VIDALIA — Since December 2010, the City of Vidalia has paid a lobbyist $160,335.73 to represent its interests to national policymakers.

Norma Jane Sabiston, the former chief of staff for former Sen. Mary Landrieu and the former state director for former Sen. John Breaux, registered with the U.S. Senate as a lobbyist for the City of Vidalia Dec. 23, 2010.

Lauren Jardell, Landrieu’s former projects coordinator, was also listed as working with Sabiston Consultants on the disclosure form.

The arrangement with Sabiston Consultants includes a $3,000 monthly retainer and the reimbursement of expenses. City invoices indicate a reimbursement of $7,335.73 in expenses in the given time frame.

Expense reimbursements included —  among other things — plane tickets, cab fares, hotel rooms, snacks from a hotel mini bar and in one instance $18.59 in gasoline.

In a January 2012 letter to Mayor Hyram Copeland, Sabiston Consultants says the scope of its services will include:

4Educate federal policy makers as to the merits of Vidalia’s requests.

4Selection and coordination of meetings and opportunities.

4Reporting services

Copeland said late last month Sabiston has “been instrumental on all our grants.”

Her work included getting the city appointments with U.S. representatives and senators in Washington, D.C., and working with the city on grant applications, including the planned Vidalia Technology Center and the Vidalia port.

“This is one of the best investments we have made,” Copeland said. “She has done a tremendous job for us, and without her working with us, we might not have gotten (the grants) .”

Copeland said Sabiston’s work has resulted in millions of dollars in grant money for the city.

“We learned in Washington that if you have someone lobbying for your projects, you have a better chance of getting those,” he said. “We went (ourselves) through the years and got some (grants) ourselves, but this helped clear it up for us.”

Louisiana communities smaller than Vidalia that have a registered lobbyist include Jean Lafitte in Jefferson Parish and Golden Meadow in Lafourche Parish. One of comparable size is the City of Plaquemine in Iberville Parish.

Most municipalities with registered lobbyists are significantly larger, including Monroe, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Lake Charles.