Vicksburg’s crime statistics will soon be available to the public on the city’s TV23 cable access channel and the city’s website.

Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said the police department would release monthly statistics showing the number of felony crimes and domestic violence crimes handled by police officers in the city. His comments came at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen’s meeting Friday.

The list includes murder, manslaughter, statutory and forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, business, residential and auto burglaries, auto theft, carjacking, kidnapping and domestic violence.

“We are going to post them as a matter of policy on the third Thursday of the month,” Flaggs said, “and posted on TV23 and the city’s website. We thought domestic violence should be included because that’s one of the worst violations against a community.”

He said the first posted report would cover March and April. The May statistics will come out in June.

Police Chief Walter Armstrong said after the meeting the statistics are drawn from the city’s quarterly uniform crime report made to the FBI.

He said copies of the statistics are routinely presented to the city’s mayors, adding, “This is the first mayor who has asked to make them public.”

In other action, the board:

• Took under advisement the following bids for rehabilitating the city’s storm water pump station and joint repairs for the floodwall: Dirt Works of Vicksburg, $40,000 total bid, $78,250 alternate project bid; Hemphill Construction of Florence, $112,335 total bid, $289,724 alternate project bid. There were no bids for vehicle accessories.

• Approved a request from Fire Chief Charles Atkins to declare the badge for retired fire department captain Sam Smith Jr. surplus and authorized its sale for $85.

• Continued the emergency declaration to repair the water line at Bowmar Avenue and Letitia Street.

Public Works Director Garnet Van Norman said work on the line was stopped at the request of school officials because students were testing at Bowmar Elementary. He said work on the line should be completed this week.

• Authorized Flaggs to sign the closeout documents for the 2014 Good Shepherd grant, which the city administers.

• Authorized Community Development Director Victor Grey-Lewis to clean the following lots: 522 Dabney Ave., 108 Grey Oaks, 2427 Oak St. and 2310 Pearl St.

In a related matter, the board granted a 60-day extension to the owner of property at 20 Curry St.

• Authorized City Clerk Walter Osborne to advertise for bids for exclusive concrete pouring rights, sand, rock and gravel, pebble lime for the water treatment plant and traffic management supplies.

• Approved a request from American Legion Auxiliary Allein Unit no. 3 for complementary use if the Vicksburg Auditorium Aug. 15.

• Approved buying a $200 ad from Mississippi Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials.

• Adopted resolutions to provide in-king services to United Way of West Central Mississippi and to the Child and Parenting Center. The city will provide summer youth workers to each agency.

• Authorized Flaggs to sign an agreement with the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for a $2,150 Certified Local Government Grant to purchase and install signs marking the city’s historic district. The grant covers half of the project’s $4,300 cost. The city will pay the other half.

• Approved the Trustmark Bank and BancorpSouth statements.

• Approved the following reports: city sexton, privilege license, mayor and treasurer, delinquent tax collection, monthly tax collection and detailed budget.