The town of Gunnison in Bolivar County is the beneficiary of a program that allows the city of Vicksburg to donate surplus vehicles and equipment to smaller cities and towns in the state.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen in January approved the donation of two cars and two trucks to the town that were picked up Feb. 8 by Gunnison Police Chief Joseph Johnson and other town officials.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said the donations were the result of a discussion he had with Johnson at a Mississippi Municipal League conference in Biloxi.

“He attended a class with me, and they started talking about small towns that didn’t have adequate funding for vehicles and equipment,” Mayfield said. “He asked if we might have some vehicles such as old police cars that were operable, heavy duty trucks or heavy duty equipment that were operable that we could donate to them.”

Mayfield told the chief about the city’s donation program, adding the city in the past has donated vehicles and equipment to other small towns.

“I got with (vehicle maintenance supervisor) Barry (Warnock) to look out for some vehicles,” Mayfield said. “He came up with a heavy duty work truck along with a small truck that could be used for running errands, (and) we had two police cars that were still in operable condition. We donated those vehicles to them.”

Johnson said the donations were welcomed.

“I really, really appreciate the kindness from the city of Vicksburg — Mr. Mayfield and the board (of Mayor and Aldermen) — for helping us to be able to better serve and protect our community. We really appreciate the gift they gave us in the spirit it was given. It was God in the planning, and God knows what we needed,” Johnson said.

Overall, Mayfield said, the city’s program “has been a very good program that we’ve entered into with mostly small towns. Gunnison has 452 people, so they don’t have much of a tax base.

“We have some vehicles like police cars with high mileage or other equipment that have reached a point where we are unable to use them because of our policies, but can still be used by another town. The other alternative is to declare them surplus and sell them at auction where we won’t get much for them. If another town can use them, we’re glad to let them have them.”

Gunnison Mayor Frances Ward said anytime the city’s looking to give away vehicles or equipment they can give her a call.

“We are very appreciative to the mayor and the police chief for the two trucks and the two police cars; we were in need of cars and trucks, and we’re grateful. Anytime they want to give anything away, we’ll take it.”