[8/5/03]Mayor Laurence Leyens said Monday the city board will begin meeting more often to speed government activity.

Under the charter, the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen is required to meet four times each month, but so far there are plans for at least three meetings this week, including Monday’s.

The next meeting was scheduled for this morning, and the board will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. Friday on the proposed $5.4 million bond issue to fund water and sewer improvements.

City officials also set a public hearing for 7 p.m. Aug. 21 to present the proposed budget for 2003-2004. Without any other special-called meetings, the board will meet at least seven times this month.

“I don’t want to delay government,” Leyens said. “I don’t want to wait five days for the next board meeting to get things done.”

Meetings can be called any time by any of the three elected officials by giving at least three hours’ notice. Unlike regular meetings, special meetings are usually not aired on the city cable channel TV 23.

In place of the live broadcasts, the board will place items taken up in called meetings on the agenda at the next regular board meeting and read those items publicly. All meetings of the mayor and aldermen are open to the public except when closed under state law, usually for reasons of personnel or real estate or matters of litigation.

Through most days, the Mayor and Aldermen meet several times with citizen groups and they hear and review reports. However, no actions of the city are official unless voted on in a public session and recorded in the minutes.

In other matters, the city board:

Presented the senior of the month, Liz Redman.

Received three bids for the partial demolition of Walnut Towers at 1501 Walnut St. The lowest bid was for $538,000 from Environmental Abatement of Tennessee to remove the building leaving the parking garage.

Approved advertising on the back of the Red Carpet Bowl T-shirts for $500.

Accepted an application for tax abatement from Joyce May for property at 1208 Adams St.

Adopted an interlocal agreement with Warren County for the shared funding of the hazardous waste day clean-up.

Entered an agreement with Central Mississippi Planning and Development District for the redistricting of the city’s two voting wards.