The newly retired supervisor of Probation and Parole in Ville Platte made a campaign stop Monday night during the Chataignier Village Council’s meeting.
“I want a shot at being sheriff,” said Charles Guillory. “That office needs to have an overhall and to be restructured. I can do that, but I have to get my foot in the door. I want to bring everybody together. That way, we are going to work and help the community.”
Guillory outlined his plan to combat the rash of drug offenses in the parish, which includes a narcotics unit and a drug hotline within the sheriff’s department. He concluded with plans on turning a closed office building in Ville Platte into a one-year substance abuse treatment facility.
Village Chief of Police Clint Brasseaux then brought up the idea of paying the police officers an hourly wage instead of a salary. His reasoning for the proposal is “that way we’re not paying somebody $400.00 a month and they don’t come that often.” He added, “The hours you work are the hours you get paid for.”
The council will address the issue further during next month’s meeting. The council also heard from Village Administrator Gayle McDavid about the issue of an ordinance regarding loose dogs that was brought up during last month’s meeting.
“I researched various ordinances on dog control,” McDavid stated. “They all vary somewhat and are tailored to meet the individual town’s needs. The best advice I got from different people is to create our own ordinance and to put in there what the fines are and what is required of the people.”
No further action was taken on the matter.
In other business, the council:
• accepted the low bid from Murphy Pommier Contractor’s Inc. for the sewer project.
• voted to name Greg Vidrine as new village attorney.
• and adopted a resolution that appointed Village Clerk Laken Fontenot as the grant compliance coordinator.
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TONY MARKS