Hearing the outcry from local residents, the Natchez Board of Aldermen hopes to get answers about the soaring price of natural gas.

During the board meeting Tuesday, Ward 5 Alderman David Massey said he has received a number of calls from citizens wanting explanation for gas bills that have tripled in the last couple of months.

He has also heard complaints from several people about the way they were treated when they contacted Mississippi Valley Gas about their high gas bills.

The board agreed to ask Jerry Moore, local manager for Mississippi Valley Gas, to attend the next meeting to explain why gas prices are so high and suggest ways for customers who cannot pay their bills to get help.

&uot;This is something that’s affecting every one of us,&uot; Massey said.

Massey said the New Orleans Public Service Commission recently ruled that local gas companies there could not disconnect service if a customer could not pay their bill during this, one of the coldest winters on record.

&uot;It’s an emergency-type situation,&uot; he said. He also offered a toll-free number for anyone needing help paying their utility bill: 1-800-421-0762.

Joyce Arceneaux, Ward 1 alderwoman and public utilities chairwoman, said later she was prepared to present the board with comments similar to Massey’s, but had to leave soon after the meeting began to return to her teaching job.

Arceneaux said she would like the state Public Service Commission to investigate the recent high prices and make sure they are warranted.

She said she cannot understand why gas customers were not forewarned about the surge in natural gas prices.

In other business, the board:

4Declared work performed on sewer lines near Elms Court over the holidays an emergency and approved applications to the National Resource Conservation Service for matching grants to pay for the project. City Engineer David Gardner said crews discovered erosion was threatening to collapse a 21-inch sewer line that services about 50 percent of the city.

4Authorized City Clerk Donnie Holloway to void $6,000 worth of outstanding checks dating as far back as 1996. Holloway said the money would be returned to the respective funds, the recipients notified and new checks written.

4Heard the report of City Attorney Walter Brown who said local legislation on long-term leases for riverfront development and restructuring of the Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority has been forwarded to Jackson.

4Approved a change order for $17,125, 95 percent of which will be paid for by NRCS, for work on Texas Street to correction erosion.

4Approved a $275 change order for construction of the Spraygounds at North Natchez Park. Gardner said contractors had to purchase two starter coils for the water pumps that were not shown in the Spraygound plans.

The total cost for the coils came to $775, but the $500 cost of applying a &uot;cool deck coating&uot; will be removed from the contract and added back later when warmer weather allows the work to be completed, Gardner said.

4Extended a contract with Jenkins Weed Control for one year to spray city roadsides at $41 per acre.

4Heard the report of Sabrena Bartley, Natchez Senior Citizen Multi-Purpose Center executive director, who said a new handicapped-accessible bus acquired through a grant is available for pickup.

The board also approved advertisement for sale of an older bus, a ’91 model that is not equipped for handicapped.

4Heard the report of Municipal Judge John Tipton who said December collections were down over the same month in 1999. The net amount received by the city was $38,875, down $2,200 from 1999.

4Heard the report of Walter Tipton, tourism director, on the first six months of operation of the community center.

Twenty events were held, including the Natchez Literary Celebration, the Food, Home & Health Show, a Mississippi Tennis Association reception and the ACFC conference.

Upcoming events scheduled at the community center include a two-day wholesale tool show, the statewide Lions Club convention, the fall workshop of the Mississippi Supervisors Association and an antiques show and sale in November.