City wants to re-create angels, build long-discussed golf course

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, February 5, 2002

[02/05/02]After years of informal talk, Vicksburg officials took initial actions Monday that could lead to new angels on City Hall and a golf course downtown.

When it was built, City Hall had trumpeting angel sculptures on its rooftop pedestals. They disappeared in the early 1950s.

Two previous mayors have talked about finding or replacing the angels. Monday’s vote was to seek proposals on creating three, using old photographs as a guide.

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“Historic preservation is important to me personally and it is important to this administration,” said Mayor Laurence Leyens.

Reproduction of the three statues is expected to cost about $10,000, Leyens said.

The golf course idea was promoted in the early 1990s to complement riverfront casinos and the Vicksburg Convention Center. The vote was to enter a contract for architectural design and consultant services with Ault, Clark and Associates of Kensington, Md., for $5,000.

South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, former director of Parks and Recreation, said two possible sites are being looked at for the golf course, but did define their boundaries.

A three-par, nine-hole course has been proposed before on former industrial and residential land in the area of the confluence of the Mississippi River and Yazoo Diversion canal.

“Hopefully, we’ll have some announcements coming out soon,” Beauman said.

Existing golf courses in the area are a public 18 holes operated by Warren County at the Clear Creek Recreation Area near Bovina and the private 18 holes of the Vicksburg Country Club on Indiana Avenue.

In other matters, the board:

Accepted a certificate of recognition from the American Legion for the city’s assistance in planning the organ

ization’s Mid-Winter conference. The convention was held in Vicksburg last month.

Awarded a bid for the purchase of a new fire truck to Sunbelt Fire Apparatus. The truck will cost $639,000.

Approved a $75 ad for the Mississippi Baptist Seminary for its Annual Celebration Banquet in Jackson.

Approved a $100 ad for the American Legion Auxiliary Girls State Program.

Allocated funds for the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $45,000 for the Economic Development Foundation, $25,000 for the Chamber of Commerce and $20,000 for the Vicksburg Retirement development.

Declared surplus property to be sold at auction.

Approved cutting and cleaning four lots and demolishing two structures.

The city board will meet again at 10 a.m. Friday at City Hall Annex.