Local inn owners interrupt property hearing with accusations

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — “I’m not entertaining any bums this morning, Ma’am,” said Vicksburg Mayor Willis Thompson in a Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting held Monday, Dec. 1.

The comment was said to Vicksburg resident Macy Whitney, owner of the Corner’s Mansion Inn, after she interrupted a hearing set for a property located at 2015 Oak Street. 

The owner of the property accused of being a nuisance appeared to contest the allegations made by the code enforcers. 

“That’s not my property,” explained John Walker. 

He went on to show his property line on photos provided by Code Enforcer Jeff Richardson. The trash and debris causing the issues were on a neighboring property according to Walker. 

The city allows property owners to appear before the board in order to dispute any charges. They may address the board directly. It is city policy audience members do not get to address the board during an open meeting unless they are placed on the meeting agenda.

As Walker was walking away from the podium, Whitney, who was in the attending audience, called out and asked if Walker lived in the house and if he was the owner. Whitney went on to accuse the occupants of the property as being bums. Another Vicksburg resident and owner of The Inn at Cedar Grove Mansion, Kendra Reed, asked Walker what property he did own.

The mayor used the gavel to call order to the meeting and said, “We’re done. We can’t do that, Ma’am, We’ll just move on.”

Whitney continued to speak and explain she had guests including travelers from Europe who were afraid to walk in the streets because they were “scared of the bums living in the white house located at 2015.”

Eventually, Deputy Police Chief Charles Hill interrupted Whitney to tell her she could step outside with him so he could gather information in order to address the issue. 

The hearing was then closed by the board after the mayor had assured Walker the city would look further into the matter of the property lines between Walker’s home and the neighboring parcel.

A full copy of the agenda can be found below.