by DAVID HAMILTON

NATCHEZ — Saturday marked one year since the current city administration took office, and they all seem to agree that fixing the cities finances are a key priority.

Between Natchez Mayor Darryl Grennell and the six aldermen, four new people came aboard a year ago.

The administration has had “a long year,” as both Grennell and Ward 5 alderman Benjamin Davis said. Grennell and other aldermen noted the daunting financial situation the new leaders were inheriting.

“When I got here, bank statements had not even been reconciled in years,” Grennell said. “And up until a week ago, they were still working on reconciliations.

“I mean, we had to put a budget together in less than a two-week period when I first got here.”

In addition to the city’s financial woes, the board had to tackle a more inherent issue: integrating so many new pieces all at once.

With a new mayor and three new aldermen, city leaders said it took time to coalesce. That is something the board believes is now starting to happen.

“It was pretty rough when we started out,” Davis said. “We didn’t know each other, so it took awhile.

“But we realized we all want the same thing — what’s best for the city. We just had to get a feel for each other. Now we really know each other, and we’re starting to jell.”

Ward 6 alderman Dan Dillard, now in his third term, said the new alderman are “finding their way,” but he has definitely seen progress over the course of a year.

“It’s been a learning curve, but I think they’re coming along,” Dillard said.

Davis and Dillard also listed the city’s finances as the top priority, as did Ward 3 alderwoman Sarah Smith.

“First and foremost, the no. 1 goal has to be the city clerk’s office, getting the financial end straightened out,” Smith said.

In April, the city brought in CPA firm Collins, Barr and Hembree to consult with the clerk’s office. Both Smith and Grennell said that move has been a positive step for the city in that department.

The consultants have helped Interim City Clerk Megan Edmonds prepare for the ongoing fiscal year 2015-2016 audit and also with budget planning for the upcoming fiscal year.

Smith said she delved into some of the specific financial issues the board needs to tackle.

But finances are far from the sole task on the board’s agenda. While Ward 2 alderman Billie Joe Frazier agreed that fixing the city’s finances were a huge issue to tackle, he said fixing the education system was his “first priority.”

Frazier, a former police officer, also said solving the problem of underpaid police officers and firefighters is one of his main concerns. Grennell agrees, having said that some officers salaries are nearly below the poverty line.

The mayor and aldermen also listed crime, rejuvenating industry within the city, resolving numerous city government contracts and recreational projects as current challenges for the city.

But all of Natchez’s issues, Ward 6 alderman Dan Dillard said, point back to finances, the “lifeblood of the municipality.”

“It affects everything,” Dillard said. “It affects whether you can pay your policemen more or your firemen more or more recreation … it just affects everything.”

The mayor and aldermen do not have an actual, tangible list of priorities, but all of the aforementioned officials agreed on practically all immediate concerns.

Smith, as the rest of the board does, sees progress in the group’s cohesion, and stressed the importance of being on the same page going forward.

“I would love to see the board come together again now that we’re coming to the end of a year … to prioritize so that we’re not working against each other.”

Many of the board members mentioned the role of the community going forward. While all leaders said they were working hard to make life better for their constituents, Frazier said the board has a duty to unify the city.

“This community is not really together,” Frazier said. “They’re so much apart, it’s pitiful. We’re trying to get them to come together.

“We’re going to get there, it’s just going to take some time to get there.”

Grennell also mentioned the importance of community cooperation, noting the need for locals to provide feedback to FOR Natchez’s public workshop this Thursday for its downtown revitalization project.

These leaders hope to continue improving Natchez’s financial standing and begin to make progress in year two.

Alderwomen Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis and Felicia Irving could not be reached for comment.