Jury looks into ordinance for truck damage

It can be seen on many roads throughout Louisiana -- potholes and broken pavement. Millions of dollars are spent each year by the state and local agencies to fix these roads only to have overweight trucks damage them again.

According to Vermilion Parish Police Juror Nathan Granger of District 3, a road in his district, Guillot Road, just south of the Lafayette Parish line is experiencing such damage from a contractor who is taking dirt from property on the Vermilion Parish side and transporting it into Lafayette Parish.

Why not get the dirt from Lafayette Parish? They have an ordinance against heavy trucks on certain roads, specifically those that are digging for dirt and carry it on farm to market roads that are set at a lower rating allowed than the weight of the trucks.

Eugene Sellers, Engineer of Sellers and Associates told the Public Road Committee that he would obtain a copy of the neighboring parish’s ordinance and review it with legal council Paul Moresi III for a recommendation at the next meeting.

Guillot Road has been partially repaired by the company that is trucking the dirt, however, large holes remain on the stretch of road that leads to the Lafayette Parish line from the dig site and residents have called to complain.

The intentions of the jury is to investigate how to make those who create the damage liable and force them to fix any damage done.

The governmental body currently has an attachment to a drilling permit that states that if a road is damaged while a rig is being constructed, the owner is responsible to fix the road.