Local News

Citizens Call on City Officials to "Do More" at Ville Platte City Council Meeting

Shady Acres residents demanded answers during Tuesday’s meeting regarding when the city will address the subdivision's drainage issues.

 

6 months ago, resident Faye Lemoine addressed the Council, complaining that the city was moving too slow in improving the drainage problems in that area of the city. Then, Lemoine expressed concern over the city not prioritizing drainage, now, Lemoine says she is frustrated, and has had enough.

Louisiana’s rainy season is here, and Lemoine expressed her fear of the homes in their subdivision flooding for a third time. The first two floods took place August of 2016 and April of 2017.

Mayor Vidrine reported that everything is ready to go, but they are just waiting on the ground to dry from previous rain. Lemoine, unimpressed, said she will be back to speak on behalf of shady acres if immediate action is not taken.

 

6 months ago, during that same meeting, the City Council called on citizens to attend Police Jury meetings to ensure that the Police Jury is doing their part in the Keep Evangeline Beautiful Movement, by maintaining the properties they own. During Tuesday’s meeting, Mayor Vidrine said she is “embarrassed” by how little the police jury has done to maintain these properties. Not only are the properties unsightly, it could lead to lower home appraisals. Once again, Mayor Vidrine encourages the public to reach out to the Police Jury, and ask them to do their part. Their office number is (337) 363-5651, and meetings are normally held the first Monday of each month.

 

The Council also heard a mother’s heart felt plea for detective Dunn, and the Ville Platte Police Department to help find the person who slashed her son’s tires at their home on February 13th, and who is currently sending anonymous threats to her family and even her daughter, who is a minor. The mother, Wendy Johnson, said that detective Dunn was called in to review security camera footage, and to gather a police report. Johnson says detective Dunn left her property, forgetting to file the police report, and had to be called back. Johnson said too little has been done by police and detectives.

Police Chief Neil Lartigue declined to comment, due to it being an ongoing investigation. It has been 1 month and 1 week since the incident, and Johnson said she fears for the life of her children, and fears living in the city of Ville Platte.

 

In other business:

- Joe Manuel was recognized for his new job position as Captain of the Ville Platte Fire Department, along with Zachary Johnson, who will take Manuel's place as a full time firefighter. . 

-The police reported for March that 575 calls came in, 56 arrests were made (27 felony arrests), 17    citations, and 31 vehicular accidents.

- The Fire Department reported 18 calls came in, no fatalities.

- The board approved starting plans for removing all 9 Cyprus trees on Main Street, due to            overgrowth that’s causing sidewalk damage and powerline issues. These trees were donated by individuals to the city. Donors will be contacted. 

Mayor Vidrine announced that the 1 million dollar LCDBG grant went towards improvements at the sewer plant, including a state-of-the-art filtration system.

The city received a 20,349 grant for water improvement that has already been used on fixing broken equipment.

 

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