Three prospective taxi cab services who want to restart rides for hire in Vicksburg are expected to have their tiny fleets of vehicles inspected next week, while another has been given a green light to establish a business here.

On Thursday, the city’s traffic department officials will inspect vehicles owned by CJ’s Taxi, Rocket Cab and River City Cab Company, all of which had certificate of responsibility applications approved in July. The tests will include all the usual checkups for cars such as turn signals and emergency brakes, plus a survey of tire tread, meters and cleanliness, deputy city clerk John Carroll said. Police Chief Walter Armstrong recommended any new cabs be inspected by the city before they’re allowed to pick up passengers, Vicksburg Public Transportation Board member Rita Wyatt said Friday.

Meanwhile, if provisions of the city’s taxicab ordinance are met by just one, the city would have its first taxi service since J5 Cab Company closed shop in July 2009 and left the city without a cab company for the first time in 75 years.

No limit has been placed on the number of taxis each company can run, as the board would base size on the economy, Wyatt said. CJ’s, to be run by Highway 27 Motors co-owner Chris Green, plans three to five cars, with River City and Rocket planning three and one, respectively, according to their applications on file with the city. Registration fees for startup cab companies total $300 annually for up to five cabs and $25 for each additional cab. Rocket, which operated until 2003, is helmed by Joseph Williams, and River City’s principal operator is Willie Harrell Lee of Jackson, according to the applications.

The board approved a certificate of responsibility for Eagle Transportation II Inc. It passed on a motion by board president Jim Stirgus Jr. on the condition the company meets requirements of the vehicles for hire ordinance. The Byram-based company formerly operated as Shuttlebug Inc. in Jackson, according to the documents on file with the Business Services division of the Secretary of State’s Office.

“We are fully capable of operating starting with one taxi for the City of Vicksburg,” said Juanita Brown, the wife of Robert W. Brown, listed as the principal of the company on the application.

Under the ordinance passed in 2003, cab companies are required to carry a minimum liability insurance policy of $75,000 for injury or death, and $150,000 for each accident or damage to property. Policies may cost as much as $1,000 per month, per cab. The ordinance, along with the establishment in 2006 of the NRoute mini-bus system, has been mentioned frequently as impediments for growing the for-hire cab business in Vicksburg.

Vicksburg Transportation Board officials are expected to meet again at 10 a.m. Sept. 14.