NATCHEZ &045; Late last year, Johnson Controls estimated it could save the City of Natchez $515,935 over 15 years by installing equipment, implementing a new maintenance plan and controlling energy and water usage.

In November, the Board of Aldermen voted not to pursue a contract with the energy conservation company because those figures couldn’t be proven.

But after combing through the figures with city auditors and Johnson Controls, city officials determined they could still save $80,362 over 15 years &045; after costs, which will amount to a little more than $1.13 million.

So on Tuesday, Natchez aldermen approved entering into an energy conservation contract with the company pending approval of the Board of Water Commissioners and a review of contract documents by City Attorney Walter Brown.

The plan would include more efficient light fixtures, water conservation measures, mechanical repairs, and roofing and other repairs to some city buildings, including the city’s council chambers.

&uot;We spent months Š making sure all the figures were verifiable and agreement to all our staff,&uot; said Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith.

Also in Tuesday’s meeting, the board voted to direct Brown to draw up a resolution asking the state Department of Transportation to erect a traffic light at Old Washington Road and Lynda Lee Drive.

Children often run across five lanes of busy traffic from Holiday Apartments to a nearby store and back, said Alderman Theodore &uot;Bubber&uot; West, whose Ward 4 includes that area.

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux said she recently witnessed a major vehicle accident at that location. And Alderman David Massey said traffic makes it almost impossible to drive across Lynda Lee Drive at peak hours of the morning.

&uot;This is quickly moving into being a dangerous situation, if it isn’t already,&uot; West said.

The resolution will be submitted as soon as possible to Wayne Brown, transportation commissioner for the southern district of Mississippi, Smith said.

And Tuesday also marked the first board of aldermen meeting for two of the city’s newest department directors: Police Chief Mike Mullins and City Planner Robert Jackson.

&uot;We’re back to full capacity&uot; with regards to department heads, Smith said. &uot;It’s been a lot of effort and work to get to this point, but we did it the right way &045; we took our time.&uot;

In other business, the board of aldermen:

4Approved an inter-fund loan of $345,000 from the Hamburger 2 tax fund to pay for the city’s liability and property insurance.

4Approved a servicing agreement with the Enterprise Corp. of the Delta for Home loans, or down payment assistance loans.

4Approved Britton & Koontz First National Bank as the city’s official depository. The other bidders &045; AmSouth Bank, United Mississippi Bank and Concordia Bank & Trust &045; will be used as alternate depositories.

4Voted to renew a contract with Corrections Communications Inc. for pay telephone in the city jail, an agreement under which the city gets 40 percent of revenues from the phones or about $300 a month.

4Voted to contract with Jackson law firm Butler Snow to prepare the city’s annual disclosure statement.