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Vidalia buys land
Published Thursday, July 3, 2008
VIDALIA — The City of Vidalia announced Wednesday it bought 30 acres of land to be used for development of a proposed recreational complex.
The town also has an option on an additional 20 acres for possible future development, Mayor Hyram Copeland said.
“We think that, not only will it give our young people something to do, it is going to be a tremendous economic project,” Copeland said.
The city purchased the land at a cost of $17,000 an acre, for a total purchasing price of $510,000. The money to make the purchase of the Charles Johnson property, located near Wal-Mart, came from lease money from the Riverview RV Park, located on the Vidalia Riverfront, Copeland said.
“We are able to do this without raising taxes,” he said.
Plans are in the works for Recreation District No. 2 to buy an adjoining 20 acres to increase the total recreation complex size to 50 acres. The purchase of the land by the recreation district will cost a total of $340,000.
The city and the recreation district signed an intergovernmental cooperative agreement May 12, in which the city agreed to lease its portion of the adjoining properties to the district for development.
The recreation district has officially decided to buy the land, but has not yet done so, Recreation District No. 2 President Marc Archer said.
When the district purchases the land, the next step toward beginning construction would be for the recreation district officials to meet with engineers to determine costs of drainage and infrastructure – things like roads and parking lots .
“Once we acquire the land and get some cost factors about infrastructures and are able to work up a halfway budget, we are going to try to proceed (with the project),” Archer said.
The extra 20 acres the city has the option on could be used to build a new fire station or perhaps a small park, Copeland said.
Though the city had originally planned to do some kind of recreational development on the Riverfront, the decision to move inland was made because of the business development on the riverfront and for safety reasons, Copeland said.
Comments
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent job Copeland!!!!
Posted by jammin1 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's about time!! Go Vidalia!! Yea!!
Posted by kernel (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Way to go, Vidalia!!
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can't wait to watch my kids play ball there! I hope they get the plans together soon so the public can see. Thank you Mayor Copeland!
Posted by crawgator (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow! That's step 1 of many, let's just hope they have the right people on board to get this thing done right. By that I mean talk to the people who have been to some of these facilities and seen how they are set up and run. Thanks for the purchase tho.
Posted by dwhitley (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love my Mayor, he is a great man.
Posted by bayougranny (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's get rolling on a plan. I agree on checking out other facilities and talking to people who have used them. Let's do it right. I know I have seen a few and spent a lot of money traveling with my team of ballplayers. This will be a real economic step forward for us. Let's don't forget our tennis players and or other sport players also. I would like to say Thank You City of Vidalia.
Posted by SniperX (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidalia is on the move and expanding. I look at other towns that are just drying up, but not Vidalia! We have a Mayor and top officials who understands the meaning of the phase, "Get out there and hustle." Getting useful project done without raising taxes! WOW! These guys need to run for congress!
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen SniperX....
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One more giant step for my little home town with Natchez nowhere in the running. Vidalia will reap great benefits from this, while Natchez sits on their hinnies pretending to think about it. GO VIDALIA.
Posted by momoftwo23 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 9:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think this will be great. It will bring alot more tournaments and such to Vidalia. Wish we would have had this new complex when I was growing up in Vidalia. GO VIDALIA!!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wish Natchez would do something like this, but whenever we start moving forward, some groups start complaining about we spend too much money. I like the way Vidalia does things.
Posted by jack (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
come on ball games
Posted by Swapmeet (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How many acres does it take to build a nice golf course? :)
Posted by lilredhead (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 1:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Swapmeet I like you! I have not played in almost two years, I am afraid my clubs are going to rot!
Posted by wonderwhy (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder why Natchez can't do the same? JOe Joe Eidt's been working for over ten years to get our leaders together to make this happen in Natchez, and still.... nothing!
Wonder why?
Posted by gator (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidalia has a great mayor ! He loves his city and the people there . Also he's a man of action . This is what we need in Natchez . Frankly I'm sick of all the talk and no action in Natchez . Anyway , way to go Vidalia !
Posted by southern_bell (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well it does sound like a great idea, but noone hold your breath...What about all that land they bought in Natchez by the High School that was suppose to be a recreational development? I may be going blind cause I don't see nothing but grass! If we want something built for the community or for the kids to do, WE the citizens need to get together and do it then it will get done! I can bet you a Casino will be built or maybe a new Hotel?
Posted by vilou (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Southern_bell, Everything takes time and money does not grow on trees. This is a good thing for Vidalia and we should do everything to encourage instead of discourage those who have worked hard for this. Everyone should show their support. You have to crawl before you walk and I believe we are beginning to take a few steps in the right direction. Why don't you go to the city meetings in Natchez and get some answers to the land deal .
Posted by Razzmatazz (anonymous) on July 3, 2008 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Swapmeet, Vidalia is going to have a driving range in just a short while. It will be built on the industrial park road across from Fruit of the Loom. The clean up has already started. It is being built by FarGolf, Inc. You can check them out on the web at www.fargolf.org
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