VIDALIA — The Concordia Parish Police Jury refinanced $4.33 million in bonds Monday to save approximately $1.5 million over the repayment period.

The refinancing of the sales tax bonds, taken out in 2007 for road improvements, were put out to bid in August, Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Friloux said.

The jury received four bids and accepted the lowest from Raymond James Financial at a rate of 2.45 percent.

Steven T. Nosacka with Trinity Capital Resources, the consultant group hired to begin the refinancing, said the bonds had originally been financed at 4.125 percent. Nosacka said the savings at 2.45 percent would save approximately $1.5 million.

“Now is the time to refinance your house,” Nosacka said.

David E. Henderson, an attorney with Foley & Judell of Baton Rouge, opened the bids. Other bids included Robert W. Baird at 2.64 percent and Stifel Nicolaus at 2.78 percent. The final bid was at 3.46 percent.

In other news, Friloux reported funding would not come through this year for the $655,140 grant for courtroom improvements and an elevator.

The jury filed a second capital outlay request to proceed with the capital outlay program grant next year.

The local match is $165,000, Friloux said.

4Darryl Curry of Concordia Park, who was part of a group issuing a noise and health complaint with the jury concerning Southern Designs in June, said the noise issues have come down to acceptable levels. However, the issue of sand from the business’s sandblasting operation is still causing health concerns, Curry said.

Juror Joe Parker said he’d like to prevent someone’s air conditioning going out or a child getting sick, so he suggested sending the business’s attorney Scott McLemore a letter asking how the situation will be addressed.

Parker and Juror Jimmy Wilkinson also suggested Curry and some members of the neighborhood meet with the business owners and see if they are willing to put up a net to block the sand.

4Carl Sayers, Donna Maroon and Johnnie Blunschi were reappointed to the Concordia Parish Airport Authority. The authority is a five-person board.