Vicksburg officials Tuesday accepted the recommendation of the Beulah Cemetery Restoration Committee and, nearly two years after being given $50,000 in state money for the work, awarded a cleanup contract to the low bidder.

The contract will be reviewed by Department of Archives and History officials before being signed.

Beulah Cemetery, adjacent to the Vicksburg National Military Park, was used for decades as a burial place for many black residents of Vicksburg. It has fallen into disarray, and, in response to urging by committee members, the Legislature set aside the money for restoration during its 1999 session.

Monday, the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg received four bids that had been opened Friday. After accepting the bids, the city officials referred them to the restoration committee and the city’s Legal and Purchasing Departments for study and recommendation.

At the Tuesday meeting called to receive the recommendation, committee chairman Yolande Robbins told the city board that the committee recommended the contract be awarded to Maynord Landscaping. The company’s $19,980 bid was the lowest of the four received.

Mayor Robert Walker said since the Department of Archives and History is involved, the city will recommend the department concur in the decision.

In Walker’s motion, City Clerk Walter Osborne was instructed to call Maynord when the department’s approval is received and tell company officials they must also provide the city with proof of liability insurance coverage.

There was no indication when the work might actually be done.

The board also approved a payment of $2,700 to Fred Pryor Resources Inc. for a management training seminar for department heads and supervisors. More than 70 city employees have signed up for the seminar, Walker said.