VIDALIA &045; For years, local residents and police jury officials tried to get owners of dilapidated houses along Concordia Park Drive near Vidalia to clean up or tear down their properties.

But it looks as though help might be on the way.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury on Monday voted to condemn two burned-out houses on Concordia Park Drive and notify the owners of the property by mail of their action.

&uot;These houses are a health hazard,&uot; said Juror Willie Dunbar, whose District 2 includes the Concordia Park subdivision.

But Dunbar is not the only one concerned about the properties.

Jury President Rodney Smith cited a letter from the parish’s health officer stating that the properties &uot;post a physical and health hazard and need to be condemned and removed.&uot;

James Foster, who lives adjacent to one of the houses, said it has been dilapidated for at least 10 years and is used as a hideout for drug users.

The property’s overgrown yard is also a concern &uot;because one child got bit by a snake over there not long ago,&uot; Foster said.

&uot;It’s a health hazard, Š and it’s brought our property values down,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m glad someone’s taking the initiative to do something about this.&uot;

Also in Monday’s meeting, the jury:

4Voted to send a resolution of sympathy to the family of former Seventh Judicial District Judge W.D. Falkenheiner, who died Saturday.

4Decided to ask Parish Engineer Bryant Hammett to appear at Monday’s special meeting to discuss what work has been done on the Vidalia Canal improvement project.

Camo Construction has requested that the police jury and the Town of Vidalia split a remaining $62,000 cost on the project, but jurors say the requested work has not been completed.

4Voted to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the possibility of getting grant funds to turn Cocodrie Bayou from Lake Concordia to Louisiana 15 into a recreation area.

Allen said the project is needed because people his district have few places to fish and pursue other recreational activities.

4Passed a resolution to match a $250,000 state capital outlay grant for air conditioning improvements with $50,000 from the jury.

4Voted to reappoint Don Joseph and Jack Milligan to the board of Recreation District No. 3.

4Approved an occupational license &045; and, pending advertisement, an alcoholic beverage permit &045; for David Knapp for the 84 Kwik Stop.

4Accepted a bid of $4,478 for a new copier for the Registrar of Voters Office from A-1 Copy Sales and Service of Natchez.

4Voted to abandon Ferguson Road from the Davis family property to the Tensas Parish line.

4Accepted gravel bids.

4Voted to pay $30 in dues to the Organization of Parish Administrative Officials and $300 in dues to the Northeast Delta RC&D District.

4Voted to pay $40 in fees to the Louisiana Police Jury Association.

4Make transfers of $16,000 from the jury’s Drainage Maintenance Fund to its General Fund; $16,000 from the Solid Waste Fund to General and $16,000 from the Public Health Fund to General.

Other transfers included $16,000 from the Sales Tax Fund to General; $40,000 from Sales Tax to Solid Waste; and $4,489 from General to the Criminal Court Fund.

4Pay $350 to the Town of Ferriday for mosquito spraying outside the town.