Vicksburg officials started the process of borrowing up to $16.9 million Tuesday – most of it for street paving, replacing a failing bridge and the first phase of a recreation complex – and very little for urban redevelopment.

The resolution passed unanimously expects $11.9 million plus interest to be repaid by city taxpayers over the next 10 years and the rest by federal funds.

An Oak Street urban renewal idea got short shrift.

Earlier this year, the notion of extending a Washington Street makeover started in 2002 southward on Oak and along the residential bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River had been discussed. As part of that, the city might again, as it did downtown, have bought private properties for resale at bargain prices to developers who pledged to restore them.

However, little to no property acquisition is planned for the Oak Street area. Mayor Laurence Leyens said any property acquisition that is done would not be funded by the bond issue.

The Washington Street work accounted for about $5 million of a $17.5 million bond issue in 2001. The Oak Street effort has no earmark in the resolution, but may receive some of the money for street improvements.

Replacing the Washington Street rail overpass at Clark Street is being expedited due to erosion near the bridge supports that has already led to a truck ban. The bridge replacement cost is the portion of the bond issue expected to be repaid from federal sources.

As for Oak Street, Leyens said there will be an effort – but not an overhaul. About $600,000 or so will be spent on lighting, curb and gutter work and other aesthetics.

&#8220It’s to give that neighborhood a little attention where it’s lacking,” he said, adding that his goal is to encourage more private investment there. &#8220We’re going to clean it up.”

Housing in the area now ranges from pristine antebellum tour homes to condemned and burned-out shacks.

Adopting the resolution sets in motion a 30-day period in which citizens may petition for a public vote. The minimum required is 1,500 voters and no such petition has been submitted in Vicksburg in at least 50 years.

The largest chunk of the money, $7.8 million, would be used for street improvements.

The balance, $4.1 million, would be used to begin building a recreation complex including softball fields off Fisher Ferry Road. The city bought the land for the project two years ago.

Leyens said that the city’s street system as a whole is in good condition but that if streets are allowed to deteriorate repairs made later can be more expensive.

&#8220We felt that it was important to make an investment in our streets,” Leyens said.

The proposed recreation complex site is on 202 acres just north of The Trace subdivision. The idea of a standout park has been a pet proposal of South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, who is in his second elected term after working previously for the city as parks and recreation director.

Leyens and Parks and Recreation Director Joe Graves said the city hopes to use the initial money to build six softball fields – four for adults and two for children.

&#8220It’ll probably be one of the best athletic complexes in the region – bar none,” Graves said of the project, called Vicksburg Community Park.

Future phases of the project call for more softball and soccer fields; outdoor basketball courts; a two-mile track for running, walking or biking; and a multi-level concession building.

In a Sept. 24 letter, the president of the Vicksburg NAACP branch, Mary Galtney, called for a petition and public vote, in part based on the displacement of residents had the Oak Street project been large scale and in part based on the city’s ability to repay.

Leyens and the Strategic Planner Paul Rogers said the city’s debt is under control and new borrowing would not lead to higher taxes.

The resolution says the city’s debt is now $10.6 million and that assessed valuation of all taxable property in the city is $284.8 million. Bonds for non-revenue-producing projects are generally limited to 15 percent of assessed value. Vicksburg’s debt amounts to 3.7 percent of its assessed valuation.

Leyens said the city’s indebtedness when he took office in July 2001 was $13.7 million and had risen to a peak of about $24 million.

&#8220We’ve paid off all we’ve borrowed, plus $3 million,” Leyens said.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said he had received petitions from two neighborhood groups – not opposing borrowing but wanting work done and saying they would oppose a bond issue unless it included certain projects.

Mayfield said he couldn’t tell residents &#8220what streets might be paved” but encouraged them to &#8220get involved on the front end” of the process.

Four years ago, the city purchased computer software to assist in deciding where work will be done. Information such as the age, traffic load, condition measurements and type of surface are entered and the program assigns priorities.

If no petition is filed the bonds may be sold as early as Nov. 6, the resolution says.

In other business Tuesday, the board: