Natchez and Adams County likely must wait until next spring for legislative approval of the new structure for the economic development authority, but they may get a jump start on appointing new members.

Aldermen and supervisors have approved a bill that would reduce the number of EDA board members from 15 to five and set a funding split of 60 percent from the county and 40 percent from the city.

Both the city and county had hoped to have the local and private bill on the agenda for Monday’s special session, but that does not seem likely.

But could aldermen and supervisors appoint new members early, allowing them to sit in on EDA meetings — in a non-voting, non-official capacity?

County Attorney Marion Smith said the option would be legal — as long as the new members did not vote.

&uot;They would have no official position unless they were appointed to fill vacancies,&uot; Smith said.

Natchez Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith said he is in favor of &uot;anything that’ll speed up the process.&uot;

&uot;If it’s legal, I don’t know that (aldermen) would have a problem with it,&uot; the mayor said.

Now that the city and county have consensus on funding, Mayor Smith said, he hopes the EDA&160;board can continue its search for an executive director — something new members, if they’re appointed, could take part in, without voting.

The EDA&160;has been without an executive director since January 1999.

EDA&160;board member Art Fesmire said he thinks choosing new members now would be &uot;a great idea.&uot;

&uot;We need someone to be talking about economic development,&uot; said Fesmire, manager of Natchez Mall and an EDA&160;board member for about two and a half years. &uot;That’s going to get more money in here rather than raising taxes.&uot;

And Fesmire said the board will continue its search for a director — but it needs proof of funding to help attract a good candidate. &uot;I think the main thing that’s going to help is a commitment to fund-raising,&uot; said Fesmire, who added he thinks the city and county, with their support of legislation to revise the board, are now committed to funding the agency.

EDA board member Mike Thompson, owner of Bluff City Distributors, said appointing new members early would help &uot;get them up to speed in a hurry.&uot;

&uot;Then they can take the ball and run with it,&uot; he said. &uot;We don’t have any time to waste.&uot;

New members could also take part in the search for a director, Thompson said. &uot;That would at least be on the table,&uot; he said. &uot;Then we can go forward. (EDA Chairman Wally Kirk) is a go forward person.&uot;

EDA board member and former Natchez mayor Tony Byrne said a candidate for the director’s position would likely be more attracted to Natchez now that the city and county have committed to funding.

&uot;No real good professional person was going to come in here with all the upheaval we had,&uot; he said.

Appointing members early, Byrne said, would give the new board &uot;a five- or six-month jump&uot; on their work.

Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West was not sure about the legality of appointing members early.

&uot;Right now the statute reads that it’s formed with a 15-member board,&uot; he said.

But West said he is also interested in &uot;anything that would speed up the process.&uot;

&uot;Our main focus now should be to redefine our goals,&uot; he said. &uot;And hiring the best person we can find.&uot;

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux said she had not heard the idea yet but was also interested in speeding the economic development process.

&uot;I know we don’t want any gaps in what we’re doing for economic development,&uot; she said.

Alderwoman Sue Stedman said she does not have a problem with appointing members early.

&uot;The decisions about how it’s going to be funded and who is going to appoint people have been made,&uot; said Stedman, who added that getting Legislative approval, regardless of when it happens, should not be a problem. &uot;As far as I’m concerned, we’re good to go.&uot;

Supervisors President Virginia Salmon said she needs more time to consider the suggestion.

&uot;I’ll have to dwell on that a little bit to formulate an opinion,&uot; she said.

Supervisors Sammy Cauthen and Lynwood Easterling said they had not heard the suggestion about appointing new members early, but they were interested in the board’s discussing it.