NATCHEZ, Mississippi – Sunday, March 15, Mayor Darryl Grennell signed a proclamation declaring a local State of Emergency for the City of Natchez in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which officially reached the State of Mississippi this week. The Mayor announced his intention at a City Department Head meeting held by teleconference on the afternoon of March 15, after which he signed the proclamation.
The Mayor’s actions follow Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves’s State of Emergency proclamation on Saturday, March 14, 2020, and President Donald Trump declaration of a National State of Emergency on Friday, March 13, 2020. Mayor Grennell also issued the following official statement: “I reiterate my previous message to all citizens of Natchez and especially to all community leaders: I strongly urge everyone — individuals, schools, churches, civic and social organizations, businesses, and others — to forego group activities. I urge everyone to be mindful of the fact that this virus is spread through person-to-person contact. The only way we can reduce and slow the spread of this virus and flatten the curve of the infection rate and the resulting impact on our health care system is by limiting our exposure to one another.”
As a result of the Mayor’s proclamation, city buildings and city services will be affected as follows:
– City Hall will not be closed to the public. The City will be operating with a reduced on-site staff. Some employees will be working remotely.
– Absentee voting will continue in the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall. Contact 601-446-2425 if
you have questions.
– Permits for electrical inspections and other permits will continue to be issued as usual in the Office of City Planning on the second floor; however, these matters can also be handled efficiently online (please visit https://www.natchez.ms.us/143/Office-of-Inspections ) or
by phone or email. Contact the City Planning Office at 601-445-7518.
Effective Monday, March 16 at 12:00 noon, the following city-owned buildings will be closed to the
public until further notice:
– The Natchez Visitors Center
– The Natchez City Auditorium
– The Natchez Community Center
– Auburn Museum and Historic Home at Duncan Park
– The Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture
The following public facilities will remain open:
– Duncan Park Golf and Pro Shop
– Duncan Park Tennis Courts
– Public parks and playgrounds
Regarding the Natchez Transit System and the Senior Citizens Multipurpose Center, Executive Director Sabrina Bartley will be announcing changes to those services in the coming week.
The following changes affect City meetings:
– All City meetings will be conducted virtually and not in-person to the extent possible.
– The regular Monday City Department Head Meeting (9:00 am) is canceled in light of the fact that the Department Head Meeting was conducted by teleconference on Sunday, March 15.
– The Coronavirus Preparedness Task Force will conduct its regular Monday 10:00 meeting via teleconference to continue coordination between leaders from state and local health departments, public school system, Natchez police, fire, senior care, local businesses and tourism.
– The Natchez-Adams Economic Development Council will conduct its regular Monday 11:00 am meeting via teleconference.
In a video PSA released by the City on Friday, March 13, Dr. Lee England, Chairman of the local
Coronavirus Preparedness Task Force, explained that we are facing now a pandemic disease that we are unable to stop. “We don’t have the vaccines and antivirals that we would like [but] we do know what to do to slow the spread of coronavirus and that is to not congregate in groups.” Robert Bradford, Natchez-Adams County Emergency Management Director, urges that we must all work together as a community to prevent the spread of the virus in Natchez Adams County. “People should continue to monitor their surroundings, follow CDC guidelines, and stand by for further changes,” says Bradford. As of the time of this press release, there are no confirmed coronavirus cases in Adams County.
For more information on COVID-19, please visit CDC.gov/COVID19 or msdh.ms.gov/coronavirus
Mississippi Department of Health Coronavirus Hotline: 877-978-6453 (open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday)