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VIDALIA, La. — A free-to-use fitness court is now on the list of amenities to be added to the William T. Polk Park as it is expanded with the Town of Vidalia’s hydroelectric royalty projects.

Loran Scott presented the project at the Vidalia Board of Aldermen meeting on Tuesday and said that a grant would pay part of the cost as part of the National Fitness Campaign, which supports the creation of thousands of similar-style courts in cities nationwide.

She said the city will have to pay $165,000 for the fitness court, and the grant covers $35,000.

Included with the court is a QR code to download a free mobile phone app that details fitness routines using the court catered to any age or fitness level.

There would also be an art wall with Vidalia for a custom mural and an open platform for group dances or instruction.

Mayor Buz Craft said the Vidalia Board of Aldermen approved $1.6 million last year for Polk Parks’ expansion out of the hydro royalty fund, and this court would be a small part of that.

“It’s a neat thing that we could add with the playground, the splash pad, and all of the things we’ve got going on with Polk Park,” he said.

The Board of Aldermen approved a resolution Tuesday to accept the grant.

Scott said the National Fitness Campaign will administer grant funding for the entire project, minus its foundation.

“They will be supplying all of the equipment; they ship it here and install it, and they also cover the press and the ribbon cutting and everything that goes along with that,” she said.

Watch the video below to learn more about the National Fitness Campaign fitness courts.

In other matters, the Vidalia Board of Aldermen approved $150,000 of the hydro fund to support an after-school tutoring program hosted by Concord Youth Group. The board also approved this funding last year for the tutoring program after Concord Youth Group suggested it, but after Craft requested the Concordia Parish School Board be involved the school board “took it and ran with it.” The school board hosted a tutoring program without the organization involved “and that’s my fault,” Craft said.

The aldermen also approved the purchase of a bucket truck for $238,072 after only a single bid from Altec was received. While it was the only bid, Cornell Lewis, utility superintendent, said the bid was a good one, with “inflation being through the roof.”

The aldermen also agreed to renegotiate an interlocal agreement with the Town of Ferriday to use a Vidalia Knuckle Boom Truck for the town’s clean-up efforts. The Aldermen already approved allowing the town to use two trucks and workers for one day for $1,500 at a previous board meeting, but it was brought back to the board because Ferriday “couldn’t pay it,” Craft said. Alderman Tommy Probst was alone in voting against a motion by Alderman Tron McCoy to allow the mayor to negotiate a new agreement with Ferriday, stating he thought $750 for one truck was a “good option.”

After the public hearing portion of the meeting, attendees offered no comments, so the aldermen approved three ordinance amendments, including two amendments to Ordinance No. 692 to fix the compensation of the municipal clerk and the Board of Aldermen.

As raises were approved for town employees in previous meetings, the aldermen approved raising the clerk’s salary to $62,500 and the aldermen’s salary to $1,000 from $700 per month. The aldermen’s raise, however, is subject to their attendance and the regular board meetings.

A local emergency declaration in anticipation of Tropical Storm Francine was also approved following the State of Louisiana emergency declaration. This allows Mayor Buz Craft to authorize emergency purchases to aid in clean-up and recovery during the storm.