Salaries, repairs discussed at fire meeting

By: ELIZABETH WEST
Staff Reporter

Employee salaries and repairs to the Faubourg Fire Station were the top discussion at the Evangeline Parish Fire District #2 June meeting on Tuesday.
Old business discussions centered mostly on the city of Ville Platte and Fire District #2’s plan to have the fire district pay 26% of its employees’ salaries. Board member, Daniel McDaniel, suggested that a board be created, consisting of two board members, to work with the Fire Chief on the agreement with the city.
Daniel McDaniel and Hunter Soileau were chosen as the two board members that would comprise this board created to work with the Fire Chief on the agreement. Before moving on to new business, Soileau wanted to suggest a possible raise for their employees.
“It might not be possible but I would like for us to look into giving them some kind of raise. Even if it’s not much, just a little bit,” said Soileau about the possibility of a raise.
Soileau and others hope to work this into the agreement that will be made with the City of Ville Plate.
Discussion then turned towards new business, with the first item on the table being the repairs needed at the Faubourg Fire Station.
McDaniel began informing the others about the problems needing repair and refers to the drainage problem as a “dangerous” one. They believe a catch basin is what will be needed to fix the drainage problem.
McDaniel also believes a bulk head may be needed to fix the driveway slab that is being ruined by the under washing problem.
“The slab is going to end up giving way,” said McDaniel. “We need to do whatever we got to do before we lose a fire truck.”
The board made a motion to have the issues looked at so that they can better know what will need to be done to make repairs. This motion was passed unanimously.
Following discussion of those repairs, new business continued by shifting its attention toward the 2014 audit that needs to be taken care of before the end of June. A special meeting may have to be called to approve the audit before the end of the month once Board Chairman, Grant Soileau, and Fire Chief, Chris Harrison meet with the auditor this coming week.