VIDALIA, La. &045; Lake St. John residents appeared before the Concordia Parish Police Jury for a second meeting in a row, wanting help with the rising water level and erosion of banks on private property.

Stan Cooper, along with other residents, were awaiting the Lake St. John advisory committee’s appearance at the meeting, but the committee postponed.

Bob Chennault, a longtime resident, said the lake is a few inches above pool level and the residents were asking for relief &045; for some of the water to be let out.

The jury will hear from the advisory committee at their next meeting April 26 and encouraged the residents to air their concerns with the committee first. However, Jury President Melvin Ferrington also told the residents to bring a list of their concerns to the meeting.

The police jury, however, takes the advice of the committee as to what needs to be done on the lake. Ferrington said if the residents were dissatisfied with the performance of the committee, they could petition for new members to be selected.

At the end of the meeting, juror Joe Parker, with a similar issue, asked the jury to find rock to help stop the erosion of private property from the lake levels. Two lake residents asked Parker for his help, in addition to those present Monday night.

In other business, the police jury had to move money from the general fund into the criminal court fund for a second time this year. Usually the jury does not have to move money into the criminal court fund until late in the year. Because of the high number of days juveniles from the parish are spending in state facilities, the jury has faced high prisoner bills for juveniles. &uot;The criminal court fund is killing us, and I don’t know the answer to it,&uot; Ferrington said.

Also Monday, the jury approved a resolution to support Rusty LaBorde of Entergy applying for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) funding for Concordia Parish. The parish is asking for as much support as other states get, mostly northern states. Northern states receive more of the funding because of cold weather conditions.

&uot;I don’t think the federal government realizes the impact of hot weather,&uot; LaBorde said.

4 Approved raising the speed limit on Loop Road to 35 mph and lowering the speed limit on Leroy Williams Road to 15 mph after public hearing on both changes.