EP Police Jury OKs funds for ditch work at Mamou park

It was open mic night at Monday’s Evangeline Parish Police Jury monthly meeting.
Mike Hollier with the Acadiana Planning Commission discussed with jurors with the printed out presentation of the commission’s plans for improving critical roadways in the parish.
Dax Allen with Civic Source talked about his company’s proposal to purchase and then auction off online adjudicated properties and then fielded questions from the jury, including several from Evangeline Parish Assistant District Attorney Marcus Fontenot.
BESE Board District 8 candidate Jada Lewis talked about her background in education and what she would also do for the parish if elected this coming October 24.
Grande Mamou Sports came to the meeting to ask the jurors for help in completing the improvements to the park. The group has already made several upgrades-repairs over the past few years to the facility but needed the jurors help to fix the ditches near the park’s entrance.
According to group members, the way the ditches are currently forces people to park along the road which in turn forces children to walk into oncoming traffic. The board responded enthusiastically about helping the group, including pledging up to a maximum amount of $6,000 to help with efforts.
District 1 Juror Rocky Rider summed up by stating, “This is a lot more important that a lot of things that we do here,” Rider said. “Those kids are the future.”
Another hot topic discussed was Basile resident Mark Young asking for the jury’s help with improved security at a recreational park and boat launch in Ward 2, which has recently been repaved.
Young talked about how people continue to dump trash and dogs on the grounds, shoot guns throughout the night, break in to neighboring homes and deal drugs.
“We have some problems with people coming through our yards at 2 or 3 o’clock in the morning cutting up and stealing things from our yards,” Young said. “We would like to put a gate right there at the entrance where at night we could block it.”
“I am constantly getting complaints about people dumping trash,” District 2 Juror Kenny Burgess said. “I live close to there and will find people dumping trash. We are trying to clean that park up and make it look pretty.”
The majority of the board agreed that something needed to be done but didn’t know if by law that the jury could install said gate. Fontenot said that he would look into the legality of said issue.
Before the meeting was officially adjourned, retiring District 9 Juror Richard “Blood” Thomas, who publicly gave his endorsement to Shawn Gallow to fill his set, wanted to “thank District 9 for supporting me all of these years.”
Other items on the agenda, all of which were approved, were:
• Obtain more detailed information concerning tax percentages between the city and parish for the 13-acre tract of land where the new Heritage Manor Nursing Home is currently being constructed.
•Reappointment of Wilbur Thompson to Te Mamou Water District Board.
•Appoint Bradley Ardoin to fill remainder of the late Gerald Duplechin’s position on the Library Board, which expires May 2016.
•Appoint Mrs. Althea Gaynelle Coates to fill remainder of Nina David’s position on the Library Board, which expires July 2018.
•Proclamation declaring support for Law Enforcement and First Responders.
•Karen Rider and Jan Godfrey’s attendance to La. Institute for Administrative Assistants Conference.
•Rachel West and Mindy LaLonde’s attendance to La. Tax Administrators Conference.
•Trick or treat hours (5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.).