The City of Natchez Engineering Department has a to-do list long enough to fill the calendar for months to come, but their employees aren’t complaining.

Right now the city’s five engineering employees are preparing paperwork for projects that will be completed in September.

When it’s all said and done, they will have worked on 56 projects to the tune of $6.5 million.

But much of the cost isn’t being billed to the city. Grants and federal funding will contribute greatly to the projects on the list.

Among the projects are:

4 A retaining wall on North Commerce Street across from Bienville Apartments.

4 A Union Street overlay, from Orleans Street to George F. West Boulevard.

4 The Natchez Trails Project

4 The North Natchez Drainage Project

Work in each of these areas, and others, will make the quality of life better for local residents. The work oftentimes is a “must,” but finding the funds is usually a “might.”

The engineering department had done a good job planning its jobs, obtaining outside dollars and now, beginning work.

More efforts to move the city forward without sending the bank account downward are needed, and we hope the engineering department can share its secrets with others.

In the meantime, we know September is going to be a busy month, so we’ll remember to simply wave, not stop and chat.