Natchez prepares for surge of riverboat buses; city audit authorized of pool funds

NATCHEZ, Miss. – The mayor and aldermen are preparing the city to accommodate the surge of buses crowding city streets and parking spaces with riverboat passengers visiting Natchez.

The Board of Aldermen on Tuesday approved reserving two parking spaces only for buses in front of Magnolia Hall, the antebellum house on Pearl Street. However, aldermen put off a proposal to do the same on Broadway Street. They expressed concerns that would deny parking spaces for the general public on the much-visited bluff overlooking the Mississippi River.

With two cruise lines already regularly docking in Natchez with visitors – and a third coming later this summer  – aldermen were told there could potentially be 16 buses regularly in town during the course of a few days.

Mayor Dan Gibson expressed concerns about too many of the large coaches on Silver Street, where the riverboats dock and unload passengers being bused to tour Natchez.  He said discussions are underway on how to manage the bus traffic to ensure there’s no congestion.

Having so many “buses piled up on Silver Street is not an option,” Gibson said.

The American Queen Steamboat Co. and American Cruise Lines bring passenger ships to Natchez.Viking Cruises plans later this summer start its Mississippi River voyages with its newly built 386-passenger riverboat docking in Natchez. The three cruise lines have their own buses for passengers’ shore excursions.

Riverboats docking in Natchez are projected to eventually bring up to 2,000 passengers a week to tour city attractions, according to Gibson.

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Aldermen want an audit done of funds spent for the public swimming pool Natchez and Adams County jointly own and fund with the management of a commission appointed by city and county officials. Gibson said he and aldermen want a thorough accounting of how money has been spent by the pool managers since he became mayor in July 2020. The county Board of Supervisors will be asked to help the city board pay for the audit.

Alderman Valencia Hall proposed the city stop funding the pool’s operations if no audit is done, but the board declined to take that step.

The aquatic center at Liberty Park opened in June 2018, giving Natchez-Adams County its first public swimming pool since the one at Duncan Park closed in 2001. The city and county jointly funded the pool’s $1.3 million construction and now share the costs of operating it.

The mayor and aldermen on Tuesday also stressed that alcoholic beverages are not allowed at the pool. Hall wanted the board to specifically ban partygoers planning to rent the pool June 24 and serve booze, but Gibson noted current rules set by the city already prohibit that.

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Plans are underway to develop downtown’s Locust Alley into an outdoor event venue. New lights are to be installed for the city side street that runs from Main and Franklin by the old Brown-Barnett-Dixon building, said the mayor. He told the board about $20,000 in city funds will be needed to further enhance the alley between Union and Commerce streets.

While Gibson said Tuesday more details are to be ironed out later, the Natchez Preservation Commission today is scheduled to consider allowing string lights to be hung above Locust Alley. The commission regulates structural alterations done in the city’s historic district.