Legal Notice

EVANGELINE PARISH POLICE JURY

REGULAR MEETING

NOVEMBER 4, 2024

The Police Jury met in regular session assembled with the following members present: Keith Saucier, Sidney Fontenot, Ryan Ardoin, Tim Causey, Kevin Veillon, Brent Guillory, Bryan Vidrine and Darion Arvie. Absent and excused was Daniel Arvie. A quorum was present.

There were no comments from the public regarding the agenda items.

Motion was made by Tim Causey and seconded by Kevin Veillon to approve the October 28, 2024 special meeting minutes. Motion carried.

Evangeline Parish Section 8 Director, Anna Frank, addressed the Jury needing approvals on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.

Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Darion Arvie to approve the Evangeline Parish Section 8 Five (5) year plan and annual plan for fiscal year 2025 which was submitted October 12, 2024 with all forms. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Kevin Veillon and seconded by Keith Saucier approving the Evangeline Parish Section 8 Fair Market Rent and payment standard at 100% of the fair market rent for the fiscal year 2025. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Darion Arvie approving the Evangeline Parish Section 8 updated utility allowance for the fiscal year 2025. Motion carried.

Mrs. Frank stated to the Jury that there is currently 186 family on the program and is the most this program has ever housed.

Motion was made by Kevin Veillon and seconded by Darion Arvie approving Intergovernmental Agreements between the Evangeline Parish Police Jury and 15 agencies- Law Enforcement, Fire Departments, and 911 for the 2022 SHSP Grant. Each law enforcement agency will receive $1,261.00 each and Fire Departments, 911 and Evangeline Parish Police Jury will receive $2,943.00 each. Motion carried.

The Evangeline Parish Communications District Budget for the fiscal year 2025 was then presented to the Jury. Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Darion Arvie approving the 911 Communications District Budget 2025 Budget as presented. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Keith Saucier approving the 2024 Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $51,646.62 to accommodate the following 3 employees with the Office of Emergency Preparedness:

Liz Hill 28%

Sherry Pommier 36%

Mona Nelson 36%

Motion carried.

Mr. Steve McDaniel addressed the Jury with a proposal in allowing him fund the cost of building up Two Crows Lane due to water flow/flooding on said road in exchange for purchasing a couple of acres of easement to allow a dirt pit to source the local fill. It was mentioned to Mr. McDaniel that when dealing with public land to a private individual the Jury has to put this item up for bid and not able sale out right. This would also need to be reviewed by the Police Jury’s Legal Counsel. No action was taken at this time until further review.

Mr. Hunter Kinchen of Higginbotham addressed the Jury with Health Insurance Proposals for the Fiscal Year 2025. The initial increase was for 2.5% of the premium however were able to negotiate with United Health Care with no increase. Only increase was a 2% in the BCBSLA Dental Plan.

Motion was made by Kevin Veillon and seconded by Keith Saucier approving the 2025 Insurance Renewals from United Healthcare - Surest, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana Dental, UNUM Vision and United Healthcare Group Life Insurance as submitted. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Keith Saucier and seconded by Darion Arvie authorizing the transfer of monies from the General Fund to Ward One Sewer System Fund (Wyble) to pay invoices related to the Wyble Sewer Sector Project for Matching Funds. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Keith Saucier and seconded by Darion Arvie approving the rate study results for All Utility Sewer Systems with a 5% rate increase for the 1st five (5) years and then a 6% increase for the remaining five (5) years. Rate increase will be effective January 2025. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Tim Causey to approve attendance to the Police Jury Convention, February 12-15, 2025 in Baton Rouge, La. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Kevin Veillon 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, related for safe load capacity and posted in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards and that an inventory 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;

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 the 1st of October 2024 through the 30th of September 2025:

The Parish has performed all interim inspections on all Parish owned and maintained bridges in accordance with the National Bridge Inspection Standards.

All bridges owned or maintained by the Parish have been structurally analyzed and rated by the Parish as to the safe load capacity in accordance with ASSHTO Manual for Maintenance Inspection of Bridges. The load posting information that has been determined by the LA DOTD for all bridges where the maximum legal load under Louisiana State Law exceeds the load permitted under the operating rating as determined above has been critically reviewed by the Parish. Load posting information has been updated by the Parish to reflect all structural ratings.

All Parish owned or maintained bridges which require load posting or closing are 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.

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 LA DOTD are noted.

These stipulations are prerequisites to participation by the Parish in the Off-system Bridge Replacement Program.

The above and foregoing, having been submitted to a vote was unanimously adopted on this 4th day of November, 2024.

Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded Tim Causey approving to set budget day for Thursday, November 20, 2024 in the Police Jury Office. Motion carried.

In accordance with Louisiana Revised Statute 39:1307, Local Government Budget Act, a motion was made by Kevin Veillon and seconded by Keith Saucier to approve calling a public hearing at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2024 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 2024 and the proposed budgets for the fiscal year 2025 with a special meeting to follow at 5:15 p.m. for the adoption of said budgets. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Kevin Veillon approving to set the Police Jury December meeting on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in the Police Jury Meeting Room of the Courthouse Building. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Keith Saucier 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 16, 2024 and awarded at a Special Meeting on Monday, December 16, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Keith Saucier and seconded by Brent Guillory approving appointment of Joshua Shane Delafosse to replace Robert L. Quam on the Evangeline Parish Water District No. 1 Board of Directors. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Tim Causey and seconded by Sidney Fontenot approving appointment of Peggy Duplechain to replace Roderick Thibodeaux on the Evangeline Parish Water District No. 1 Board of Directors, effective February 5, 2024. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Kevin Veillon approving to enter into a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Evangeline Parish Tourism Commission allowing the Evangeline Parish Tourism Commission to make quarterly payments to reimburse the Evangeline Parish Police Jury for their share of salary and benefit costs for the newly hired Tourism Director/Grants Coordinator. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Brent Guillory and seconded by Keith Saucier to approve the transfer of public works truck to Region B for $6,600.00. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Sidney Fontenot and seconded by Kevin Veillon to approve water tower repairs at Industrial Park. Motion carried.

Public Works Director gave the following report:

• Drainage crews are working on a bridge located in District 7.

• Approve the purchase of a dump truck for Region B.

Motion was made by Brent Guillory, seconded by Ryan Ardoin and unanimously approved to amend the agenda to add the following item:

• Discuss the purchase of a dump truck for Region B.

Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Brent Guillory approving the purchase of a dump truck for Region B at a price of $45,000. Motion carried.

Parish Engineer gave the following report:

• Pre-construction meeting for the Infrastructure Project at the Industrial Park will be held November 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

• Wyble Subdivision Sewer Project is moving along successfully.

Secretary-Treasurer gave the following report:

• Sales Use Tax collections in September was $24,889.77 less than last year.

Motion was made by Ryan Ardoin and seconded by Keith Saucier approving to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

/s/ Bryan Vidrine /s/ Dirk Deville

Bryan Vidrine, President Dirk Deville, Secretary-Treasurer

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