It was exactly 11 years ago that Vicksburg was described on the front page of The Washington Post as “a rather tawdry little gambling town.”

Offering that analysis was Mississippi Gov. Kirk Fordice, who had made his fortune and raised his family here.

Fordice, a popular governor who served two terms, also adopted the phrase, “Only Positive Mississippi Spoken Here.” (I think we have a photo somewhere of Fordice unveiling a sign on I-20 with that motto printed on it. Guess he didn’t read it. Or more likely, he thought it didn’t apply to him.)

Anyway, in 1998 Mississippi was only about six years into its experience with casinos. Vicksburg was in its pre-Leyens phase, meaning there was little vitality downtown and sparse landscaping anywhere. Ramshackle and unkept commercial and residential properties were common, as was litter. The town did have a certain tawdriness to it.

But not the casinos. Fordice was wrong if he meant that. All four casinos then in business were fairly new, having opened between August 1993 and July 1994.

Well, time marches on.

These days the town is a lot less tawdry, having invested millions in a variety of improvements. But now some casino property does merit a wary eye.

For those who don’t remember, in 1991, Warren County voters, after the Legislature by stealth or accident had authorized casino development in 1990, just said no.

A year later, once groundwork had been done, voters here held a second referendum and said yes. Waiting and establishing clear zoning rules and requirements attracted quality developers. While some other river counties got “rope and gangplank” operators and little-to-no revenue, Vicksburg got the state’s first Harrah’s, which was also the state’s first casino-hotel combination. All three other initial operators here made major investments right off, too.

In addition to clear development rules, Vicksburg imposed a tax structure that now generates a third of all city revenue. And while Warren County and public schools don’t net as much as the city does from the taxes on casino activity, both gain millions each year from property taxes on the casinos and all their hotels and restaurants.

Today, Vicksburg has five casinos and at least one more, although very tentative, is on the drawing board. Most have routinely plowed some of their profits into upkeep and improvements. Others have had major expansions. Their exteriors are kept clean or freshly painted and their lawns and parking areas are well-landscaped, well-lighted and clean. Some, however, do a much better job than others.

Most of the regulatory power over casinos comes from the state Gaming Commission, a three-member panel whose initial members were appointed by Fordice. The commission is known for continuing to raise the bar — requiring more amenities and investment from casino companies. But localities also have a voice — and can set standards as high as they want.

In practical terms, what that means is Mayor Paul Winfield and aldermen Michael Mayfield and Sid Beauman need not consider themselves powerless when it comes to any casino appearing “tawdry.” They can insist that as a price for the privilege of doing business here, standards of interior and exterior cleanliness and such be maintained. They shouldn’t be shy about it.

Obviously it would be better for owners to make these decisions themselves. Certainly it’s smart from the aspect of attracting customers.

But if they don’t, the city should.

Even if Fordice was right about the town 11 years ago, that’s not the case today. Vicksburg is not tawdry, and no casino allowed to operate here should be tawdry, either.