Aududon Terrace rejected
    Natchez Aldermen listened to residents near a proposed subdivision and rejected the builder’s appeal to grant permission to build 65 $130,000 homes in the area. Even though the houses would be worth more than double most of the homes in the area, the residents just didn’t want the project.
    One concern was that the homes, which would be rented for 15 years and then available for purchase, would turn into a slum, ill maintained and supervised.
    Despite assurances from the developer and the state agency which would fund the home building, aldermen reacted in the usual election year mode and went with the voters.
    Rickey Gray even provided some comic relieve during the proceedings. The Ward 2 Aldermen said creosoted railroad ties on the property would give his voters cancer. And Ward 1 Alderman Joyce Arceneaux added a bit more charm to the meeting by struggling to say the word, “creosote.”
    While the aldermen voted unanimously to reject the project, the story isn’t over yet. The developer had received no less than three written authorizations from the city’s planning department to proceed, including that the land in question met all zoning and planning code requirements for construction. As a result, the developer spent several more than a million dollars and is now ready to sue the city to recoup that investment.
    If City Planners Andrew Smith, Dennis Storey and Asst. City Planner Walter Houston had not given such profound written authorization, the city would be in the clear. But three times over two years, the city said, “go ahead.” And now the aldermen say, “no go!”
    The whole mess was supervised by Mayor Phillip West and City Attorneys Walter Brown and Everett Sanders. Their lack of skills may cost you one or two million bucks when a decision is rendered by the court. 

Predictions, please

    As I am writing this commentary on Feb. 28, it appears that former Ferriday Mayor Glen McGlothin is headed toward a big victory in the Mar. 8.  McGlothin earned 48% of the vote in the primary and incumbent Mayor Gene Allen won just 33% of the vote. Even with intemperate Rev. Justin Conner’s endorsement, Allen doesn’t seem to have much of a chance to win. McGlothin appeals to both blacks and whites. And voters appear ready for a time of calm leaderships, versus the confrontational styles espoused by Allen.
    In Vidalia, Police Chief Billy Hammers is in a tight race with challenger Tapper Hendricks, with the edge going to Hendricks. Hammers has earned some criticism for a recent spike in crime and residents aren’t overly happy with the staffing of the P.D. They ask why a town so small has two assistant chiefs. To Hammers’ credit, he knows his job and Hendricks has considerably less law enforcement experience. But it looks like Vidalia will get a new chief. 

How to lower Adams County’s fire rating
    If Adams County’s Supervisors would create a fire district close to the city limits, residents within five miles from a city fire department could get a reduction in their fire insurance premiums. Currently, all rural homes have a 10-rating. That rating could be lowered to a 6 or 7 with an authorized fire district. The state could mandate an actual increase in protection as it reviews the new district – more hydrants, water tanks, or a fire station. And some of the district might get the lower rates and other parts not. Supervisors have known that the creation of such a district could reduce rates dramatically. But they have not acted. Hopefully, the hiring of a new civil defense director-volunteer fire coordinator will bring a solution to this problem.

    
    Contrary views are welcome. Write missloumagazine@peoplepc.com.