City officials will soon begin negotiations with the owners of 22 parcels of land north of the Vicksburg Municipal Airport that will be included in a project to remove trees to improve approaches to and takeoffs from the airport on the north end of it runway.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday authorized Mayor George Flaggs Jr. to negotiate with the property owners to compensate them for the timber that will be cut as part of the safety program.

According to the resolution approved by the board, the total value of timber to be cut was estimated by a timber appraiser at $8,238.16.

The first phase of the obstruction removal project is estimated at $99,800 with a Federal Aviation Administration grant paying $89,820 of the cost. The city’s share is $9,980.

Airport Director Sam Washington said city officials also plan to install approach lights on the north end once the area is cleared.

“When the lights are installed will depend when we can get an FAA grant to do it,” he said. “We’re trying to see if we can approval for funding for the next fiscal year.” The obstruction clearance project is one of three projects at the airport which also include rehabilitating the runway apron pavement and installing a precision approach path indicator.