NATCHEZ — The 2007-2008 class of Leadership Natchez came before the board of aldermen during a work session Tuesday to discuss building a pavilion for Duncan Park.

Charlie Speed, president of Regions Bank, was the spokesperson for Leadership Natchez and said the class had decided they wanted do something to give back to the community.

“We wanted to do something that would help the most people,” Speed said.

In speaking with Ralph Tedder, city recreation director, they discovered the park’s need for another pavilion.

“This was the need and this will touch everyone,” Speed said.

Leadership Natchez, a class sponsored by the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce and composed of local business men and women, did research and learned that the best thing to do would be to buy a prefabricated pavilion, to cut down on labor costs.

The 24 by 40 foot pavilion would come in pieces that would need to be assembled.

The pavilion itself will cost $15,000, a bill Leadership Natchez is fit to foot.

However, assembly would cost an additional $15,000; which is just a ball park figure in the beginning stages of research.

The group requested that the board pay for the assembly of the pavilion.

City Clerk Donnie Holloway suggested that Leadership Natchez also ask for financial help from the county, as its residents use the park, too.

Speed said the group would do that.

Mayor Phillip West said he was appreciative of the effort and that the city would help.

“If you bring it, we’ll make sure it gets up,” West said.

In other business, Community Development Director Darlene Jones asked for the board’s approval to advertise a grant they are applying for.

This is standard practice in applying for grants.

The grant is for the Mississippi Development Authority and the city can be awarded up to $450,000, which would be used to build between 10 and 20 low to moderate income houses.