The Evangeline Parish Police Jury, in a special meeting Wednesday, adopted their new fiscal year budgets that begin January 1. The jury voted to adopt a balanced $2.6 million dollar general fund budget among its budgets. The only change in pay is reflected in District Two where the jury approved raising the pay for road workers there by $1 an hour as recommended by Juror Sidney Fontenot.

      Police Juror Richard “Blood” Thomas asked the jury and the sheriff if the issue of permits for trail rides has been resolved. Jury President Eric Soileau had suspended the issuance of permits for the past several weeks after receiving numerous complaints from neighbors about the loud music late at night at the end of a recent trail ride.

      Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau remarked that his department will enforce the ordinance by giving the trail ride organizer one warning to turn down the music. Should the department have to return a second time, the trail ride organizer will receive a citation. Should the sheriff’s department be forced to return a third time, the entire event will be shut down. Sheriff Soileau said the music must be turned down by 10:00 at night. He reported that in the past the security persons hired by the trail ride organizer has not been following the parish ordinance.

    President Soileau reported that in the future, the trail ride organizer will be given a copy of the parish ordinance so they will know what is expected of them.

    In other action three members of the jury said goodbye to their fellow jurors. Juror Bob Manuel said “It has been an honor and privilege to work with all of you and serve the people of District five for the past 19 years.”

    Juror Sidney Fontenot, who represents District Two said “ Since this is my last meeting, I want to say thank you to all of you. I have been representing District 2 for the past 24 years on this jury. We accomplished a lot but there is still a lot of work to do .”

    Juror J.D. Soileau, representing District One, “I have enjoyed serving as police juror for the past 6 months and it was a pleasure to serve with all of you.”