The Evangeline Parish Police Jury held its February meeting Monday night in the Parish Courthouse.  The room was filled with residents who had questions regarding cemetery repairs due to the floods in 2016.  Ryan Seidemann, Chief, Lands and Natural Resource Section, Civil Division Office of Jeff Landry’s office spoke to the crowd and explained the process of receiving and disbursing the funds from FEMA to have the gravesites repaired.  He said from the flooding last summer, 72 cemeteries and approximately 800 graves were affected. 

Here locally, there have been questions about the St. Matthews Church Cemetery.  Seidemann noted that a church or business cannot apply for assistance with a cemetery from the federal government.  He also noted that by FEMA’s rules one individual can only have so many gravesites to be in charge of.  In order to help the church get the funding they used a “Good Samaritan” system.  This allows other individuals to apply for the funds from FEMA and be in charge of using that money to ensure the gravesite(s) is repaired.  There have recently been disputes between residents with family members buried in the cemetery and individuals who are acting a “Good Samaritans”.  Residents questioned why the repairs have not been completed and they questioned where the money is.  Resident, Arthur Sampson, who is acting as a Good Samaritan, told the crowd and Seidemann that he was trying to do what the family wanted and he said they wanted to use a different contractor then those other residents repairing the sites.  Seidemann stated he can do that as long as that contractor is licensed, bonded and insured.  It must also have the correct equipment to perform the services.  He stated the church must approve the contractor because it is the land owner.  Many residents want him to use the same contractor so the work can be completed.  

When speaking of the checks and where they are located, Seidemann stated that their office knows where the money is and they have not found any wrong doing.  He did, however, state that if they find that anyone has used that money for any other purpose, they will be prosecuted because it is not only fraud on a State level, but it is also a federal crime since FEMA issues federal money for the repairs.

Seidemann stated that he was aware that a list of those who received checks was leaked on social media and he warned whoever put it up to take it down because it violates the Federal Privacy Act.

Chester Granger, Public Works Director, addressed the Jury and stated he is having to make adjustments with his budget and they are short due to the lack of complete funding coming in from The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office.

In some good news, Secretary/Treasurer Donald Bergeron stated that sales tax collections from December that were collected in January were $313,918.45.  They will also begin re-collecting the 2% Sales Tax from Union Tank next month.  He stated Union Tank was completely on board and fine with paying it.

In not-so-good news, Bergerson reported the Special Services building is in need of new roof which is going to cost the parish $16,000.