The city of Vicksburg is going to help workers affected by the federal government shutdown by temporarily suspending their water and gas bills.

“It was brought to our attention that we have a lot of government workers who have been affected by the shutdown,” South Ward Alderman Alex Monsour said at Monday’s meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

He said he talked with water and gas manager Tammy Christmas about providing water and gas for the affected federal workers “who are living paycheck to paycheck.”

He said federal workers affected by the shutdown should call the water and gas department office at 601-636-3414, tell them and show proof they are a federal employee affected by the shutdown “so they will not be affected and their water and gas will not be cut off.

“We’re doing all we can in Vicksburg to make sure that while they have this temporary shutdown, we take care of the people in the city of Vicksburg.”

He said people will be expected to pay their bills once they return to work.

“We can’t forgive the debt, but we can temporarily suspend it until they get to work,” he added.

Helping VNMP

In a related matter, Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said the city has to date spent $27,774 to help keep the Vicksburg National Military Park open to visitors.

The board Jan. 2 approved a resolution to match contributions by the Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign up to $2,000 to help keep the park open.

The Friends on Dec. 21 announced it was committing funds to keep the park open during the federal government shutdown because the park would not be funded.

Bess Mitchell Averett, executive director of Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park & Campaign, said at the time the tour road, visitor center, U.S.S. Cairo gunboat and museum, the Vicksburg National Cemetery and all restrooms will be kept open.

The cost of keeping the park open is estimated at $2,000 a day.

“To those who question that, I think it’s money well spent,” Flaggs said. “From the conversations I hear on the street is that it’s (keeping the park open) very productive, and going well, because the park is open for business and we didn’t impede our tourism.”