Vidalia — The City of Vidalia has made a request to Danny’s Lounge that it shut down at 2 a.m. each night.

Due to altercations that take place around the club and a slew of complaints from residents, Mayor Hyram Copeland said he believes it best that the club close at 2 a.m.

“It seems like most incidences are happening after 2 a.m.,” Copeland said. “I know not all of these are your fault. We ask that you consider this and work us. I think this will hopefully cut down on incidences in the area.”

Ultimately, it was decided between the mayor, Danny’s representatives and the chief of police that a separate meeting will follow to discuss ways to alleviate crime.

Right now, it’s not mandated that the bar close its doors at the suggested time but Copeland said he feels a compromise can be reached.

He also said that with the City of Natchez and City of Ferriday considering mandating bars within its city limits close at 2 a.m., that all bar goers will filter from their respective cities to Vidalia, hence clogging its bar scene and exponentially increasing crime.

Copeland also said a curfew that’s already set in place with the city be strictly enforced in the future.

Alderman Triand McCoy said he is in favor of having a meeting to come up with ideas.

“The main concern is the safety of the people that come to Danny’s and the safety of the people who live in the area,” McCoy said.

In other business:

4A resolution was passed to honor Huey Richmond, the former superintendent of street sanitation maintenance who recently died.

Copeland estimated that Richmond worked for the city for 40 years.

“Everybody loved him, he was a pillar in this community,” Copeland said.

4The board considered amending city policy to regard hiring relatives.

Chief Ronnie “Tapper” Hendricks said one of his employees at the police department had considered trying to get a job for two relatives.

Board members were unsure of the city policy as it relates to Louisiana policy they requested that the city attorney get an opinion from the state attorney general.

4The city’s audit came back but will not be public record until Monday.

Copeland said this was no indication that anything was wrong.

“We had a good audit, we had three minor technicalities but it will be available Monday,” he said.

4City Manager Ken Walker advised the board that switching the city’s insurer from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Cigna would save the city $165,000 a year.

The board voted to make the switch.

4Two bids were received by the city for a new chipper. One for $37,490 and another for $44,448.38.

A motion was made and passed to take the bids under advisement.