Vicksburg officials took formal steps Monday to prepare for the city’s Fourth of July Celebration, which will extend into a three-day event and include entertainment and the annual fireworks display.

The city agreed to pay $12,500 to A.M. Pyrotechnics LLC for the remainder of the funds allocated for fireworks, which will blast from the Yazoo Diversion Canal and Mississippi River over Vicksburg. The display illuminates the sky for about 22 minutes, blasting colorful booms of flashing lights.

Earlier this month, the city paid the company the first half of the $25,000 total cost to put on the show. The money is a collaboration of funds from the city, county, Ameristar Casino, Cellular South, Coca-Cola and, possibly, AT&T.

Before the rockets begin to glare, entertainment will be offered along Levee Street. Still Surfin’, a Beach Boys tribute band, will perform at 7:30 p.m. City officials on Monday also voted to close city streets for coinciding events around Levee Street, where the band is set to perform.

Events planned for July 5 and 6 include a performance each day by the United States Mid-South Navy Band at the First Baptist Church gymnasium. The concert July 5 will be at 6:30 p.m. The July 6 concert, which will begin at 3 p.m., will be followed by an old-fashioned ice cream social.

Last year’s event brought an estimated 7,500 people downtown to celebrate Independence Day.

On the agendaIn a Monday meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, the board:Recognized Denise Garner in the mayor’s office for 10 years of service.Awarded a sealed bid to Mid-South Uniform & Supply Inc., for fire department uniforms.Approved a request from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., to participate in a Global Centennial Walk June 28 at 10 a.m. from the Warren County Courthouse to Cherry Street and from Cherry to the Texaco and Pizza Hut on Clay Street.Tabled a letter from the Board of Zoning Appeals to rezone an area along U.S. 61 South, property belonging to Wayne Williamson, from L-2 Heavy Industrial to MX-1 Mixed Use Residential.Accepted a petition to close and vacate a portion of Lee Street.Tabled a request from Jackson Street Missionary Baptist Church to close Jackson Street from 6 to 9 p.m. from Monday-June 28 between First North and Second North streets for outside revival services.Approved a letter to Kansas City Southern Railroad regarding street closures for the Miss Mississippi pageant June 28.Approved a request for donation by the Central Mississippi Prevention Services Inc., for the 2008 Summer Leadership Camp.Approved a transfer of $1,000 from administrative services to the city’s court supplies for an increase in additional judge’s expenses and an increase of $1,434,000 in grant and bond money to repair the U.S. 61 business corridor.Authorized the mayor to execute a grant agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration for the Vicksburg-Tallulah Regional Airport for construction of a parallel taxiway. The funds will be matched with Louisiana and will be no expense to taxpayers.Adopted a resolution authorizing preparation and submittal of an application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency under the fiscal year 2008 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program to help fund the city’s emergency management platform and help pay for a forensic video enhancer for the Vicksburg Police Department.Executed certification designating Marcia Weaver as the official designee and applicant’s agent to make proper application to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-FEMA.Executed a letter of intent to apply for Public Safety Interoperable Communications funds.Accepted a $50,000 grant award for the 2007 Hurricane Relief Grant for the police department to put toward purchasing a generator that may be used for the city’s Emergency Operations Center.Authorized the mayor to execute an administrative services contract between Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Discussed dilapidated buildings and overgrown lot codes and authorized Victor Gray-Lewis, director of buildings and inspections to proceed to cut, clean and demolish properties.In an executive session, discussed a longevity in the administration department; nine employment matters, eight in the fire department and one in the recreation department; 50 pay adjustments, 46 in the police department and four in the fire department; a transfer in the water mains department; and six terminations, one in landscaping, one in vehicle maintenance department and four in parks and recreation programs.The board will meet again at 10 a.m. June 25.