VIDALIA &045; It’s official &045; residents of unincorporated Concordia Parish will have their garbage picked up for another 10 years.

The Concordia Parish Police Jury on Monday voted to canvass the results of a garbage tax election held earlier this month.

In that election, voters renewed a 1-percent sales tax to fund garbage service in all areas of the parish except incorporated Vidalia and Ferriday. The jury on Monday also adopted an ordinance providing for the use of the tax.

The parish garbage tax, originally passed in 1992, generates about $600,000 each year. The police jury pays about $5.40 per household per month for garbage service for about 5,000 residents.

The jury also provided for a smoother ride for residents conducting business at the parish’s new courthouse.

Jurors voted to advertise for bids for paving of the new courthouse’s parking lot with the use of a $64,000 road grant and, if possible, grant funds left over from the renovation of the first floor of the courthouse.

&uot;We should get that (road) grant agreement next week, in time to vote on it in our next meeting,&uot; said jury Secretary Russell Wagoner.

And the jury approved a resolution supporting the establishment of a pediatric clinic by Riverland Medical Center of Ferriday.

Juror Gene Allen objected, saying Riverland already provides such services at its Ferriday hospital facility.

In other business, the jury voted to:

4Pass an ordinance stating that boards appointed by the police jury cannot enter into any contract to buy, sell or lease real or immovable property owned by the parish or the board itself without the consent of the jury.

Each board member violating the ordinance is subject to a $500 fine.

4Send letters to the parish’s justices of the peace asking them to notify the jury if they will be attending training courses in March.

There are 13 justices in Concordia Parish, and it would cost about $370 apiece to feed and house them and pay for travel expenses during the conference, jurors said.

Justices present at Monday’s meeting pointed out that they only have to attend such classes every other year. But Justice of the Peace Justin Conner said training is needed to stay abreast of changes in the laws.

4Transfer $10,000 from the jury’s general fund to its criminal court fund.

4Turn a request from the state for information on the history of the old parish courthouse. Research data is needed so that a historic landmark designation can be pursued for the facility.

4Approve a resolution approving accountant Jerri Sue Tosspon to conduct the jury’s 2002 audit.

4Accepted the resignation of Mary Cubie from the Recreation District No. 3 Board. An appointment is set to be made at the jury’s next meeting.

4Buy a bushhog on state contract for $3,336.

4Advertise for chemical bids.

4Revise the parish’s employee manual.