The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held its monthly meeting as well as Committee Meetings tonight (Monday) in the Evangeline Parish Courthouse. 

Outgoing Coroner, Dr. Charles Fontenot, addressed the Jury and stated he has been the Coroner for the last 34 years.  He became the Coroner in 1978 and then a Special Election was held in 1979 where he was voted in as Coroner for the Parish.  He stated “After 34 years, it’s good to let a younger doctor take over and after a little arm bending, Dr. Tommy Fontenot has agreed to take over as Coroner.  He then described some of the situations the Coroner’s office handles including investigating all sexual assault cases and all deaths that occur as well as cremations.  Dr. Charles provided statistics about our area regarding suicide by the use of a firearm.  In 2010, there were 5 suicides by guns and as of 2014 that number had grown to 14 suicides with a firearm.  He thanked the Jury for always having a good relationship with him.  Juror, Eric Soileau, thanked him for all of his years of service and for his professionalism.

Tommy Tuma with Wildlife and Fisheries addressed the Jury regarding Cocodrie Lake.  Part of the Lake is in Evangeline and part of it is in Rapides Parish.  He stated that Wildlife and Fisheries would like our local government to know they have the power to adopt their own Rules and Regulations for use of permanent blinds, etc. at the lake.  Those Rules would ultimately go through Wildlife and Fisheries to be approved and that brought some comments from Police Juror, Lamar Johnson.  He questioned everyone whether they knew of any program run by the state that has ever been a success.  More information was requested by Juror, Bryan Vidrine and will be provided to the Jury by Mr. Tuma in the near future.

Renee Brown and Daniel Fruge spoke to the Jury regarding the Smoked Meat Festival and the possibility that the festival may have to be moved this year IF the improvements to the City Park will interfere with the date.  She stated that they are going to get clarification from Mayor Jennifer Vidrine as to their tentative schedule for the Festival (June 24^th and 25^th) will conflict with the improvements to the park.  They asked the Jury for permission to possibly hold the festival at the Chauncey Pitre Arena.  She also asked if a few improvements could be made and that their organization would meet half of those costs.  The Jury voted to allow them to use the Arena should they need to.

We will have an update on the 2% Sales Tax Collections and Projects in a separate report.

The 2% Sales Tax Collections for January were $211,471.05.