The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held meetings today beginning at 3:30.  There was much discussion regarding 911 services and the transition being made into the new facility as well as the task of changing how 911 calls and non-emergency calls are dispatched.  Sheriff, Eddie Soileau, will no longer be dispatching for other municipalities and that has shifted how calls are handled.  Assistant District Attorney and Counsel for the Communications Board, Nicole Gil, spoke to a crowded Jury room filled with emergency personnel ranging from Pine Prairie, Turkey Creek, Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ward 5, Mamou, Ville Platte, Chataignier, Lone Pine, Bayou Chicot, St. Landry, as well as the 911 department and Board.  Because the Sheriff is not going to provide dispatching for outside entities any longer, each municipality will need to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with 911.  Each municipality was given a Draft Agreement to present to each Board of Directors for approval.  Once all of the agreements come back from those Boards, they will then be presented to the Police Jury for final approval.  911 Director, Liz Hill, explained that due to law enforcement calls being added into the equation, her office had to apply for NCIC approval which takes approximately 6 month to gain, although she stated they are on the fast-track to obtain that approval, it is now at the federal level and she is not certain of when approval will be.  She wanted the public to know that “There was never a possibility that citizens would not have 911 services.  She said she does not know where that rumor came from but she has answered calls from citizens who said they were “scared” and there is no reason to be.  Another meeting has been set for June 6^th; however, they are hoping to get all of the agreements back before that date.  A special meeting will be called if they are successful.  Juror, Eric Soileau, thanked everyone for coming and said the input was a big help.  “It needed to happen”

In other Jury news, Secretary/Treasurer, Donald Bergeron, reported that 12 customers of the Reddell/Vidrine Water District who were extremely delinquent in paying their sewer bill were contacted that they would be cut-off for non-payment.  10 of those customers have made contact and made arrangements to pay their bills which will bring in approximately $20.000.