MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) – A local committee and the City of Meridian are preparing to host a special concert for Jamal Roberts, who is now in the Top 7 on American Idol.

Tuesday morning, during a city council meeting, city council members voted and approved to move up to $20,000 from Animal Control to Community Development to pay for portions of a celebratory concert and parade for Jamal.

Council members and city leaders are excited to celebrate Roberts’ success, but had many questions on who will be in charge of the event, would it be the committee or the city?

“Due to the funding that’s in place, the city will be taking a major role in it, but we are working with the committee, and they are the ones who are actually talking to American Idol and to Mr. Roberts himself. So we are relying on the information that they have and their guidance as to how we move forward. The city is taking a lead role,” said Director of Community Development Craig Hitt.

The city has agreed to provide the stage and lighting, but other items will be taken care of by the Jamal Roberts committee.

“At this point, the committee is going to be taking care of the security. Outside, of course, the local Police Department that will be providing outside security like we do at our normal events. We expect the event coordinator to take care of security inside the event. And then Meridian Police Department takes care of the streets and everything outside the event,” said Hitt.

The concert and parade are scheduled for May 14, but that is only if he makes it to the Top 3, and that will be announced on Tuesday, May 13.