No juror publicly challenges Ardoin’s reinstatement of Hill

The issue with Liz Hill’s reinstatement as OEP Director has appeared to be resolved.
Hill had resigned the position at last Monday’s special meeting of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury. A few days later, Police Jury President Ryan Ardoin informed his fellow jurors by e-mail that he had decided to reinstate Hill as director.
That issue appeared to be what was going to be discussed during an Executive Session, which is a private meeting of the board. At the end of Monday’s meeting, which was attended by Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine and KATC in Lafayette, the Jury was going to discuss an issue in Executive Session regarding personnel matters.
Ardoin stated, “We have a personnel issue to discuss about Ms. Hill being reinstated. I don’t think it is needed.”
Juror Eric Soileau then asked Assistant District Attorney Marcus Fontenot, the Jury’s legal counsel, if Hill needed to be in attendance if the Jury did go into session to discuss the matter.
“Ms. Hill has the right to object to the Jury going into Executive Session regarding her,” Fontenot said.
Hill then stood up and addressed the Jury by stating, “If you are going to talk about me then I would like it to be an open meeting.”
That resulted in the discussion regarding Hill’s reinstatement becoming part of the regular open meeting. Juror Lamar Johnson, who was absent from last week’s special meeting, asked Ardoin “don’t you have the power to reinstate her?”
Ardoin replied “Yes I do.”
Johnson then said, “Why would we have to vote for that?”
The floor was open for discussion but no other juror spoke and the meeting was quickly adjourned.
Earlier in the night Assistant District Attorney Nicole Gill informed the Jury that most of the municipalities in the parish have agreed to the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with 9-1-1. That includes the City of Ville Platte Fire Department, Evangeline Parish Fire District No. 2, The Village of Turkey Creek, The Village of Chataignier, The Village of Pine Prairie and now the Basile Fire Department. The only one still out is Ward 4 Fire District which is expected to agree.
“It looks like everyone will be with 9-1-1,” Gill said.
Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud also informed the Jury of her village council’s recent decision of handling delinquent water-sewage bills.
“Our council passed an ordinance to make it criminal not to pay your water and sewer bill,” said Cloud who also stated that delinquent water bills have totaled in the thousands of dollars. “It is our job as public officials to collect these unpaid bills to the best of our ability.”
The ordinance states that 90 days after a mailed notice by the village has been sent out, a resident can be fined between $100 to $500 or serve 60 days in a jail.
The reason why Cloud presented the ordinance to the Jury is that only one third of the village’s water system is in the village. So Cloud was asking the Jury to pass an ordinance supporting her village’s new ordinance for those Turkey Creek water customers outside of the village’s limits.
“We can only enforce what is ours,” Cloud said.
Assistant District Attorney Marcus Fontenot had some concerns about residents being criminally charged for what could be deemed a civil issue. Fontenot asked Cloud if he could have some time to research the issue before the Jury voted. Cloud gladly agreed.
Public Works Director Chester Granger gave an update on the recent bridge repairs throughout the parish.
“As you all know the state came in last week and rated the bridges,’ Granger said. “Two of the bridges were shut down and five more needed immediate repairs.”
Granger informed the Jury that his crew will be repairing the bridges and that the work could last a few months but that the parish will need to come up with “a long term solution and not a band aid fix.”
Others items that were approved at Monday’s meeting:
•Appoint Sara Maricle to replace Tommy Stockton on the Ward 4 Water District board.
•Appoint Jimmy Patton to replace Joey Ardoin on the Ward 4 Water District board.
•Attendance to LHC workshop for Anna Frank and Vonetta Comeaux.
•Reappoint Curley Dossman as Ward One representative to EP Solid Waster Commission.
•Reappoint Cristal Messer as Ward Four representative to EP Solid Waste Commission.
•Reappoint Ray Forman as Ward Five representative to EP Solid Waste Commission.
•The selection of November 8, 2016 and December 10, 2016 as primary date and general election date to fill Ward 3 Constable and Justice of Peace Office.
•Adopt a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held in Fire Protection District No. 2.
•Adopt a resolution terminating Regions Banks as paying agent and appointing Whitney Bank as successor paying agent.
•Approve Rachel West to attend the 2nd Quarterly LATA Conference in Lake Charles, from June 8-10.
•Write a support letter for Juror Eric Soileau to retain his seat on the Rural Action Caucus for the National Association of Counties.