VIDALIA — Concordia Parish officials are securing rights-of-way for a project to alleviate flooding in the northern part of the parish, Concordia Parish Police Jury members said during a Monday meeting.

The $4.6 million flood drainage project, known as the Brushy Bayou project, is still awaiting final approval from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, however, before the project can get underway ahead of that approval, jurors said. The Concordia Parish Jury approved the Brushy Bayou project in June 2017, and it will be paid for with a $4.5 million FEMA grant awarded to the parish for the project.

FEMA estimated the parish received more than $9 million worth of flood-related damages in a five-year period.

The solution, pending further approval, is a gated box culvert in the Tensas Levee at the old Brushy Bayou discharge point.

“We’re at the same place we were (last month),” said jury president Jimmy Wilkinson, “still getting right-of-ways.”

Once started the project should be complete in 18 months.

In other matters the jury:

* Unanimously approved amending the budget for the purchase of a pressure washer for $3,500.

* Unanimously approved renewal of the 10.0 drainage millage and ordinances for grass cutting.

* Unanimously approved cutting grass at the firing range at the request of the Vidalia Police Department.

* Announced a new Americans with Disabilities Act compliant wheelchair lift in front of the Concordia Parish Courthouse is on schedule to be completed by the end of this month.