After previously receiving news that the parish was awarded $1.9 million dollars in grant money from FEMA and Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) through the Acadiana Planning Commission, the Evangeline Parish Police Jury heard from Parish Engineer Ronald Landreneau about the status of a retention pond located northwest of Ville Platte.
According to Landreneau, the location of the pond depends on a hydraulics and hydrology study. “The first phase of the project is to do an H and H study which would determine the type of impoundment and the exact location of it and the subsequent design of the project,” he explained.
Landreneau went on to explain that the phases from there would cover funding and a quick turnaround to submit the full application. As far as the funding, he said that the approximate $1.9 million was already approved; however, the parish is required to match 10 percent of the costs. Because of that, the jury voted to allow Secretary-Treasurer Donald Bergeron to see if the parish can get some assistance.
Juror Bryan Vidrine announced that he had been in contact with Congressman Mike Johnson on getting federal money for the 10 percent match. Landreneau also announced that he had been in contact with Juror Eric Soileau who is working on the issue while attending meetings in Washington, DC. Soileau currently serves as president of the state police jury association.
The parish engineer further reported on the tight deadlines for the project and, if necessary, recommended “the president to call a special meeting before next month’s meeting in order to review and approve those applications.”
Public Works Director Chester Granger advised the jury that he wants the public to know “this project will help more than just the district that it’s going to be built in.” He added, “Even though it’s going to be built in a certain district, it’s going to help five to six other districts and two other parishes downhill.”
In other business, the jury:
• approved United Healthcare as the health care provider.
• set open enrollment dates for health care for March 12, 13, and 14.
• reappointed Lance Chapman to the Evangeline Recreational Board and appointed Amy Fontenot and Ched Fontenot to two open positions.
• heard a report from Section 8 Director Anna Frank.
• approved Keep Evangeline Beautiful Poster Contest Awards for 4-H Achievement Day.
• set a public hearing on a 3-way stop sign at Shuff and Dairy Lane at 4:45 p.m. before the next meeting on April 2.
• heard from Parish Engineer Ronald Landreneau that the parish was awarded a water enrichment grant for repairs to the Water Well #2 located at the Evangeline Parish Industrial Park, formerly known as the Ward I Industrial Park.
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TONY MARKS