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Police Jury discusses flooding
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008
NATCHEZ — The Concordia Parish Police Jury regular meeting Monday night moved with ease until Racheal Bailey came before the jurors with a request she made five years ago.
Bailey lives in Concordia Park which is known for its flooding issues with heavy rainfall. Last Friday’s storm left Bailey in a house with water up to her ankles.
Due to blockage of drains, Bailey was forced to leave her house and then later when the water dried, rip up her carpet.
She feared most for her two children.
Several congregation members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church also made complaints of flooding during heavy rain.
The church issue will be further discussed but the jurors voted to begin looking for a solution for Bailey, possibly digging a trench on her property to stop the flooding.
In other parish business unanimously adopted a pay scale for the bookkeeper. An issue was raised by Juror Joe Parker Sr., concerning whether the pay scale could be adjusted after the adoption of it and Juror Randy Temple said that should not be a problem.
The jurors voted unanimously to support the sheriff’s request to improve the building.
“It will improve the look of the outside,” Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington said.
They also voted unanimously to place signs with the boating regulations listed on them at the three boat launches at Lake Concordia.
Ferrington said this ordinance will be enforced by the Wildlife and Fisheries sheriff’s office.
The appointment of Jackie Hickman to the Lake St. John Water Works to fill the term of Betty King was voted on unanimously.
Also receiving a unanimous vote was the payment of the police jury association dues if $6,400.
Travel expenses for the Justice of the Peace and Constable Training Convention was voted on unanimously giving them a budget of $300.
A transfer of $35,000 from sales tax fund to the solid waste disposal fund received a unanimously vote.
Ferry Road will now have a five ton load limit after the jury voted unanimously on that.
The next few items left the jurors deciding that a public hearing would be necessary before moving forward on them.
First the jurors discussed putting a 15 mph speed limit on Frazier Road and Peal Cross Road. This will not be voted on until a public hearing is held.
The second discussion was about the proposed land purchase by the recreation district.
Juror Willie Dunbar was adamant in requesting a public hearing on what the recreation district should do with the purchased land.
“They need to give the people a chance to give their opinion,” he said. “I feel in my heart they should give the people that chance before they do (anything.)”
Ferrington agreed and said there should be a public hearing.
Juror Whest Shirley said he was going to suggest that there should be a public hearing.
Comments
Posted by Hunter (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 2:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"NATCHEZ — The Concordia Parish Police Jury . . . "
Last time I checked, Concordia Parish was in Vidalia, not Natchez.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 3:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One thing I have noticed, every article about the police jury has transfer of funds and a speed limit discussed. How do you do a budget and constantly transfer funds? How many times do you have to change speed limits? Job security I guess.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Poor Ms. Bailey...she's gonna have an ugly trench dug in her yard.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on February 26, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If a trench in the yard would stop the flooding of my house, I would have all ready dug the trench.
There must be more to this story than has been reported.
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Folks in the old days had good common sense on their side. They built their house above ground level, not flat on the ground as we do now. If you build below sea level you might want to think about this.
Posted by anb8405 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 3:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well my house is above ground but that is not the point the drains should be better than that with as much taxes as we pay!! grass wont even grow in my front yard because of the flooding.
Posted by anb8405 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The next thing they should talk about is making all these people with 5 foot grass cut it down.
Posted by lsutiger21 (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 4:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i live on the same street as her, but not on the same end. it's always flooded down there. my dad's the police juror for that district and everytime he gets a call...he's gone down there. flooding has always been bad on that end of concordia park. when my dad told me how bad it was down there, i couldn't believe they still hadn't fixed the drainage on our street! we got new roads but our houses are still getting flooded! ridiculous!
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 5:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To pay property taxes on a home and have this to happen is just inexcusable, since it seems to be something that can be fixed.
Posted by Roy (anonymous) on February 26, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Elections are over have to wait another 4 years before you will see any results.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on February 27, 2008 at 8:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard the area received about seven inches of rain in a very short time. One place on the side of Airport Road looked to be about a foot or more deep. I notice it has a new For Sale sign posted.
By the by, which building did the sheriff ask about?
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