VIDALIA, La. &045; Vidalia officials want to crack down on property owners who do not cut their grass.

Mayor Hyram Copeland said many of the property owners who are asked to cut their grass are &uot;repeat offenders.&uot; Vidalia has an ordinance that requires property owners to keep grass from getting too long and becoming a nuisance.

The town wants to &uot;take corrective action,&uot; Copeland said. &uot;It’s the same ones every time.&uot;

Town attorney Jack McLemore said certified letters are sent each time grass needs to be cut to the property owners, and at that point the town could cut the grass and send the bill to the owners. The cost is added to the owners’ tax bills.

&uot;If you do that to someone eight or 10 times&uot; it adds up, McLemore said, pointing out it can get the property owner’s attention.

Vidalia aldermen also approved a new contract for town employee insurance with United Health. The new policy will save the city more than $100,000 over a previous increase in insurance costs.

But the new policy’s network does not include Natchez Regional Medical Center. It does include most of the doctors in the area.