[10/5/04]Work should begin in the next 30 days on new sidewalks along Alcorn Drive and Mission 66.

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Monday to award the $134,870 contract to Lampkin Construction of Florence. The work is being mostly paid for through funding from the Vicksburg Housing Authority and is expected to take 90 days.

The projects will add sidewalks along a stretch of Mission 66 between Grove Street and Martin Luther King Drive and along Alcorn Drive between Mission 66 and Rolling Acres subdivision. There is now only a beaten path where residents walk.

Jim Stirgus Sr., VHA executive director, presented city officials with a $125,000 check in July from discretionary funding for the subdivision.

There are about 150 families living in the neighborhood.

The city has spent about $750,000 on sidewalk repairs across the city, but that money did not include any new sidewalks. Money from that project will be used to make up the difference between the Housing Authority funds and the cost of the work, about $10,000.

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 spend to resurface roads and parking areas in Beechwood Estates and Waltersville Estates.

In other matters the city board:

Tabled a request to advertise for bids for improvements to the Vicksburg Municipal Airport.

Rejected bids for grading work at the proposed softball complex off Fisher Ferry Road and voted to readvertise for bids with some changes to the project.

Awarded a bid for the purchase of a chemical decontamination shelter for the Vicksburg Fire Department. The $16,000 purchase is being paid for with Homeland Security funds.

Approved interlocal agreements with Warren County for tax assessment and collection, E-911 and ambulance and rescue services outside the municipal limits.

Terminated a contract with the Vicksburg Foundation for Historic Preservation for professional services.

Voted to make offers to purchase five homes in Hamilton Heights as part of the federal flood buyout program.

Declared surplus property to be sold at an auction on Nov. 6 in Hattiesburg.

Approved a request from the Main Street program to purchase items for the downtown Halloween parade to be held at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 30.

Adopted the final orders for tax exemptions on improvements at Graham Packaging and Cooper Lighting.

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