Interim leaders remain as Vicksburg city board postpones permanent appointments

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — Interim department heads will remain in place for now, as the city has delayed announcing permanent appointments, Mayor Willis Thompson said Friday, citing scheduling conflicts and the need to interview additional candidates.

“Initially, it was the board’s plan to name appointments today, but because of the board being out of office last week at the Municipal Conference and the need to interview additional candidates, we have decided to move that date, and we will release that date in the upcoming week,” Thompson said during the morning city board meeting.

Thompson added that a special-call meeting will be held next week to approve an updated organizational chart for city administration. Department appointments will be made based on the responsibilities outlined in that chart.

Interim leaders for each department have remained unchanged since the board’s decision on July 10. Each appointee is under a 50-day evaluation period.

Below is the current list of interim department heads:

City Clerk
Deborah A. Kaiser-Nickson

Police Department
Police Chief: Mitchell Dent

Fire Department
Fire Chief: Trey Martin III
Deputy Fire Chief of Suppression: Trey Martin III
Deputy Fire Chief of Ambulance Service: Jessica Cade

Legal Department
City Attorney: Lee D. Thames Jr.
Assistant City Attorney/Prosecutor: Keyona Henry
Assistant City Prosecutor: Stephen McMillan

Municipal Court
Municipal Court Judge: Angela Carpenter
Municipal Court Judge Pro Tem: Penny Lawson
Municipal Court Clerk: Roslyn Gates

Other Departments
Director of Recreation: Patrick Daughtry
Director of Human Resources: Carol Sullivan
Director of Finance and Administration: Doug Whittington
Director of Information Technology: Pamela Newton
Director of Public Works: Dane Lovell
Director of Community Development: Jeff Richardson
Airport Manager: Ron Davis