Smaller versions of the city’s new garbage containers should be delivered next week, but officials say the containers, large or small, can’t just sit out on the curb.

Monday, the City of Vicksburg also received the first-ever Beautification Award of the Year from Keep Vicksburg Warren Beautiful.

As part of an anti-litter campaign, the city, in November, issued new 96-gallon, wheeled containers for use at the approximately 10,000 city residential addresses. At the time, smaller versions were pledged to those unable to wrestle the large versions.

As part of that, the Mayor and Aldermen also voted Monday to amend the city ordinance to limit the amount of time residents can leave a garbage container at the curb. The new rule says that containers cannot be put out before 6 the night before a scheduled pickup and must be off the streets within 24 hours after one of the twice-weekly pickups.

“We don’t need cans in the street where people can hit them, and it’s not very good for the neighborhoods,” Mayor Laurence Leyens said.

Tim Smith of the Strategic Planners office said 32-, 48-, or 64-gallon, containers are scheduled to be delivered to the city Dec. 27. The city has taken about 400 orders for smaller containers and expects to have them delivered in about three weeks, Smith said.

The 96-gallon garbage containers were delivered to most Vicksburg homes during the last weeks with rules for putting out waste. They require tree limbs to be bundled in 4-foot sections weighing no more than 50 pounds, leaves and other yard waste be bagged and all household garbage placed inside the new containers.

Residents who do not follow those rules can be cited and made to appear before the city’s new Community Court where they can be fined up to $1,000.

Curbside garbage collection throughout the city is contracted through Waste Management Inc.

Residents with medical conditions who are unable to roll a container to the curb can also apply for door service.

Along with the new services, bills went up $1.55 per month, from $11.05 to $12.60, starting in November. The fee is included on bills for water, sewer and gas.

New rules also go into effect Jan. 1 that require businesses to have waste containers in some type of enclosed area. City officials said they expect the change to reduce the amount of litter on the streets.

“We’re trying to improve the standards of the community, and I think that most of the community wants that,” Leyens said.

Holley Simrall of KVWB said the organization plans to make an annual award in the future.

“This is the first time we’ve given an award of the year, and we were motivated by the efforts of the city,” Simrall said.

In other matters the city board:

Received one bid for constructing facades and installing new handrails to the tunnels that connect Washington Street to the downtown parking garages. Dirtworks Inc., of Vicksburg bid $108,750 on the project.

Approved a request from Isle of Capri Casino to use the parking lot at Riverfront Park for valet parking on Dec. 31.

Approved use of the Kings Community Center on Dec. 17 for a program by Kings Head Start.

Entered a contract with architects Canizaro, Cawthon and Davis for restorations to the exterior of the former Levee Street Depot.

Set a public hearing for Jan. 6 for liens against 15 properties where dilapidated structures were demolished under city order.

Approved selling surplus firefighters’ air packs to Warren County.

Accepted the 2002 inventory statement.

Approved a $10,341 maintenance agreement for a fingerprint scanning device used by the police department and a $27,290 purchase order for a vehicle for the traffic department.

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