NATCHEZ — Lingering issues between the City of Natchez and Adams County concerning the Natchez-Adams Economic Development Authority have caused one EDA board member to resign.

On Wednesday, board member James West, an eight-year member, announced his resignation after the EDA’s board meeting.

The announcement was first made to board Chairman Woody Allen and made by letter to the Natchez Board of Aldermen.

Calls to West went unanswered Thursday.

In his letter to the aldermen he said he feels he can best serve the community while not acting on the board.

“I truly believe that the City of Natchez and Adams County are serious about a strong economic development plan. But until the city and county can sit down and determine how we are going to achieve this goal, it renders the EDA board ineffective,” West said in his letter.

Allen said the news came as a surprise.

“I hate to see him go,” Allen said. “He was very active on the board and he cared about what happened in the city and the county.”

And while Allen said he did not want West to leave the board, he did agree the city and county’s inability to lay out a definitive plan for the future of the EDA has brought the situation to a “stalemate.”

In January the Adams County Board of Supervisors cut funding to the EDA citing a lack of economic growth in the area.

Funding was later restored, but the county and city have both called for changes and joint meetings to settle unresolved issues at the EDA.

Allen said since he’s unsure if the supervisors will continue to fund the EDA in the future, it is impossible to hire a new director.

Former EDA Director Jeff Rowell left in December when he accepted a similar position elsewhere.

“Until funding and support are in place it’s impossible,” Allen said of finding a new director.

The five-member EDA board is made of two city appointees and three county appointees.

Natchez Mayor Jake Middleton said he was unsure when West’s replacement will be named.

“It caught me off guard totally,” Middleton said. “ I had no knowledge of it at all. I hate to lose a good man.”

While Allen and Middleton both said they don’t think West’s departure will prompt more members to leave the board, they do want the city and county to meet on the EDA.

But Adams County Supervisor Mike Lazarus said that meeting could be coming soon.

A plan currently in the works would bring the EDA, city, county and Mississippi Development Authority to meet jointly on issues facing the EDA.

Allen said no dates have been set for the meeting yet.