For incomding mayors on both sides of the Mississippi River, this week will prove to be a busy one with both Natchez’s Phillip West and Ferriday’s Gene Allen being sworn in and getting their feet on the ground.

Phillip West

West expected some congratulatory calls, offers of advice and media requests.

West just didn’t know exactly how many calls would come in.

In fact, West said with a laugh that fielding calls, with the help of his wife, has taken almost all of his time since he won Natchez’s general election June 8, becoming the city’s first black mayor since Reconstruction.

That’s not counting the in-person visits, interview requests from television stations and requests to speak at church services and other gatherings.

As of last week, he also planned an appearance at the Mississippi Municipal League’s annual convention, which is currently being held on the Gulf Coast, to meet with some economic development contacts.

&uot;I can’t wait until July 2,&uot; West said, referring to the day after his swearing-in ceremony. &uot;Hopefully, then, the novelty will diminish. … It’s busier now that it was before the election.&uot;

But the way things are going, it isn’t likely West’s schedule will let up any time soon.

For one thing, he’s still in the process, and probably will be after the swearing-in, of gathering reams of information from the city’s department heads.

He wants to learn, among other things, what projects the departments have in progress and what projects directors would like to tackle next.

He said he wants to open the floor for ideas from department heads as to what should be next on the city’s plate. &uot;I want them to do any assessment of their own departments,&uot; he said. &uot;I want to know about what they’re trying to accomplish.&uot;

West also wants to meet with not only department heads but aldermen on a one-on-one basis to get an idea of what direction they would like the city to go in.

With such a schedule, perhaps it’s no wonder West appointed several supporters to take the lead in planning his swearing-in.

And Thursday should be a full day for West.

The swearing-in ceremony itself will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Natchez Convention Center. U.S. Rep. Charles W. &uot;Chip&uot; Pickering and Larry L. &uot;Butch&uot; Brown, former Natchez mayor and executive director of the state Department of Transportation, will serve as keynote speakers.

That will be followed by a reception until 8 p.m. at the center and a gala event from 8:30 to 11 p.m. at the Isle of Capri Casino. The Isle of Capri will also sponsor the reception.

Meanwhile, West has one more message for those who have called him in recent days. &uot;Just because I haven’t returned your call yet, … doesn’t mean I’m not trying to do so.&uot;

Gene Allen

Allen and his administration have plenty on their plate when they take office Thursday.

With issues ranging from the continuing revitalization of downtown Ferriday to water, the administration hopes to address the major issues facing Ferriday in order to attract new industry.

&uot;Our first priority is attacking the water issue,&uot; Allen said. &uot;We want to make sure the citizens have affordable drinking water.&uot;

Allen said his administration intends to tackle cleaning up trash, debris and weeds throughout the town and also to remove street drugs.

&uot;We are looking to make Ferriday one of the most progressive cities in the state of Louisiana,&uot; Allen said. &uot;Once we get these issues taken care of, then people will look at us for industry.&uot;

Allen said his transition team is working on plans to put the people and infrastructure in place when the administration takes office Thursday.

&uot;We’re taking it one day at a time,&uot; Allen said.

The new administration will hold a special meeting early Thursday afternoon to recommend the heads of departments and administration to the town council, Allen said.

The administration plans to work with other mayors throughout the Miss-Lou to make sure that the area is in the mainstream for industry.

&uot;We are working together to bring industry to the Miss-Lou area because we can all benefit from it,&uot; Allen said.

Allen said that even though the outgoing administration provided him with the approved budget, they did not provide fund balances for the various departments to see where they stand financially.

&uot;We just don’t know what kind of financial shape the town is in,&uot; Allen said.

Inaugural services for Allen and his administration will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday with ecumenical services at Mount Beulah Baptist Church. The inauguration will take place at 11:30 a.m. at the town hall with a reception afterward.

There will also be a gala at the Borderline Reception Center at 7:30 p.m.