Monday, January 12, 2015
Evangeline Parish Police Jury
The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held its monthly meeting this evening in the courthouse. The Jury unanimously agreed to keep Ryan Ardoin as President of the Jury and Ryan Ledet Williams as Vice President of the Jury for the 2015 term. They also agreed to continue to hold their monthly meetings on the second Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Police Jury room. Committee meetings will be held the 1st Monday of the month at 5:00 p.m., also in the Police Jury room.
The Jury also voted to appoint Todd Welsh as the replacement for the deceased Louis B. Johnson in Waterworks District #1, and after receiving a recommendation from Mamou Gravity Drainage Board #5, agreed to appoint Kerry G. Fontenot to replace Minerva Baker on the Board.
There was much discussion regarding a recommended pay increase for the staff at the Police Jury Office, which includes 5 full-time and 1 part-time employee. Secretary/Treasurer, Donald Bergeron stated “Last year, the Police Jury was unable to fund pay raises for the staff. I instructed the staff to look at incoming bills and any place they thought we could cut back, and bring it to our attention. The staff worked hard and was able to cut spending through contract negotiations, a cut in insurance rates and questioning bills.” The discussion included giving raises to all of the road crews as well, but not all of the information was available to grant those during this meeting. The Jury voted to reward the office staff with $1.00/hr. raise, as well as to Region A & B for the road crews. Regions C & D will be discussed during the next meeting, and if the Jury elects to give those raises as well, the Jury would make the raises retroactive.
President, Ryan Ardoin, also brought of the issue of a Police Jury ordinance that requires the Jury to be responsible for stray, nuisance and/or possibly dangerous animals when alerted to same. The Jury agreed to get with other parishes and towns who currently have animal shelters in order to gain information regarding the legality of specifics required for a facility, the expense to build and maintain a facility in our area so there can be animal control.
Stemming from the last meeting, the Limestone bid has been awarded to Jody Cloud Trucking in Turkey Creek.
And, finally, according to Secretary/Treasurer, Donald Bergeron, the 2% sales tax collected in the month of December for the month of November was $321,456.38, an increase of 49.18%.