VIDALIA — The wet weather could cause delays to ongoing street overlay and sewer repairs, Vidalia officials said during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled town hall meeting.

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft said the town has $1.7 million invested in street overlay projects that are scheduled to start on Feb. 3 and could be delayed in areas that are flooded with seepage from the Mississippi River, which rose slightly past the flood stage at 48 feet Wednesday.

“I’m not happy with the lag we are having,” Craft said during Tuesday’s meeting. “The street projects are supposed to begin Feb. 3. … As you all know, we have another river flood coming rather quickly. … We will start those projects wherever we can — in areas the river is not going to influence — and start working on the worst streets first if the river will permit it.”

Craft said sewer improvements were scheduled to start last week, particularly a $209,820 pumping station near the Vidalia City Cemetery.

“The sewer improvements were supposed have already started, but the weather has been a detriment to those as well,” Craft said. “We’ve had a wet December, however we are working hard to get these things done.”

Craft said he met with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Monday to start the reimbursement process for the repairs from the latest flooding event that lasted from January through July of 2019.

Craft said any federal reimbursements received would be used to replenish funds for the sewer and street repairs.

In other matters during Tuesday’s meeting of the Vidalia Mayor and Board of Aldermen, the board:

• Reviewed a financial audit for the 2018-2019 fiscal year prepared by Silas Simmons, which showed two findings that were cited by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor. One finding stated deposits from city court fines should be made more frequently, at least once a week. The second finding cited an internal control error where an employee had access to the check ledger and deposits and unlawfully took $13,656 from the town’s utility collections in 2018. Officials said both issues had since been resolved.
• Unanimously approved an ordinance that authorized the issuance of up to $7 million from the state bond commission to build a new electricity substation after a public hearing. The loan was discussed in-depth during a November board meeting and was agreed upon with the stipulation that the Board of Aldermen would host a public meeting each time any money is drawn.