The Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday, after a public hearing, approved placing on the November election ballot the renewal of its 2 cent sales tax for roads and drainage for another 15 years. The jury voted to add the Ward Two area of the parish that was left out of the road and drainage district 15 years ago when the original tax was first called. The new road district lines include the entire parish excluding all municipalities.

         In other business, the police jury approved  a recommendation from the Evangeline Parish Library Board to accept the low interest rate quote of Evangeline Bank to finance the construction of a new $1.5 million dollar library in Ville Platte. Three other parish banks will also participate in the financing. The bond issue will be for a 16 year term. The new Ville Platte Library will be built on the library’s property that formerly housed Ville Platte Medical Center on West Main Street.

            Police Juror Rocky Rider said local residents are concerned that a possible bar may soon be opening in the old Po Boy Lumber Yard location on Opelousas Road. All of the residents of a nearby subdivision are against such a business opening in their neighborhood. However, Rider said little can be done since there is no church or school nearby. Parish ordinances stipulate that bars cannot open within 1000 feet of a school or church but no ordinance exist for a bar opening near a residential area.

        In other business the police jury:

--voted to go on record opposing recent action by Governor Jindal to cut Codofil’s budget by 40 percent. The jury will be sending a letter to reconsider his action with copies to be sent to the local legislative delegation. Codofil helps train and fund teachers in the French Immersion program statewide;

--approved paying Dr. Tojo Ward $1200 a month in expense reimbursement for his work as Director of the Parish Industrial Board and as a member of the Acadiana Economic Development District Board. The jury will offer local industry the opportunity to help contribute toward the reimbursement cost;

--appointed Daniel Miller to replace Nathan Fontenot on the Te Mamou Water District Board;

--approved the low quote of Phillips Contracting of $21,400 to retrofit the parish owned Medicaid Office building to accommodate the police jury staff. It is expected that the District Attorney will be paying the moving expenses of the jury.