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NATCHEZ — Contractors and city officials are working through a punch list of items before declaring that the Canal Street milling and roadway overlay project is completed.

For the last three weeks, contractors have milled the street’s existing pavement and laid new, smooth asphalt.

In addition, temporary road striping was put down, said Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston.

Johnston said contractors are expected to begin work on milling and laying down new asphalt overlay on Homochitto Street sometime next week, depending on the weather.

He said that permanent striping will be put down after the overlay on both streets is completed.

At last week’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen, aldermen unanimously approved increasing the amount spent with JKS Engineers on inspection of the capital improvement project from $6,500 to $16,000.

Also, at last week’s city meeting, aldermen approved the following:

• A motion to approve a new, one-year contract with Eddie Burkes as director of the Downtown Natchez Farmers Market for an annual compensation of $18,000.

• Accepting a $25,000 grand from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for Solid Waste Assistance to clean up illegal dump sites in the city. The grant does not require a local match.

• The purchase of furniture for the Duncan Park Golf Clubhouse Lounge. Approved was $8,700 to Weeks Furniture, $7,662 to Darby’s Furniture, and $4,365.89 to Wayfair, totaling $20,727.89.

• Paying Smith Painting and Contracting $165,296.20 for its work on the Natchez Convention Center.

• Low bid of $28,000 to G. Rayborn Contracting for performing repair work on the North Bluff Walls project in Natchez. Deficiencies were found recently through an inspection by JKS Engineering.

• A change order to remove obstructions at the New Beginnings Missionary Baptist Church EWP project that will increase the project’s cost by $13,225.