Editor’s note: This story is the part of The Vicksburg  Post’s annual review of the top stories of 2016. The series will continue through Saturday, Dec. 30.

While no one can recall just how long the city of Vicksburg’s board of mayor and aldermen has been pondering the development of a sports complex in the city, the issue moved slightly forward this year.

In February, the board voted to designate property it owns off Fisher Ferry Road as the preferred location for the proposed sports complex.

In June, the city voted to spend $50,000 to contract with Canton, Ga., company The Sports Force to do a feasibility study for a sports complex, based on its location at the city’s Fisher Ferry property.

“They’re going to study the market, they’re going to talk to the people who are involved in sports and recreation in the city and the surrounding area, and from there, they’re going to make a recommendation to the city on how we should proceed,” said South Ward Alderman Willis Thompson, who recommended hiring the company.

City officials said The Sports Force representatives would talk with the city’s recreation officials, as well as make site visits to Fisher Ferry and Halls Ferry Park, as well as meet with representatives from the city’s and county’s baseball, softball, soccer and football leagues.

Representatives of The Sport Force were also tasked with meeting with officials with the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau to discuss how a sports complex could enhance the city’s tourism.

The Fisher Ferry site is not without its issues. To get to it, drivers must navigate an already congested Halls Ferry Road to Fisher Ferry Road — a road that is not only congested, but in poor condition in many areas from the interstate leading to the proposed sports complex property on Fisher Ferry Road.

However, Mayor George Flaggs is proposing a road be build from U.S. 61 south of Vicksburg directly to a sports complex.

As recently as last week, Flaggs, while in Washington, D.C., discussed with the state’s congressional delegation funding for a road from U.S. 61 south of Vicksburg near the city’s wastewater treatment plant to Halls Ferry Road before its intersection with Fisher Ferry

In April 2015, the Missouri-based consultant Diamante Global in April 2015 recommended the Fisher Ferry site for the proposed complex. Also in April 2015, Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill authorizing the city to levy a 2 percent food and beverage and hotel tax to finance the project, pending approval of voters in the 2017 municipal elections.