The Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday night approved setting a pay scale for its road employees and giving an across the board 75 cent an hour pay raise to all parish employees effective May 1.

    Some 150 employees will be seeing an increase in pay starting next month that will cost the parish $100,000 a year.

     The jury approved the following new pay scale: Supervisors: $14-26 an hour; Equipment operators- $10-18 an hour; Truck Drivers- $8-14 an hour; Tractor Operators-Minimum Wage to $12 an hour.

     After much discussion, the jury approved a new policy on the issue of having speed bumps. The policy gives each individual juror the right to install speed bumps in his district. A resident requesting a speed bump for their road must obtain the signatures of at least 85% of the property owners and residents on that street.  The jury must also the proper signage to warn motorists about the speed limit.

     Two jurors voted against the motion: Eric Soileau and Kevin Veillon. Soileau said he was concerned about the liability issue and possible lawsuits over the increased use of speed bumps in the parish.

     The police jury called a public hearing May 13 at 5:30pm at the courthouse to get public comment on a proposed ordinance that a cover or tarpaulin must be used by parish residents hauling garbage to a dumpster. The ordinance provides for penalties should there be no cover for the trailer or the back of a truck.

     In other action he police jury:

--voted to abandon a proposal to adopt a bounty for cayotes;

--approved the quote of I.S.S. of $11,462 for the purchase and installation  of a new audio system for the jury meeting room;

--approved giving permits for two trail  rides coming up in the parish;

--voted to approve a quote from J and J Exterminating for termite control for the courthouse at a cost of $3647.