NATCHEZ &8212; Certified city police officers and firefighters will get a raise of $2,700 starting Sept. 1.

The raise, approved at Monday&8217;s board of aldermen meeting, is aimed at recruiting and retaining sworn-in officers and firefighters, Aldermen Theodore &8220;Bubber&8221; West said.

Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said after the meeting that he, Fire Chief Paul Johnson and West had been working on an incentive for officers since last fall.

&8220;It&8217;s going to go a long way toward retaining and recruiting officers,&8221; Mullins said.

In the past, he said, once the police department has trained officers, other agencies who are able to pay them more have enticed them away.

&8220;We are constantly sending them to training,&8221; Mullins said. &8220;After three or four years of this, you&8217;re going to look very desirable to other agencies.&8221;

Fire Chief Johnson said he thought the extra money would be very helpful.

&8220;(The $2,700) will be a very effective recruiting tool in the future,&8221; Johnson said.

The raise applies to sworn-in officers but does not apply to the chiefs, Mullins said.

Also at the meeting, City Engineer David Gardner presented two bids the city received to replace a box culvert, or drainage structure, on Passbach Street. He received two bids, one for $53,090 from Camo Construction in Vidalia and one for $112,110 from Dozer, Inc. in Natchez. The city accepted the lower bid and approved filing the required paperwork.

The board approved the advertisement for bids for the North Natchez Surface Water Drainage Project. The two-part project will include repairs to an underground drainage system under Canal Street and to the drainage system west of Union Street, Gardner said.

At the meeting, local United Way Director Kathy Stephens presented the recommendations for changes to the local emergency response plan.