Members of the Evangeline Parish Fire Protection District #2 Board were surprised by a finding in a recent audit of the board’s finances. But members of the Board decided to seek further information before acting on the finding.
According to Ville Platte Fire Chief Chris Harrison, the auditors, John S. Dowling & Company, reported that everyone who handles money for the board must be bonded. Harrison presented a cost sheet from the current insurance provider for the price of bonding the board members.
The cost to bond someone for up to $5,000 is $100 per person. The cost increases for higher bonded amounts. Further complicating the discussion was whether or not everyone who signed checks had to be bonded; or only those members who handled deposits.
“This doesn’t make sense,” said Board President Ted Demourelle. “We’ve been operating like this for 30-something years without it.”
After looking at the price list for bonding, Treasurer Steven Thibodeaux was incredulous.
Because of the amounts of money that he is responsible for depositing, “It would cost $2,000 a year for me and one other person to be bonded,” he said.
“We’ve never had an issue before” on previous audits, Thibodeaux said. “Why all of a sudden? We need to talk to a lawyer to find out if it’s mandatory.”
Rather than take any action regarding being bonded, Demourelle said that he will investigate further about the situation and report back to the Board.
In other business, the Board approved a combination bid to improve the parking lot and driveway at the Faubourg substation. The project is to remove the current limestone parking lot, replacing it with a concrete lot and driveway. In addition, a retention pond will need to be dug.
The low bid of $58,572.49 actually came from a combination of two companies that will separate out the work. Drake Equipment will do the dirt work, including clearing out the limestone and dig out the retention pond and drainage ditches. Percy O. Construction will do the concrete work. Acadiana Metal Buildings also submitted a bid of $62,100.
Harrison reported that the new recruit, Zack Johnson, has started the fire academy and already passed one of the tests. Harrison also noted that hose testing is almost complete in Ville Platte and will soon move to other areas of the district.
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NICHOLAS JAGNEAUX Staff reporter