[5/18/04]A $917,069 project to repave 16 city streets is set to begin next month.

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted Monday to enter a contract with APAC of Mississippi for the work. Separately, the board approved amendments to a contract for ongoing work on Clay Street at the Hayes and Adams intersections.

B and B Electrical of Jackson won a $185,000 contract for work there that includes installing mast-arm traffic signals and new street signs. That work is being funded by a state and federal grant.

“We’re just trying to clean up these intersections,” said James “Bubba” Rainer, head of the city’s public works division.

For several years, the city has selected streets for new layers of asphalt.

Repaving on parts of Clay Street, Indiana Avenue and Pemberton Boulevard and other roadways is expected to take about eight months to finish under this year’s contract, Rainer said.

The streets were selected for repaving by a new computer program that cost $119,000 and ranks streets for resurfacing based on factors including age, overall condition and traffic counts.

The goal of the computer program is to remove politics from the selection process, said Mayor Laurence Leyens.

In other matters the city board:

Approved two, 30-second statewide TV advertisements for $4,000 to help sponsor the Miss Mississippi pageant, and $1,500 for promotional shirts to be given to contestants and staff.

Declared May 31 a city holiday for Memorial Day and approved the Memorial Day parade for 10 a.m. in downtown.

Read a proclamation for EMS week and one for “Click It or Ticket” week.

Appointed Ray Thompson and Damon Jacoby to the Vicksburg Police Department.

Approved a $350 1/2-page advertisement for the Haven House Family Shelter charity horse show.

Agreed to waive the minimum utility charges for Elizabeth Thompson for property at 102 Windham St. Thompson said she received a $478 bill for the past two years for water and gas at the house, but she said no one has lived there since 2002.

Established a $100 petty cash fund for the Parks and Recreation Department.

Authorized the building inspection department to cut and clean lots and demolish dilapidated structures.

Approved the claims docket.

The city board will meet again at 10 a.m. May 25 at City Hall Annex.