NATCHEZ — Natchez has a new city clerk.

Charles Crump, formerly of Vicksburg, started his first day as City Clerk on Feb. 19 after being interviewed in an open meeting by the Board of Aldermen a week prior.

The former City Clerk, Megan Edmonds, announced her resignation in August, after which the Community Development Director, James Johnston stepped in to fill the position temporarily as the Interim City Clerk with Edmonds’ guidance.

Crump said Natchez sparked his interest because the Natchez Trace ran right through his hometown of Amory, which is located just outside of Tupelo, Crump said.

“I was interested in the city and had another co-worker … who said (Natchez) was a pretty good spot, so I said I’d try it,” Crump said.

Crump said he felt like the clerk’s position would be a good fit for him after doing a similar line of work for the Madison Parish School Board, where he worked as the Student Information System personnel and business manager for approximately a decade. Crump said his job required a lot of bookkeeping and financial business.

“I knew Natchez had some things to get in order as far as their bookkeeping is concerned,” Crump said. “We had good audits (in Madison Parish) … so figured I could also do an excellent job here.”

Crump said he earned his B.A. in business from Jackson State University and his M.A. in education from Alcorn State University in Lorman. Crump said he hopes to help Natchez build up its cash reserves.

“I hope to make sure the city makes investments and has security … so that we can build up a good reserve to help us receive good audits each year,” Crump said. “We’re going to make some improvements as needed, and probably have more internal controls in place.”