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City talks ball fields
Published Thursday, April 23, 2009
NATCHEZ — Unrolling a large architectural drawing and an aerial photograph, Natchez Aldermen Dan Dillard presented his own idea for a recreation complex at Wednesday’s aldermen work session.
Dillard’s proposed complex would occupy land along Liberty Road between the Natchez Trace and Sergeant S. Prentiss Boulevard. It would incorporate the existing baseball diamond, Chester Willis Field.
Dillard unveiled his plan after briefly outlining cost cutting measures the city could implement that would bolster their recreation budget.
His plan includes multiple ball fields, a concession building and a swimming pool.
Dillard said he believed the plan would be well suited for the area since it incorporates land owned by the city, Adams County and the Natchez-Adams School District.
“I really think this can work,” Dillard said.
It would also include relocating the National Guard armory and possibly Pleasant Acre Day School.
While Dillard had few cost estimates on the project, he estimated the cloverleaf ball field would cost $250,000.
“It’s not perfect, we cannot afford perfect,” Dillard said. “But I can’t wait any longer.”
Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton voiced approval for the plan and said it is similar in nature to a plan currently under development by the recreation board composed of city and county leaders.
Dillard said he will formally submit the plans at the next aldermen meeting, the to the Natchez-Adams School Board then the Adams County Board of Supervisors.
“This is something we can do if we work together,” Dillard said.
In other news City Clerk Donny Holloway presented a revised copy of the city budget to the mayor and aldermen in attendance.
Aldermen James “Ricky” Gray, Mark Fortenbery and Bob Pollard were not in attendance.
Holloway said the revised budget does include new cuts designed to help the city save money, but had not reviewed the new cuts yet.
Holloway said he hopes to meet with the board and the city’s department heads next week to review the cuts and finalize the revised budget.
The aldermen also discussed floating a bond on behalf of the Armstrong Library that would finance a new air conditioning unit for the building.
Middleton said the current unit has been in the library since it opened.
Holloway said the current plan calls for the bond to be acquired by the city and paid on by the library.
While no official action was taken, Holloway said the current unit is inefficient and cost leaves the library with $7,000 a month in electricity bills during the summer.
Comments
Posted by colescreek (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah, and you have to wait till Ricky gets off the phone.
Posted by natchezriver (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 7:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is about time someone proposed something that is reasonable and can be done in a short time period at a cost we can afford. Thanks to alderman Dilliard for taking time to develop this proposal.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like a good plan. I hope they can work it out. I DO HOPE that whatever happens, you don't displace Pleasant Acre Day School. Mary Ann has worked way too many years and helped way too many children for her not to have input into these plans. SHE MUST HAVE A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE PLACE for the school.
Posted by mslou44 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good for you Daniel - sounds like a great idea! Thanks for taking the initiative (and having the skills!) to come up with a reasonable plan! Look forward to hearing more...and seeing action taken by your fellow board members.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great work Dan, the Ntz recreation program has had very little attention of the past years. Glad to see you take the lead on this.
Posted by jlm448 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Didn't we just demolish four perfectly good ball fields to make way for the trace?
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think they did "jlm448". And, I really need to know what the problem is with Duncan Park? There's plenty of room to add on there. And this new proposal....A SWIMMING POOL? For what? For who? Hell, Duncan Park had a wonderful pool that the city couldn't afford to keep open!!!!!!!!
I'm just not sold on all this money for a recreation complex when in my mind, we have one.
Posted by iluvntz2 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 2:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Kudos to Daniel for attempting to come up with a plan. I agree that we do not need a pool, maintenance and liability has been too much for the city or county to try to manage -- face it, we have failed miserably on the pool idea.
Don't forget about the soccer fields, we have a lot of kids all over town playing now. Go to McLauren on any Sunday afternoon to see a great pick up game. Unfortunately, none of the current fields have access to bathrooms or concessions.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hi "iluvntz2"... good point and one that I had overlooked; soccer...of course that's a hot sport so maybe we DO need a new complex to house all of these sports. NO POOL, just fields.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another potential conflict of interest? The second in a week? Dan...Dan...Dan...somebody will catch on soon.
Posted by iluvntz2 (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
jbird - ask yourself this, was your comment deleted because of a difference of opinion or did you cross the line of polite debate?
Posted by rushinghjr (anonymous) on April 23, 2009 at 11:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No more Taxes! I just can't wait till Owhampy hits the people who voted for him and the Clinton Failures with more taxes and user fees!
Posted by yankover (anonymous) on April 24, 2009 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think its great that the city will be working with the library to help them get a new air conditioner. We all sit here complaining about the cost of recreation, but no one cares about our children's literacy. Plus it will be nice for the ladies who work in the library to have a comfortable work place. Last year it was so hot they had to close in the afternoons. People were upset that they couldn't get in to use computers or find books, but no one cared that these poor women had to work in such discomfort. As a lover of libraries I will be glad to see my library fixed!!
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