NATCHEZ &8212; Fire Chief Paul Johnson is now officially doing what he&8217;s always done.

At Tuesday&8217;s board of alderman meeting Johnson received the title of director of homeland security for the city.

The new duties &8212; non-paying ones &8212; split city homeland security from the county version. Since the homeland security department&8217;s inception several years ago, county homeland security Director George Souderes has handled the city&8217;s money and paperwork too.

When federal or state grant dollars come in they first go to Souderes, who then passes them over to the city.

The system set up by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency allows for city and county directors. Natchez just never had a city director.

Now, Johnson will handle city matters directly. It&8217;s not a new job for Johnson, who has worked with grant dollars and signed off on projects for the city for some time now. Only the title is new.

The move was one requested by Souderes, who is currently recovering from surgery, Johnson and Mayor Phillip West said.

&8220;George was suggesting the city have its own homeland security director,&8221; West said. &8220;And we agreed.&8221;

Johnson has served on the E911 board and been directly involved in most homeland security matters.

Johnson will serve as contact person for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Association.

He will also be the first to respond and direct other responders in the case of a homeland security threat in the city limits. As fire chief, that was a duty he already had as well, Johnson said.

&8220;I&8217;ve been doing that all along,&8221; he said. &8220;I&8217;m in charge of all fire activities in the city and county and we respond to all those calls. I&8217;ll just be able to sign the paper now.&8221;