Nelda Sampey will resign as chairman of Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and member of the Vicksburg Board of Architectural Review at the end of the year. The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen accepted her letters of resignation on Monday during a regular meeting.

“She has served the city for eight to 10 years on these boards. We really appreciate her service and will certainly miss her,” said Mayor Laurence Leyens, noting Sampey is resigning due to health issues within her family.

Sampey’s term on the volunteer VCVB board will expire on Aug. 6, 2010, while her seat on the architectural review board will expire on Nov. 7, 2011. The 11-member VCVB board is appointed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Warren County Supervisors. Each appoints five members, while one is jointly appointed. Sampey was filling the joint appointment since 2006. 

The nine-member Board of Architectural Review is appointed by the mayor and aldermen for staggered terms and serve without compensation.

Sampey was most recently reappointed to the architectural review board in 2004 and 2007, but neither the city clerk’s office nor the zoning department could confirm exactly how long she has served on the board.

Anybody can be nominated for either board, and those interested in serving should contact the appropriate board to be considered.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.

On the agenda

On Monday, the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen:

* Approved board meeting minutes from Sept. 10 and 15, 2008.

* Rejected bids for tree removal and authorized the city clerk to re-advertise.

* Received bids for erosion control projects on Bowmar Avenue and Alfred Drive. Camo Construction of Vidalia, La., bid for $135,624, while Dirt Works Inc. of Vicksburg bid $93,181, Riverside Construction of Vicksburg bid $206,188.44 and Unicon Inc. of Pearl bid $100,641.95.

* Received bids for drainage improvements in Hills of the Valley subdivision and Halls Ferry Road. Camo Construction submitted a bid for $164,930, while Dirt Works Inc. bid $168,183.50, Riverside Construction bid $275,375 and Unicon Inc. bid $196,862.50.

* Approved a request from the YMCA for a 10K run, 5K walk and 1 mile fun run through downtown Vicksburg on Jan. 17 at 8:30 a.m. The event is being held as a YMCA fundraiser, and those interested in participating can contact the Y at 601-638-1071.

* Discussed upcoming events at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center with Annette Kirklin, executive director. 

* Authorized the airport department to purchase coffee and coffee supplies for visiting pilots and guests of the Vicksburg Municipal Airport.

* Discussed dilapidated buildings and overgrown lots at 1611 South St. and Spouts Spring Road, and authorized Director of Buildings and Inspection Victor Gray-Lewis to proceed to cut, clean and/or demolish properties.

* Ratified the fiscal year 2009 Mississippi Arts Commission ABCD project grant to expend up to $8,000 for advertising the Sentimental Journey Concert.

* Authorized a lease with Unitech for copier services in the accounting department for $255 per month.

* Authorized an extension of a hangar lease agreement with Lawson Aviation on the same terms and conditions as the present lease for up to six months.

* Authorized 212 hours for Excel Aviation of Birmingham to perform consulting services for the Vicksburg Municipal Airport at a rate of $105 per hour.

* Approved an invoice for payment in the amount of $4,381.23 to Excel Aviation for consulting service, professional service and reimbursable expenses.

* Removed from the agenda a request for $1,195 to advertise in the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce IMAGE magazine.

* Approved the municipal compliance questionnaire for fiscal year 2008.

* Reappointed Toni Lanford-Ferguson to the Vicksburg Board of Architectural Review/Historic Preservation Commission.

* Approved the claims docket.

In executive session, the board:

* Approved 10 action forms in the purchasing, city clerk, fire (four) and police (four) departments. 

* Approved one pay adjustment in the fire department.

* Accepted one resignation in the fire department.

* Approved one termination in the water maintenance department.

The next board meeting will be on Monday at 10 a.m. in room 109 of the City Hall Annex, 1415 Walnut St.