NATCHEZ — Alderman Bob Pollard says Woodhaven Drive is in danger of collapsing, but the rest of the aldermen were leery about immediately approving $12,000 for repairs.

City Engineer David Gardner told the aldermen at Tuesday’s meeting that it wasn’t a matter of if the street would collapse, but when.

Water is bypassing a culvert and flowing directly under the one-way-in, one-way-out street, Gardner said.

“The street is basically an asphalt bridge across the hole,” he said. “I recommend we move forward.”

Pollard initially made a motion that the culvert be repaired and replaced pending funding approval through the city clerk’s office, but Alderman James “Ricky” Gray said he thought aldermen were going to bring the costs before the board before any new work was to be done.

When Pollard replied that he had gotten a quote for $12,000, Gray balked again.

“I am kind of caught off guard here,” he said. “I thought we had a hearing saying we were going to have to lay people off, and I am not prepared to commit $12,000 until we make sure we have the money and none of our employees and other priorities are going to get cut.”

Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said in some cases community development block grant money can be used for emergency repairs such as the Woodhaven problem.

Alderman Dan Dillard made a motion to table the decision until the board’s July 7 meeting, at which time City Clerk Donnie Holloway will tell the board how the funding will be provided for the project if it is available.

Also during the meeting, Arceneaux-Mathis made a motion that the city find out what it needs to do to take possession of any state-owned land from delinquent tax repossessions within the city limits.

The reason for this is because the state-owned properties are becoming overgrown or falling into disrepair, and to even cut the grass on the properties the city has to get permission from the state before they can send a crew on the property to clean it, Arceneaux-Mathis said.

“Since we are already (cleaning these properties), to me the State of Mississippi is at fault,” she said. “If they are getting these properties due to people not paying their taxes, they should send a crew down here to clean it up.”

Building Inspector Paul Dawes said it is possible for the state to give the properties to the city in lieu of paying for the grass cutting.

Arceneaux-Mathis said that once the city has the properties in its possession, it could possibly work with organizations like Habitat for Humanity to put the otherwise vacant properties to good use.

Alderman Mark Fortenbery expressed reservation about the idea because of the workload the public works department.

“Public works is already bombarded,” he said. “I am afraid that taking on more stuff will cause more problems.”

The motion passed with all the aldermen except Fortenbery voting in favor of it.

In other news:

4Dillard proposed without a formal motion that the board consider bidding out the mowing work for the recreation department.

Currently, the mowing costs the city approximately $167,000 a year.

“We are paying approximately five times the cost I believe we could contract for to provide the same services,” Dillard said.

The saved funds could be funneled back into the recreation program, he said.

Gray wanted to know if the proposal would ultimately lead to the city laying off the workers who currently do the job.

“If you were going to lay a person off and gain $4,000 to $5,000, I would say it was ridiculous,” Dillard said. “If you’re going to gain $100,000, that’s a new tennis facility. That’s a third of the way to a new pool.”

When Gray responded that he was just concerned about the workers, Middleton said the city could possibly consider lateral transfers for affected employees if Dillard’s proposal became reality.

4The aldermen voted to approve an interlocal agreement between the city, the Adams County Board of Supervisors and the Natchez-Adams School District to create a countywide recreation program.

City Attorney Everett Sanders said a similar agreement was passed in 2003, and that it would essentially lead to the placement of a non-binding initiative on the November ballot polling residents about a proposed recreation complex.

Arceneaux-Mathis voted against the agreement, saying she was not opposed to the project, but that — because the City of Natchez does not have the authority to place anything on the election ballot — the supervisors should be the first ones to pass the agreement so they do not feel pressured into an agreement.

4Isle of Capri Casino General Manager Tony Scuderio presented Youth Build Director Darlene Jones with a check for $5,000.

The former casino manager had made the commitment to the program, and Scuderio said he was making good on that promise.