NATCHEZ — The Lane Company is in the process of getting its Roth Hill Road lease from the city for its casino development.

Natchez Enterprises President Ted Doody said he has been working with City Attorney Everett Sanders to convert the current lease option into an actual lease.

Once that happens, Doody said Natchez Enterprises will be able to move forward with the casino project.

“We should have it executed by the end of February,” Doody said.

In September, new plans for the casino were being drawn.

Previous plans were for a two-story building, but were being scaled back to just one story — an overall reduction of 8,000 square feet.

Doody said the drawings are between 60 and 70 percent complete, putting planning at a stage where it can move forward fairly soon with construction.

“Usually you start with civil construction — moving dirt around and putting in infrastructure,” he said.

At this point, however, Doody said he is hesitant to announce a construction start date.

“Little things like a 100-year flood and the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression keep slapping me in the face,” he said.

As far as the struggling economy, Doody said it has had some effect on the project, but it has not halted it.

“Just like everybody else, in the fourth quarter of (2008,) we had to sit down with our lenders and partners in the deal, and we had to face the reality of what’s going on in the financial sector,” he said. “We’re in the process of readjusting our plan.

“In today’s economic climate, it’s not possible nor is it really responsible to get as much debt leverage as people have had in the past and that changes the complexion of your investment.”

He said despite such hurdles that have slowed the project down, the enthusiasm has not waned.

“We’re working just as diligently now on putting this development together and getting it ready for construction as we ever have been,” Doody said.

“We’re just as excited.”

Mayor Jake Middleton said he had a conversation with Doody two weeks ago about where the project stands.

“I was very encouraged by our conversation,” Middleton said. “It’ll be a real plus for the city when they do get going.”