NATCHEZ — Without construction documents or a contractor, city and county officials are expected to gather Tuesday to ceremonially break ground for the area’s long-awaited public pool.

The ceremonial groundbreaking is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the site near the county’s FEMA 361 Safe Room near Chester-Willis Field off Liberty Road and Seargent S. Prentiss Drive.

The pool facility is the product of the interlocal recreation agreement between the City of Natchez and Adams County.

Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission Chairman Tate Hobdy said the groundbreaking is ceremonial, as construction will likely not begin for several months.

“We decided on the conceptual plan, and we’re probably not all that far away from dirt work,” Hobdy said. “We still have to get the construction drawings. Another 30 days or so, then we’ll put it out to bid. We just wanted to notify the public of what we’re doing.”

The conceptual plans for the facility were presented to both the Natchez Board of Aldermen and Adams County Board of Supervisors before the recreation commission approved them.

Adams County Board of Supervisors President Mike Lazarus said he was shocked a groundbreaking is planned before the plans are finalized.

“Honestly, I really think it’s because elections are going on,” Lazarus said. “It’s got more to do with the election than the groundbreaking. Most groundbreakings I’ve been to, you have a final design and you’re ready to start construction.”

Though Lazarus said he feels the groundbreaking is premature, he remains in support of the project and excited about its progress.

“I want to show the public what we’re really going to have,” Lazarus said. “If we’re putting a product out there and it may change, that’s not good.”

When the conceptual drawings were presented to the Natchez Board of Aldermen, Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis requested a groundbreaking be scheduled as soon as possible.

“Some of us want to turn dirt immediately, especially those who are running for re-election,” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “We need to turn dirt, and we need to do it before April 10. Even if we all have to buy our own hard hats. We got more shovels in the city hall. We need to turn dirt immediately.”

The recreation commission officially approved the ordering of construction plans for the first phase of the complex, which includes the swimming pool, shower and bathroom structure as well as two multipurpose fields last week.

Hobdy said Adams County has offered to provide equipment for some of the dirt work, which might begin before bids are received from private companies.

“We can get the pricing right from the architect and then hopefully move forward,” Hobdy said. “We can probably get the topographical maps and grades for the multipurpose fields pretty quickly, so we could, in theory, get that started before we get the full construction drawings for the pool.”

The commission anticipates the cost of plans will be between 5 and 7 percent of the total project, Hobdy said. Approximately $1.2 million has been allocated for the construction.