NATCHEZ &8212; Natchez will apply for $1.2 million in federal funds to construct walking trails throughout downtown and along the bluff.

Aldermen voted Tuesday to allow City Engineer David Gardner to apply for the money through the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Aldermen acted despite the fact that if the Community Alliance, a nonprofit citizens&8217; group working on the trails project, doesn&8217;t raise $300,000 to match the funds, the city will have to come up with the money.

Gardner said he&8217;s trying to file the funding application by MDOT&8217;s May deadline and needs to include in the application the assurance the city will come up with the funding even if the alliance doesn&8217;t.

That match, if the city has to pay for it, could come from $268,000 in the city&8217;s capital improvements fund, usually used to match Federal Aid Urban road funds, Gardner said.

Or, Gardner suggested the city could use a portion of the money it will receive from selling the Natchez pecan factory site.

City Grants Coordinator Brett Brinegar is also applying for a $650,000 grant through U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering&8217;s office, Gardner added.

&8220;I feel confident we will be able to raise the money, though,&8221; as well as an additional amount to help the city&8217;s recreation department maintain the trails, Gardner said.

In other business, City Attorney Walter Brown noted the engineering department should be allowed to advertise for bids soon for asbestos removal at two buildings still on the city-owned lot on Canal Street across from the convention center.

Those buildings&8217; owners have been notified they will be placed on 30-day leases from now on, since those buildings will hopefully soon make way for the location of a convention-grade hotel at the site.

&8220;We hope to have an option agreement (drafted) for the hotel March 7,&8221; Brown said.

Aldermen also voted to extend an option until March 21 with Worley-Brown LLC on the pecan factory site, where the firm hopes to build a condo development.

In other business:

4The board took under advisement five bids to remove asbestos from the old band hall behind the former Margaret Martin School building.

The lowest bid was $34,711 from the firm Gulf Services. Gardner and Building Inspector Paul Dawes will come to the board&8217;s next meeting on March 7 with a bid recommendation.

4And aldermen voted to place a four-way stop and speed bump on Linton Avenue, a motion Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis made after receiving eight to 10 letters from residents concerned about cars and pets hit by vehicles on that street.

Traffic Director Rick Freeman noted the street doesn&8217;t meet the traffic count recommended under national traffic sign codes for placing a four-way stop at a location.

That, he said, could leave aldermen legally liable for accidents resulting from the four-way stop, Freeman said.