For the city of Vicksburg, 2017 was best characterized as a series of highs and lows, as city officials dealt with several major emergencies, moved ahead on projects that had been on the drawing board for several years, and others that are expected to improve the city.

In between, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. and North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield were re-elected to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Alex Monsour defeated Willis Thompson for the South Ward Alderman seat.

Monsour, the area’s state representative from District 54, resigned his seat after the election.

The city faced several serious emergencies during the year.

The first came in April, when a storm system dumped 10 inches of rain in the area, causing two streams near the city’s wastewater treatment plant on Rifle Range Road to overflow and flood the plant, damaging the plant’s office building and laboratory, pumping station and other equipment.

The city faced two boil water notices, when power went down at the water treatment plant on Haining Road, and later when a damaged valve forced the city to shut down the main water line, cutting water off to the city for several days.

Vicksburg also saw some major accomplishments in 2017, starting with the approval by 60 percent of the voters of a 2 percent special tax on hotel room rentals and food and beverage sales to fund the city’s proposed sports complex.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Dec. 22 approved hiring The Sports Force from Canton, Ga. to build, finance and manage the sports complex on city land off Fisher Ferry Road. Negotiations with the company are expected to begin in January.

The board also received proposals from four engineering firms to design and prepare specifications for a bypass road from U.S. 61 South to Halls Ferry Road that will include an access road to the sports complex.

“The city of Vicksburg has seen many accomplishments since I took the oath office to begin my second administration,” Flaggs said.

“It has always been my goal to provide the highest quality of service to the citizens of Vicksburg at the lowest cost. As 2018 approaches I hope to continue the success and productivity that citizens have come to expect.

“I believe the city of Vicksburg is moving in the right direction, and I’m optimistic about the city’s future growth and development.”

“We are gaining quickly on goals that a year ago seemed a bit out of reach,” Mayfield said.

“We also faced some unexpected challenges, and took action to support our residents. Through it all, I would like to wish the citizens of our great city of Vicksburg a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.”

“In the future, the city will be looking at improving infrastructure, not just for the people who live here, but if we’re going to bring in tourism and attract industry, we have to be able to provide the services too,” Monsour said.

“The South Frontage Road extension is going to help keep the outlet mall going. I believe some of the contracts (with companies) were waiting to see what we were going to do.”

Flaggs said the city now has the approval of the Mississippi Department of Transportation and Development and the state Health Department and the Department of Environmental Quality, clearing the way to advertise the South Frontage Road extension project out for bids.

Two other long awaited projects are expected to go out for bids in January: the auxiliary waterline and Phase 1 of electrical upgrades at the water treatment plant.

The auxiliary waterline project is estimated at about $5 million and is funded in part by a $2.45 million U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 592 grant.

It will provide a backup to the city’s main waterline in the event of an emergency affecting the main line.

The second line will go east from the water treatment plant to North Washington Street, then south on North Washington Street to connect with an existing line on Jackson Street.

Flaggs said the designs and specifications are ready to be advertised in January. He said city officials were advised not to advertise the project during the Christmas season because of a perceived lack of interest.

He said the water plant electrical upgrades will also go out for bid in January.

The city is borrowing about $3.5 million from the gas department’s $9 million surplus for the project.

Other city projects and accomplishments during 2017 include:

• A fiscal 2018 budget without laying off or furloughing employees, or requiring a tax increase.

• Changed the form of government in the city of Vicksburg by amending the city charter to give each board member direct oversight and supervision of specific departments to ensure for more accountability.

• An employee medical clinic to provided access to better health care for city employees, and reducing health care costs by more than $600,000 by hiring United Healthcare LLC as the administrator for the city’s self-funded health insurance program and negotiating the costs.

• New fire station, Independence No. 3 at 50 Maxwell Drive.

• The board expects to advertise for bids in January to demolish and build an new splash pad at Catfish Row.

• The board will advertise for requests for proposals for the operation and maintenance of the city’s

wastewater treatment plant facility on Rifle Range Road. The board in 2016 hired Georgia-based ESG Operations to manage and operate the water plant.

• The board adopted an ordinance establishing a Leisure and Recreation District to allow patrons to move from one licensed business to another with alcoholic beverages as long as they remain within the boundaries of the district and as long as the licensed business  is in the leisure and recreation district. This law is expected to help enhance tourism in the downtown area.

The board also adopted an ordinance allowing brewpubs and small craft breweries to be permitted in certain commercial zones in the city.

• Flaggs appointed a riverfront redevelopment committee to develop ideas on revitalizing the downtown riverfront area. Eskew Dumez Ripple, an architect firm in New Orleans, has been contacted to help with redevelopment and design efforts.

• City officials entered into a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development Foundation and Warren County Port Commission to help with the development of a business incubator in collaboration with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center to redevelop the old Mississippi Hardware building.

The board dedicated $300,000 toward the facility, which will serve as a catalyst for small business growth, technological innovation and educational advancement

• City officials are in the process of making improvements to historic Beulah Cemetery, which include landscaping and the design and construction of a new fence that will significantly enhance the area.

• The Catfish Row Museum is set to open in 2018, which will be a major tourist attraction for the city. The museum will teach visitors and residents about Vicksburg’s history and culture, while also providing food and entertainment

• Discussions are underway for a proposed Mississippi International Arts Museum to be built in Vicksburg, and Flaggs will be meeting with state leaders in the coming months to discuss the project.