VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Police Jury decided to move ahead on the Brushy Bayou drainage project pending a review by the finance committee.

To move the project ahead, the jury needed to approve a review of the project proposal not to exceed $65,000, which passed with only Juror Jimmy Wilkinson voting no.

The jury also discussed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ request of funding a replacement box culvert in the Tensas River levee in 50 years, the anticipated life of the culvert that would be added to the levee to improve drainage for the parish.

The first estimate of the annual costs of setting aside funds for the 50-year replacement costs was $175,000 per year for the next 50 years. At the end of the cycle, Wimberly estimates the account would be worth approximately $31.2 million.

Parish engineer Doug Wimberly said the worst-case scenario would be the parish having to place $175,000 per year in an escrow account, which the parish’s finance committee would review.

Jurors agreed Monday escrowing $175,000 per year without assistance was unlikely, which is why Wilkinson decided he was against the $65,000 review of Wimberly’s drainage study.

“I think it is a great project, but I can’t see seeking to pay $65,000 now if we cannot fund the escrow account,” he said. “Until I am satisfied we can afford the annual escrow amount, I can’t agree to paying $65,000.”

The Corps of Engineers is seeking a written agreement with the parish to provide maintenance and also to show the parish can rebuild the gated box culvert to be placed in the Corps’ Tensas levee to better drain parts of Concordia Parish.

The drainage project aims to relieve the parish’s primary drainage site Bayou Cocodrie, which cannot be dredged due to it being placed in the Scenic River system. A culvert system would be placed in the Tensas levee from Brushy Bayou.

Wimberly said to this point the parish has not spent a dime on the approximately $4.5 million drainage project. The project has all been grant driven through the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Wimberly said if the jury didn’t agree to spend the $65,000 in reviews, it may as well start over on trying to find a new plan for alleviating flash flood concerns in the parish.

“One more important fact,” Juror Joe Parker said. “If we drop the ball on this, we can forget (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) helping us out on anything.”

While the most extreme per-year payment would be $175,000 per year, Wimberly said he believed the cost could be lowered.  Wimberly said the figure he provided is if the jury has to completely rebuild the gated box culvert structure as if no material is present.

Wimberly said since a majority of the structure would be made up of concrete, it would likely still be standing in 50 years, meaning the parish would only have to fund the metal parts of the gated culvert. If the jury were only liable for the metal parts and minor repairs, the escrow figure would be lower, he said.

Wimberly would not provide an example of what a lower figure might look like after the meeting Monday, but said that he planned to meet with the Corps to discuss a lower per-year payment option.

Juror and finance committee chair Whest Shirley also said the parish would be seeking grants to fund the escrow account.

Wimberly also said these two costs should be the last of the hidden costs of this project.

In other news, the jury:

-Approved a $12,960 payment to Womack & Sons for sewer district improvements in the Ridgecrest and Belle Grove areas.

-Granted occupational licenses for Studio 84, a beauty salon located at 6881 U.S. 84, Ferriday; and A-1 Towing, a towing and storage business located at 4560 U.S. 84, Vidalia.

-Agreed to allow board president Jimmy Jernigan to discuss with parish fire officials about instituting a burn ban.