Ville Platte Gazette
November 8, 2026
Legal Notice
EVANGELINE PARISH POLICE JURY
REGULAR MEETING
NOVEMBER 2, 2026
The Police Jury met in Regular Session assembled with the following members present: Ryan Ardoin, Bryan Vidrine, Sidney Fontenot, Tim Causey, Brent Guillory, Daniel Arvie and Darion Arvie. Absent and excused were Keith Saucier and Kevin Veillon. A quorum was present.
There were no comments from the public regarding the agenda items.
Motion was made by Tim Causey and seconded by Daniel Arvie approving the minutes for October 5, 2026 Committee and Regular Meetings. Motion carried.
Discussion was held regarding the group health insurance renewal quote, which includes a 5% increase, as well as other available options received for consideration. Motion was made by Daniel Arvie and seconded by Tim Causey approving the health insurance Rate Relief Renewal, with no increase in premiums, as presented and established the open enrollment period for November 30, 2026 through December 2, 2026. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Tim Causey and seconded by Brent Guillory approving actions adopted by all committees on this day, November 2, 2026. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Darion Arvie and seconded by Ryan Ardoin approving the reappointment of Charles Pat Hall to the Evangeline Parish Communications Board for a term of 4 years, beginning October 2026 through October 2030. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Daniel Arvie and seconded by Ryan Ardoin approving the automatic renewal of Sheriff Charles Guillory to the Evangeline Parish Communications Board for a term of 4 years, beginning October 2026 through October 2030. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Tim Causey and seconded by Darion Arvie approving Evangeline Parish Communications District proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 as presented. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Daniel Arvie and seconded by Brent Guillory approving attendance to the annual Police Jury Convention March 3-5, 2027 in Lake Charles, La. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Daniel Arvie and seconded by Brent Guillory approving attendance to the annual NACo Conference February 20-23, 2027 in Washington, D.C. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Tim Causey approving to set budget day in the office on November 17, 2026 starting at 9:00 a.m. in the Police Jury Office Conference Room Motion carried
In accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 39:1307, Local Government Budget Act, a motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Brent Guillory to approve calling a public hearing at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, December 14, 2026 in the Police Jury Meeting Room of the Courthouse Building, 200 Court Street, Ste. 207, Ville Platte, La to hear public comments and/or questions on the proposed budget amendments for the fiscal year 2026 and the proposed budget appropriations for the fiscal year 2027 with a special meeting to follow at 5:15 p.m. for the adoption of said budgets. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Tim Causey approving to set the Police Jury December “French” meeting on Tuesday, December 8, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in the Police Jury Meeting Room of the Courthouse Building. Motion carried.
Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Darion Arvie approving to advertise and accept annual operating bids for Pest Control, Diesel, Asphalt, Limestone, Gravel, Culverts, etc. Sealed bids will be received at the office of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury located at 1008 West LaSalle Street, Ville Platte, La 70586 until 9:00 a.m. on Monday, December 14, 2026 and awarded at a Special Meeting to follow at 5:15 p.m. Motion carried.
Agenda item #15, clarification of formula for distribution of 2% funds was tabled.
Motion was made by Brent Guillory and seconded by Sidney Fontenot approving to adopt the following resolution:
Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Tim Causey approving to adopt the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Code of Federal Regulations, as enacted by the United States Congress, mandates that all structures defined as bridges located on all public roads shall be inspected, rated for safe load capacity, and posted in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards, and that an inventory of these bridges be maintained by each state; and
WHEREAS, the responsibility to inspect, rate, and load post those bridges under the authority of Evangeline Parish, in accordance with those Standards, is delegated by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to Evangeline Parish.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY OF EVANGELINE PARISH, (herein referred to as the Parish) that the Parish in regular session assembled does hereby certify to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (herein referred to as the DOTD) that for the period of 1st of October 2026 through the 30th of September 2027:
1. The Parish will perform all interim inspections on all parish-owned or maintained bridges in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards;
2. All bridges owned or maintained by the Parish will be structurally analyzed and rated by the Parish as to the safe load capacity in accordance with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Manual for Bridge Evaluation. The load posting information that has been determined by DOTD for all bridges where the maximum legal load under Louisiana State Law exceeds the load permitted under the operating rating as determined above will be critically reviewed by the Parish. Load posting information will be updated by the Parish to reflect all structural ratings;
3. All Parish-owned or maintained bridges which require load posting or closing will be load posted or closed in accordance with the table in the DOTD Engineering Directives and Standards Manual Directive NO. 1.1.1.8. All DOTD supplied load posting information concerning a bridge has been critically reviewed by the Parish Engineer prior to load posting; and
4. All bridges owned or maintained by the Parish are shown on the attached list in the format specified by the DOTD. Corrections to data supplied to the Parish by the DOTD are noted.
These stipulations are prerequisites to participation by the Parish in the Off-System Bridge Replacement Program.
This Resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: 7
NAYS: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
ABSENT: 2
Done, approved and adopted on this 2nd day of November, 2026.
Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Brent Guillory to approve the following Capital Outlay Plan:
CAPITAL OUTLAY PLAN
FISCAL YEAR 2027, 2028 and 2029
2027: We will have no Capital Improvement Project. It will be Road Maintenance, Road Side Vegetation Maintenance, and Drainage. (Canals)
2028: No Capital Improvement Projects only Road Maintenance and Road Side Vegetation Maintenance.
2029: No Capital Improvement Projects only Road Maintenance and Road Side Vegetation Maintenance.
Motion carried.
Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Ryan Ardoin authorizing the payment of bills on file in the Police Jury Office. Motion carried.
Secretary-Treasurer gave the following report:
• Monthly budget to actual comparison reports have been submitted to each juror. No comments were made regarding those reports.
• Sales Tax comparisons from one (1) year ago for the month of August, down $47,600.78 or 10.54% in Sales Tax revenues.
In old business it was stated that Parish Engineer is checking with RBW questioning whether Opioid funds would qualify to be used towards the pavilion project.
Motion was made by Brent Guillory and seconded by Tim Causey approving to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
/s/ Bryan Vidrine
Bryan Vidrine, President
/s/ Dirk Deville
Dirk Deville, Secretary-Treasurer
110826
Cost is $240.00