[6/8/04]Work to provide a higher volume of water and additional fire plugs in areas annexed by Vicksburg 14 years ago is expected to begin this summer.

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen received six bids for the project Monday. Half of the bids were within the estimated cost of $1.5 million.

The low bid came from Bowie River Construction Inc., of Petal, at $1.3 million. Funding will come from the $5.8 million in bonds sold by the city in 2003.

The project includes laying 30,000 feet of water lines and installing an additional 112 fire hydrants, said Jimmy Nelson with Allen & Hoshall Ltd. Architects and Engineers.

“I had no idea that we needed so many fire hydrants until that man came before us last year,” said Mayor Laurence Leyens.

Before July 1, 1990, Vicksburg was 13 square miles in size. A Supreme Court decision culminating an eight-year legal struggle added about 20 more square miles that date.

Last April, Warrenton Heights residents pointed out inadequate hydrants in their neighborhood after a 70-year-old woman was injured and her home was destroyed in a blaze. That South Ward area along with areas in the North Ward became city property in 1990.

The house at 334 Redbone Road was about 1,000 feet from the nearest fire plug. Standards are for plugs to be placed every 500 feet in municipal areas.

Also, fire department officials said after that blaze that the size of lines in the area also limited firefighting.

Nelson said new water mains will replace older, smaller pipes and increase the maximum flow.

Bids could be awarded later this week and work could begin in about a month. The project should take about eight months, Nelson said.

In other matters the city board:

Approved minutes from board meetings on April 23, April 26, April 29 and May 3.

Received sealed bids for tree removal services and portable defibrillators.

Awarded the bid for service department uniforms to Fashions Inc., of Jackson.

Approved advertisements in Riverviews and News and in The Vicksburg Post for the Miss Mississippi Pageant.

Authorized contract services for various summer youth programs at the Jackson Street Community Center.

Adopted an amendment to the city code of ordinances to restrict new towers or antennas in the downtown historic district.

Adopted an amendment to the city code of ordinances to provide for two parking places for every pool or billiards table and for one parking space for every 200 square feet of floor area at coin-operated laundromats.

Accepted a $7,000 federal grant for 11 new armored vests for police officers.

Allocated $650 for the parks and recreation department to provide snacks for the summer playground camp program.

Approved the claims docket.

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