NRoute will get its supplement from the City of Vicksburg for fiscal 2015.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Thursday renewed the city’s $200,000 supplement for the bus system, which received praise from Mayor George Flaggs Jr. for improving its bottom line.
“When we gave them this money last year, I told them that was all the money they would receive,” Flaggs said after the meeting. “They’ve done a good job with their finances. They’re running the system like they should, and they’re going to be getting a trolley for tourism and will be surplusing some buses.”
NRoute is expected to finish fiscal 2014 in the black, a reversal from previous fiscal years when it closed with deficits. According to its August balance sheet, NRoute had an $18,799 surplus heading into September, and $31,273.99 in available cash, pending payment of several outstanding bills and additional expected revenue.
The board in 2013 increased the then-cash strapped transit system’s annual supplement from $125,000 to $200,000 for fiscal 2014, and provided cash and in-kind services totaling more than $70,000 to help NRoute avoid a projected $55,532 deficit at the close of fiscal 2013.
The NRoute Board in March 2013 cut its routes from six to three and laid off three drivers. The move was projected to save the cash-strapped bus system about $108,706 per year.
The board in April 2013 reduced two full-time administrative employees to part-time, cutting their salaries and removing insurance benefits in a move estimated to save about $21,060 a year. An administrative assistant position was restored to full-time that June.
In another matter, the board approved a contract with Ridgeland-based Neel-Schaffer Engineers for professional services for the main apron rehabilitation project at the Vicksburg Municipal Airport for $11,350.
The $115,870 project is funded with $104,283 in Federal Aviation Administration grant funds and $11,587 in city and state funds.

On the agenda
Meeting Thursday, the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen:
• Received an update on activities at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center.
• Authorized paying $127,022.55 to Terra Renewal of Richardson, Texas, for sludge removal at the wastewater treatment plant.
• Approved a request from the police department to establish a $3,500 petty cash fund in the name of Police Chief Walter Armstrong to assist in cases.
• Approved buying a $100 ad for the city in the First Mississippi Chapter of Blacks in Government booklet.
• Approved buying a $200 ad in the Mississippi Public Transit Association Conference booklet.
• Approved buying a $100 ad in the Elite Civic Club Vogue-Esquire Models of Chicago show program.
• Authorized Mayor George Flaggs Jr. to send a letter to the Mississippi Department of Revenue acknowledging the city’s participation in the Municipal Court Collection Fund. The letter involves registering American Municipal Services with the department, which is required under state law. American Municipal Services was hired earlier this year by the city to collect old fines. The company’s fee is paid through a 25 percent surcharge paid by the offender when the fine is collected.
• Approved a request from the Purple and Gold Festival organizers to close Main Street for the festival on Oct. 17.
• Approved adding Billy White, vehicle maintenance; Blake Clifford, building maintenance; Jebroski Shelton, animal control; and Roger Herrington, sewer, to the city employee driving list.
• Authorized City Clerk Walter Osborne to advertise for bids for service uniforms.
• Approved liens for the cutting and clearing the following properties: 119 Lovers Lane, AR Seven LLC, $157.50; 1508 Military Ave., Stephanie Ann Gaines, $138.75; 110 Wabash Ave., Clem Dickerson, $163.75; lot on Spouts Spring Road, Milton Estate c/o Cheryl Roberts, $122.50; 316 Shady Lane, Linda R. Halford, $6,251.25; properties owned by the State of Mississippi: 1545 Marcus St., $312.50; 505 Dabney St., $143.75; and 1311 Jefferson St., $162.50.
• Authorized Flaggs to authorize offers totaling $9,238.23 for flood damaged property under the Phase II buyout program in the Kings community. The total represents three properties eligible for the buyout. The offers will be made to the property owners, who are not required to accept them.
• Approved the claims docket.