FERRIDAY &8212; Even if Ferriday does not have a Pee Wee football league in place, Mayor Gene Allen said it has the equipment for the potential players.

Thursday, Allen mailed a check for $8,108.10 to Football America Incorporated to purchase football equipment at the request of the Ferriday Board of Aldermen.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, the board passed an ordinance requiring Allen to either submit the check to the board&8217;s recreational committee, aldermen Johnnie Brown and Glen Henderson, or give it to the equipment company.

The board said Allen must submit the check within 15 days.

At that time, Allen said he had the check in a vault in his office but did not want to spend the money until he received documentation on how many players and coaches would be participating in the league.

&8220;I didn&8217;t want to give the taxpayers&8217; money away and not have them aware of what it&8217;s being used for,&8221; Allen said two weeks ago.

Allen said he was still skeptical of the board&8217;s decision.

&8220;I think it&8217;s just a waste of the taxpayers&8217; money,&8221; Allen said. &8220;I wouldn&8217;t have a problem spending the money if we had an organization in place.&8221;

But Henderson said the equipment would be put to use next fall.

&8220;I don&8217;t doubt that we&8217;ll have kids interested in playing by next fall and the parents will want to participate as well,&8221; Henderson said.

Henderson said he hopes parents and teachers who have children in Ferriday&8217;s Upper Elementary school will begin recruiting during the spring semester.

&8220;There are a lot of people already willing to help,&8221; Henderson said.

Henderson said the equipment was enough to dress 66 kids and that a sign-up fee would cover any other expenses when the league starts.

The sign up fee would be based on how many children sign up, Henderson said.

Alderman Brown said he had no comment on the matter at this time.