VIDALIA — Water lovers will soon have better access to their favorite aquatic activities after the Concordia Parish Police Jury adopted Monday a resolution to accept the renovation of the Lake Concordia boat ramp.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries will complete the renovation. Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington said he hopes the work will begin soon.

“I think it will be a good thing for the parish,” Ferrington said. “There is no cost for us, we just have to keep up the maintenance on it.”

Ferrington said while the ramp is usable now, it will be made more accessible by widening and extending the ramp deeper into the water. A new parking lot will be included in the upgrade.

The ramp will continue to be free for public use.

In other business:

4A ground water protection ordinance and call for a public hearing was passed.

Ferrington said abandoned and poorly sealed water wells in the parish allow chemicals to seep into the drinking water.

“The public should attend so they can express concerns about it,” Ferrington said. “We will get public opinion on it.”

The public hearing will be at the April 11 meeting.

4 Ferrington was authorized by the police jury to sign the contract with the Louisiana Division of Administration for a Louisiana Local Government Assistance Program grant for $44,000.

“We apply for the LGAP grant each and every year,” Ferrington said. “Some years we get more and some years we get less.”

The grant funds will be applied to the Concordia Parish maintenance unit that houses an office, equipment and supplies.

“The building is old,” Ferrington said. “The roof is deteriorating and leaking. The insulation is not good, and because of that (the facility) is not energy efficient. The grant will help that.”

4 The police jury approved an occupational license for Vickie E. Wilson of Miss-Lou C.B. Shop in Ferriday. The business will offer C.B. radio repair and sell radios and accessories.

4 Three money transfers were made to the general fund; $3,000 from highway maintenance, $3670 from drainage maintenance and $1,900 from solid waste. Sales tax funds totaling $46,100 will be transferred to solid waste.