Police Jury signs off on applying for road safety upgrades

Roads throughout Evangeline Parish will be receiving some much-needed safety upgrades.
Melanie Bordelon and Ashely Moran, with the Acadiana Planning Commission, addressed the Evangeline Police Jury during the group’s monthly meeting on Monday night. The two were there to explain the benefits of the Local Road Safety Program, which is administered by the Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program.
The program allows local governments to utilize federal-aid funds for safety improvements on roads that are prioritized with crash data analysis. The Acadiana Planning Commission examined which roadways in Evangeline Parish are problematic regarding crashes, and what countermeasures can be implemented to help reduce the number of crashes on said roadways.
“There are a lot of crashes in Ville Platte but there are a lot of needs across the parish,” Moran said.
The commission identified that several of the problematic roads are ones with curves, that could be made safer with new signage and edge line stripping.
Those roads include Glenmora Turkey Creek, Onyx, Shuff, Rue De Cotton, Prudhomme, Leman, Maxie Rae, Brangus, L’Anse Meg, Old Park, Stage Coach and Brud.
“The signage is very effective in preventing crashes,” Moran.
The program is at no cost to the parish and the state will pay the cost of new signage and the installation of any other safety improvements.
The Police Jury unanimously agreed to allow the Planning Commission to apply for the safety improvements and to have additional roads to be examined. There is no timetable on when the state would begin the safety measures.
In addition to reminding the public of the importance of the 11 tax renewals on the March 25, 2017 ballot, Secretary-Treasurer Donald Bergeron addressed the Jury about money that could be used for security measures at the parish jail.
“We were awarded an LGAP grant for $35,182 for security in the courthouse,” Bergeron said. “I would like the Jury to consider using that money for a new security system inside the parish jail. They don’t have much of a system right now.”
Juror Bryan Vidrine asked if the money had to be entirely used for that jail system or if the funds could be split for a new security system inside the jail but also provide upgrades around the entrances of the courthouse.
Bergeron had no problems with that proposal and the Jury approved Bergeron to ask a security firm to provide an assessment on the cost of the upgrades.
The Jury also agreed to help pay the cost for a local veterans project.
The Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 632 had requested the Jury to assist them with the cost of the paint needed to restore the Huey Helicopter that is on display in the Evangeline Parish Courthouse Square. The Jury unanimously agreed to cover the entire cost of $600.00.
The Jury also was addressed by Candyce Perret who is running for Third Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as Le Grand Hoorah Festival leader Gilbert “Winky” Aucoin.
Other items the Jury approved at Monday’s meeting:
• Granted a cooperative endeavor agreement and liquor permit to Le Grand Hoorah Festival on April 21-22.
•Paul’s Meat Market to tap into the Wyble Sewer Station at a rate of $45 per month.
• Rachel West and Lauren Manuel to attend the Louisiana Floodplain Management Association Conference in Alexandria from April 19-21.
• The changing of some wording in Sec. 38-4 Water Permitting Ordinance.
• Appoint Brenda Saucier to replace Mary Alice Fontenot on the Tourism Board.
• Adopt Citizens Participation Plan Resolution for the 2018-19 LCDVG compliance.