VIDALIA, La. – A committee named by Concordia Parish Police Jury President Charlie Blaney during Monday’s jury meeting will discuss with judges a solution to the growing cost of housing, feeding and providing health care for prisoners.

Blaney appointed jurors Gene Allen, Cathy Darden and Melvin Ferrington to discuss with Seventh Judicial District judges the possibility of reducing bonds for local, non-violent offenders in order to reduce the number of prisoners.

The jury spent more than $115,000 last year on prisoner care, Blaney said. And the jury has already spent that much this year, according to Allen.

In Monday’s meeting, Blaney also announced that, according to the Louisiana Police Jury Association, Concordia will receive $80,000 less in annual state transportation funds for fiscal year 2000-01.

The cuts will hurt a parish already suffering from uncertainty about payment of ad valorem taxes by bankrupt Fruit of the Loom and other economic woes, Blaney said. But &uot;the state is in no better financial shape than the parish,&uot; said state Rep. Bryant Hammett.

Hammett also announced that after several days without progress on the project, work on the Vidalia Canal – including installation of a fence next to the canal – has started again and should be finished by fall.

The jury granted Charter Communications a permit to bury cable on the west side of Tumminello Drive in order to provide cable service to south Fisherman Drive residents.

It also approved beer and/or liquor licenses for ZZ’s Lounge, J.L.’s Place, Panola Woods Country Club and Slim’s Lounge and an occupational license for Special Occasions of Vidalia.