After carefully and prayerfully studying all the options regarding the most responsible, accountable, and effective form of government for a city with the population of 25,000 residents, I believe the citizens and tax payers of our city could best be served by changing the 1912 charter of the City of Vicksburg:

4 Option 1: The citizens of Vicksburg should be allowed to change the form government through ballot voting. One option would be a mayor/council form of government based on the Mississippi code. With a city the population of Vicksburg, there would have to be seven council members elected from districts within the city. The council members would serve part-time.

4 Option 2: The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Vicksburg can vote among ourselves to make changes to the current 1912 city charter. The city would have departments established by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen through an organizational chart set forth in our minutes. All of the administrative functions, powers and duties of the city would be assigned within the departments. Each department would be headed by a director, who would be appointed as follows and confirmed by the majority of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen:

The Mayor would have appointment power over the following directors: city attorney, municipal court judge and court services, city clerk, finance and administration, chief of the police department, chief of the fire department, grants management and economic development/tourism.

The North Ward Alderman would have appointment power over the following directors: public works department and community development

The South Ward Alderman would have appointment power over the following directors: parks and recreation, human resources, information technology and public transportation

The mayor would be allowed to present his or her own budget with the aldermen having the option to approve or reject the budget proposal.

The mayor or alderman could remove, at his discretion, the director that he appointed, and the directors would serve at the will and pleasure of the mayor or alderman who appointed him. All other directors not specifically reserved to be appointed by a specific elected official and confirmed by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, would be decided by a majority of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

4 Option 3: Stay with the status quo and change from a Mayor/Board of Aldermen form of government to a Commission form of government. Our titles would be changed to commissioners and we would redistrict the city to have three complete equal voting districts according to the one man, one vote concept. We would also share the same equal powers and authority. We would be able to choose our own president/chairman among ourselves under this form of government.

I feel that Option 2 would be the most effective way to govern the City of Vicksburg going forward. We would save at least $1.5 million by creating more efficiency within our administration.

Each one of us would have more day to day supervision and oversight over the departments’ budgets that we manage, and department heads would have a specific person to report to daily. Please remember that the aldermen would still have advise and consent power over any appointment that I would make as a majority of the Board would have to confirm all appointments.

I also agree with the point that Alderman Thompson has made periodically that, ultimately, the people should decide what form of government they want for this city. I would not have a problem with this option either.

I am enjoying working with this administration, and without question, we have accomplished a lot in the first term of our administration. I know we all want what is best for our city, and I look forward to working with each of the aldermen in the future as we strive to achieve the highest quality of service for the citizens of the City of Vicksburg.

Remember, government of the people, for the people, by the people!