Like many cities its size, Vicksburg relies on citizens sitting on appointed boards and commissions to help run the city.

Appointed boards manned by residents volunteering time and without pay to help set policy or advise officials on running different departments are a common practice in city government.

In some cases, these boards decide such issues as planning and zoning, approving a license to operate a cab company, civil service employee matters, advise officials on the city’s tourism industry and set policy for public transportation.

But in Vicksburg’s case, some of these boards are working under a handicap, according to city information obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Of the city’s 10 appointed boards and commissions, seven have unfilled vacancies or members serving with expired terms, or both. Five vacancies exist among the boards, and nine members with expired terms continue to sit.

Along with its 10 active boards, the city has over years formed and disbanded 10 other boards for different programs or departments. One of those was the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission, which was disbanded about 2001. Neither South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, who was city recreation director when the board was active, nor several former commission members recall exactly when the commission stopped meeting.