A local businessman continued his attempt to receive a special exception that will allow him to store disabled vehicles at his business, but Mayor Laurence Leyens and South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman, over the dissent of North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield, said they will, first, refresh their memories on a similar situation with the property’s former owner before making a decision. On a 2-1 vote, the issue was tabled in a public hearing Monday.

Robert Johnson, operator of Highway 27 Motors and owner of property at 1801 Poplar, was denied the special exception April 1 by the Zoning Board of Appeals to place the wrecked vehicles on his lot, which is zoned C-4 commercial.

Mayfield said he didn’t understand why the board denied Johnson’s request after he agreed to remove a dilapidated building, erect a fence and keep 18-wheelers from coming on his property, which could be a disturbance to people living in the area as zoning board members suggested.

“They didn’t feel the use was appropriate,” said Zoning Administrator Dalton McCarty as he presented the Board of Mayor and Aldermen with the case.

The denial of the zoning board came on the heels of an August 2005 meeting with the property’s former owner, James Buie, who operated J&B Towing before Buie was shot and killed during a robbery this past June. The zoning board had denied Buie permission to expand his towing business, which, in 2001, was moved from Poplar Street to another location at Halls Ferry Road and Bowmar Avenue. But officials discovered he did not have a license to operate at that site, and, instead, was licensed at the Poplar Street location. The board, then, decided he would be allowed to operate his business at Poplar Street provided the license was current.

According to City Attorney Nancy Thomas, Buie did not make the improvements the board required.

Johnson, who has since purchased the property, told city officials that he was willing to comply and had already begun building a fence around the property that would shield the vehicles.

“I agreed with everything they were requiring. If they’d just give me a chance to make the corrections,” he said.

Mayfield said it was not a problem for Johnson to place the vehicles on his property – especially since he hasn’t heard any complaints.

“I have not been contacted by any neighbors. Why are they denying him?” Mayfield said.

Johnson has a similar business on Mississippi 27, where wrecked vehicles may be stored without violation, but said he wants to be able to house them in the city as a convenience to his customers.

Leyens, responding to Mayfield’s desire to allow the exception, said he wanted to learn more before making a decision.

“I’m interested in the previous discussion with James Buie. The zoning board all decided to deny him, and I’m trying to find out why,” Leyens said. “I want to understand more. Then we can render a decision.” Buie, also owner of J&B Cab, was shot during a robbery of the cab he was driving and days later died of his injuries. No arrest has been made.

In another public hearing, city officials agreed to revise the Central Business District Urban Renewal Project to change the disposition of two properties. Monday’s vote will allow a vacant lot northwest of Veto and Washington streets and south of Fred’s and a vacant lot at Willie Dixon Way and Mulberry Street to be developed by a private owner.

Thomas said the two parcels of land were included but not really addressed in the 2001 downtown revitalization plan. Officials, unsure how the properties would be developed, voted to amend the original plan and allow the two vacant areas to be developed. If the board determines they are surplus, the land will have to be advertised and sealed bids will be received, Thomas has said. Leyens, who has said empty, city-owned lots should be taxable, has identified these properties as two that have been eyed by developers.

On the agendaIn a Monday meeting, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen:

Approved a second change order on the first phase of the 2007 street paving program to add crosswalks to 20 downtown intersections. Crews began adding the faux brick crosswalks, created by stamping the asphalt and coloring it to simulate bricks, last week.Presented Steve Bounds Sr. as the Senior of the Month at the Vicksburg Senior Center.Received two separate bids from Harcros Chemicals for water treatment chemicals and pool chemicals.Received bids from Miller Materials, Buford Construction and Delta Stone for sand, gravel and rock.Received a sealed bid from Fashions Inc. of Jackson for service uniforms.Received sealed bids from G&K of Jackson, Unifirst, Cintas of Jackson and Same Day Cleaners for service uniforms.Requested the city clerk readvertise for fire and ambulance department uniforms.Denied a request for $1,500 advertisement from the Vicksburg Packers Youth Football and Cheer.Approved a request for $275 advertisement by the Mississippi Chapter of Blacks in Government for the Second Juneteenth Celebration June 15.Approved a request from the Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolent Club for $100 advertisement in its 33rd Annual Homecoming Celebration souvenir booklet.Approved a request from the Social-Physical-Spiritual Community Outreach to block off River Stage plaza parking lot May 31 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. for an event.Approved a budget amendment in the amount of $4,200 from the STEP grant to be moved to capital equipment to buy purchase breath analyizers.Discussed two dilapidated buildings and overgrown lot codes and authorized Victor Gray-Lewis, director of buildings and inspections, to proceed to cut, clean and demolish properties.Approved for Jason Williams of the right-of-way department to be added to the employee driving list.Approved a request from the parks and recreation department to purchase $200 worth of arts and crafts supplies for the summer playground camp.Approved a request to establish a petty cash fund in the amount of $300 for the swim lesson registration.Paid $11,225 to Haden Hardware Co. Inc. for fencing around the city’s sewer building.Paid $15,614 to Gulf State Engineering Inc. for an 8-inch valve.Authorized the city clerk to advertise sealed bids for traffic signal components, vehicle accessories and the digital display message sign at the Vicksburg Convention Center.In an executive session, the board discussed three pay adjustments, two for fire and one for police; a transfer in the parks and recreation department; 15 employment matters, eight in parks and recreation, one in water treatment, one in street, two in water mains, two in parks and recreation/maintenance and one in right-of-way; and a personnel mater in water mains.The board will meet Friday at 10 a.m.