NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams County Recreation Commission’s contract with the YMCA expired last month, and members of the Adams County Board of Supervisors said more discussion is needed before moving forward with a renewal.

The commission partnered with the YMCA in March 2016 for $100,000 per year, and the contract ended after a three-year period, said commission member Jimmy Ware during a meeting Monday with the Board of Supervisors.

Adams County Attorney Scott Slover said he had met with and discussed the YMCA’s contract with Ware prior to Monday’s meeting, who had asked if any changes were needed to the contract before it is renewed for another three years.

“We need to talk with the recreation commission as a whole,” Slover said. “One of the things that Jimmy and I have discussed is that we would feel more comfortable if there were actual concrete expectations that we can achieve as opposed to the broad language.”

District 2 Supervisor David Carter said the aquatics center, located near Liberty Road and Natchez High School, has been a huge asset to the Natchez and Adams County community and YMCA has supplied the people needed to run the facility.

“We put a lot of money into this pool and it’s here now,” Carter said. “Now that it’s here, we need to make sure that it’s run right. … We need someone to oversee the pool and keep it going and I believe it’s on a positive track right now.”

Meanwhile, supervisors discussed shifting focus to other recreational areas that need improvement, specifically parks and ball fields.

Faye Minor, YMCA of Natchez program/sports director said area fields are in bad shape and tend to deteriorate more during the off-seasons for sports.

“We need to determine between the YMCA, Dixie Youth and the recreation board who is responsible for the upkeep of these fields,” she said.

“I don’t have a problem with the Y,” District 4 Supervisor, Ricky Gray said, “but we need to sit down, and have a meeting with the Y, the city and whoever and find out what the Y is bringing to the table to determine if it’s worth what we’re paying them. If it’s not worth what we’re paying, I don’t see why we should keep them. If it is worth it, then we should. That’s a discussion we need to have.”

Slover said there is a 30-day determination period after the contract is presented to the Natchez Board of Aldermen before the recreation commission can proceed with any changes.

In other matters during Monday’s meeting, the board:

• Discussed mapping system and legal description updates for the official county lines with the Adams County Election Commission. Commissioners Peter Dale and Larry Gardner said many of the roads had been changed or no longer exist that were included in the old descriptions. The proposed updates were taken under advisement.
• Heard a request from Barbara Winston, a resident on Lower Woodville Road, who said the section of road near her residence is in dire need of repairs. Carter, the supervisor for that area of Lower Woodville Road, said he is aware of the damage and is seeking further funding before addressing the issue.
• Heard a request from Ginna Holyoak for funding for the Mississippi Spay and Neuter’s trap neuter and release program, which would allow county residents to capture stray cats and dogs and have them spayed and neutered and released at no cost to combat overpopulation and animal endangerment. Holyoak’s request was taken under advisement.
• Opened bids for Emergency Watershed Project repairs on Liberty Road and Government Fleet Road. Both projects received bids from Dozier LLC for $302,656.50 and $825,297.75 respectively. The bids were taken under advisement.
• Unanimously approved a request from Emergency Management Director Robert Bradford to advertise an open position for dispatch shift captain.
• Unanimously approved repairs and updates to fire alarm system at the juvenile correctional facility for $7,805.
• Unanimously approved new hires for two part-time juvenile detention officers at a rate of $10.11 per hour or $21,028 per year.
• Unanimously approved a budget amendment for a $12,457 increase from Victims of Crime Act grant that had been received.
• Unanimously approved budget amendments for $130,672 for the purchase of vehicles for the Adams County Sheriff’s Office and $194,865.78 for the purchase of a limb truck for the county road department. Adams County Administrator Joe Murray said the budget would be refunded once bank loans that had been previously approved are received.

Items discussed in executive session included: Potential litigation concerning property easements on Morgantown Road, payments to Waste Pro and Metro for trash collection and an ongoing grievance suit filed by former aviation director Ron Hall as well as an employee personnel issue in the emergency management department. No actions were taken.