Election Returns

April 20, 2024

   In the only election day ballot held in Evangeline Parish, voters today (Saturday) in Ward Five of Evangeline Parish approved a ballot measure consolidating the St. Landry Fire District with the Ward Five Protection District with one new millage millage tax funding the newly created district. The vote was 149 mills yes and 56 votes voting no. The new millage tax will be 11.53 mills for all Ward Five residents for a 20 year period.

Ville Platte Police Investigating a Shooting that Injured One Person

April 24, 2024

    Ville Platte Police Chief Al Perry Thomas reported to KVPI News his department is investigating a shooting that left one victim hospitalized with an injury. Chief Thomas said the call came in to police headquarters late Monday night involving a shooting at the Gabriel Villa Apartments. After checking out the scene, police got a call from Mercy Regional Medical Center that a shooting victim was being treated. The victim who would not cooperate with the police suffered from a gunshot wound to his right elbow. The victim was later transferred to a Lafayette Hospital. Police later learned that the Lincoln Road fire station had three bullet holes that apparently were connected to the shooting incident. No one at the fire department were injured. The victim’s name was not released. No arrests have been made. The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact the Ville Platte Police Department. All calls will remain anonymous.

The Ville Platte City Council met Tuesday night, and the Council discussed reducing Utility Deposit Rates.  Council approved reducing Residential Water and Sewer Deposits to $150 and Gas Deposits to $100.  Commercial Water and Sewer proposed deposits would be reduced to $250 and Gas deposits to $500.  This Ordinance will be introduced at a Public Hearing on May 14^th at 5:00.

The City Engineer Ronnie Landreneau informed the council that E.B. Feucht & Sons has been cleared as contractor to perform the Water Sector project for the rehab of all the lift stations.  The proposal came in under budget.  The Council approved the motion to sign the contract.  The bids for the Louisiana Love project for Heritage Park are due Wednesday at 2:00.  Mr. Landreneau is also getting bids for the Subsurface Utility Evaluation.

Fire Chief Chris Soileau reported 11 incidents in the City in March.  Two were structure fires, and there were no fatalities.  There were 9 incidents in the fire district.  The department is updating pre-incident planning and will begin post-pressure testing.  Chief Soileau introduced Ryan Dupuis, and Council approved hiring and welcomed Mr. Dupuis aboard. 

The Police Department responded to 630 calls in March, up from 544 in February.  This number included 33 arrests, of which 4 were felonies.  They also handled 19 accidents, and there were no fatalities.  Also reported was that the city lost 2 -3 of the new hires introduced in March.

Mayor’s Comments

• The City should have the two new sewer jetter trailers from Trojan Worldwide in the next couple of weeks.
• The Love Louisiana Project for the City Parks is moving forward as discussed by Ronnie Landreneau.
• Crews are working diligently to advance the streets and drainage project.
• Phase I of the new annex building renovation is complete.
• The Mayor and Donald Bergeron met with Senator John Kennedy’s staff to learn about tapping into different sources of funding available to the City.
• The City has hired a meter reader company to read the meters so that they are done on a timely basis at the same time of the month.  This is a money saving move, and the process will be streamlined.

The Council approved the remaining agenda items, and the next meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 14^th.

   KVPI News has learned that all Evangeline Parish Public Schools and Sacred Heart Schools are closed today due to expected stormy weather this morning.

  Here is the statement from Supt of Schools Darwan Lazard:

In communication with our local 911/Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) and based upon the most recent National Weather Service (NWS) advisory, indicating severe weather conditions with a possibility of unsafe driving conditions for buses and other vehicles, the Evangeline Parish School District, all campuses and district offices, will be closed on 4-10-2024.

Rotary Club Meeting – 4-2-24

The program at Tuesday’s Rotary luncheon was presented by Rotarian Beau Wilson.  Beau introduced Connie Lamke, the Founder and President of The Acosta Foundation, a 501C3 non-profit that was formed in 2019.  The mission is to improve lives one donation at a time.   Connie’s work continues the lessons she learned from her father, Rodney Acosta, Sr., to be generous to those in need   

The Acosta Foundation helps support the Savoy Indigent Support organization in Mamou that helps cancer patients with expenses incurred for their treatment.  They help get food to those in need in Evangeline Parish.  The Foundation helps with disaster relief all over Louisiana. 

The Aswell House was donated to the Foundation, and it is used to continue with traditions including the Tee Cotton Bowl and local Fairs and Festivals.  The house cab host conferences and other events, and they can offer education and training.  This also requires a significant amount of funds for repairs, renovations and upkeep.

Upcoming events include a fishing tournament on April 20^th at Bayou Chicot.  Funds raised will be used for flooring at the Aswell House.  On the same day, April 20^th, there will also be a 5K Color Walk/Run at Bayou Chicot to raise money for Savoy Indigent Support.

There is a 12 member Board for The Acosta Foundation that helps determine what causes to support.  To find out more information or help support The Acosta Foundation, go to their website at theacostafoundation.org.  Also check out and share their Facebook page.

Other Rotary News:

• The Spring Social will be at the Group Camp at Chicot Park at 6:00 on April 16th.  The band, The Browning Onions will perform and there will be barbecue.
• The speaker for the next meeting on April 9^th will be presented by Donald Bergeron

On Monday night, after much discussion, the Evangeline Parish Police Jury approved the Request by IBV Energy Partners and/or Bayou Chicot Solar, LLC for certain tax exemptions and other considerations negotiated by the Industrial Development Board for the Bayou Chicot Solar Farm with a vote of 6-3.  This project is now ready to move on to the next phase.

After opening items, the public was invited to speak on agenda items, and there were numerous speakers who had comments and questions about the Request by IBV Energy Partners and/or Bayou Chicot Solar, LLC for certain tax exemptions and other considerations.  Earlier in the day, the Industrial Development Board and other community leaders met with IBV Energy Partners to amend the resolution adopted on March 19^th.   Note that this resolution is only attributable to the Bayou Chicot Solar Project.  The Ad Valorem Pilot was changed from a 75-25 split to a 72 – 28 deal for the first 15 years of the project.  In the 16^th year of the project and going forward, the company will be obligated to pay 100% of the ad valorem taxes that will then be assessed.  The maximum increase in the value was removed from the resolution, so the Parish can share in the total increase in value of the project, but the minimum valuation of $240 million was kept in the resolution.  A Sales Tax Pilot was also added, so that the company will pay $5,000,000 in sales taxes.  When this is added to the amount being collected from IBV, the incentive changes to 60-40, and this is the best deal that currently exists in the state of Louisiana based on research done by the Parish Tax Assessor.  Funds collected will be distributed according to the Ad Valorem schedule in place.  These changes were made in accordance with the concerns of the Jury Members and their constituents.  The total amount of funds expected to be collected in the first fifteen years of this project is $58 million.

There were questions about the tax incentives, and what amounts of money will be realized by the Parish.  There were concerns about the way the moneys will be divided among the taxing entities.  People also wanted to know what jobs will be created and if local businesses will be hired for work to be done.  All of these issues were discussed by the Jury and the Representatives from the Industrial Development Board. 

Troy Wayman from One Acadiana spoke at the meeting.  He let everyone know that IBV plans an initial investment in this Parish of $169 million.  There will be many jobs during the construction phase.  The tax impact from sales in the first year and a half is expected to be $4,000,000.  The total amount in taxes projected to be collected for the first 15 years is $58 million.  The power infrastructure will be improved by this investment as well.

IBV has proposed to award $2000 scholarships for one graduating senior from each of the five high schools in the Parish.  The split of the funds will be 53% to the Police Jury, 8% to the Sheriff, and 39% to the School Board.

This project has been under way for four years.  All of the due diligence has been done. The argument was put forth that this project will set a precedent for future industries considering this parish for development, and that this is something the needs to be done for the future of the parish, and for the children and grandchildren.

When the resolution was put to a vote by the Board, there were three votes in opposition – Kevin Veillon, Darion Arvie and Daniel Arvie.  Those in favor included Bryan Vidrine, Keith Saucier, Sidney Fontenot, Ryan Ardoin, Timothy Causey, and Brent Guillory.  This project was approved to move to the next phase.

At the closing of that discussion, IDB Board Member Wayne Vidrine asked the Police Jury Board to strongly consider an industrial park near the highway.  The Parish loses potential investing companies because there is no access to a four lane highway.

The Board then continued on with the remaining Agenda for the meeting.