VIDALIA, La. &045; Members of the Old River Commission want to raise the level of the Mississippi River inlet to improve recreation along the waterway.

And to do that, said commission member George Ashley, they will need to visit the U.S. Corps of Engineers district office in Vicksburg to plead their case.

Specifically, the group is asking for Corps funds for a study to determine the feasibility of the project.

Ashley said he had been told once before not to attempt to contact the Corps &045; but jurors told him at their Monday night meeting to contact any people he knew at the agency who could help.

&uot;That’s something the commission should be responsible for,&uot; Police Juror Melvin Ferrington said.

Armed with that directive, Ashley said he will visit Corps officials in person to explain the need for the project. It improves your chances &uot;if you can go there and look a man eyeball to eyeball,&uot; Ashley said.

In other business, the jury:

4Informed resident Tony Thornhill that the jury would need to hold a public hearing on whether to grant him a permit for a mud race track near Clayton.

4Appointed Ray Wagoner to the Old River Commission.

4Appointed Carol Magoun to the Riverland Medical Center Board.

4Voted to ask the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to spray lily pads on parish waterways.

4Passed a resolution supporting the Concordia Council on Aging’s efforts to secure $17,000 to hire another employee. That worker would to educate the public about health care services available for senior citizens and to identify their health care needs.

4Voted to apply for a Wildlife and Fisheries grant for boat ramp on land the police jury already leases on Lake Concordia.

4Write to developers of the Delta Vista housing complex, a 40-unit development to be built just outside Ferriday, telling them that a public hearing will have to be held on the development.

The developers will also need a resolution from the Ferriday

Town Council certifying that the town will grant water and sewer service to the complex.

4Write to Charter Communications, asking the company to reinstate its local customer service line.