Evangeline Parish Police Jury Meeting November 2, 2020 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday, in an effort to help Mercy Regional Medical get access to additional Medicaid funding, voted to assess a hospital fee. Attorney Gary Frost representing the Allegiance Hospital group explained that Mercy Regional in Ville Platte and Acadian Medical in Eunice, both owned by Allegiance, were not eligible to draw down Medicaid funding because of their operating structure. A new bill approved by the legislature will cover specifically those two hospitals and additional hospitals in Webster and Lincoln parishes also owned by Allegiance creates a formula for these hospitals to be eligible for the additional funding. Mercy will be assessed a certain fee by the parish., The fees will be kept in a special account that will be transferred over to the state. Frost said hospital patients will not be impacted. Scott Crowley with Allegiance Hospitals said the additional funding will help his group compete with larger area hospitals, allow his company to purchase new equipment and give needed pay raises. Police Jury President Ryan Williams said "The police jury wants to make sure our parish citizens get access to good health care and employment opportunities." Opal Andrus with the newly formed Crooked Creek Foundation gave a report on the recent "Fins, Feathers and Fur cookoff" at Crooked Creek park. Over 500 attended the event including 141 campers and the park brought in some $7000 . Andrus said her group is looking at an online booking system for campers to reserve and pay for their camping spot. In other action the police jury: ? Received a report from State Senator Heather Cloud that funding from the state should be available by the Fall of 2021 to conduct a complete study on improving US 167 north from Turkey Creek to the parish line; ? Heard from State Rep. Darryl Deshotel discussing broadband service in Evangeline Parish; ? Called for a special election to renew a millage tax on maintaining cemeteries in Districts 2, 3 and 7 on March 20; ? Approved the use of the Chauncey Pitre Ag Arena by the Rapides Parish 4-H Club to hold their annual 4-H Livestock show; ? Schedule their all French meeting for December 8 at 2;00pm at the courthouse. ? Received news that an Evangeline Parish Economic Development Committee meeting with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser will be held Thursday at 5;00pm at the Hatchery in Vidrine; ? Heard from Secretary Treasurer Donald Bergeron that sales tax collection for September amounted to $329,068, nearly a 2 percent increase over the same period a year ago.