[1/7/03]Vicksburg officials say the city has been getting cheated out of grant money due to the Vicksburg Fire Department for countywide ambulance operations.

City Associate Attorney Bobby Robinson told the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday that the Warren County Board of Supervisors has been getting state money for the purchase of ambulance equipment, but has used that money to pay part of the the county’s share of providing ambulance service outside the city limits.

Robinson said that would violate the terms of the grant agreement and that the county owes the city those funds.

“It was designated that the grant funding was to be used to pay for equipment, not services,” Robinson said. “I don’t think there is any question that the funds should go to purchase equipment for the Vicksburg Fire Department.”

Contacted separately, District 1 Supervisor David McDonald said that a $10,000 grant to the county was included in the $255,000 Warren County paid to Vicksburg last year for ambulance service outside the city. He said that would include equipment bought by the city with that money.

“We put in the application that the grant was for emergency services with the city,” McDonald said. “We give it to the city, and they do what they want with it.”

The disagreement is the latest in escalating tensions between the city and county that began over funding for the joint city-county 911 dispatch center. Mayor Laurence Leyens, who last month walked out of informal talks with supervisors, said he expects the county to use the $10,000 grant from last year for ambulance equipment.

“My expectation is that the county will use that money to buy equipment for the fire department,” Leyens said.

City officials say they learned of the grant after county officials approached Fire Chief Keith Rogers requesting copies of invoices for purchases made last year. The invoices were to be included in a grant application being submitted this year for another $16,000.

According to Rogers, in previous years, fire chiefs have given county officials invoices for the application.

“You can’t apply for something on behalf of the city without any agreement with the city,” North Ward Alderman Gertrude Young said at the city board meeting. “You will be reporting this to the state auditor?”

Leyens said he thinks they should talk to county supervisors before taking it to the state.

“I don’t think this is a fraud issue. I think they just snookered us,” Leyens said.

In other matters, the city board:

Approved board meeting minutes.

Received one bid for exterior restoration of Constitution Firehouse from Dillon Construction Company for $138,000.

Listed inventory items that could not be located by May & Company auditors as inactive including $21,000 worth of items from the Vicksburg Police Department

Allocated $20,000 to Haven House Family Shelter.

Allocated $16,000 to Vicksburg Warren Chamber Community Development Fund for event in 2003.

Appointed Rosalie Theobald, Vicki McMillin, Leslie Decareaux, Lt. Walter Beamon and Marty Crevitt to the City Parade Application Committee.

Approved the claims docket.

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