VIDALIA — Possible conflicts of interest were topics of discussion at the Concordia Parish Police Jury meeting Monday.

The first question of conflict of interest came up when Juror Joe Parker asked if the jury’s appointment of Henderson Cook to the Concordia Parish Industrial and Economic Development board is within ethical boundaries.

Henderson Cook is Juror Carey Cook’s brother, and the police jury governs the economic development board.

Henderson Cook was appointed to the board at the jury’s last meeting.

District Attorney Brad Burget asked if there would be any economic benefit to Henderson Cook, and jurors said they were unsure.

Burget said he needed more details before he could answer the question, and he said he would apply for an opinion from the attorney general after getting more information.

The second question about conflicts of interest came up when the jury voted to grant an occupational license to Victor Cass Butler for A-1 Towing.

While the other jurors voted to approve the license, Juror Willie Dunbar voted against it.

Butler is Vidalia Police Chief Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks’ step-brother, and Dunbar said he voted against the license because he didn’t want the police chief’s step-brother in the police wrecker rotation.

The jury only grants the occupational license, and it is up to the individual municipalities to set up their wrecker rotation, Ferrington said.

In other news:

The jury discussed repairing the roof on the old parish courthouse in Vidalia.

“We have got a roof down there that is pretty well used up,” Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington said.

Juror Randy Temple said that if the jury declares an emergency at the courthouse, they will probably have to pay for the repairs out of the general fund and amend the adopted budget.

The problem with not fixing the roof quickly is that it will delay a construction project that the Concordia Parish Library wants to start, Ferrington said.

“The library wants to do $200,000 in renovations but does not want to spend the money on the building until the roof is fixed,” Ferrington said.

The problem with declaring an emergency to fix the roof is that he is not sure it is an emergency, Ferrington said. Temple said he has asked local Homeland Security officials if there is a possibility of receiving funds through FEMA because the roof problems did not appear before last year’s hurricane, but has not yet received a written response.

The jury has already received one estimate, and they voted to get a second estimate for roof work before they make a final decision.

The jury voted to make a $15,000 payment to Bryant Hammett and Associates to conduct a drainage study for the parish.

The jury received a $150,000 grant through the Office of Homeland Security to get the study done, and will be reimbursed for the payment to the engineering firm.

The jury voted to extend a $500,000 line of credit to Riverland Medical Center for business operations, something Ferrington said the jury does every year.