Police jury adopts resolution to revoke permits, appoints Ardoin’s replacement

At the Evangeline Parish Police Jury’s Monday night meeting the jury officially passed an ordinance to “terminate any and all utility permits or tags” if a person or entity is in violation of any provision of a parish ordinance.
The jury’s request to create this ordinance came from their desire to find a way to deal with residents who are not paying their sewer fees or not following ordinances.
At this time, there is nearly $100,000 in unpaid sewer bills owed to the police jury.
The new ordinance however will allow the police jury to revoke the permits that are required to have utility services connected at a home or entity.
Before a permit is revoked, the police jury will give an individual the opportunity to remedy their violation of a parish ordinance. If the problem is not corrected after being notified of the issue, the police jury can now step in and revoke the person’s utility permits or tags.
Following the approval of the Enforcement, Disconnection and Termination of Permit Tag ordinance, the jury prepared to fill the position of right of way agent. This opening came after long time EPPJ employee Wilbert Ardoin retired from the position earlier this month.
The three individuals hoping to become the EPPJ’s newest employee were Raymond Guillory, Dale Reed, and Doug Deville.
After the first round of voting there was a tie between Reed and Deville. However, when the jury voted to break the tie, Deville was awarded the position by a vote of five to four.
Deville will work up to 20 hours a week and the police jury has set his pay at $15 an hour.
Other items approved at the meeting were:
• Set the December 2016 French meeting for December 13, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.
• Set a public hearing for the 2016 budget for December 21, 2016 at 4:45 p.m.
• Call for a special meeting to discuss the 2016 budget on December 21, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
• Adoption of the 2016 NIBS Compliance Resolution.