Vicksburg residents can expect to see improved streets and a greater police presence starting this summer.
In advance of the village’s 2025-26 fiscal year starting July 1, council members have started to review and approve expenditures within the upcoming budget, set for adoption June 30.
During their May 19 meeting, council members were provided details about impending street improvements. Village Manager Jim Mallery elaborated on the plans. Local streets on deck for improvements in the 2025-26 fiscal year are:
- Michigan between Highway and Washington streets.
- Second Street, an unimproved stretch will be paved.
- Kenyon between Second and Third streets.
- Kalamazoo Avenue between Raymond and Vine streets.
- South Main Street between Highway and East Washington streets.
- Wilson Street between Highway and Prairie streets.
- Maple Meadows neighborhood, Kathryn, Sugar Maple and Vicker streets, and Maple Meadows Avenue.
- Prairie Street between Boulevard Avenue and Mill Street.
- State Street between North Davis and Wilson Street.
Work will range from crack fill, chip seal and fog seal to milling and replacing with new asphalt. Funding sources will vary from local to major street funds.
Mallery said Kalamazoo Avenue will receive a crack fill, chip seal and fog seal treatment, opposed to a “mill and fill” process that includes a layer of new asphalt. “We understand the age of Kalamazoo Avenue, but the sewer (infrastructure) underneath Kalamazoo Avenue dates back 80 to 90 years, it’s clay and in the last six years, twice we’ve had issues; we’ve had to dig up that road,” Mallery said. “It right now is estimated at about a $1.4 million project, just the sewer alone. So, we are keeping our radar open for funds that could offset any cost we’d have to transfer to our utility users.”
In other words, Mallery suggested a cheaper surface application would be appropriate for Kalamazoo Avenue considering the likelihood it will have to be torn up once a sewer-replacement project is approved.
Mallery gave a shout-out to Kalamazoo County Road Commission. “I’d like to give them credit for once again assisting the village. Our mill-and-fill projects are all awarded under their competitive-bid process,” he said. “The company selected to do their work agreed to the same pricing for the village of Vicksburg.”
Mallery said road projects will not begin until after July 1. In all, the 2025 road projects total an expense of nearly $215,000.
In another budget-related matter, Mallery discussed the merits of adding a full-time officer to the Vicksburg Police Department’s force. Once hired, the new officer will expand the agency’s staff to eight members.
With benefits, a new officer costs about $85,000 annually. Mallery shared more details. “We feel it is an investment at this point to add one additional officer … the chief would develop a new shift, looking at the 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. (shift),” Mallery said. “But that position would be flexible, so if day shift were on vacation or night shift were on vacation, we would be able to flex those hours and, thus, save overtime.”
Mallery said the pool of part-time officers statewide is nearly non-existent, prompting the recommendation to seek a full-time officer.
He said the village’s growing population and its strong financial standing justify the position.
“The return on this investment will be substantial in lowering our exposure to overtime … I just think in the long term, it’s a very good investment,” Mallery said, noting the position will become available July 1. “With approval tonight, the chief will begin the process of placing ads and begin to hopefully get someone on board as close to July 1 as we practically can.”
In other action, council members approved the purchase of a 2025 Dodge Durango, eight portable radios, and new AXON tasers for the police department to replace old equipment that is no longer serviceable. The respective costs are $55,000, $44,000, and $34,000, Mallery said.
