NATCHEZ &8212; The proposed Rentech, Inc., coal-to-liquid plant may be nearly twice the size originally proposed, Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said at Thursday&8217;s meeting.

Grennell said at a gasification conference last week, Rentech representatives told him the company was thinking of expanding the plans for its proposed Adams County plant.

The number of employees will probably not double with the size of the plant, if it is expanded, Grennell said, but it should mean an increase.

Also at the meeting, the Adams County Board of Supervisors approved a $9.5 million budget for the next fiscal year for Natchez Regional Medical Center.

The hospital is operated privately but county-owned, so the board must pass each year&8217;s budget.

&8220;(There was) $400,000 in revenue over expense last year,&8221; CFO Mike Anderson said as he presented this fiscal year&8217;s budget.

The net patient revenue is projected to increase to $51,804,197 from last year&8217;s $45,849,284.

In other business:

4 Also at the meeting, Mississippi State University Extension Director Don Smith announced he would resign effective Oct. 31. The board accepted his resignation and approved for Mississippi State University to advertise to fill the position.

4 The helipad behind Natchez Regional Medical Center is well under way, Natchez-Adams County Airport Director Clint Pomeroy said. The dirt construction is finished, and concrete should be poured soon, he said.

4 The board approved low bidder Switzer, Hopkins and Mange to conduct the annual county audit this coming year for $40,000. The only other bidder, Smith, Turner and Reeves, bid at $61,028.