Two years into his four-year term, Paul Winfield looks at Vicksburg’s future and sees the city as a major sports venue and an extension of the Alcorn State University campus.

“I want to see Vicksburg become a premier destination for sports (baseball, softball and soccer),” he said, adding he plans to approach the aldermen about a modern sports complex this year.

“We’re in a dynamic location in Mississippi, off the interstate, off the river,” he said. “We have the unique opportunity to put forth something that our citizens can be proud of, and that’s what I intend to do.”

He wants to work with the administration of Alcorn State to include an aviation science program at the Vicksburg Municipal Airport.

“I want to see Alcorn State’s presence here quadruple,” Winfield said. “We have 600 students now in the city. I think that Vicksburg is the natural growth pattern of that campus.”

Since taking office as mayor in July 2009, Winfield, 37, has faced issues that have included building a new Washington Street railroad bridge, a major north-south thoroughfare, and a Mississippi River flood that broke an 84-year-old record and flooded portions of the city and beat down city income.

He said he’s had his critics. He said he’s made mistakes and he said he’s trying to correct them as he gets ready to seek a second term, in 2013.

“Every year, you’ve got to recheck your priorities,” he said. “There’s certain things we’re doing well, some things we need to get better in, and some things we need to cease.”

Former Mayor Laurence Leyens, whom Winfield defeated in 2009 after Leyens had served two terms, declined to discuss his successor’s second year.

“After eight years in the leadership position,” Leyens said, “I am sensitive to a much higher level of detail than the average taxpayer. I’ll leave it to the community to make their own judgment of this administration.”

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, in his second term on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen after 10 years on the Warren County Board of Supervisors, said Winfield “is handling the pressure better than I thought he would. He’s having to face people taking pot shots at him. There is a certain segment of the community hellbent on making him fail.”

Winfield, however, said he’s thankful for his critics. Without them, he said, “It’s very hard for one to know (what) to do better.”

He also talked about other issues:

• Relationship with the county: Winfield said the city enjoys a good working relationship with Warren County, citing the county’s assistance with the Green Meadow levee.

A group of business owners along U.S. 61 in May raised parts of a mile-long section of abandoned rail lines west of the Green Meadow neighborhood in South Vicksburg by about 2 feet to hold back floodwaters.

The dirt was donated by Cappaert Enterprises and trucked in by Warren County Road Department personnel.

City trucks and a bulldozer arrived three days later to help build the levee west of subdivision.

“While we were fighting here with the sea wall (City Front floodwall), and did not have the manpower to go to Green Meadows, the supervisors were instrumental in helping procure county trucks to move the dirt,” Winfield said.

He said the failure last month of a proposed city/county garbage collection plan has not changed his mind about that relationship.

The city and county had talked about combining contracts under one hauler, and a joint contract was included in the bid specifications for the contract. County officials, however, did not continue the discussions and faded out of the proposed plan.

George said at the time the city approved its contract with Waste Management that the county had been waiting to see what the city would do.

Warren County Board of Supervisors President Richard George characterized the county’s relationship with the city as good.

“We don’t have a problem,” he said.

City and county officials had a tenuous relationship under Leyens.

• The budget: Winfield said the city’s budget is in good shape, but declining casino and sales tax revenues might force the Board of Mayor and Aldermen “to make some tough decisions about finances” during coming budget meetings. The city’s new fiscal year will begin Oct. 1.

He said the city had spent more than $500,000 in overtime, debris collection, leasing and other services from the flood fight. With the recent federal disaster assistance declaration, he said, the city might recover some of that money.

Winfield said when he took office that his plan to reorganize city government would reduce the cost of operations by cutting the city’s 30 departments to 12. He said the flood forced him to postpone further implementation of the plan, adding that he has discussed reorganization with the aldermen and other city officials.

“I do anticipate moving forward with my action plan,” he said. “We have got to get serious about reorganization.

• Economic development: Winfield points to the sale of the Vicksburg Mall and recent re-opening of the former Horizon Casino and Hotel as the Grand Station Hotel and Casino as highlights of his efforts to make the city more business-friendly. He wants to create a planning and economic development department to recruit business and industry, help existing local businesses and encourage new business growth, he said.

• Waste contract: Winfield said he wasn’t happy with the way the city’s contract with Waste Management Co. was approved — passage came in a meeting scheduled when he could not attend — but added the new contract means lower garbage fees for homeowners.

He said the competition for the city’s solid waste business brought new companies to Vicksburg to compete for the commercial solid waste market.

• Affordable housing: Winfield believes the city should be involved in housing initiatives. He said the city has in the past worked with housing groups like We Care on projects, and supports the first-time homebuyer assistance program.

The city also is working with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Mississippi Home Corp. to find better housing for flood victims, he said.

He said city officials are working on a buyout for the flooded areas, but wants to examine alternative housing programs to get people out of the flood zones and into better homes.

• NRoute: While he believes there is a need in Vicksburg for public transportation, Winfield wants NRoute to better manage its finances. “We have reduced their allocation significantly to urge them to make good business decisions,” he said.

Formed in 2006, NRoute was designed to provide public transportation services to city residents, but has been plagued by financial problems. In 2009, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen cut the city’s allocation to NRoute from $225,000 to $135,000. He recalled that he requested audits of the books that showed no wrongdoing, but made recommendations for better operations.

• Continuing education: Winfield began attending Tulane University’s 18-month Executive MBA Program in January to earn a master’s of business administration.

The program is held on Tulane’s New Orleans campus. Classes are held on weekends, with two-week-long intensive classes and an eight-day international seminar. Winfield attended one week-long session in January, and said he’s paying for the program “out of my own pocket.”

He chose Tulane because of the Freeman School of Business’ reputation, and, “I felt that in the long run, as far as professional development, it would make me a better businessman and a better mayor.”

• Port Gibson ties: Winfield said he will remain as city attorney for Port Gibson. He said the Port Gibson Board of Aldermen meets the first Monday of the month at 5 p.m., “after hours” for Vicksburg.

He said most of Vicksburg’s employees have second jobs.

“Local governments, in many instances, have great benefits, but the pay is not necessarily all that great,” said Winfield, who is paid $85,085 a year as mayor. “I took a significant loss of income when I ran for mayor of Vicksburg, and I don’t regret it at all, because I enjoy serving the public.”

• Back audits: The city is two years behind in its audits. Winfield said the city’s two-year backlog affects its ability to get grants and borrow money for projects like the proposed sports complex.

“Audits let bond rating services know how healthy the city is financially,” he said. “We are in good shape, but the bond rating services don’t know that because they haven’t seen the audits.”

City accountant Doug Whittington said the city has an A1 bond rating.

He said the city’s 2008 audit should be completed in September, and the 2010 audit to be ready by February.

• New home: Winfield and his wife, Malissa, bought the Fannie Peeples home on Mulvihill at Drummond Street and are renovating it. He said the gardens, which were a showplace in the city, will return, but the current priority is getting the house ready to move in.

“The house was built in 1925 and has not been lived in for four or five years,” he said. “It needs work. And I have to fix the kitchen for the missus.”