NATCHEZ, Miss. – Adams County supervisors have been warned that low pay is making it difficult to hire and retain local E-911 service dispatchers who take emergency police, fire and ambulance telephone calls.
Supervisors said Monday they want to meet with Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and city aldermen to discuss giving pay raises for these essential first-responders. The city and county jointly fund the E-911 service. Dispatchers’ starting pay is $12 an hour.
“We need to do better,” said Adams County Supervisor Ricky Gray, who noted higher pay would help ensure competent people are hired to handle the emergency phone calls. “I’m a prime believer that you get what you pay for.”
Supervisors were told Monday only about five employees with sufficient experience have been retained for the E-911 service. They’re based in the Adams County Jail’s basement, where supervisors said are in poor working conditions.
The total annual cost is about $660,000 for operating the E-911 service, with the county and city evenly sharing the expenses. It receives funds from a $1-a-month surcharge tacked onto telephone bills.
Organizers are seeking public support and input for building a Natchez monument honoring black Union soldiers stationed here during the Civil War.
The Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Monument Committee will meet Nov. 10 to discuss siting, designing, researching and funding the memorial. Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson initiated plans early this year to honor more than 3,000 black soldiers who served in Natchez when it was occupied by the Union army beginning in 1863.
The newly freed slaves’ work focused largely on demolishing the Forks of the Road slave market and building Fort McPherson, the earthen fortification in north Natchez along the Mississippi River, according to historical accounts.
It’s been estimated that 90 percent of the black population in Natchez-Adams County is descended from the black Union soldiers.
In announcing plans for building the monument in April, Gibson suggested it be placed at Natchez’ Memorial Park, where two separate shrines honoring Confederate Civil War soldiers and other military veterans are already located. Chairing the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Memorial Committee is Robert Pernell, who joined other committee members Monday to meet with the Adams County Board of Supervisors to solicit its support.
The committee is encouraging the public to gather Nov. 10, 6 p.m., at the Natchez Convention Center to learn more about paying homage to the black Union soldiers. People can attend the meeting in person or virtually via the Internet or telephone.
For more information, go to the Natchez U.S. Colored Troops Committee’s Facebook page:
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