NATCHEZ — Natchez Mayor Phillip West signed a lease option agreement with Lane Company to locate a casino and riverfront development under Roth Hill Tuesday.

The board of aldermen unanimously approved the mayor to sign the agreement at Tuesday’s board meeting.

The option agreement gives Lane Company six months to sign with the city and enter into a lease agreement.

Board attorney Everett Sanders said he would send the agreement to Lane Company officials and would provide a copy of the agreement once Lane signed, probably around 2 p.m. today.

“This is a tremendous deal for the City of Natchez,” West said.

The signing was “a big step forward to making the vision of a casino at Roth Hill a reality,” Lane spokesman Ted Doody said Tuesday. “We could not be more excited. We look forward to the opportunity to unveil more of the details of our future plans.”