Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland held up a Coke can and asked a simple question: &uot;Aren’t our children worth this much?&uot;

It’s an equation he’s using to try to convince Vidalia residents to help fund a new recreation plan that would construct ballfields, soccer fields and other facilities off U.S. 84.

By Copeland’s estimation, the cost of a few Cokes per week from almost every Vidalia homeowner would help pay for the $5.4 million plan.

Residents will have a chance to vote yes or no to the project &045; and to a property tax increase to fund it &045; on a Jan. 15 ballot.

The mayor said he believes this is one of the most important projects of his tenure. &uot;There’s tremendous support for it already,&uot; he said.

New recreation facilities would boost the town’s quality of life &045; and that would help boost the number of people and businesses interested in moving to the area, Copeland said.

&uot;The very things people ask for we’ve got,&uot; he said. &uot;Good schools, excellent churches Š but we lack recreation facilities. All we have are ballparks.&uot;

Quality of life, economy

Town officials believe the recreation facilities would have a dual purpose: filling a need in the community and bringing visitors from out of town to tournaments.

&uot;Recreation is so important to the progress of a community,&uot; Copeland said.

The mayor said he often receives calls from parents and other residents wondering what children can do to keep from playing in the streets.

But in addition to boosting the quality of life for residents, the facilities would have a good opportunity of attracting a variety of tournaments, from baseball to tennis, town officials said.

&uot;It’s a quality of life issue but it’s also an economic development issue,&uot; Vidalia marketing director Glen McGlothin said. &uot;There’s gold in them there hills.&uot;

McGlothin pointed to Sulphur, a Louisiana town of about 22,000, which made an estimated $1.4 million off revenue from hosting tournaments last year.

&uot;They host big tournaments,&uot; he said, noting that town is also building a large aquatic center.

One business owner at last week’s aldermen meeting said he welcomes the recreation facilities because of the tax revenue tournaments could bring.

&uot;I’m a businessman in Vidalia and I want more people to come here,&uot; Lee Staggs said. &uot;I want these tournaments.&uot;

Pro and con

Copeland said 80 percent of the calls to his office since he announced the recreation plan have been positive about it.

At 3.49 mills, the property tax rate in Vidalia is the lowest in the Miss-Lou. Adding 15 mills would still make it lower than both Natchez and Ferriday, Copeland said.

But some believe that increase is still too much.

Aldermen Jon Betts and Ricky Knapp voted against putting the tax referendum on the January ballot, saying they disagreed with asking for a tax increase at this time.

Walter Stampley, a member of the recreation district board, said he believes the tax is too much on top of a current recreation district tax.

&uot;I see this as double taxation,&uot; he said.

&uot;I’m opposed to what you’re doing.&uot;

The recreation district tax is 4 mills and comes up for renewal in 2006.

But Stampley also said the recreation board has about $600,000 to $700,000 in its coffers, and he said the board is &uot;in negotiations&uot; to buy more property.

Copeland has asked the recreation board several times to join the town in building the recreation facilities, but the board has turned him down, he said.

&uot;Anytime you have any bond issue it’s controversial,&uot; Copeland said Friday. &uot;Nobody likes taxes.&uot;

And Copeland said he understands there are a lot of people to convince, particularly those who don’t have children who would use the facilities.

But 40 percent of Vidalia families do have children under 18 at home, and still more have grandchildren, he said.

What’s next

Copeland and McGlothin said they still want community input on the project.

While preliminary plans include such facilities as baseball, softball and soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, pavilions and a walking trail, Copeland said the town welcomes more input.

Since the original plans were made, for example, a future skateboard park and indoor swimming facility have been added to the design.

While they would not be in the first phase of construction, Copeland hopes to find more money to build more such facilities.

The bulk of the tax increase would go toward the construction of the recreation park, while a portion would pay for maintenance, Copeland said.

He emphasized voters will have a chance to choose whether they want a new park.

&uot;What we asked for was to go through the democratic process to give anyone a chance to vote for it or against it,&uot; he said.

While grants might be available to help add to the park once it is established, Copeland said there aren’t other funding sources available to construct it.

Copeland remains optimistic the January referendum will pass.

&uot;At the first meeting on the riverfront (project), they said, ‘It can’t be done,’&uot; he said. &uot;How do we know we can’t until we try?

&uot;I’m proud of this community. I have yet to call on someone who hasn’t been willing to help.&uot;