NATCHEZ &045;&045; A look at Natchez’s beautification challenges, efforts and future plans begs the question: what are other cities throughout the state and nation doing to address beautification issues?

Jackson, which has long wrestled with the problems of urban blight, is redoubling its efforts, said Chris Mims, public information officer for Jackson’s Planning Department.

Mayor Harvey Jackson has allocated more money to beautification efforts, Mims said, although no funding figures were available as of press time.

The city recently added a rental inspection team to make sure rental properties are being maintained.

In the case of those who aren’t, Mims said, &uot;Jackson is committed to dealing with absentee landowners. We will prosecute people who don’t take care of their properties.

&uot;There are people out there who know how to use the system, but we’ll go after them if they don’t do what they’ve promised to do,&uot; he said.

The city has passed new ordinances to address specific problems, including a 2003 ordinance prohibiting residents from parking cars in their yards.

Last fall, Jackson started a beautification team with city employees and community volunteers identifying and tackling cleanup problems.

And the city is instituting a neighborhood grant program using Community Development Block Grant funds.

Through that program, neighborhood associations registered with the Planning Department can apply for grants to purchase or rent the equipment they need for cleanup projects.

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler admits her city, being a newer one, doesn’t face the degree of dilapidated property problems an older town such as Natchez faces.

Still, she said the city is having to be proactive in addressing the property problems it does have. One way Madison has done that is to hire a code enforcement officer several months ago, one who works with neighborhood associations to enforce ordinances. Natchez has had such an officer for some time.

Madison also has a strong beautification committee and enforces its landscaping ordinances to the letter, Butler said.

According to information from Keep America Beautiful’s Web site &045;&045; www.kab.org &045;&045; some measures cities have taken to beautify themselves have included the following:

4Using no-parking ordinances to curb the problem of abandoned vehicles.

4Adopting a graffiti removal ordinance, then backing it up with strong enforcement, a two-month public information campaign and plenty of support from community groups.

4Adopting an ordinance requiring lids on garbage cans to help control litter.

4Setting up a regular &uot;environment court&uot; day in municipal court &045;&045; a concept that, in Mississippi, has been adopted by cities such as Hattiesburg.

Such days, held once every one or two weeks, are set aside to deal with litter, dumping and other violations of beautification ordinances.

4Organizing neighborhood groups to address cleanup issues &045;&045; or empowering existing groups, such as Neighborhood Watch organizations, to take the initiative.

What’s at stake? When it comes to attracting businesses and residents and improving a city’s overall quality of life, beautification is essential, Butler said.

&uot;It’s like opening your home to guests &045;&045; you want your home to be acceptable and clean,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s also an economic development issue. It all comes down to a sense of pride.&uot;