Police jury considers new enterprise zones

The Evangeline Parish Police Jury heard a proposal from Acadiana Economic Development (AED) officials that the parish identify areas eligible for consideration as “enterprise zones” where new industries could be awarded state sales tax breaks to locate facilities there.

Speaking to the jurors were Rebecca Shirley, AED executive director, and Dr. Tojo Ward, recently installed as AED chairman and who also is director of the parish’s Industrial Development Board.

While enterprise zones have been designated in predominantly low income areas, the state also is considering areas where existing or prospective industries can locate that is not in low income areas. Industries in those locations could be eligible for incentives for locating there, as well as expanding existing permanent facilities or adding employees.

Ward and Shirley held up a large map they said prospective enterprise zones could be identified in Evangeline Parish. The police jury would have to decide where industrial enterprise zones would be located, and Louisiana Economic Development would have to approve the designation.
Shirley said Evangeline and St. Landry parishes offer more large-scale properties than other parishes in Acadiana, such as 50 to 500 acres, that industries usually seek that also meet other requirements.

Describing those requirements, Ward said the first consideration of industry looking for a location is proximity to the interstate highway system, then to rail lines and then they ask about utility service or workforce availability or other factors.

The jurors asked about prospective enterprise zones near I-49, at the parish industrial park and Pine Prairie Energy facilities. They also commented that wherever in the parish an enterprise zone is located, the new or increased jobs that can be expected would benefit the entire parish.

The police jurors decided to consider the AED proposals and take up the matter during next month’s meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, November 12, instead of the usual Monday, due to the Veterans Day holiday.

The jurors also heard a presentation by a representative of Cameron, who described security fencing, gates and a permanently staffed guard house the company plans to construct at the industrial park.

Bert Latour, manager of operations, said the measures are meant to secure items awaiting transport or equipment, as well as the more than 600 employees of the facility.

Latour said Casmeron would pay for the construction. He said he had met with the police jury’s legal counsel, Greg Vidrine, who had drafted a resolution approving the construction, which the jurors passed.

The police jury took up an issue it discussed during last week’s committee meetings, on October 7, but were unable to come to a decision on. They again had too many questions about whether a new policy and procedures manual.

Donald Bergeron, secretary/treasurer, said he had identified the issue regarding an increase in required paperwork that had been discussed during the previous week and that removing that part of the manual should eliminate the problem.

“It doesn’t eliminate everything,” said juror Lamar Johnson, who complained about the increased requirement for paperwork during the previous week.

The discussion focused on the need to track fuel for parish vehicles used by road crews, and office supply expenditures. Auditors have advised the parish to adopt a written policy and procedure manual that explains how parish employees should track those expenditures.

Bryan Vidrine, police jury president, said there had been fluctuations in the mileage rates recorded for individual vehicles. Bergeron said the parish has adopted a computer spreadsheet program. Information from a simplified fuel log is programmed into the computer program that will track each vehicle’s fuel mileage.

The jurors decided to table the issue until the November meeting and study the issue in the meantime.

The police jury reappointed Daniel Miller to another five-year term, effective January 1, on the Te Mamou Water District.

The jurors also set the dates and times for three upcoming events:

•Jurors set the French meeting for Tuesday, December 10, at 2 p.m.

•Set the deadline for accepting bids for pest control, limestone, fuel, pipe and other items at 4 p.m. Friday, December 13. Those bids will be opened December 16 at 9 a.m.

•Called for a special meeting on Monday, December 16, at 5 p.m., to amend the 2013 budget and adopt the 2014 budget.