NATCHEZ — As 2015 draws to a close and the much-anticipated Natchez Tricentennial fast approaches, the City of Natchez is busy completing plans related to the year-long celebration and continuing work on smaller projects that officials hope will have a lasting impact well after 2016 ends.

City department heads recently pinpointed goals they have for the upcoming year.

Public Works

Natchez Public Works supervisor Justin Dollar said his department is gearing up for 2016 by finishing up some long-term projects.

Dollar said the Natchez Trails Project work on Broadway Street is almost complete. The sidewalk and curb and gutter work are complete, and last week the street was prepped to be overlaid last week.for resurfacing work ahead.

New crepe myrtle trees were also planted as part of the project.

The trails project will move to St. Catherine Street after Broadway is finished, Dollar said. He said the project will be completed in 2016.

Dollar said the North Natchez Drainage project was in progress as well. The city received $2,530,000 in grants from the U.S. Corps of Engineers and Mississippi Department of Transportation to upgrade some streets in the northern part of the city. The city will provide matching funds of $155,000.

“Some (streets) don’t have curb and gutter or underground storm drains,” Dollar said. “Some are just open ditches.”

Dollar said the project would install drainage infrastructure in the neighborhood.

Some events in the tricentennial celebration may also require some Natchez Public Works help, Dollar said. Public works is preparing to provide crowd control and traffic devices such as street barricades, as well as help cleaning up after some events.

“We’re hoping to keep the city looking as good as we can,” Dollar said.

Information Technology

City of Natchez Information Technology Director Ed Bowser said he is also preparing for the expected influx of tourists in 2016.

Bowser said he would be reaching out to companies such as C-Spire to install temporary cell phone towers to improve cell phone coverage in the historic district.

“We know there are some bigger events that will draw lots of extra folks, and everybody’s got a cell phone nowadays,” Bowser said. “We want to make sure they can take pictures, post video, and use (social media) to draw attention to future events in 2016.”

He said the towers have been used for other events with large crowds, such as bowl football games. Bowser said he thinks the towers are approximately the size of a crane, and will improve bandwidth for all cell phones, not just C Spire customers.

C -Spire would provide the towers as part of their cell service at no cost to the city or state, Bowser said.

Bowser said he is also looking forward to progress on his long-term goal of providing fiber optic Internet connectivity downtown.

Fiber optic Internet operates through light pulses, rather than electrical impulses, and the fibers are usually buried underground, Bowser said.

“It weathers storms much easier,” Bowser said. “And it’s the best transport method. Much faster.”

Bowser said his goal of free Wi-Fi throughout downtown would likely require local Internet service providers to invest in building the fiber infrastructure, and the City to invest in access points across the district.

Bowser expects the project to take several years before it is completed.

“It’s something I see as a realistic possibility down the road,” He said. “It’s just a matter of making a well-coordinated effort.”

Planning and Zoning Department

Interim City Planner Riccardo Giani said he has seen a steady increase in private enterprise projects and new businesses as the city gears up for its 2016 tricentennial celebration.

“A lot of businesses have been facing different deadlines on the tricentennial,” Giani said. “Whether it be expanding or remodeling or updating their own business plan.”

Giani said new restaurants are being built for the crowds, such as Applebee’s and the Cajun Rice House, which just opened across the street from the Natchez Mall.

“(These projects can) make Natchez a more comfortable place to have events and prepare it to hold the potential influx of a lot of people coming in to Natchez,” Giani said.

Police and fire

Natchez Police Chief Danny White said his goal for the upcoming year is to continue to make the community safe for citizens and visitors.

White said communication will be the key.

“(We need to) let the community know we as law enforcement officers need help from the community,” White said. “In order to get that help, we need to let the community know that we are here for them and we stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this fight against crimes.”

Natchez Fire Chief Aaron Wesley said he is looking forward to hosting fire departments from across the state.

The Mississippi Firefighters Association conference will be at the Natchez Convention Center in June. Wesley said it will mostly be a classroom setting, but will also include some activities.

“We put on competitions (and) go-kart racing,” Wesley said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston and Natchez Senior Center and Natchez Transit Authority Executive Director Sabrene Bartley did not return emails or phone calls for this story.