Recreation plan being presented to Natchez board

Published 12:11 am Friday, January 30, 2015

NATCHEZ — Magnolia Bluffs Casino Community Development Board and the Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission will propose a 10-year, $11,540,000 consolidated recreation plan to the Natchez Board of Aldermen today.

Magnolia Bluffs Casino has committed to giving the city of Natchez $250,000 annually to a community development fund.

The community development board has previously suggested the idea of a community pool to the Adams County Board of Supervisors — who approved the plan.

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“We got an approval for the county, now we are basically taking that same plan and presenting it to the city,” NACRC chairman Tate Hobdy said. “Hopefully, we can get them to vote and approve the direction we are going in.”

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis, who requested earlier this month that members of the community development board appear before the city, said board members will hear what the development board and commission board have to say before moving forward.

“I’m waiting on the community development committee to make its presentation,” Arceneaux-Mathis said.

The proposal includes:

• A one-time contribution from the City of Natchez of $500,000 and a one-time contribution of $700,000 from Adams County for the construction of a junior Olympic-size pool and two soccer fields.

• An annual commitment of $500,000 from the City of Natchez and annual commitment of $334,000 from Adams County to fund the maintenance and operation of all city and county recreation facilities.

• Matching annual contributions of $100,000 each from Natchez and Adams County for 10 years to fund a bond issue that would build the recreation capital improvement budget.

The board will also have a public hearing on the 2016 Land and Water Conservation Fund and a presentation of a check by Michael Walter of AT&T for the 2016 Tricentennial.

The Natchez Board of Aldermen will meet in the City Council Chambers at 11 a.m. today.