NATCHEZ — The Natchez YMCA is earning its way to further recreational activities in the Natchez and Adams County community by applying for grants and fundraising through other programs.

Faye Minor, who was employed as the program and sports director by the Natchez YMCA last October, offered an update on ongoing and developing recreational projects during Monday morning’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors.

Minor said one ray of hope for the YMCA is a 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant, a funding source for educational and afterschool development programs.

The grant would provide $300,000 to $500,000 every year for three years, Minor said, and possibly more if the programs it is used for are successful.

With that kind of funding, the YMCA would be able to hire 40 to 50 teachers for after-school activities at $20 per hour, pay off insurance costs and take care of other needs for each program, Minor said. The application process, however, is long and if the grant is secured no funds would be received until January 2020, Minor said.

Minor said she also is applying for a grant through the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, a program that sponsors youth baseball programs and facilities which would help pay for equipment and work needed on the baseball fields.

“We have some good things going, and I’m hoping we’ll be able to keep those going,” she said.

Minor said the YMCA hopes to offer softball, tennis, golf, archery, soccer and other lessons through coaches and partners.

She said the YMCA also is working toward adding T-ball, soccer, volleyball and softball to its list of recreational activities available in the community.

While T-ball and soccer would target younger players, the volleyball and softball would be offered as an adult league, Minor said, encouraging older players who are out of school to keep active.

“We’ve had a lot of requests from adults wanting to play volleyball,” Minor said. “I think it’s going to be very interesting, and we’re working hard to provide that.”

Minor said each sports program would be scheduled so that participants would be able to participate in multiple activities without it conflicting with others.

“We have people wanting to do multiple programs with the YMCA,” she said, “so I’m definitely trying to work these other programs in.”

Minor said she working to start an adult basketball program at the former Margaret Martin School gym, a program she hopes will be in full swing by the end of the month. As of Monday, four of the needed five teams have been recruited, she said.

The program costs $400 per eight-player team, and more players can be added for an additional $10 each. Interested parties can call 601-597-3440 for more information.

Also during Monday’s meeting, Monica Bihm, the aquatics director, encouraged supervisors and other community leaders to participate in a “Polar Bear Plunge” fundraising event starting at 10 a.m. at the Y on Feb. 16.

For $25, participants can jump into the chilly February water and receive a commemorative T-shirt for their bravery, and all money raised will support improvements at Natchez YMCA.

Participants can pre-register on eventbright.com or on the day of the event at 9 a.m.

In other matters during Monday’s meeting of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, the board:

4Unanimously approved the first spraying for weeds and grass along roadside ditches that would cost approximately $9,800 for 196 miles of spray. Officials said county residents who live near public roads and do not wish to have ditches sprayed near their house should collect a “do not spray” sign from the road department office located at 140 East Franklin Street.

4Unanimously approved purchase of four mobile work phones for emergency dispatchers that would cost $1,200 per year total for service of all four phones.

4Unanimously approved a request to remove a property from the tax roll that was erroneously included.

4Discussed a need to purchase updated hardware as well as virus protection software for county-owned computers.

4Approved temporary financing for sheriff’s office vehicles for $129,608 that would be covered by U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funds once they are received.

4Other items reserved for discussion during executive session included potential litigation and an industrial prospect involving the Natchez-Adams County Port. No action was taken in the executive sessions, supervisors said.