NATCHEZ — A Natchez Preservation Commission member asked the Natchez Board of Aldermen at its Tuesday meeting to seek funds that could speed up the city’s process for demolishing unsafe houses.

Valencia Hall, who lives on Woodlawn Avenue, thanked the aldermen for continuing to demolish unsafe structures in the city and asked them to try to obtain funds for the removal and disposal of asbestos in the unsafe structures.

Hall noted that she has seen several people going in and out of what is left of the house at 31 Beaumont St., which she said burned more than 10 years ago.

Natchez City Planner Bob Nix said the Beaumont Street house is in the top five houses on the city’s list of houses to be demolished.

Nix said the reason Hall mentioned the asbestos abatement is because, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulations enforced by the state, a municipality must geographically spread out the houses the city demolishes without first testing, removing and disposing any asbestos in the houses.

Nix said if the city demolishes a house without first testing, removing and disposing of asbestos, it must wait a year to demolish another structure within one block.

The testing, removal and disposal of the asbestos, Nix said, would cost approximately $2,500, which would double the $2,500 the city currently averages to demolish unsafe structures.

Ward 2 Alderman James “Ricky” Gray suggested the city find ways to cut costs, such as funding asbestos training for a current city employee and asking the state for an exception to the asbestos regulation in cases of public safety.

In other news from the meeting:

-Mayor Jake Middleton reported to the board that the preliminary oil exploration work on the property housing Arlington revealed a dry hole. He said, therefore, there will not be an oil well at the site.

-The board appointed Clemmie Billups to serve on the board of the George W. Armstrong Library.

-The aldermen will meet with the Adams County Board of Supervisors Thursday to discuss a plan for a recreation complex and other projects that they will lobby funding for in the upcoming trip to Washington, D.C.

-Middleton took nominations for two names to replace the two open positions on the Natchez Water Works Board, and he said the aldermen must have any other nominations ready at the next meeting so new members could be appointed to the board.

The aldermen’s next meeting will be at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14 in the Natchez City Council Chambers.