In 2015, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen took a major step toward improving Vicksburg with the approval of an $18 million capital improvements bond issue.

The city’s first $9 million draw of that money led to the a series of sorely needed improvements that included paving roads, improvements to parking and lighting at the baseball and softball fields at Bazinsky Park, four new tennis courts at Halls Ferry Park and improvements and upgrades to the City Park pavilion and the Vicksburg Auditorium, two of most used public facilities in the city.

Capital improvements were made to other city buildings, the parking lot at Halls Ferry Park was improved and the city built Fire Station No. 3 on Berryman Road, which is expected to open before the end of the year.

Now the board has taken the second step and made the second and final draw from the original $18 million.

Like the first draw, paving will get most of the money, with another $4 million — $2 million each for the North and South wards — allocated for streets and $1.15 million for parking. The paving list includes work to repair a blind spot at the entrance to Riverfront Park, which is the most used park in the city and improve traffic flow. The city-owned parking lots at LD’s and by the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley depot are gravel lots and in need of repair and paving.

When the board in 2015 announced its decision to issue the $18 million in capital improvement bonds, we applauded its decision and issued a word of caution that the board use the money wisely when considering what projects to address, and they made very good decisions addressing the city’s needs.

We again want to commend the board for its progressive move to address the city’s needs, and for being wise in the way it’s spending the money. The list of projects they have proposed will remedy more problems that have plagued the city for some time, and address some future needs.

The bond issue, obviously, has not addressed all the city’s problems, but it has been used to resolve some of its major issues. We still have long way to go in addressing other problems, but the board has moved to meet immediate needs, and set an example for future administrations.