Jan. 7, the Board of Mayor and Alderman declared war on vacant and derelict cars and buildings in Vicksburg.

That day, the board addressed a seven-page list totaling about 70 derelict vehicles sitting in yards and on city streets in violation of city ordinances. And North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield later declared war on derelict properties.

“This concerted effort is about cleaning this community up and bringing the city of Vicksburg as a whole into the 21st century,” Mayfield said. “This board is turning up the heat on derelict properties and abandoned vehicles.”

Cracking down on junked vehicles, he said, was just the beginning.

“Once we get all these inoperable vehicles moved or brought up to code, we’re going to start from the beginning on the derelict properties, whether it’s a property that doesn’t have a structure on it or a property that has a structure,” he said.

“We’re going to ask them (property owners) to clean up around their properties. If it’s property people are living in, they’re (inspectors) going to write these properties up that might be a hazard to the individuals or the surrounding community.”

Derelict homes and vehicles have been an ongoing problem for city officials, and the present crackdown is the latest assault in the city’s efforts to clean up Vicksburg and remove properties that for whatever reason have been neglected and left to collapse on their own.

It’s not that the city hasn’t tried to work with people to help them get their properties in shape.

The board has in the past has tried to help people with their problems. They have worked with nonprofit programs to improve residences. They have granted property owners time — as much as up to 90 days — to get clean and clear their property. Some people comply; others fail to act, the property remains a blight in the community, and the neighborhood suffers.

The board should be commended for its increased efforts to better enforce the city codes, and hopefully people will get the message that they need to keep their property up to code.

But it shouldn’t be that way. People should be responsible for their property. Many are, but it’s those who refuse to accept responsibility to maintain their property, and it’s their mess the city has to clean. And that costs all of us.