VIDALIA — The Vidalia Board of Aldermen approved a bid Tuesday night for $61,847.50 worth of work on an ongoing drainage improvement project.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said the project covers drainage improvements, which will be completed by Camo Construction of Vidalia, from Carter Street to Logan Sewell Drive. At Logan Sewell Drive the subsidiary connects to the city’s main system, which connects to Vidalia Canal, Copeland said.

These improvements are part of a bigger drainage project, which includes the new recreation center and municipal complex, on which Vidalia will spend $1.5 million on drainage, but not without controversy.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury is worried the drainage at the new municipal complex will further strain an already strained drainage system.

Police Juror Willie Dunbar was present at the aldermen meeting to obtain a copy of the study Vidalia did regarding drainage at the new site, and Copeland directed Attorney Scott McLemore to get Dunbar a copy of the study.

Copeland said he thought the jury was given a copy of the study at a previous police jury meeting, and that Jury President Melvin Ferrington had offered to help fund the study.

“I can’t speak to what Ferrington has, I am here as a citizen,” Dunbar said.

The Vidalia Canal is maintained by the Concordia Parish Police Jury.

In other news, the aldermen agreed to look into a lease issue that is keeping a non-profit tutoring center from seeking funds to operate.

Alderman Triand “Tron” McCoy said state testing is coming up soon, and added that Vidalia test scores had gone down slightly in the previous year.

4 Vidalia resident Willie Smith said Cable One has been in Vidalia for two years, and the service is deplorable.

Copeland said he agreed with Smith, and said that the city has sent Cable One letters asking them to improve the service to Vidalia.

Copeland said he had alternatives lined up when Cable One’s franchise comes up for renewal.

4 Occupational licenses were approved for Raceway to reopen on 511 Carter St., under the direction of Nilkanth Patel, and for The Picket Fence store on 1108 Carter St., which had a change of ownership to Tonya Richards.

4 The board approved the sign application for The Sandbar.