By Mollie Beth Wallace

Natchez Democrat

VIDALIA — Concordia Parish residents will have to familiarize themselves with a new speed limit on Levens Addition and Rabb Roads.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury voted Tuesday night to adjust the speed limit to 25 miles per hour.

Juror Jimmy Jernigan made a motion to approve the speed limit, and it passed unanimously.

In addition to new speed limits, residents can expect to see the radio tower atop the roof of the old courthouse to be gone soon.

After a discussion of price quotes for the tower’s removal, Juror Randy Temple motioned for acceptance of the lowest bid.

The jury passed his motion unanimously and accepted the lowest bid, which came from Kay Radio.

The jury also voted unanimously to appoint Richard Crews to the Concordia Parish Sewer Board, district 1.

Following this vote, the jury discussed renting a P180 track loader to be used in parish ditches.

The jury agreed to rent the equipment for one month and the amount of $2,025.

In other news from the meeting:

The jury decided to delay voting on the resolution to approve placing the parcel fee election for the Monterey fire protection district on the Dec. 8, 2012, ballot until the next meeting when they are better informed on the topic.

Alcohol permits for Jo Jo’s Drive Thru and Stockyard Saloon were both approved by the jury.

The jury voted to transfer $45,000 from the sales tax fund to the solid waste fund.

Molly Cooper spoke on behalf of the community garden on D. A. Biglane Road and asked to have the asphalt smoothed down for a parking lot. The jury voted unanimously to finish the lot.

The jury passed Juror Willie Dunbar’s motion to send a letter to the health department in Baton Rouge regarding the Concordia Parish health inspector, Patrick Johnson, who Dunbar said has failed to address an issue in Concordia Park.

“We haven’t heard from (Johnson) since 2011,” Dunbar said.

Dunbar said a resident in Concordia Park is without electricity and water, and is therefore using the restroom outside in the open.

Jury President Melvin Ferrington said the sheriff’s office will need to investigate the issue in case of indecent exposure.

Jernigan said he also had problems getting the health inspector to move on a project in White’s Trailer park in Wildsville.

The jury approved Dunbar’s motion to mail a letter to Johnson’s supervisor.

Donna Remidez announced she received an e-mail from FEMA asking if the parish needed help gathering information on residents who need assistance with recovering from the 2011 flood. Remidez said she would talk with each juror to get specific information about his district.