Furlow said before plans are moved along, the city needs to develop a financing plan for the complex that includes how construction and maintenance of the complex will be funded.

Brown said he plans to revive the plan he had while mayor in 2000 for a recreation complex. He said the plan included combined programs with local schools and a health and wellness program. Brown said he plans to seek funding help from insurance companies, hospitals, grants and other resources for the complex.

Buie said he supports a recreation complex but would not consider trying to move along plans for a recreation complex until the city’s infrastructure needs, such as roads dilapidated housing and drainage, can be first addressed and properly funded.

What the candidates say on the city’s appearance

Buie said addressing the city’s infrastructure needs is one of his top priorities, and included in that list, for him, is dilapidated housing.

“The city needs to set a priority list,” he said.

Buie said a continued effort to preserve Natchez’s historical ordinances and properties and educating the community on the importance of historical preservation will help continue the history that brings so many tourists to Natchez.

Brown said he will set forth a plan to expedite the lengthy process for tearing down, repairing or otherwise remedying dilapidated and abandoned housing when property owners do not take responsibility for the decrepit property.

“It’s too lengthy right now,” he said. “There’s too much paperwork, too many letters sent, too much talking to landowners, sometimes absentee landowners, and then going back and doing more talking,” he said. “We’re going to have a set plan in place.”

Middleton said increased revenue from the new casino to the city would help speed up the rate at which dilapidated houses are torn down.

“All this takes is money,” he said. “We’re doing a lot now, but we could do four times as much with more money, and that’s what we’re going to have soon.”