FERRIDAY &045;&045;The Ferriday town council approved Town Clerk Brenda Carter’s resignation during their regular town meeting Tuesday night.

The council approved Carter’s resignation and appointed Shannon Beatty as the new clerk effective Tuesday. According to Mayor Gene Allen, Carter resigned because she didn’t want all the work associated with the position.

The council also discussed the town’s payment of bills. Allen said during the meeting, the town had bills in excess of $363,304.18 in addition to a $41,277 draft in the payroll account.

&uot;It’s a very extensive amount of bills,&uot; Allen said during the meeting. &uot;I just wanted to make sure we are aware of the bills and make sure we get them paid.&uot;

The council went into executive session during the meeting to discuss the following: a retainer agreement for Town Attorney Derrick Carson, an introduced ordinance concerning regulating payroll deductions and a salary schedule. The council approved the items after returning from the session.

Teresa Dennis, executive director for the Concordia Economic Industrial Development, discussed the refurbishment of the Ferriday Oil and Seed facility with the council during the meeting.

Allen also updated the council on the reapportionment plan. Allen said during the meeting he had been trying to get in touch with officials at the U.S. Justice Department to get the plan approved for the September election.

Dennis also updated the council about the application forms to be sent to the USDA for the reconstruction of the roadway into the industrial park.