Evangeline Parish Police Jury Meeting January 22, 2024 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury, in a special meeting Monday, accepted the recommendation of its parish engineer to delay the awarding of a contract on major improvements at the Wyble Subdivision sewer plant. Engineer Ronnie Landreneau told jurors that the lowest bid out of three bids submitted was for $1 million 99 thousand, which is about $100,000 budget over the parish budget estimate. The project funds are coming from a sewer grant. The engineer said he will work with the bidder to see if they can scale back the project to fit within the budget amount. Jurors also discussed the financial issues the parish has been facing with the operation of its ten sewer plants scattered throughout the parish. The parish has about 1000 customers with about a 30 percent delinquency rate. One customer owes the parish some $3,000 in delinquent fees. Jurors say the sewer fees which are $22 a month are too low to sustain the costs of operating the plants. The monthly sewer fees should be almost double the amount they are now charging. Jury President Bryan Vidrine said the state is helping by putting delinquent sewer customers a tax lien on their state taxes. Juror Kevin Veillon said the sewer plants are "draining our budget and putting a strain on our employees". The sewer plant employee is on medical leave so the jury is having to move their parish road and bridge maintenance supervisor over to make necessary repairs and work on the sewer plants which is backing up road and drainage projects. In other action, the police jury appointed Dirk Deville as new interim secretary treasurer to replace Chester Granger who is retiring February 17. Granger served 25 years as maintenance supervisor and the last year as Secretary Treasurer.