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Do they have mayoral muscle?
Office's heavy lifting is communication, vision
Published Sunday, April 20, 2008
NATCHEZ — The next mayor of Natchez won’t rule with an iron fist.
He won’t pass down edicts. He won’t just repave all the streets. And he won’t make Natchez a better place to live — all by himself, that is.
The law doesn’t allow it.
Natchez is governed by a weak mayor form of government.
The aldermen make all the decisions, and the mayor only gets a vote when the board of aldermen ties on a matter.
And while the mayor might not often exercise his or her voting ability, many still see the power in the title of “mayor.”
Adams County Board of Supervisor Darryl Grennell said the Mayor of Natchez has an important job in leading both the city and the board.
“It’s all about leadership,” he said.
Chairman of the Natchez-Adams County Development Board Woody Allen echoed Grennell’s thoughts, saying the mayor’s job can best be described as that a manager of the city.
“His job is to bring ideas and vision to the table,” he said. “It’s not to tell the board what to do.”
Allen said looking at the mayor’s position from a managerial standpoint, not a dictatorial standpoint is a helpful perspective to consider.
Former mayor Larry L. “Butch” Brown, who served from 1992-2000, said the best way to rally the troops is to keep the board informed.
Former mayor Tony Byrne, who was in office from 1968-1988, agreed that communication is key.
“You need to have an open line in communications with everyone you’re working with,” Byrne said.
Al Graning, former alderman from 1968 to 1992, said every group of people needs a strong leader.
“That’s the position the mayor is in, he doesn’t pull the trigger so to speak but he influences the ones who do,” Graning said.
One of the main issues that needs to be targeted during the next four years is infrastructure.
Brown said infrastructure must be addressed.
“If we’re going to continue to be a non-smokestack community, we’re going to have to make sure the community is like the front door of your home — inviting, clean, pleasing to the eye,” Brown said. “We need to emphasize that now and in the future.”
Byrne said the streets need to be fixed.
“The streets need attention,” Byrne said.
Sue Stedman, former alderman from 1996 to 2004, agreed the streets have to be a main focus.
Former alderman Vidal Davis, from 1983 to 1996, said an important issue that needs to be addressed is consolidation of city and county government.
“I think it’s a ridiculous waste of money that we can’t combine services,” he said. “It’s a hard thing to make happen but you’ve got to keep it on the burner.”
He also said another important thing that the mayor and board needs to do is appoint good department heads.
“You’ve got to surround yourself with capable people,” he said.
Allen said he sees a need for the next mayor to concentrate on “quality of life issues.”
“Streets and beautification are things the city needs to work on,” he said. “When you start with those types of things the rest comes in behind it.”
Director of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Debbie Hudson also said quality of life issues need to be addressed by the next administration.
Hudson said beautification projects, marketing and family recreation areas all need to be addressed in the next mayoral term.
“Those are the types of things that draw new families and new business to an area,” she said.
While quality of life issues in the city are on the minds of many, some issues to be addressed have more far reaching ramifications.
Director of the Downtown Development Association Carrie Lambert said the city’s mayor should concentrate on developing tourism as an industry in Natchez.
She said the mayor must adopt a new way of thinking about tourism.
“We need to be able to reach the tourists of today,” she said.
Lambert said baby boomers of today make up a great number of tourists.
“They’re not taking bus trips,” she said.
Lambert said the mayor should be able to realize new trends in tourism and travel and move the city in a direction to meet them.
Hudson, like many others, also voiced a great concern for street repairs in Natchez.
“When people come into the city they should see better streets,” she said. “It shows people what we take pride in.”
With so much economic development taking place in the city, this election and the next four years are key to the city, everyone agrees.
“I think this election is very important because there are a lot of things on the horizon that need to be finished,” Byrne said.
Byrne said it’s going to take good leadership to bring in the two new casinos and make sure the city gets good benefits from them being here.
Stedman said all elections are equally as important.
“You are hiring the chief operating officer for the city and his board of directors and those are the people who are going to be making the decisions on the direction our city will take in the next four years,” she said.
Comments
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you, Ms Lambert. That's what I've been saying - We need to understand that there are many more tourists than those on a bus. We need signs directing them to our historic shopping district. And when they get there, they need signs directing them where to park. Some are hauling trailers and need the space to park. And they need signs directing them to public restrooms like most other tourist catering towns provide.
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 1:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The mayor needs to bring new businesses to Natchez, seal those deals, and get them moving forward. West has proved he can do that.
If we want consolidated government, it will take a constitutional amendment. West is the only candidate who has enough experience working with the legislature to accomplish that.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 5:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oldgranddad...i agree with you that signs are needed for directions to the old houses...but the home owners need to pay for it....not the taxpayers...i dont see the city wanting to put up signs showing the directions to burger king.if the old houses are private owned they should put up their own signs an do their own advertising just like every other business in town.i think it time for the old house owners to start paying their own way like ever other business and stop looking for handouts from the taxpayers
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 5:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
shedevil, Hold up. That ain't what I'm saying. I'm talking about signs that direct people to the historic downtown shopping area - Main Street, Franklin, Commerce, etc. Other towns have signs that do this. And I'm not talking billboards. Just basic signs that are legible. People that happen to be driving through might not even know we have anything other than Highways 61 and 84 if we don't put up signs to tell them. We can not depend on the visitor center to give folks all the information because many people passing through might not stop there. I usually don't stop at them in other places. But I know that I will turn left or right into towns that have historic areas with shopping. I honestly don't feel that I am alone in this. Why else would other towns use the signs?
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OldGrandDad I understand your point and think it is a given! IF YOU WANT THEM TO COME...HELP THEM OUT ALITTLE ONCE THEY GET HERE!
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
youre rite oldgranddad...we do need a few signs direct people to the downtown area for shopping...but those businesses that will benefit should pay for it theirselves like all other businesses. im for signs for directions to the public historic sites and restrooms...which is the only public restroom in the downtown area and has all of the info of natchez
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Businesses pay taxes to operate. Business owners then pay individual taxes too. They pay people wages who pay taxes. They contribute to the local economy in more ways than the average citizen. Shouldn't they have some benefit from it? And if so, what should the taxes that they stimulate cover?
A few signs pointing to the downtown shopping district would be a well-deserved reward for them. Just because someone owns a business doesn't mean they are rich or even bringing home as much money as a regularly employed citizen. But they are making the effort to better themselves and our community by contributing in all of the ways that they do.
If a business has been able to hold on in Natchez's economy, my hat is off to them.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AMEN SayItRight!!! You are SO right!
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My gosh! DO you think these people who want to come here don't know how to use a computer or mapquest. Every one of these old homes are on the historic register and can be found with a click of a mouse. Downtown Natchez it not downtown Miami. Put yourself in their shoes. If you are about to go out of town and need info on where your going what do you do? DUH. Computer! Search Natchez. Very few people are mindlessly driving in their cars, especially ones on long trips or tourists for that matter. As far as business's in downtown Natchez, invest in a website if you want people to know where you are or how to get to you, if you have not already done it yet, Do IT! Most all profitable big or small business's have one. Director of the Downtown Development Association Carrie Lambert said the city’s mayor should concentrate on developing tourism as an industry in Natchez. Is this the same lady who said the population was growning in Natchez? And I thought tourism was already a "industry" in Natchez. There is only so much you can do with big old homes. If you cut, dice,slice,mash an apple it is still an apple. Same with the homes. Natchez needs something new to draw more tourists, PERIOD! The new casino's will bring a lot more people for a while, but the new will wear off in about a year and the visitors will slowly decline as the gulf coast picks up speed. What happens then? 3 slow casinos a bunch of empty new hotels. The gulf coast will be the next Atlantic City when rebuilt. Natchez won't have a snowballs chance in hell at getting new visitors. If we look back at history and learn we will see that the Natchez tourist market started to decline when the coast started to boom.
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, frankly I don't want our city to be like the gulfcoast. Our city is unique and we need business and attractions that will present itself in the atmosphere of our Natchez/Vidalia communities. We need the traffic but we don't need to be inundated with just those who want to gamble. Along with that you have added problems with drugs and crime. There are some good points listed above and I hope the candidates will read and put it in their plans of work. It will take people like the Chamber to innovate ideas and plans that keep Natchez in the spotlight. We have community events now but we need more. There should be an event every month that could pull in the visitor. And, there are a lot of people (baby boomers, if you like) who do not use a computer at all. They stay as far away as they can.
Some of my best memories come from when we just hopped into the car and took off and found things along the way. We had no destination in mind and wandered. That is where signs make the impact. The right kind of sign will draw people from the interstates and the by-pass.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sayitright....i understand where you are comming from..i too am a business owner..have been for years.i also employee 12 people that i pay taxes and insurance on...i have not ever recieved any of the gov. hand outs or has anybody offered to place signs directing people to my business.advertising that i do i pay for...not the taxpayers.i can understand your need for signs to downtown...but i think that the businesses that are in the downtown area should get together and pay for the signs themselves..not the taxpayers....i also think if the downtown business owners would stop whinning and work together like other businesses they might see an improvement in their sales..
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shedevil - I commend you for paying 12 people and providing benefits. Does your place of business have others around it where you can collectively pool your efforts to advertise? If so that's great.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That's funny lamchop, most of the people gambling on the gulf are tourists or people from different cities. Their money is just as green as anyone elses. That attitude hurts this town, and I am sorry to say it is what has kept a lot of industry away. I think we have a lot of crime now. I remember when people were trying to keep our first casino out of here. They said murder would be 4x higher, homeless people would be everywhere, rape, drugs you name it. yeah right. I don't see any fuss over the 2 new casino's on the way like there was on Lady Luck, DO YOU? Wonder why? Natchez competes for tourists ( with lack luster results I might add) and as the gulf coast rebuilds and other cities change and offer more, it will get harder and harder for Natchez to bring tourists in. A new spin on the same old houses, a walking trail, a sprinklerpark, is not going to do it. Anybody who spends any amout of time out of Natchez and then comes back, you can feel and see this town is TIRED and depressed and needs new blood and ideas. And anybody who doesn't see that is most likely the PROBLEM around here. Nobody ever got anywhere staying the same or sitting on their butts. There is a saying " all you can do is all you can do" and " all you can do is enough"! Do you think all that can be done to make Natchez better has been done? Or are you happy the way things are? It's always easy to say we need more money we need more of this or that. All that does is mask the truth of the underlying problems. What we need to do is look in the mirror and change our mindset, then look at towns like the gulf cities and learn. Most people set in their ways don't like change, but cities cant afford to be that way. You are either going up or down, there is no middle ground.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well said natchezenema
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NatchezEnema, Its hard to believe that you wrote your last post after reading your earlier post where you seem to trash the idea of having some simple signs pointing to the historic district. The one thing I hear people say about Natchez again and again is that we have too many people pulling in too many directions. These posts prove it. Other towns have small signs not too much larger than my monitor (maybe $20 each) that point to their historic districts. I make a post with a simple request that we do like these other small towns since, from experience, I know that these signs have worked for me in other areas. And in Natchez (ONLY in Natchez) this becomes controversy.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well we could get a nice L.E.D billboard sign on 61 n or a smaller one on the side of the convention center that was nice and constantly scrolling new pictures, directions, or advertisements. Something that could be seen and have some use. Wouldn't that be nice,GOOD LUCK Try that and get SHOT. Sorry, I have to go swim across the river right now, I'll be back.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 7:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Incredible. ONLY in Natchez.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Boy that water is cold and rolling fast! Whew!
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vote West out.
Posted by jill1289 (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 8:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way Out
Posted by crofflarry1 (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to add that Phillip West is THE BEST Mayor Natchez has ever had. Re-elect Phillip West....
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 20, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"We need the traffic but we don't need to be inundated with just those who want to gamble." -- You did not understand my post but that stands to reason.
We want and need tourists to come and I don't mind if they come to gamble... but want more than just gamblers. The beautiful gulf coast is not pretty any more with all the casinos. Surely there is a way to have both. I hate that the Isle of Capri took the spot it did and pushed the Queens to dock further down.
There are many people who gamble, I just don't happen to be one. If people were reasonable with their gambling and not blowing everything to win a few dollars and maybe, only maybe break even. Have a friend who is a two-fisted gambler and exclaims how much she wins -- but never discloses what it costs to win.
Circus Circus in Las Vegas has a good plan (been long time since I was there) but they had family entertainment -- places the children could go away from the gamblers. I am not a hypocrite as I have played the slots -- been to Vegas; have also gone to Vicksburg and eaten and played the penny slots. I just know when to stop.
Successful entertainment and businesses will only succeed if the locals support it. You can not depend on the tourist to sustain any type of business. Look at all the residents who eat out daily and on Sunday. Eating establishments would not make it without the locals.
I agree with OldGrandDad that we need a few small signs. It is hard for locals to see this because we don't have to rely on the signs to get to our destinations. Vidalia has that sign as you come off the bridge that shows some of the business/clubs that are within the community -- that would be nice to have or something similar.
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 1:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our ideas all sound wonderful, good and managable! My money is on change for Natchez! Support local business and your Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce! In the first voting round, support Middleton and then in the 2nd, God be with you!
Posted by npc (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oldgranddad, I agree with you on Natchezenema's post. Comments seem contridicting. Natchez needs signs directing people to the tourist area's. I had a lady in my office about six months ago who has been coming to Natchez for years. She has driven in from 84 and straight to her destination of work. Never new anything about Natchez and thought that Natchez was all that she could see from Morgantown to the tracetown area. One day she forgot to turn at the scales and ended up downtown. Literally blew her mind. She came in my office and told me how she has been coming to Natchez for years and thought that it wasn't much to it. After she discovered the downtown area, she was going to come back with her family on the weekends. She could not believe that she had been missing this for years. The people that keep posting negative things about Natchez need to realize that their is a large percentage of people that love to see the things that you all continually knock. Whether you like the old homes and the historic district or not, their are people willing to spend money to come and see. Which effects all of us. My business has nothing to do with the tourism industry AT ALL, and I realize that I benefit from it in the long run. The tourist spend money with the locals who spend that same money with me.
Posted by hawk (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ha west the best mayor natchez has ever had. yea right.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks NPC and others. Everything that Natchez needs to improve tourism is not expensive. Some of the changes are cheap and simple.
Posted by andy (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
change city government let the county run it this election will boil down to a black white thing we all must love it or we would leave natchez west will win again and we will continue to grow and get better but we will always be black white and a few whites like dr hall,joe zuccaro, walter brown and james biglane will run the city by helping west get reelected mayor
Posted by jack (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you can't vote west out with city employees like willie b jones and the other convicted felons he hired west does have his people in the jobs and we all sat back and let him do it even the alderman who are asking for our vote now is our chance if we will go to the polls and vote out people who support the mayor and board like willie b jones and the mayors new hire kathy stephens of the united way
Posted by RM (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yall dont think a town that is 60% African American is gonna vote for a caucasian? Honestly??
Hail Mayor Phil
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on April 21, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I would like to think that most people I know have a brain and are willing to judge a candidate on what they believe in, record of service to the community, and what they see is needed in Natchez, and NOT judge them on color. That goes for black and white and those lavender ones too.
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