roadways maintained.
City Engineer David Gardner said one of the ideas discussed is hiring an outside contractor to pick up the slack between MDOT’s cuttings, but so far, the city hasn’t gotten any quotes.
Gardner proposed the city move forward with getting a map together to square away exactly which areas MDOT is responsible for cutting. Some residential yards border MDOT roadways, which could raise questions. The medians are self-explanatory, though, he said.
“The medians are beating us to death,” Gardner said. “If we can get a grip on those, I think we can get it down to a point where (the grass) is manageable (for the city).”
It’s imperative that the city makes a decision quickly, because pretty soon, Gardner said, the grass will get high and begin to pose problems.
Some aldermen suggested that the best way to handle the medians would be by getting the community involved.
“It would be monumental for the city if (the community) would take that on,” Gardner said. “It would make life easier for everybody if they would step up and do that.”
Some businesses have been cutting the medians in front of their buildings for years, Gardner said.
However, there’s no ordinance that requires that anyone in the community take responsibility for the medians, so the city can’t make it mandatory.
Other business discussed at Tuesday’s meeting included:
4The board voted to contribute $2,500 to the Fourth of July fireworks display.
Stratton Hall, who represented the Tourism Council’s fireworks committee, said Adams County pledged to donate $2,500 toward the display, and Vidalia Mayor Mayor Hyram Copeland committed to matching any funds the Tourism Council raised from Nachez.
The projected cost of the display is $12,500, Hall said, and she plans to ask for help from other sponsors, but she wanted a commitment from Natchez’s leaders before asking for outside help.
4The board accepted Wilkinson Welding and Fabrications’ bid of negative $11 for the demolition of A-B Motor Company’s building.
The welding company plans to salvage re-usable parts, which is why they will pay the city $11 to demolish the building.
A complete demolition using a wrecking ball would cost the city approximately $50,000, Gardner said, which will now go toward building new Natchez Transit Service facilities where the motor company stood.
