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Vidalia recreation moves forward
Published Monday, May 12, 2008
VIDALIA — After months of preparation, the City of Vidalia and the Recreation District No. 3 will sign the final papers to complete an intergovernmental agreement to purchase land for a new recreation complex.
The finalization will happen at the recreation district’s regularly scheduled meeting at the recreation center in Vidalia at 5:30 tonight.
“The city has typed up the intergovernmental agreement, and once it is completed we will go forward with the land purchase,” Recreation District No. 3 President Marc Archer said.
In the agreement, the city and the district will buy two adjacent parcels of land, located near the Vidalia Wal-Mart, and the city will lease their parcel to the recreation district for development.
The total land purchase will be 50 acres, with the district buying 20 acres and the city buying the remaining 30.
At the price of $17,000 an acre, the recreation district will pay $340,000 for their purchase, while the city will pay $510,000.
The city’s part in the actual development of the land is going to be hands-off.
“We will lease it to the recreation district and they will pursue it for what they have in mind,” Mayor Hyram Copeland said. “If they need the city to assist them in any way, we will, but it will be mainly the recreation board as far as the direction of what the complex will be.”
Right now, the recreation district is limited in what they can do with the current Vidalia facility, located on 12 acres, Copeland said.
“Hopefully, through the years it can develop into one of the top recreation complexes in the entire state, and we can in turn have state and regional tournaments here,” Copeland said. “I think it is something that will benefit Vidalia as far as growth is concerned. Any progressive community will have outstanding recreation complexes.”
The recreation district is funded by a tax millage, and the city has previously dedicated sales tax funds to be generated by businesses on the Vidalia riverfront as their funding source.
Comments
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 4:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why cant Natchez do something like this?
Posted by Blasterhappy (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 5:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone notice there was a big freaking car show this weekend on the River Front in Vidalia?! The show actually benefits charity and gets no coverage from this paper. If it doesn't have blood, corruption or violence the Democrat could care less.
Posted by inocentbystandr (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
$17,000 an acre. Better be one helluva nice ballfield.
Posted by louisianamom3 (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 7:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go City of Vidalia!!!! Thats' great news for our children's future. Vidalia is a CITY ON THE MOVE........
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Does the Clayton's own that land? If not who does. I always like to see who is getting richer!!! $17,000 an acre!! Thats a lot of coinage!.. ... Blasterhappy, I do not understand for the life of me why Natchez and Vidalia have zero love for custom vehicles. Every year that the car show comes to town revenue is generated by this event. Who was in charge of advertising for that?? Maybe it will be in the paper on Tuesday??? It should be....Custom cars rock...
Posted by justthefactsman (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Do^^^^^^^^^^^ Typo...Sorry...
Posted by papajeff (Jeff McClure) on May 12, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Blaster:
You must have missed this article on Saturday about the car show and market.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2008...
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw the cars this weekend and it was a hellofashow! This event seems to get bigger each year. The flea market was a flop, but the general excitement at the car show was great!
Posted by msfixit (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, the Clayton/Murray/Shumway family does not own this land. It is, I believe, owned by Charles Johnson.
Posted by mskitty (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
msfixit, you are right. Mr. Johnson owns the property.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the cars was in natchez a few years ago but the blue haired ladies didnt want them taking any business away from the old homes...i bet they wish they had the cars back over here since the tourist industry has dropped to nothing
Posted by Razzmatazz (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What difference is it with who owns the property????? If the rec dept is stupid enough to pay that much per acre then they deserve all they're gonna get.
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 9:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad that we are going to get a new recreational complex. We love taking our kids to the ball park to play! This will be great for all of the kids in town. The more involved the kids and parents are in sports, the less likely they are to be out getting in to trouble.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on May 12, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go Vidalia.....I bet you are right shedevil.....
Well vidalia has the school's now the rec stuff for the kids. Ever wonder why vidalia is moving ahead?
Posted by Blasterhappy (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 5:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Papjeff,
Yes, I did see the misinformed sad excuse of an article that you mentioned. See my comments there also.
Posted by ghost (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 7:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
you see Natchez, thats how you get it done! Now, get back to scrubbing your antebellum home!
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on May 13, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidalia hasn't been bogged down in the struggle for political control and who gets what piece of the pie. Middle class Adams County and Natchez residents have been seething with the frustration about wanting change. All the different interests haven't united the best efforts for the community as a whole. I'm sure there are plenty of Copeland criticisms and the whens and hows of progress. But they are somehow getting past all that and on to bigger and better things for the entire community..........
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