NATCHEZ, Miss. – The U.S. Congress allocated $2.4 million last month to improve Natchez-Adams County’s Morgantown Road, but county supervisors are tussling over finding another $2 million they say is needed for the much-traveled, dangerous thoroughfare.
Meeting Monday, the Board of Supervisors discussed how the rest of the money can be found for the $4 million project. City and county officials have struggled for years to find funds to repave and widen the treacherous, flood-prone road that traverses from north Natchez out into the county.
There are many county roads in need of resurfacing and other upgrades, but the board should focus first on getting Morgantown fully funded, said Adams County Supervisor Ricky Gray. “We need to finish our one project and put the others on our wish list,” he said.
While supervisors said they’re uncertain where the funds could be found, they pointed to potential state or federal sources. They could also tap into some of the $5 million from bonds the board is issuing for recreation facilities and roads.
When Congress appropriated $2.4 million for Morgantown Road in March, local officials hailed it as a major step for getting the project in the works.
“This has been a priority for Adams County for years, and we are pleased that a solution is finally within sight,” said county board President Wes Middleton.
“The safety of our citizens that travel this road on a daily basis has been our top priority,” said Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson.
Many churches, homes, apartment buildings and a school are located along this stretch of road.
In their discussions Monday on finding more funds for the long-delayed Morgantown Road, supervisors also specified other roads in need of upgrades – including Liberty and Kingston.
The $5 million in the board-approved bond revenues will be used for enhancing roads, the county-owned Chester Willis baseball stadium, rodeo venue and other recreation facilities, such as Lagrange and Providence parks. Funds will also be earmarked for digitizing county documents.
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Supervisors on Monday increased County Administrator Angie King’s salary to $110,000 a year as she’s taken on more financial duties since the board hasn’t been able to find someone to hire as county comptroller.
King has been county administrator since October 2020 and was paid about $85,000 a year. The county administrator oversees the daily operations of county government, including an annual operating budget of about $30 million with about 230 employees under the governance of the five-member county Board of Supervisors. Prior to being appointed chief administrator, King was county comptroller managing the county’s payroll along with bills to be paid and money to be collected.
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Longtime county purchasing clerk Frances Bell is retiring after 26 years working in Adams County government. She leaves at the end of April. Monday was her last official meeting with the Board of Supervisors.
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Repairs for Robins Lake Dam have been complicated by the wrong pipe the county got for the deteriorated dike. The dam could flood large parts of south Adams County if it broke.
Engineers hired for planning the repairs ordered a metal pipe when it should’ve been plastic, said county board attorney Scott Slover.The state Department of Environmental Quality, which monitors dams to ensure they’re safe, has pointed out the mistaken pipe. If DEQ requires another pipe for the dam remediation, the county board will demand JKS civil engineering firm of Natchez pay the extra costs since it made the error, Slover said.
The dam repair last year was projected to cost about $125,000.
County supervisors been discussing for more than two years various measures needed to buttress the small but hazardous earthen dam that includes a county road atop it.
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