The five-member Vicksburg Housing Authority Commission took on an unfamiliar, relaxed tone at its monthly meeting Tuesday as new VHA Executive Director Dannie Walker sat in on his first session.

“What a relief,” said Commissioner Abraham Green after the board welcomed Walker as its first order of business.

Scroll down to view the VHA agenda

Walker was hired in July to fill the top position vacant since May when the commission fired 21-year director Jim Stirgus Sr. He kept his comments on his arrival brief and appeared to want to get straight down to business.

“I’ve already been busy in these first three weeks,” he said. “If I haven’t seen it yet, I probably won’t.”

The commission is hoping Walker, who brings 18 years of housing authority experience with him to Vicksburg, will be able to get the authority back on track after months of turmoil.

The authority’s trouble began in December when Charles Jones Jr., maintenance supervisor, was arrested and charged with having 2.2 pounds of cocaine shipped to him at VHA executive offices at 113 Elizabeth Circle. He’s set to go to trial in November and also faces a separate embezzlement charge stemming from a search of his home, which police say turned up tens of thousands of dollars of property owned by the VHA.

Shortly after Jones’ arrest, Vicksburg officials discovered the terms of three commissioners had lapsed without formal reappointment. A fourth member had died. The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen appointed four members who elected Jay Kilroy as chairman.

Monthly and special meetings have lasted upward of four hours each since. Walker’s arrival on Tuesday coincided with the commission’s shortest meeting in months — which clocked in at just over an hour — during which they agreed to get Walker a credit card and authorize him to pay bills.

“Does this mean we don’t have to sign anymore checks?” asked Commissioner Ella Lee with a sigh of relief. “Thank God.” 

Commission Attorney A.J. “Buddy” Dees Jr. said a contract with architectural and engineering firm Jones-Zander of Grenada was received on Tuesday and should be signed shortly. The commission voted unanimously to cease all payments to the firm it formerly contracted for such services, Southeast Engineering Group of Atlanta, as members suspected the firm was being paid approximately $1,800 a month and services were not documented. 

Also pending is a federal stimulus application. “Our next step will be to submit the contract to HUD for review and approval,” said Walker. The VHA has been awarded $888,000, but must enter contracts by Sept. 30.

Separate from Jones’ arrest and Stirgus’ firing, the VHA fell into what U.S. Housing and Urban Development terms “troubled status” this year due to a temporary dip in reserve funds in 2005 used to repair roofs on 279 VHA homes and apartments following Hurricane Katrina. The troubled designation means the board had to draw up and submit a detailed improvement plan to HUD and has to update the plan monthly. The commission has one year from April to get out of troubled status or it will face a HUD takeover.

Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting were Kilroy, Green, Lee, Charles Wright and Christopher Barnett. All except Lee will travel to Biloxi today for the Mississippi Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials’ annual conference. Walker also will attend, and all will return on Friday.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com

On the agenda

Meeting Tuesday, the Vicksburg Housing Authority Commission:

• Approved meeting minutes from June 18, July 8 and 21.

• Approved a $3,200 payment to Anita Denson for consulting services.

• Approved a two-year contract with Lindsey Software Systems for accounting services.

• Heard from the Rev. Tommy Miller, director of Good Shepherd Community Center, about the summer youth program sponsored by VHA. Miller said 125 to 150 children who live in VHA properties benefited from the program this summer. The commission approved payment of $17,142 to Good Shepherd for conducting the program.

• Discussed establishing a Web site for the VHA and a need to replace the phone system at the executive offices at 113 Elizabeth Circle.

In executive session, the commission:

• Discussed one personnel issue.

The commission meets next at 5 p.m. Sept. 15 in the VHA Executive Offices.