Just when the citizens of Vidalia believed the Square on Carter saga was finally over, the city checked the mail and realized the bill arrived.

By now most area residents probably are at least remotely familiar with the failed development.

The City of Vidalia sought to purchase land near Walmart to create a city center through finding private developers to join in on the city’s dream.

The deal never got off the ground, in part because of local opposition that ultimately caused the Louisiana State Bond Commission to suggest the deal did not pass constitutional muster.

High land appraisals and former connections between Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland and the landowners led people to suspect something was afoul in the deal.

The FBI began an investigation that ultimately proved no prosecutable violation existed, but indicated the city’s initial appraisals on one parcel of land were grossly higher than subsequent appraisal valuations.

This week the Vidalia Aldermen — all but one of which were ousted by voters, seemingly because of their support for the Square project — approved spending $103,000 in taxpayer money to pay a legal bill for the mayor.

The city hired a lawyer, apparently to provide legal advice, during the FBI’s investigation. Clearly the attorney provided an immense amount of advice to rack up a six-figure bill despite never having an actual legal action filed.

The people of Vidalia need to demand additional information on this bill to learn exactly what their hard-earned tax dollars just purchased.