VIDALIA — Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland is slated to officially unveil today plans for Vidalia’s future, including the proposed village center the city plans to take to the Louisiana State Bond Commission.

Copeland is scheduled to give a presentation titled “The Past, Present and the Future of Vidalia,” before the Concordia Chamber of Commerce at noon. Copeland said last week he would be announcing the plans during the chamber presentation.

The mayor and city aldermen have refrained from discussing specifics about the project in recent weeks, but have applied to the bond commission for approximately $7 million to purchase land and upgrade infrastructure.

Documents filed with the bond commission indicate the proposed village center will include retail and hotel components and “a possible medical center.”

A source close to the process has said the plan includes an effort to recruit Riverland Medical Center to the Vidalia area. Copeland and hospital board members have denied the hospital is a part of the Vidalia plan.

The mayor has said the potential medical center referenced in the bond documents is offices for doctors wanting to locate in Vidalia.

Riverland Medical Center board member Fred Butcher declined to discuss the hospital’s future Monday, but said he is sched

uled to address the Ferriday Board of Aldermen at its meeting tonight and would speak at that time.

Riverland has commissioned two studies to determine the best course of action for the 50-year-old, parish-owned hospital in future planning. Hospital officials said the first study was not in-depth enough to aid the long-term decision making process, prompting the commissioning of the second study.

Possibilities previously discussed about the future of Riverland — though not finalized — include renovating, rebuilding or relocating the Ferriday campus.

The Vidalia Village plan was developed by consultants with The Orion Planning Group, and is proposed to be located on two adjacent parcels of property, 31.67 acres owned by Scroggins Investment Company and 32.72 acres owned by BCHT, LLC.

The land is across the highway from Walmart on U.S. 84.

Copeland was at one time a partner in BCHT with Bryant Hammett, H.L. Irvin and Mark Taunton, but since 2010 Copeland, Irvin and Taunton have held no ownership stake in the LLC. Copeland said because of his past ownership of the property he has had no part in the planning of the proposal.

BCHT now consists of Hammett — who is contracted as the Vidalia city engineer — and Brad Dutruch of Baton Rouge.