FERRIDAY — Ferriday’s Board of Aldermen passed a resolution declaring the water intake structure an extreme public emergency so it could access $250,000 in state funds to start repairs.

Mayor Glen McGlothin said the intake structure is under a catwalk that is slanted at a 45-degree angle. He said if it slants another inch the catwalk would fall into Old River, leave the town without water and cost the town $1.25 million to repair.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Engineer Chris Soileau said this was an emergency because the catwalk, the trestle bridge that supports the suction line funneling water into the town’s tank, could fall into the river at anytime.

McGlothin said because of the emergency nature of this, the town didn’t have time to take out bids for the repairs, so they would have David Huval Construction of Lafayette, who came highly recommended as an engineer, make the repairs as soon as the emergency money becomes available.

In other news:

4 Aldermen passed a resolution supporting the Blues Marker for Haney’s Big House.

4 The town demolished some houses on private property and has not been fully reimbursed. McGlothin said he would write a letter urging the owners to pay, and said the next step was putting a lean on their taxes.