NATCHEZ &045;&045; The City of Natchez will accept applications for the position of community development director all next week, Mayor Phillip West said Friday.

That person, in addition to serving as a grant writer, would coordinate special projects West has said will be among his top priorities for this term.

The ideal candidate &uot;would have a mindset to take on things we as a city don’t already have,&uot; West said. The person should also be able to communicate well with people in all walks of life, including movers and shakers in government, he said.

Since it was reported in August that West was asking aldermen to include the position in this fiscal year’s budget, City Hall has received 15 resumes from people seeking the position. &uot;There are a number of (applicants) who could do a good job, … one to three who could be an asset in this position,&uot; West said.

West, who hopes to have someone in the community development director position by mid-November, said he will select several applicants for formal interviews, narrowing the field to a few who will then be interviewed by aldermen.

The budget includes $60,000 in salary and benefits for a community development coordinator. However, West has said that figure is subject to change depending on the contacts and qualifications a person would bring to that post.

At minimum, West said, &uot;it would take $45,000 in salary and benefits.&uot;

Projects West has said he would like to accomplish during this term, and that the community development director would keep track of on a regular basis, include:

4Drafting, with aldermen, a more current plan for development of the riverfront, including a convention center hotel.

4Developing a video showing &uot;all the things Natchez has offer&uot; in economic development, quality of life and history to market the area to potential investors.

4Finding new ways to publicize the planned Forks of the Road interpretive center nationwide to draw in more tourists.

4Establishing, in partnership with other local governments and Alcorn State University, a high-technology park anchored by a digital imaging center.

4Establishing with Alcorn a performing arts center.

4Reviewing the city’s ordinances regarding beautification, especially with regards to vacant or dilapidated housing and commercial buildings.

4Forming a nonprofit corporation to raising private-sector money to help fund recreation improvements.

4Seek a feasibility study from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to have St. Catherine Creek developed into a waterway for erosion control and recreation purposes.

James Johnston, who had worked for the city since June 1999, left the position in February 2003 to become Claiborne County’s executive director of community development outreach.

During his full-time employment with the city, Johnston was involved in various roles in securing more than $11.86 million in grants for recreation, public works, social services, beautification, housing and fire equipment.