Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland breathed a big sigh of relief on Saturday night.

Although he had some moments of worry and concern, in the end he was reminded of two things.

First, the voters in his town don’t mess around. They put their money where their mouths are.

Second, Vidalia voters put great faith and support behind their town’s leadership.

A resounding 72 percent of voters in Saturday’s special election voted to extend a recreation tax levy for 41 years.

Previously, the levy was extended in only 10-year increments.

Locking the tax levy in for more than four decades puts the Concordia Parish Recreation District No. 3 board in position to seek a 40-year loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The loan would help fund the $6 million proposed recreation complex that has been discussed and planned for years.

We’re thrilled the voters of Vidalia have placed such an emphasis on improving their recreational facilities.

Recreation District No. 3 has done an excellent job of making the best of the facilities it has through good management and proper upkeep, but as the voters have said — with great authority — it’s time to kick recreation up a notch.

Congratulations to the mayor, aldermen and the members of the recreation board, but most important, congratulations to the voters, who have placed the future of recreation on the front burner. That move will benefit generations to come.