Natchez Water Works is on its way toward expanding outside the city limits.

The board of aldermen approved a request for city waterworks to file with the state to ask for exclusive rights to serve a mile outside the city limits in certain areas and to ask the state Legislature for permission to try to expand even further.

Walter Brown, attorney for the water works, explained the process.

“The board has to authorize a petition to be filed with the public service commission,” Brown said.

“They will set a hearing date, and, if there are no objections,” the water works can expand as planned.

The city has a legal right to expand one mile beyond city limits, Brown said, and they can go as far out as five miles if no other utilities are serving that area.

The board gave the water works permission to ask the state legislature to pass legislation allowing the waterworks to expand up to 15 miles outside the city.

If the legislation passes, they have to again file a petition with the public service commission, he said.

The water works would like to serve businesses and industries that decide to locate in the county, especially on U.S. 61 South and in the port area.

“It’s environmentally the right thing to do” because waterworks would be providing sewers instead of septic tanks, Brown said.

It also would provide revenue for the water works.

Water works already serves the port facility, Brown said. This would just give them exclusive rights to serve the facility.

Several people approached the subject of higher water rates, which is likely to come up in the next meeting.

“I’ve been receiving calls about the water rates,” County Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said.

“(Residents) already facing high gas bills. I encourage you to look closely at the need for such a raise.”

In other business:

4Mayor Phillip West reminded those attending that the board asked he enforce a three-minute time limit for visitors on the agenda.

4The board voted to take under advisement a policy to “understand and relate to the city’s racial and cultural populations … with respect for individual and cultural differences.”

4The board approved additional work near the City Auditorium for work on the drainage project. The additional work, as well as the originally planned work, will be paid for through state funding.

4The board gave City Engineer David Gardner permission to accept bids for the paving of a section of land at the corner of Wall and Franklin Streets to serve as a parking lot for the convention center.

4The board approved $15,000 to replace carpet in the visitors’ center bookstore and logo shop with tile. The carpet had to be removed for environmental health purposes, officials said recently.

4The board voted to ask the board attorney to research to see if any costs the city incurs regarding the visitors’ center could be passed along to the builders.

4The board agreed to create a pothole hotline so residents could advise the city of roadwork that might be needed.

4The board agreed to authorize a division of Lane Company, Natchez Enterprises, LLC, to secure a gaming permit. Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis abstained.

4The next board of aldermen work session will be Feb. 6.