Evangeline jury OKs leaving courthouse
VILLE PLATTE — The Evangeline Parish Police Jury agreed Monday to move Police Jury offices from the courthouse to the parish-owned Medicaid building in order to free up space in the courthouse for the Evangeline Parish district attorney.
Parish Engineer Ronnie Landreneau estimated the moving expenses would amount to $41,000.
The jury legal adviser, Assistant District Attorney Marcus Fontenot, said the district attorney would absorb all of the moving expenses and any improvements needed to the Medicaid building.
The Medicaid building, next door to the parish health unit, is expected to be vacated by the state at the end of June.
The facility has ample parking in front and in the rear of the building, Secretary-Treasurer Doug DeVille said.
Landreneau said the building improvements should not take any longer than 45 days for completion.
In other business, the Police Jury asked Thomas Drew, of Wastewater Treatment Systems and Operations, to prepare a long-term lease agreement to take over the six parish sewer facilities.
WTSO is a private firm with headquarters in Denham Springs, that recently took over the operation of sewer systems in the Plaisance area.
The jury would retain ownership of the systems and keep the ability to set rates, although the private company would control the systems and be liable for their operations.
The proposed agreement is being referred to the parish legal adviser for review and will be discussed by the jury’s executive committee before it moves to the full Police Jury for action.
The Police Jury declared May 14 as Catherine Briley Day in Evangeline Parish in honor of the Sacred Heart High student from Grand Prairie who was a finalist on the Jeopardy Teen Challenge and voted to advertise for bids for the construction of a new Ville Platte branch of the Evangeline Parish Library.
Jurors also approved a resolution calling a millage tax renewal election on Nov. 6 for Evangeline Parish Water District No. 1 in Pine Prairie, voted to give a 10 percent increase in board of director fees to the Tee Mamou Water District board and referred to the jury’s executive committee a proposal to renew the 2 percent sales tax for road improvements for another 10 years.