The City of Vicksburg is hiring a contractor for $13,800 to raze four derelict homes in the city’s North Ward.

The Board of Mayor and Alderman Friday approved the four contracts with DMBW Trucking and Construction of Vicksburg to demolish homes at 2006 Military Ave., 2728 Drummond St., 1917 Martin Luther King Blvd., and 1318 Grove St.

“That’s four more homes lost in the North Ward,” North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said. “Sad, sad.”

Community Development Director Victor Gray-Lewis said all four homes are on the city’s list of buildings tagged for demolition. He added it was the first time in about nine years that the city has hired a private contractor to demolish homes.

“We’ve been using public works (employees and equipment) to demolish homes, but public works has a backlog of work and hasn’t been able to work on demolitions,” he said. “So we decided to hire a contractor.”

Since it took office in July 2013, Mayor George Flaggs Jr.’s administration has been cracking down on city code violations and clearing lots and dilapidated buildings.

In 2009, former mayor Paul Winfield placed a moratorium on razing dilapidated buildings and placing a hold on the demolition of several buildings on the city’s demolition list. Mayfield said the moratorium was later lifted.