Twelve-year-old Kashif Gardner walks Monday in the grass next to the street on Alcorn Drive, one of the areas that will receive new sidewalks.(Jon Giffin The Vicksburg Post)

[7/20/04]Residents along Alcorn Drive and Mission 66 are getting new sidewalks, thanks to funding provided by the Vicksburg Housing Authority.

Housing authority director Jim Stirgus Sr. presented city officials with a $125,000 check Monday for sidewalks between Martin Luther King Drive and Grove Street. He said the money is coming from discretionary funding for Rolling Acres, a subdivision off Alcorn Drive.

“We will get this done immediately,” said Mayor Laurence Leyens.

The city has spent about $750,000 on sidewalk repairs across the city, but that money did not include any new sidewalks. Leyens said he had been approached by Stirgus about the pedestrian traffic in the area.

“We’ve got 150 families out here,” Stirgus said. “And there’s no sidewalks for them. They’re walking in the mud and in the grass.”

Stirgus said after that meeting, he met with city engineers to find out how much those sidewalks would cost and began working to get money to fund the improvements.

The Vicksburg Housing Authority is a federally funded housing program headed by a five-member commission that manages more than 430 homes and apartments. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and rent.

Other discretionary funds were spent to resurface Beechwood Estates and Waltersville Estates.

In other matters, the city board:

Approved the board meeting minutes from June 21.

Heard a complaint from local businessman and property owner James Buie about the city’s inspection department.

Approved a variance to the city’s sign ordinance to allow Ameristar Hotel Casino to build a marquee sign at its property on Washington Street.

Extended a grant agreement for Good Shepherd Community Center on Cherry Street from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 to allow the organization more time to spend the $335,000 in state funding.

Approved proposed changes to the Vicksburg Fire Department operating guide.

Executed a deed to Mountain of Faith Ministries for property at 250 Old Cain Ridge Road. The property will be used as a homeless shelter, but it will return to the city’s control if unused for two years.

Entered an agreement with the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation for the city to manage a $4,000 state grant for the foundation to conduct a survey of historic properties.

Approved the claims docket.

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