A somewhat heated discussion between Councilman Charles Reed and Mamou Chief of Police Brent Zachary about an item in the recent audit report recommendation broke out during the Mamou Town Council meeting Wednesday.
According to Mayor Ricky Fontenot, “Food is being purchased for the prisons, but there’s no way to tell where the food is going, or exactly what the police chief was buying.”
Chief Zachary said he did not get the letter of recommendation from the auditor, but Mayor Fontenot said Chief Zachary should have received the letter. Mayor Fontenot added he and Chief Zachary spoke about the issue and improvements have been made this month.
Councilman Reed had a copy of the letter at the council meeting and suggested that Chief Zachary look at the recommendation in the letter.
Chief Zachary said, “I understand your suggestion, but I talked with the mayor, and we’ve got it under control.”
Councilman Reed replied, “I understand what he said, but how can it be under control? You didn’t look at the recommendation that was made.”
Chief Zachary said, “Well, apparently, I don’t need to, because it’s all how it’s supposed to be right now, correct?”
Mayor Fontenot reiterated there were improvements this month and Chief Zachary was aware of the issue.
The council also heard from Evangeline Parish Chamber of Commerce Director Renee Brown about an upcoming parish-wide yard-and-art sale to be held September 27 and 28. She also said she would like Mamou, Pine Prairie and Turkey Creek to work together to get Highways 167 North and 13 repaired. Brown said a business owner in Turkey Creek said 18-wheelers will not pass on Hwy. 167 to make deliveries to their business because the road is in disrepair.
She is asking for feedback from the public of the three locales to let the Chamber know if there is a safety issue with the roads.
Brown said, “What happens in the situation when you just need an overlay and you need repairs. The state has to come up with 80% and the federal government only provides 20%. If we are able to find there is a safety issue, we are able to turn those numbers, and it becomes where 80% is responsibility of the federal government, and 20% is usually the responsibility of our state. Because there is not a lot of funding, roads are something that’s being left behind, and it’s hitting little areas and rural areas like us really hard because we have been waiting a long time without repairs.”
Brown then announced there will be a social media expert going to Mamou on August 23 for a Lunch and Learn at the Hotel Cazan. The goal is to help businesses grow through social media. The Chamber is providing lunch. Brown also said there will be a political rally in Mamou at the Rec Center on September 17 and 18, starting at 5:00 p.m. The rally is for state and local politicians.
In other business, Chief Zachary reported July had 23 arrests, and nine accidents (six without injuries), and the council approved the hiring of a part-time dispatcher and a full-time patrolman.
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NANCY DUPLECHAIN Associate Editor