A series of guests addressed the Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday night on their vision of the future of the parish from a regional, commercial, and political perspective.
Addressing the police jury at the end of the meeting was Brian Ardoin who announced his candidacy for Evangeline Parish Sheriff. “I’m very excited about the opportunity to run,” he told the jurors. “I think I probably stand as qualified as anybody else that has announced because I have been in law enforcement over 20 years.”
After going over his years in law enforcement, Ardoin told the jurors that he “would appreciate any support you can give me.” He added, “I know that you run the parish in terms of the budget and knowing what the people want and need. I’d love an opportunity to sit with each of you individually so that we can discuss some things that may concern you.”
Earlier in the night, the jury heard from Monique Boulet, who is the chief executive officer of the Acadiana Planning Commission, about updates on recent projects that were funded through money from the state for flood control.
“One of the projects that was funded was a regional gauge project,” she stated. “Once that funding is put in place, we will come up here and confirm locations so that, when we place the gauges, the information that is gathered can leverage your work everyday. We are also going to set up a Web interface so it will be live, or near live, data that can be checked on your phone at any given point.”
Boulet also praised the jurors on their decision to build a retention pond in the parish and informed them about the recently completed Geographic Information System Mapping. “The imagery will be ready in June,” she stated. “We are working with your assessor, and the information can be used by first responders and in flood mapping.
Sandwiched in between Ardoin and Boulet was the newly named executive director of the recently renamed Evangeline Parish Chamber of Commerce Renee Brown, who previously served as chamber president. “I hope now to bring our parish together and do more for each other,” she told the jury.
She then outlined her plans as executive director. “We’re hoping to become more of a resource for our business people and for tourism,” Brown said. “I want to get out there and start building relationships with other chambers of commerce so we can join forces to work on projects together because a lot of our little rural communities have a lot of things in common.”
Brown also told the jury that she looks forward to working with the parish’s governing body on getting more opportunities for Crooked Creek and Chicot State Park.”
In other business, the jury:
• reappointed Brenda Saucier to Evangeline Parish Tourism Commission.
• approved a trail ride for Earnestine Pickens/Steady Steppin Riders at Donald Ray’s Place.
• adopted a resolution declaring April as Fair Housing Month.
• approved the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for Fiscal Year 2018 Audit.
• appointed Gene Welch to replace Kenneth Johnson on the Ward Four Water District Board.
• and approved a local service agreement from Ward 5 Fire Protection District.
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TONY MARKS