With about 50 names on the waiting list, Natchez City Cemetery is set for a much-needed expansion. Two newly-developed plots, the Bluff and McPherson plots, will provide about 2,100 additional burial spaces in the cemetery.

An amended ordinance approved by the Natchez Board of Aldermen Tuesday clarifies the procedure by which the city and the Natchez Cemetery Association divide money brought in by the sale of burial plots.

Proceeds from the sale of plots in the two new sections will be evenly divided between the city and the association.

Payments for perpetual care and the opening and closing of the new plots will be forwarded to the association.

The aldermen also passed a resolution setting the price of new burial plots at $500 each.

In other business, the board:

4Postponed an appeal hearing on the Natchez Metro Planning Commission’s denial of a variance for an 11-unit bed and breakfast at Ravennaside.

Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith said the hearing was postponed until Dec. 12 at the request of the owner, Robert Dean.

4Heard the report of Walter Tipton, tourism director, who announced that his office received notice Tuesday that high-ranking officials with the U.S. Department of State will be visiting Natchez in January as they meet with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers on environmental racial issues.

4Heard the report of Tammi Mullins, Natchez Downtown Development Association director, who distributed new park-and-ride maps of the downtown area and business listing to the aldermen.

Mullins also said between 17 and 20 trash cans will be purchased for the downtown through donations from Entergy, the Great Mississippi Balloon Race and the Natchez Bicycle Classic.

She also asked the board to support several holiday events planned for the month of December, including the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.

4Named Shirley Petkovsek to the Natchez Historic Preservation Commission. The position was left vacant by the resignation of Bob Dodson last month.

4Approved engineering contracts for installation of a computerized traffic signal system on Canal and Franklin streets.

City Engineer David Gardner said the project is funded 100 percent by the Federal Surface Transportation Department, meaning the city is not required to supply matching funds.

In an earlier finance committee meeting, Gardner told the aldermen he will submit applications to the Natural Resource Conservation Service for funding to improve drainage at Louisiana Street, Percy Street, Linwood Court and Quail Creek Road at Duster Road.

4Heard the report of Ward 6 Alderman and recreation committee chairperson Jake Middleton, who said a meeting Tuesday between the city, Sen. Bob Dearing (D-Natchez) and members of the House Finance Subcommittee and representatives of the National Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Service about Duncan Park Golf Course was successful.

Middleton said Dearing will reintroduce legislation that would upgrade the course through a partnership with the park commission.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux suggested that the possibility of including funding for a public swimming pool be included in the legislation.

4Heard the report of Gretchen Kuechler, assistant city planner, in finance meeting who asked the board consider the recommendation of the Natchez Metro Planning Commission to submit Natchez as a candidate for Tree City USA.

Kuechler said the city has already met two of the four requirements to become a Tree City and the recognition could provide better access to federal grant money.