By Jef Rietsma
Three significant pieces of Vicksburg’s budget puzzle were addressed by Village Council members during a special meeting June 24 which included approval of a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
Funding for major and local streets, Angels Crossing Golf Course and employee compensation were addressed by Village Manager Jim Mallery.
Major and local streets
There are about 21 miles of roadways in Vicksburg, a third of them major streets which are funded through the state from gasoline tax and other sources.
Mallery said the village expects to receive $363,500 for the major streets from the state in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Projected spending on major streets over the next 12 months is $334,250.
Mallery said he was asked recently about changing truck routes in the village to keep trucks off Kalamazoo Avenue. That would be a tough sell, he said, because Kalamazoo Avenue is a major roadway and a critical north-south link through the village.
It’s probably the street in most need of improvement throughout the village, he said. “We know that within the next five or six years, we’re keeping our radar open for external funding sources to improve the sewer system under Kalamazoo and part of that project would be replacing that roadway.”
Mallery added that the village is looking at timing of the traffic signal at Kalamazoo Avenue and East Prairie Street to allow more green-light time for Prairie Street in order to keep its traffic flowing.
Mallery said the village local streets budget will start the fiscal year with a balance of $365,000. Projected expenditures for the 14 miles of local/neighborhood streets over the next year amount to $326,250.
The village plans to focus on street-sign replacement this fiscal year.
“We’ll coordinate through the police and DPW department to identify street signs, whether that’s the street-name signs, stops signs or any traffic-control sign in the village to update those,” he said. “Our goal will be over the next 12 months to (replace) any of the outdated or aged signs with new ones.”
Angels Crossing Golf Course
Mallery said the village-owned Angels Crossing course is expected to generate more than $1.6 million in revenue this fiscal year, about $25,000 more than anticipated.
“We did have a 10 percent rate increase for this golf season,” Mallery said. “But the golf course ratings on the three major (course-rating) apps are incredible for Angels Crossing on conditions of the golf course and the value.”
Employee compensation
“We have an exceptional group of employees,” Mallery said. “Our front-line DPW staff, our officers … I have not spent enough time expressing my gratitude for what’s accomplished, so I’ll try tonight.”
Mallery acknowledged the village has an obligation to represent financially the best interest of its residents. Conversely, he said, employee retention is essential to the village’s day-to-day operations and overall success.
Mallery said Vicksburg’s team of municipal employees is unmatched for a community its size. With that, he proposed a 4% salary increase for Village Treasurer Michelle Morgan, Clerk Christian Wines, Police Chief Scott Sanderson, Public Works Director Jimmy Meyers and the five-member DPW staff.
Mallery noted police department officers operate on a contract that netted them a 3.5 percent raise.
“It is my recommendation to implement a half-percent increase for Vicksburg police officers to ensure their percentage-rate increase stands at 4 percent, as well,” Mallery said.
He also recommended each village employee receive $1,500 into their health-care savings plan. The proposal and recommendation for staff raises were approved by village council members.
Mallery then singled out Sanderson, Morgan, Meyers and Wines, calling them “pillars of commitment, tirelessly working for the betterment of our community.”
“With a deep-rooted belief in the potential for Vicksburg, they invest wholeheartedly in its growth and prosperity, ensuring every decision is made with the village’s best interest at heart,” Mallery said. “Their professionalism sets a standard fostering an environment of respect and accountability within their teams and across the community. They are not just directors, they are champions for this village (and) it’s for these reasons and more I am recommending a one-time merit payment of $1,500.”
Mallery’s recommendation for the merit payment to Sanderson, Morgan, Meyers and Wines was approved unanimously.
Village Council members later recommended a 13 percent pay raise for Mallery. He declined the full amount, though the two sides eventually compromised on a 10 percent raise for Mallery. He requested the 3 percent be divided equally between Sanderson, Morgan, Meyers and Wines. Council members approved.
Village President Tim Frisbie said Mallery showed his commitment to village staff by essentially increasing their one-time merit pay from $1,500 to $2,300 each.
“Jim, that just shows your integrity, your character and your concern for your staff,” Frisbie said. “That is undeniable. Thank you.”
Canoe and kayak rental
At an earlier council meeting, Mallery said a canoe and kayak rental at the village’s Sunset Lake beach was a part of the proposed budget.
Mallery said the watercraft rental is included in the village’s Parks and Recreation Department’s budget. The plan calls for a three-year, $8,500-per-year contract with a company to oversee the rental business.
“We think it will be a service to not only residents of Vicksburg but a potential draw into Vicksburg,” he said. “There is a cost to the individual user, so there would be some (incoming) revenue.”
Mallery said as the state’s DNR occasionally offers a “Free Fishing Day,” he would like to consider a similar promotion early in warm-weather season to help promote the rentals.
Mallery said he would like the village to update its Parks and Recreation long-range plan. The current plan was assembled in 2014. Developing a new plan comes at a cost of $12,500, he said.
An additional $37,500 has been earmarked for maintenance and work at the Historic Village.
Mallery’s focus shifted to funding for Clark Park in 2024-25. He said the village would like to make a substantial investment in perennial flowers as a visual enhancement. Mallery said he envisions the investment yielding a flowering area ideal as a backdrop for senior pictures, for example.
He also proposed continuing the village’s investment in dog-waste stations at municipal parks.
Other allocations for the 2024-25 fiscal year:
Vicksburg Police Department: Mallery said the $775,600 allocation is consistent with 2023-24 fiscal year and allows the village to provide a 24-hour police presence.
“It includes contractual salary and step-pay increases; there are some seniority step raises of officers now entering their fifth year of service,” Mallery said, noting the budget also includes funding for reserve officers who maintain a presence at special events throughout the year.
He said the agency currently has one part-time officer, two fewer than he would prefer. Mallery said he anticipates asking to add a full-time position later in the fiscal year.
The department has a full-time chief and five full-time officers, including a school resource officer whose salary is shared equally with Vicksburg Community Schools.
Utilities and maintenance at village hall and other properties owned by the Municipal Building Authority. The $31,450 is an 11 percent increase from 2023-24, the result of increase in utility costs.
Department of Public Works: An investment of $575,775 for the current fiscal year represents a 24 percent increase from 2023-24.
Mallery attributed the increase to budgeted capital-improvement project expenses centering on the purchase of a new leaf truck and updating a plow truck recently purchased from the city of Kalamazoo.
Mallery said smart budgeting is critical, as Vicksburg had the highest percentage of growth from 2022 to 2023 of the 24 cities, villages and townships in the county.
“People are not only coming and visiting Vicksburg, but there is a desire to live in our community, as well,” he said. The village added a fifth position with DPW to accommodate Vicksburg’s growth.
Downtown Development Authority: Mallery said $20,000 has been allotted to update the village’s DDA long-range plan. In addition, he said he anticipates revenue of $164,500 and expenses totaling $151,000.
“We’re anticipating entering January 2025 to identify $125,000 of DDA funds to assign to the parking lot in back of the hardware,” he said. “That’s our goal and it has come back as the No. 1 item in all the surveys to be able to pull that off in the 2026-27 fiscal year.”
Mallery said the village plans to continue using DDA funding for ‘Burg Days of Summer weekly social events.
