The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held its January meeting Monday night in the courthouse.  Discussion was had by the members regarding a 2005 2% Tax Exemption granted to Union Tank Car under a tax proposition that ended in 2013.  The Exemption was granted approximately 11 years ago and has never been renewed by the Jury; it just went unnoticed until it was brought to Secretary/Treasurer, Donald Bergeron’s attention by a member of the Sales Tax Commission.  In discussions about the Parish having problems collecting sales tax, he was told the Jury “may want to look at the Exemption.”  KVPI News questioned the Jury of “how could go this long and no one knew anything about it?”  Jurors quickly answered they knew nothing of it until recently when it was brought to their attention.  When asked some approximate numbers as to how much the exemption is costing the Parish, Bergeron stated that “today” that number is approximately $15,000.00 a month.  He did say that earlier years may be a slightly different in number.  So, in 11 years, Evangeline Parish has exempted Union Tank Car from paying approximately $1,980,000.00 in sales tax.  Juror, Bryan Vidrine, asked Parish Attorney, Marcus Fontenot, if any other business in the Parish has an exemption like that.  Fontenot stated “he was not around when the exemption was passed, but no, no other businesses have been afforded that and he said currently you cannot grant one.  Vidrine then asked Fontenot to do research to see if the Jury was going to be responsible for collecting the taxes from past years. The Jury voted unanimously under the motion made by Juror, Rocky Rider, to not renew the sales tax exemption effective January 1, 2017.  Rider stated “It’s been 11 years.  It cannot go on for a lifetime."  Juror, Eric Soileau, thanked Union Tank for being here and thanked them for employing so many over the years.  KVPI News will be reaching out to Union Tank Car for a response and will also update you on sitting police jurors at the time this exemption was passed in 2005.

In other news, in its continuing battle to collect from those entities who refuse to pay extremely overdue sewer bills, the Police Jury passed an amended Water Permit Ordinance where The Jury will revoke the water permit for anyone or entity who is in violation of any parish ordinances.  For example, those who have delinquencies in sewer bills, etc., and refuse to make arrangements to clear them will have their water permit revoked.  Then, the appropriate water department will be notified by registered mail of the revocation.  That water department will have 30 days to disconnect the water of that entity.  If it is not done in 30-days the Jury will assess a $25.00/day fine to the water company until the disconnect is complete.

The jury re-elected Ryan Ardoin as Police Jury President and Ryan Williams as Vice-President for 2017.

B&S Neighborhood Market, LLC was granted a Liquor License by the Jury. 

After hearing resident, Arthur Sampson address the Jury, the panel voted for a Veteran’s Discount at Crooked Creek.