Police jury discusses responsibility for fire hydrants

The Evangeline Parish Police Jury, during its committee meeting session Monday, February 2, voted to pay half the cost of a fire hydrant at the Mill Creek subdivision, off Chicot Park Road, after a discussion about the parish’s responsibility regarding fire protection costs.
Donald Bergeron, police jury secretary/treasurer, said the full price of the fire hydrant, including installation, is about $4,600.
Juror Bryan Vidrine, who proposed the parish pay half the installation cost, questioned whether the police jury was responsible for the cost of placing a fire hydrant at the subdivision, where several luxury homes are located. He said installation of a hydrant should have been included in the development plans of the subdivision, and that the fire district with responsibility for covering that area should bear some responsibility.
Juror Kevin Veillon said the police jury “can’t blame the fire department,” and that if the fire fire district was required to pay the cost of installing a fire hydrant at the Mill Creek subdivision, it would set a precedent for fire districts paying for installation of fire hydrants in other places.
The cost to the parish will be repaid by state funds used to enhance fire protection efforts.
The police jury heard about the upcoming premier Le Grande Hoorah festival at Chicot State Park April 10 and 11. Winky Aucoin, who originated the new festival concept after the Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week moved from Chicot Park to Lafayette last year, said he is securing sponsorship for the event.
Aucoin was at the police jury meeting to get permission to sell alcoholic beverages at the festival. When asked by juror Lamar Johnson if the Louisiana State Parks should grant that permission, Aucoin said the state agency was an enthusiastic supporter of the Balfa festival during the 10 years it had been at Chicot Park, and that support is being extended to the festival being organized by Prairie Heritage, Inc.
He said proceeds from the festival will be used to support a scholarship fund and French language immersion instruction in the parish, which is now limited to Chataignier Elementary School during the summer.
Aucoin introduced one of the key coordinators of the event, Tony Davoren of Sunset. Davoren -- a music instructor -- said he had experience with Louisiana Folk Roots events and with summer camps for hundreds of children in California and New York.
Jurors voted to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Prairie Heritage Inc. and to grant the liquor license for the festival.
According to the mission statement on the Prairie Heritage website (prairieheritageinc.com), the organization seeks “to preserve the heritage and culture of the people of the Acadiana area through education, community out-reach, sponsorship and the facilitation of any activities relative to the language, music, cuisine and arts of the people of the region.”
The police jury also discussed the need to ensure people hired to mow cemeteries maintained by the parish have workmans comp to cover themselves if injured on the job and liability insurance to cover damage to property. The parish contracts with about 50 people to mow parish-maintained cemeteries.
Juror Johnson said any person contracting with the parish to mow cemeteries who do not have the insurance should be compensated by the parish for the costs of that insurance.
Juror Rocky Rider said he has received complaints from constituents about cemeteries that needed mowing and he had difficulty tracking down people responsible for mowing the cemeteries. Bergeron said he has started requiring anyone signing a contract with the parish for mowing cemeteries to provide contact information.
Chester Granger, parish public works director, advised the jurors that auditors require documentation regarding whether road crews or contract labor mow parish cemeteries. Juror Burgess said jurors need to closely supervise whether the parish is being charged for excessive overtime for mowing cemeteries.
The police jury tabled any action on the issue until the regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 9. Bergeron was asked to provide more information about the requirements for liability insurance and how many people contracted with the parish to mow grass on parish cemeteries need workmans comp and liability insurance.
Another issue on the police jury’s agenda was whether to hire a risk manager to oversee the parish’s insurance expenditures.
Bergeron, who briefed the jurors on the issue, said the parish needs such assistance in order to take advantage of any savings the parish is eligible for.
Independent insurance agent Phil Lemoine, who advised the jurors in the earlier discussion about insurance requirements regarding people who contract to mow cemeteries, gave jurors a summary of his qualifications. Lemoine also has assisted the police jury on other insurance issues in the past.
Juror Rider urged the jurors to hire Lemoine, who suggested he be compensated at a rate of $500 per month, and that the police jury reconsider the rate of compensation after a year. However, action on the matter was tabled until other candidates could be given the opportunity to apply for the position of risk manager.
In other business, the police jury:
•Approved of the purchase, for $38,000, of a bush hog and tractor for District 1, from the parish’s general fund. Granger, who requested the purchase, said the cost would be repaid to the general fund at the rate of $3,000 per month for 13 months.
•Approved of the purchase of a small excavator for use in Region A, District 5 and District 7. Granger requested the purchase -- for $102,000, after trade-in and rebate -- and said it was a budgeted item.
•Approved of a request by Bergeron to allocate $15,000 from the parish’s general fund to cover salaries and other expenses that will be incurred by operating Crooked Creek Recreational Area through April, when visitors will begin to pay fees that will be used to reimburse the parish. Bergeron said the park may not need all of the amount requested, but that at least some of it will be needed to get the park ready for campers.