VIDALIA — Outgoing Concordia Parish Director of Homeland Security Morris White got a special thanks from the governor’s office Monday night.

White received a commendation from Gov. Bobby Jindal at Monday night’s Concordia Parish Police Jury meeting in appreciation of his 29 years on the job.

Louisiana Department of Homeland Security Regional Coordinator Teresa Basco presented the commendation to White and thanked him for this service.

White said he would miss the job but knows it his time to go. His love for the parish and its people, he said, kept him dedicated to keeping them safe for nearly three decades.

“You wouldn’t serve this long in this job if you didn’t love this parish and the people in it,” White said.

White told income director Charles Tarver at the meeting that he could always call on White in times of need.

“My heart is with you, and you can call on me anytime,” he said.

Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington also thanked White for his service.

“He has kept the parish very safe and kept me out of a lot of hot water with the parish,” Ferrington said.

In other news from the meeting:

4The police jury voted to donate unused recycling bins to Concordia Metal.

Concordia Metal employee and Green Alliance chairman Jim Smith told the jury that the company plans to refurbish the bins and place them around the parish, namely the new recreation complex, to allow residents an opportunity to recycle.

Concordia Metal had asked to purchase the bins, but the jury decided to donate them to the company since the bins were originally donated to the parish.