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Natchez gets $662K from stimulus
Published Tuesday, March 3, 2009
NATCHEZ — The first burst of economic stimulus money is making its way to Natchez in the form of approximately $662,000 for infrastructure.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation received $24 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which is part of the stimulus package.
MDOT will distribute the money to cities in Mississippi based on population for infrastructure projects.
Each city has six months to find a project, go through all normal approval processes and begin to advertise for bids.
Mayor Jake Middleton and City Engineer David Gardner said they plan on using the $662,000 to do maintenance overlays of central business district streets.
The MDOT money will pay for 100 percent of the project and does not require a match.
MDOT received the stimulus money Feb. 20, and the city was notified of it late last week.
“That’s very fast,” Gardner said of the stimulus money trickle-down.
Since Commerce, State, Franklin, Rankin, Washington and Pearl streets and sections of Canal Street have already been identified for improvements, Gardner and Middleton said they can begin moving quickly on getting the necessary approvals.
“We’re going to concentrate on areas that haven’t seen any treatment in a quarter of a century,” Gardner said.
Both Middleton and Gardner plan to meet with the board of aldermen to discuss the streets and get the board’s input, although a formal motion is not required.
Gardner said he is hopeful Natchez will get more money than what has already been allotted.
If the six-month timeline runs out and cities have not submitted plans for approval to MDOT, the money will be redistributed to other cities.
“We’re not saying we are, but we might,” Middleton said of receiving any extra money.
The money the city is to receive cannot be transferred to pay for the road overlay of Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr., St. Catherine and Homochitto streets.
“That’s the first question I asked, but we can’t,” Middleton said.
The city still needs $650,000 to pay for the $1.3 million overlay project.
Middleton and Gardner said the city has not seen this much roadwork in years.
Gardner said the money Natchez will receive is different from any other money the city has ever gotten in that there’s no match and MDOT will handle the contracting once bids are received.
“In our 16 years, I’ve never seen anything come to Natchez like this,” he said. “It’s a very unique set of money.”
With the $1.3 million done on the four major arteries, and if this $662,000 comes to fruition, Middleton said having nearly $2 million worth of road work done in a year is pretty good.
Comments
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It,ll be gone or hid away in some mumbo jumbo and dissappear like fast.
Posted by orchid12345 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 5:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor Middleton. Please ask that Melrose Avenue be put on the "to do" list. Everyone in Natchez uses Melrose as a thoroughfare and it is in total disrepair. It is one of the busiest streets in Natchez and has not seen any real resurfacing in at least 25 years. This would be money well spent. Thanks.
Posted by gerandall58 (Greg Randall) on March 3, 2009 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say is watch how you spend it, the eyes of the people are on you. And they each have their own idea how the money should be spent. 662 K won't last long in these economic times. Choose wisely !!!
Posted by southernbelle (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez is going to have to pay very close attention to this one. At a time when the $ doesn't buy as much as it used to, it will mean more to an awful lot of people. Money can corrupt even good people.I'm glad we're getting it.I just hope it is spent for the reasons it was loaned. Nothing is free. We will pay for it one way or another so lets try to keep an eye on it. ND ,ya'll are in a good position to help us do just that.
Posted by ratherbefishin (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Taking this money will prove to be a big mistake. Sit back and watch the deals get made.
Posted by tj4sho88 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What's even more interesting is how all the Obama haters are some of the same people in control of how this money will be spent. Better watch'em Natchez citizens--you better watch'em!!
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
just get the roads fixed , we need that badly- Melrose, Sgt Prentiss, and more. Yes this will give a few folks a job temporarily, but will do little to actually stimulate our economy overall.
on another note- close down the Natchez Transit- that is sooo abused- I regularly see that big bus (probably 40-60 person capacity) with only 2 people in it, well 3 counting the driver, and this morning it pulls in at Popeye's. Now how necessary is that? Basically the driver is, I'm guessing now I don't know for sure, but I suspect the driver is taking friends on joyrides, shopping, eating,........
But even if that is not true , still a big bus like that with only 2 passengers, it needs to be parked and sold. We can't afford the purchase, maintenance, fuel, driver, insurance for these vehicles.
Private taxis and family could/should do this job
Posted by all4dachildren (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$662,000, and all we can think about is repairing the streets in downtown, what a joke. Yes, the streets need to be repaired, but where does the tax payers money that you receive go? When will we the citizens of Natchez see some form of recreation for our kids? Let's renovate the old Walmart building to give our youths something to do. We need to use this money on something a little more important. The city is already waisting too much money on half done projects. Just go down MLK Street and St. Catherine Streets, and see the botched up jobs. Seems like we need to find some officials that are a little more qualified and concerned about all the citizens and just not one select group. Come on Natchez officials and get with the program!!!!!
Posted by cchat123 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How far do you think 662K in cash will benefit a growing
population (people returning home , citizens not leaving,
etc) in a city like Natchez? One major infrastructure will eat this up in a short time. And the rest will end up in pockets. 662 is not alot of cash
Posted by SandraSue (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The comment about the wastefulness of the big transit bus should be taken seriously. This is throwing money down the drain. A small 15 passenger van would easily suffice, and that should not be done unless the feds are requiring cities to have transits. Considering the economic problems every city is experiencing, the leaders need to find ways to cut the waste in order respond to the necessesities.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The "obama haters" as you call th em don't have a problem with legitimate spending that will actually help the economy. It's all of the waste and earmarks that people have problems. And from the polls, it's not just the Republicans that aren't happy with the spending spree. It seems that some of Obama supporters are beginning to see the light as well.
Posted by football (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
some of the stimulus money should be used to make sidewalks on morgantown road. And make canal street a two lane instead of a one lane cause the road is always conjested.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yes momof1 it seems that way..
granted the Republicans lost their conservative way under Bush, I was shocked by the bailout nonsense and you see AIG is getting even MORE money as of yesterday.......
But the Republicans are regaining their focus on conservatism, leaning away from the moderate liberal ideas Bush was pushing
We have to get back to the core values of conservatism if our country is to preserve the American Way of Life and perpetuate Freedom as we know it. Private Enterprise is the only way to stimulate production and the willingness to work. We all want the opportunity to profit, without which there is only the stagnation of our society.
I agree with all4dachildren- about downtown roads that is, there are more roads that need repair other than the downtown historical area. But for recreation, well we have parks already, and private recreation, people just need to go to work and pay for recreation, if they want quality programs that is. Publicly operated free recreation will always be plagued with security, vandalism, funding, and substandard program problems. Let's get back to capitalism, and move away from socialism/communism- capitalism is where the opportunities for enrichment and excellence will be found.
Of course we will always need the core services gov't should provide - (national defense, highways, police, fire, etc. whatever private enterprise cannot manage to provide reasonably) what I like to call psuedosocialism- but protect and isolate private enterprise from nationalism/socialism/communism perpetuating capitalism and the desire to work and profit and improve.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thank you SandraSue for acknowledging my comment on the transit system being wasteful
Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let some of it go toward travel expenses for Mathis and Gray, since they love traveling together so much. A one way ticket to anywhere else but Natchez would be nice.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
momof1 - I don't think anyone hates Obama really, but we do hate his politics- such as abortion - many of us hate it that he supports abortion; spreading the wealth- many of us hate that; excessive and hasty spending that will place the country in a debt never before experienced, we hate that; reduction of the military capability- we hate that; raising taxes- we hate that....... get the picture?
Posted by Gimmeabreak (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Regarding the transit bus comment, I agree and disagree. If the large bus isnt being used efficiently, then a smaller van or bus should be used but the transit system should not be abandoned. I work with alot of disadvantaged patients, many of whom are very elderly with NO family or support to speak of. This may be their only way to get anywhere-doctor, food, etc. I dont know for sure but maybe the bus was stopping at Popeyes to get a meal for someone who has no other way to go. Maybe the driver was taking a lunch break. Whatever the case, I know that many public systems get abused but I feel that the wrong people may have to suffer if this program were taken away.
Posted by fraidoclowns (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you, Gimmeabreak. We need that transit system.
I used to be a republican, but left it when they started sticking their nose into things like religion and abortion where they have no business being.
More money was wasted during the Bush seige on this country that at any other time in recent memory. And more people died.
And, yeah, maybe some of this stimulus package is considered quasi-socialist, but it got us out of a pickle in the New Deal, and we're in pretty much the same boat now. Doesn't mean it's permanent.
And I'm still laughing about all the hype about Obama being a muslim. I had one person tell me that when Obama became president, I wouldn't be allowed to go to a nightclub for a drink. Geeze...the hype and paranoia of the Republicans is stunning. It really is.
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you 100% Krogers, I was just referring to a comment by TJ that talked about the "Obama Haters"
Posted by jack (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
vidalia got the last transit bus railbus streetcar or whatever you want to call it for almost nothing natchez gave it away
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fraidoclowns- are you really serious? we have no business talking about abortion or religion when faith based concepts are so beseiged and abortion has killed millions?
Oh, I forgot you used to be a republican, now you're what? a liberal that believes that only liberals have rights of free speech, or life, or liberty, or the pursuit of happiness? What about the unborn? Do they have NO right to life, are they not human beings? Don't you know that there are more blacks murder by abortion proportionally than any other race?
Obama would not even vote against partial birth abortion or post birth abortion? That is nothing but another term for MURDER. You should be ashamed.
And your account of recent history is WAY OFF. Obama is spending more in the FIRST MONTH than Bush did his whole 8 years in office.
And more soldiers died in one day of D-Day than the whole Iraqi War on Terrorism. More soldiers died in our own Civil War by far than the Iraqi War on Terrorism. Almost as many people died in one hour of the 911 event than the Iraqi War on Terrorism. So get your facts straight and also your priorities and values if you have any.
History has shown that all the New Deal did was prolong the Depression, nothing else.
And speaking of paranoia - what about Obama spreading fear of immediate crisis and never recovering from this terrible catastrophe if we don't immediately throw this money on the fire and burn it up. You're so biased it's pitiful, you can't see the truth, you must be foaming at the mouth for your little piece of the "tax refund"//stimulus "tax cut".
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen Krogers! I still can't figure out how Obama can sleep at night knowing that millions more babies will be murdered under his watch. He claims to be a Christian and yet condones the murder of unborn babies. Personally, I'm thinking he will be in one of the churches that won't even realize that the rapture has happened.
Posted by natchez2008 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Krogers -- I was going to tell fraidoclowns- but it looks like you took the words out of my mouth. Very well versed & from the looks of it, you are more educated than fraidoclowns. You are also able to make your own educated decisions based on facts, not what you hear on our biased news media, which all liberals seem to believe. Anyone can see the truth if they will take the time to research the facts of each member of congress' voting records. Liberals, Do some damn homework before you spit out facts that make you look as ignorant as the media that your getting these so called "facts" from. GOOD JOB KROGERS !!!!
Don't convert like fraidoclowns did, that would be a tragedy! LOL
Posted by mekaboo82 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 4:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Momof1 learn the difference between pro-choice and pro-abortion.
Posted by reneef (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I certainly can't speak for everyone but I don't "hate" President Obama. I do disagree with his politics and I have some concerns about his fundemental beliefs. I don't think the beliefs that he stated in his campaign are accurate. I don't agree with wealth redistribution. I feel his spending habits are wrong. I feel he blantly lied about putting all bills up for public review for 48 hours before he signed them and about reviewing each bill line by line to eliminate pork barrel spending. He hasn't done the first and by US law he can't do anything on a line by line basis for the second. The US does not have line item veto. The United States briefly had line item veto in 1996 due to a bill proposed by Senator Robert Dole (R). After it was passed and signed by the President it was immediiately challenged in US District Court by a group of Senators lead by Senator Robert Byrd(D). It was subsequently declared unconstitutional. For the record all but 7 states give line item veto power to their Governors. (The Confederate States Constitution gave line item veto power to the President)
Posted by silly_willy_24_7 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
according to city-data.com, as of july, 2007, natchez population is 16,637, and adams county population is 31,710.
if my jethro math is correct, that comes to $39.79 for each person inside the city, or $20.88 for each person in the whole county.
how about cutting a check for each person who can prove residency and let them spend it locally.
after taxes, someone might be able to buy a coke and bag of chips. who needs paved streets anyway??
spend it locally; boost the local economy!!!
Posted by kmbjd40 (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Reneef, you are far too kind to Obama. He should be treated with the same contempt and ill will that any person seeking to destroy everything that made this country great deserves.
I wonder if you morons that voted for the most radical, most unqualified, most dangerous person to ever be elected President are aware of one little gem stuffed into his unbelievable budget proposal. Do you idiots realize that if Obama gets his way, your energy bill is going to go up by $700 to $1400 a year. That's by the administrations own admission. In fact, Obama said during the campaign that under his cap and trade policy "energy costs would increase significantly." And it's all being done under the guise of saving us from the ravages of global warming, the biggest con ever perpetrated on man. Just more of that change we can all believe in.
Posted by all4dachildren (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well since we are talking about the streets, let's put some speed bumps on Country Club Drive in the Broadmoor area.
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would the Bamars worry they don,t pay light bills
Posted by all4dachildren (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The old pool in Duncan Park would be a great project to remodel for our youths recreational activity. PS. Not everyone can afford a private pool....
Posted by thetinman (Keith Reynolds) on March 3, 2009 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Part of the Obomination Stick-It-To-Us Plan. SEND the check back to US Congress with a big NO THANK YOU note in GIANT LETTERS!!!
This whole plan will do nothing but damage our nation as whole. I would love to see a pole from anyone to ask those who voted for Oboma if they have changed there mind. ND do a pole on this. I bet you there would be quite a few votes that would go towards McCain/Palin.
I am thinking about a bumper sticker that says " Don't Blame Me, I voted for McCain". T-Shirts also!!! Impeach Oboma for TREASON. He is going to destroy this nation.
With all this in mind, ya'll know I got to mention about JESUS CHRIST. Read your BIBLES ya'll. You will see the current news in prospective that has been written over 2k years ago. The Season is right for the Rapture to take place!!! Get Right or Get Left!!!!
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 11:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
they will have to drive the money changers from the temples everyday until the trillion or so dollars are gone.
Posted by natashakubelikov (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If you print a trillion dollars and give it away,where does the dollars come from??? Nobody made it,and state after state is going deeper in debt each day. California is going to send I.O.U,s to taxpayers for state tax refunds.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on March 3, 2009 at 11:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is complete lunacy! The Mayor said that the money couldn't be used for the $650,000.00 we already owe for street repair. Who said so? Why would they say so? This new pitiful amount of money won't even pay to repair potholes, but what it could have done is to pay off a loan and save the TAXPAYERS for a loan and the resulting interest we shouldn't have had to pay from the git go!
This is government coercion! You've got to use the money or you lose it. You've got to use the money the way WE SAY or you don't get it. We've got the money because we can create it and bill you for it . IF you don't submit to our SOCIALIZATION of America then you don't get help.
How is it really help? None of the basic reasons for the PANIC have been addressed. How is it help to ransom our children's lives and freedoms? How is it help to inhibit people and small business with enormous debt?
I realize that Bush wasn't on the watch as he should have been and lost the conservative principles, but we had a Democratic Congress and now Obama to blame for this and rightly so. What could have been fixed a few years ago has now become a monster that will eat us all including Obama.
A tax revolution is now needed. It can start right here and right now!, but there are too many that want to suck the federal teat. Haley Barber and Bobby Jindal tried to rebel somewhat, but not for adequate stakes. Imagine what would happen if local governments did what the state governments failed to do and just say NO! What a signal that would send. What would they do if we said go away we don't want your help?
Lobby your BOA and the BOS to reject the funding. They won't, but at least put them on notice that the populace is tired of getting kicked around. Will it happen? Of course not...because politicians are too miopic to understand that they are the creators of their own impending doom and the doom of their constituents and because people tend to only care about themselves until a crisis occurs.
The alternative is to resist. It worked in 1776 it can work today, but it takes vision, resolve, perseverance and determination.
WAKE UP! THIS IS NOW A CRISIS AND WE CAN'T SPEND AND OUR WAY OUT OF IT.
Posted by reneef (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 7:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Several of you have came up with alternative plans for the money...the Duncan Park Pool, Renovate the old Walmart Building. What you don't seem to realise is that the funds are coming from the MDOT. That means they can only be used for specific things and those areas are not included in those things.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sentas your personal attacks just indicate what type person you are
you just validate my opinion of your comments- typical liberal slander/libel and plain mean- everyone here can see through your lies and personal slanders
you type ok, but say nothing with your words other than insult
you should be ashamed
you cannot logically argue an issue, and when your concepts fall apart you revert to irate written personal attacks, which do not support whatever argument you might make. You're pathetic.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
But to set the record straight sentas
I am totally drug free and support a sober lifestyle. If I have pain from over exertion or injury, I use aspirin, etc. Or yes I might use a perscription drug but only under the direction of a physician. I happen to have several doctors as friends involved in the martial arts program that provide me with professional supervision and care in that regard. So that is perfectly proper and legal, thank you very much.
I maintain a balanced diet, regular excercise at the martial arts school, take nutritional supplements - but keep it simple with a good megamultivitamin/mineral supplement, and occasionally enjoy a drink or two in the evening. I never drive drunk.
All I have ever said- which you twist with your evil slander/libel- is that I do not support the way kids are criminalized from the current war on drugs when they get caught with a little weed. I think there ought to be a more sensible way of dealing with the situation other than incarcerating so many young people due to drugs. It's costs too much tax money for so many jails, etc. I don't claim to know everything about this subject and I do believe that our justice system is basically good, but just needs refining.
I do not condone all the violence that is going on right now on the border with Mexico and those powerful drug cartels killing and kidnapping people. They should be wiped out. They are out of control and need to be stopped. They are into human smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, as well as big time drug smuggling and they should be met with military force at our border and dealt with severly.
That's my stance on the drug issue.
Sentas - I have an idea you probably take a host of medications - I will speculate that you probably take a high blood pressure or cholesterol medication plus a ceratonin inhibitor like lexapro or something of that nature. Do you have thoughts of violence or suicide? From your comments you seem overly hostile. Be careful. I wonder if you smoke and drink too much. I tend to think so.
Sentas- NO wonder growing up no one liked you and you had feelings of inferiority thinking everyone else had more than you do. Has that changed? Maybe you need something stronger than lexapro, try prozac, I understand that will numb your mind and help you cope a little better as your socialistic/liberal concepts will not sustain a healthy lifestyle. Try the conservative way, it works better.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Natchez2008, I appreciate your comment
Posted by momof1 (anonymous) on March 4, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mekaboo. If you are pro choice, they you agree that the murder of unborn babies is acceptable. It's black or white with no in between.
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