Money is biggest issue in removing abandoned properties

Money -- or the lack of it -- was at the center of several issues taken up by the Evangeline Parish Police Jury during its regular monthly meeting Monday, March 9.
Lack of money left jurors with few options regarding the clearing of 10 abandoned properties identified by the parish. Donald Bergeron, police jury secretary/treasurer, read bids received by companies to clear the properties ranged from nearly $50,000 to close to $80,000.
The police jury’s legal advisor, Marcus Fontenot, acknowledged that the parish would probably not recoup the cost of demolishing and hauling away structures on abandoned properties by selling the properties, if the property owners failed to pay for it.
When asked what options the parish had, he said the parish could clear the properties and bill the landowner for those costs. He said the parish could bring a lawsuit against property owners who refuse to pay costs of removing abandoned structures, but that process could take a long time.
A large portion of the cost of removing abandoned structures involves hauling away debris. Jurors discussed the possibility of burning that debris. Chester Granger, parish public works director, reminded the jurors that some of the debris could be hazardous, and most of the abandoned properties are near homes that are inhabited.
Granger said he was involved with the demolition of an abandoned property in Mamou in the past and said he would find out what the cost of that project was. The police jury took no action on the issue of abandoned properties.
Lack of money also has prevented the parish from taking action on the need to fund animal control. Ryan Ardoin, police jury president, said Beauregard Parish built an animal shelter next to its sheriff’s office and the cost of operating its animal control last year was $50,000.
Juror Kenny Burgess said St. Landry had a shelter built for $70,000 and the annual cost of operating the shelter, including payroll, was $100,000.
Evangeline Parish has budgeted $250,000 for animal control, but the police jury has discussed sources of funding for funding animal control operations once a shelter is built.
Jurors discussed imposing a property or sales tax to fund animal control operations, and Ardoin said the parish may need to strengthen its ordinance regarding stray animals.
The police jury took no action on the matter, but juror Bryan Vidrine said a person who was involved in providing an animal shelter in Ville Platte will be at next month’s police jury meeting to discuss possible options.
Lack of parish funds led to a heated debate over juror Kenny Burgess’ request that the five constables and 10 justices of the peace be each given $150-per-month raises.
When a vote was taken, four voted against the raises, two voted in favor and three abstained, including juror Eric Soileau, who said more information is needed about how the raises would affect the parish’s budget.
Burgess said “it’s a sad day,” that those parish employees don’t get raises but the Ville Platte city marshall, who performs the same duties, got a raise. Then he looked at the Gaxette reporter and said, “Put that on the record.”
Lack of state financial resources led to a request by Dwight Landreneau, representing Louisiana State Parks, to ask the police jury to help support operations at Chicot State Park.
He asked the jurors to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the state that would allow mechanics, equipment operators, office workers or other parish employees to be temporarily assigned to Chicot Park. Landreneau said the state is asking local governments, businesses and individuals across the state to help with operations of state parks and historic sites after the state cut nearly 20 percent from its state parks budget, causing reductions in employees at those facilities. The jurors voted to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the state to support operations at Chicot Park.
The police jury tabled any action on a drinking water ordinance that had been proposed by an official with the state Department of Environmental Quality during a committee hearing the previous Monday.
The ordinance would set boundary distances from drinking water wells. Jurors discussed whether such an ordinance could affect irrigation wells or affect other economic activity in the parish.
Fontenot, the legal advisor, said the police jury didn’t have to have all of the provisions proposed by DEQ. Ardoin, police jury president, said he had a list of parishes that do have drinking water ordinances and he would have them surveyed to see what they include.
In other business, the police jury:
•Passed a resolution proclaiming March American Red Cross Month in Evangeline Parish. Erica Willisms, with the Acadiana Red Cross, based in Lafayette, who provided the wording for the resolution, told the police jury the Red Cross has helped families to obtain temporary shelter after fires and other emergencies, provided safety training to 345 people in the parish, and have 23 volunteers in the parish.
•Heard an update from Granger about damage to a parish road caused by a contractor that used Reton School Road while transporting heavy equipment to another road being repaired. He said he gave the contractor a deadline of March 16 to make repairs. Jurors discussed withholding payment for other work being done by that contractor if the parish has to repair Reton School Road.