By Cain Madden

The Natchez Democrat

FERRIDAY — Mayor Gene Allen said everything was going to be OK in Ferriday on Wednesday at his state of the town address.

The mayor spent time talking about finances, water, economic development, public safety, the schools, recreation, housing and beautification.

Of the upmost importance was the water quality, as it has been hard on residents and has also cost the town industrial development, Allen said.

“I made a promise to the people of Ferriday that during this term of office, we were going to have good drinking water,” he said. “This administration has fulfilled that promise.”

Allen said the new plant, which will treat ground water instead of surface water, will be open in 30-40 days. He has plans to host a ribbon cutting on Feb. 25.

The town is seeking new businesses each day, and one way is through the Ferriday Shopping Center, which officials purchased and renovated.

“There are two businesses in there now,” he said. “And over the next 30 days, there will be two more.

“There will be a big business in the shopping center in the next six months.”

Allen said the crime rate is down in the city.

“Nobody is going to take our streets,” he said. “We feel it is very important for our citizens, young or old, to be able to sit on their porch and be able to do whatever you want to do without being threatened by anybody.”

The mayor said the town worked with the judge and district attorney to put a halt on the violent crime.

“We asked the judge and the district attorney to be strong about the prosecution of those who want to destroy our city,” Allen said. “We don’t want our people living in fear.”

Protecting and serving the youth has been a big concern of the city, so they have put certified resource officers in the schools.

Allen also said he still supports the Delta Charter School.

“I think a child ought to be able to go to school where they are comfortable,” he said. “We need to make educational facilities where the children can learn.”

Housing is a tough subject. Allen said the grain elevators and the old nursing home are gone, but improving some of the dilapidated homes is more difficult.

“’It means so much to them,’ they say,” he said. “It just so happens, that the ordinance does not give them enough time to rebuild it. Some work on it for 10 to 15 years.”

At some point, the town is going to have to go a little further to beautify the city, Allen said.

In the meantime, L.S. “Buddy” Spillers of Macon Ridge community Development said he is working with the state to get Louisiana Housing Corporation funding in Ferriday.

Currently, people can apply for USDA grants to get up to $7,500 for rehabilitation.

A pet project of Allen’s is the Ferriday pool. He said it will reopen.

“We have water all around us,” he said. “I’m going to tell you something, that water is very dangerous. That’s why I think it’s important for kids kids to know how to swim.”

On the horizon, Allen mentioned building a walking trail near downtown where the grain elevators were off of First Street. The town also has plans to build a new municipal complex to include the town hall and the fire and police departments.

“In order for us to be a better Ferriday, we have to keep our line of communication open,” Allen said. “Our doors are always open. Come in, we are always there.”