EVANGELINE POLICE JURY MEETING

MARCH 10, 2014

       Health insurance took center stage Monday during a meeting of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday night. After much discussion following a presentation by David Broussard with Lemoine Insurance Agency, the jury approved renewing its group health insurance plan through Blue Cross at a 3.6 percent increase in premiums. Broussard said the jury’s share will increase by $1,000 a month. The coverage will change as a result of the Affordable Health Care Act especially in out of network benefits. Currently the parish pays 90 percent of an employee’s premium and 50 percent of the family  premium.

     Also, the jury approved adding Aflac as a supplemental plan for parish employees who want to purchase it through pre- tax dollars.

     Another issue facing the jury was the growing liter problem on both parish and state roads. The jury approved a resolution asking the governor to assist with funding or changing the regulations on using state inmates on litter abatement programs. Currently, the state has mandated that to use state inmates to clean up state highways, the governmental agency must have someone who has undergone a 30 day course of instruction and become certified in litter abatement.

     In other action the police jury:

--approved a resolution to award the low quote of Phillips General Contracting of  $221,700 for improvements to the Crooked Creek Pavillion; Also the jury approved another resolution to spend up to $25,000 on bridge work and improvements on Morgan Road. Both projects are being funded from the Ike/Gustav recovery fund;

--approved the low quote of Dale Trahan Backhoe and  Dozer of Rayne of $4.52 a foot to make drainage improvements to a section of Bayou Des Cannes;

--received news that the Evangeline Parish Soil and Water Conservation Service will be honoring Earl Fontenot Jr. who is retiring  after 47 years of service. A special reception for Fontenot will take place March 19 from 9-10 am at the LSU Ag Center.