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VIDALIA, La. — The Concordia Parish Police Jury voted unanimously on Monday to advertise a public hearing on a proposed new group home in the parish.

The hearing is scheduled for Dec. 11 during the police jury’s regular meeting time at 6 p.m. in Room 2 of the Concordia Parish Courthouse. 

The proposed Blossom Therapeutic Group Home in a two-story house at 242 Freeman Road would be for girls ages 12 to 17, police jurors said.

The owner, Alicia Dennis, is expected to be at the hearing on Dec. 11 to provide further details, which officials didn’t have on Monday.

A couple of concerns were raised prior to police jurors agreeing to advertise the hearing.

Officials questioned if there were any registered sex offenders living in the area, which they said would be something they would need to look into before the public hearing.

“We have a lot of people registered (in our parish) and we need to check and see in that zone who all is registered,” Police Juror Genesia Allen said. 

Police Jury Secretary and Treasurer Ariella Carter said Dennis would also have to have a sprinkler system installed inside the home to pass fire marshal inspection. 

In other matters during Monday’s meeting of the Concordia Parish Police Jury:

• The police jury approved setting a 5-ton weight limit on Moose Lodge Road at the intersection of Lewis Drive west to Moose Lodge Road and Airport Road intersection along with Roundtree Road, Guido Road, Eagle Road, Belle Grove Subdivision, East Road, Stephens Road and Young Road. No comments were offered during a public hearing on the matter on Monday.
• Cassandra Lynch of the Vidalia Beautification Committee requested using the old courthouse square for a Christmas festival following Vidalia’s annual Christmas parade, which is this Sunday, Dec. 3. Parade line-up begins at 2:30 p.m. at Vidalia High School and the parade rolls at 3:30 p.m., Lynch said.  The festival is immediately following the parade at the old courthouse square and includes games and vendors.