Chataignier council discusses state complaint on sewer system

The Chataignier Village Council learned of impending state sanctions that are possible if its sewer system is not repaired so that it treats sewage more effectively.
The village received a seven-page complaint from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)citing problems with the sewer system based on lab tests dating back to 2011. The council discussed the letter during its monthly meeting on Monday, January 26.
Gail McDavid, who was councilman until the beginning of this year, briefed the council on the problem. McDavid was nominated by Mayor Jackie Thomas, and approved by the council, to fill a new position of administrator during the same meeting.
He said he had contacted Cenla Environmental Science in Alexandria, which is accredited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEQ, and received cost estimates to bring the village’s sewer system into compliance with state regulations.
McDavid said the village will need to establish a water treatment plan and document that plan. Cenla will be able to do that for about $1,600, and will be able to get the sewer plant back into compliance for no more than $5,000.
Wilbur Rozas, town clerk, said the village has applied for a state grant of $25,000 to make improvements to the sewer plant.
Robert Perron, who became the village’s sewage maintenance supervisor late last year, said the village needs to pump out sludge that is clogging the sewer treatment plant, and clean sewer plant chambers. He also said that “a lot of bypasses have been put in” since the plant was built, so the plant’s distribution system needs to be rebuilt.
McDavid said DEQ “is taking a hard line with small towns,” regarding environmental requirements, and that the state could impose fines on municipalities for violating those standards. However, he said, “If we show we are trying, they will work with us.”
The council approved a motion to allow McDavid to contract with Cenla to bring the village’s sewer plant into compliance with state regulations.
After discussing the need to make significant improvements to the sewer plant, the council discussed the need to collect past-due sewer bills. Rozas said a list of past-due bills will be presented to the mayor at the February council meeting, and that water service will be cut off to those households. A fee will be charged to restore water service.
Rozas briefed the council on the auditor’s report of the fiscal year ending last June 30. He said the village has no debts, and expenditures in the last budget were $12,590 below income revenue.
The council assigned people to areas of responsibility, beside McDavid being named to the new position of village administrator.
Mayor Thomas nominated, and the council approved of, incoming councilwoman Debra Fontenot as mayor pro-tem. They also approved keeping Bo West as the village’s attorney, Landreneau & Associates as engineering firm, and Vic Slaven as auditor.
At the end of the meeting, councilman Joseph Semien said he was aware that the village had a problem with pit bull dogs running unrestrained and that the town’s ordinance requiring pit bulls to be restrained would be enforced.