A plan to get the rights of way to pave two streets in a subdivision off Grange Hall Road using eminent domain will get further study by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The board Thursday took under advisement a proposal by South Ward Aldermen Willis Thompson authorizing City Attorney Nancy Thomas to draft a resolution to hire a firm and move ahead with eminent domain efforts for Blue Creek Drive and Stillwater Drive.

The streets run parallel to each other and intersect with Grange Hall Road, and contain 33 homes and some undeveloped land.

“That area has private streets, and years ago it was annexed into the city,” Thompson said. “It’s something I’ve been working on to get the residents to dedicate right of way.

“The condition of the road is bad. When it rains, it’s so bad I don’t think you can even get a fire truck out there,” he said. “It’s a safety issue.”

Thompson said he has met with the residents and told them they need to give the city right of way to have an easement so it can pave the streets.

“About half the residents have submitted easements to the city at this point,” he said.

The problem, Thompson said, is many of the property owners do not live on either street or in Vicksburg, making it difficult to find them and get the easement to fix the streets.

“At this point, the easiest way to do that is eminent domain,” he said.

“I’ve been working with the legal department for two-and-a-half years,” he said. “It’s a slow process.”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said the streets were never accepted by the city, adding when he was a county supervisor, the developers were trying to get help from county officials.

“With that many properties hung out there, we don’t feel that comfortable trying to do anything until we do a lot more homework on this thing,” he said.

“Not that we don’t want to help them, but you’d better know what you’re getting into when you’re talking about eminent domain.”

“In my opinion, you need to really study and have a lot of information before you start doing eminent domain, as far as acquiring people’s property” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said.

He said there are a number of subdivision streets and roads in Vicksburg not maintained by the city because they were built improperly by the developers.

“I’m afraid if we start opening up litigation, we’ll be in court forever (for other subdivisions).

“I’m open to trying to help them resolve their situation (on Stillwater and Blue Creek) by continuing to get as many easements as we can signed,” Flaggs said.

“If we can get more people to come forward and sign easements, I believe that would be the better way to go. I’m more supportive of trying to help them allowing them to voluntarily give their easements to their property rather than take their property.”