The Vicksburg Convention Center gained approval Monday from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to place an electronic sign along Washington Street to promote events at the Mulberry Street facility, as well as activities around the city.

The decision to OK the sign reverses the city’s lay Board of Architectural Review finding in February that the double-sided, digital message board was incompatible with city rules. Mayor Laurence Leyens said he expected the lay board, charged with reviewing changes in the city’s historic districts, to deny the request, but voiced his desire to have it.

“This is something the city’s been wanting to do for a long time,” he said. “We need to have a sign to tell you what’s going on at the convention center.”

Dorwin Shields, a member of the review board, was at the appeal hearing and said the decision to decline the request was because the sign didn’t meet the guidelines to which the board adheres. The sign will exceed height and square-footage requirements that are outlined in the Historic Vicksburg Design Review Guidelines.

“They understand that our hands were tied, and that’s what we had to do,” he said. “I welcome the signage and think it will be informative.”

The sign will be at least 50 square feet and about 30 feet high. It will be installed on land owned by the city across from Thomas Furniture at 1711 Washington St., which is east of the convention center at 1600 Mulberry St.

Larry Gawronski, convention center executive director, said the sign, which will have high resolution and be capable of displaying movie clips, would be visible a couple of blocks away to inform people driving by of upcoming events and the location of the center.

In another matter, the board approved an application for ad valorem tax abatement and adopted a resolution granting conditional approval for the abatement from the Vicksburg Valley Building LLC, property at 1421-1423 Washington St., owned by Kayon Agahnia of KA Enterprises. Agahnia purchased the building, a former department store, from the family of Mayor Laurence Leyens in June. The action means Agahnia will be exempt from paying city taxes on the improvements to the building. Since December, contractors have been working to convert the space into apartments and retail space. Leyens, who has said he has no financial stake in the project, has been acting as a consultant on the project and said construction on the apartments and retail space is expected to begin by April 15. Crews have repaired the exterior. Abatements are often used in the field of economic development to encourage businesses to relocate, expand and even retain facilities in a community by means of lowering the local property taxes.

On the agendaMeeting Monday, Vicksburg officials:Recognized Elizabeth King as senior of the month at the Vicksburg Senior Center.Accepted a donation of a Fiberglas catfish from the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.Approved a request for permission from Shirley Waring to hold a student reception at the Art Park at Catfish Row from 3:30 to 6 p.m. April 19 for Alcorn State University’s annual JazzFest, which will be at the Vicksburg Convention Center.Approved a request for advertisement for the 71st Annual Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Conference at the Vicksburg Convention Center May 29-31.Approved a request for advertisement from the Vicksburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, for the Jabberwock Souvenir Booklet.Approved an allocation of funds in the amount of $9,315 to The Initiative Inc.Accepted a letter appealing the April 1 decision of the Zoning Board of Appeals denying a special exception to Magdalene Johnson, owner of Highway 27 Motors, and authorized the city clerk to set and publish a hearing date for May 5.Approved budget amendments, which included a decrease of $51,000 for administration, an increase of $600 for TV23 capital, an increase of $23,000 for recreational services, an increase of $5,000 in recreational capital for a work vehicle, an increase of $14,000 in building maintenance for the planning department to move to the Neil Building, $4,000 in inspections for the department to move to the planning building and $5,000 in landscaping capital for a work vehicle.Accepted a notice of a termination of a lease between the city and the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau for the adjacent parking lot to its former building to be used for public parking.Approved and consented to assignment of the Super Ten building from Hal Parker and Mark Shapley to Riverbend Land and Development LLC.Authorized the mayor to execute a state Homeland Security Grant Program Award for 2007, allotting $15,814 to the Vicksburg Fire Department to purchase urban search and rescue equipment.Authorized the mayor to execute a $15,292 state Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Grant Award for 2007 to the Vicksburg Police Department for urban search and rescue equipment.Approved a request to publish a public service announcement in The Vicksburg Post for the upcoming 2008 American Red Cross Learn to Swim program.Authorized the mayor to execute a professional services contract with Geographic Computer Technologies LLC.Approved a request giving the purchasing director the authority to purchase up to $3,500 over the $1,500 city limit without competitive bids for off-road diesel for the street department.Approved requisition orders, such as $14,326 for pipes and fittings, $14,208 for contractor-provided services to River City Electronics Service and $12,200 written to DPS Support Services for training services.Authorized the city clerk to advertise sealed bids for sand, gravel and rock, pool chemicals and water treatment chemicals.In an executive session, the board discussed 17 pay adjustments, three in parks and recreation, one in the sewer department, one in gas and 12 in the police department; 15 employment matters, 10 in parks and recreation, one in gas and four in right of way; two resignations, one in gas and one in street; and one personnel matter in inspections.

The board will meet again at 10 a.m. Thursday.