MedExpress is granted access to operate in Ville Platte

The Ville Platte City Council voted to allow MedExpress Ambulance Service to operate in the city. The company will join Acadian Ambulance. A person needing an ambulance may request whichever service they want. If no request is made, the ambulance services will be rotated. Until MedExpress can find an office location in the city to house an ambulance unit, they will operate out of Opelousas for the time being. If they branch out into the rest of Evangeline Parish, more ambulances will be added. Tyler Martin, MedExpress Director of Operations, said the company plans to hire local workers. He also said they have a VIP membership that does not require membership fees, but allows patients to receive a 30% discount on transportation costs.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine then went on to talk about Governor John Bel Edwards’ mask mandate. She said the City of Ville Platte is following the mandate and requested businesses put signs on their doors requiring customers to wear masks. Vidrine stressed how contagious COVID-19 is and how someone who is asymptomatic can still pass the virus onto others, such as those who are at higher risk of complications. She read from the proclamation from the governor which states businesses are required to have their employees and customers wear masks with the exception of children under the age of eight (children ages two to seven are strongly encouraged to wear masks) and any individual with a medical condition that would prevent them from wearing a mask. Contrary to the belief of some, HIPAA laws do not protect store customers from being asked what medical condition they may have. The State Fire Marshal’s Office will enforce the mandate and issue citations to those not in compliance. Law enforcement will step in on such instances when customers who are not exempt from wearing a mask refuse to wear one inside a business. If the business owner asks them to leave and the customer does not, law enforcement may be called to remove the customer on the grounds of trespassing.
Vidrine said businesses found not to be in compliance would have the police discuss it with them first. Further violations could mean citations for the business. Vidrine pleaded for people with compromised immune systems and those at high risk for the virus stay home as much as possible. She also announced COVID-19 testing will resume Monday, July 20th at the Northside Civic Center from 10:00 a.m. to noon. She said around 65 people were tested on Monday, July 12th.
In other action the council agreed to sell 12 city lots for the cost of $20,000. The lots are in the Eloi Demourelle Subdivision along North Dossman Street and will be sold to Community Directions, Inc., an Opelousas non-profit organization that wants to build single-family homes. The homes will be built from materials purchased locally and using local labor.
Councilman Bryant Riggs spoke about police officers, saying the council raised the police officer salary to $15 an hour, making it competitive in Acadiana, but he does not see many new officers in Ville Platte. He suggested giving new officers a contractual bonus where they would get part of the bonus upon hire, and as long as they stay a certain amount of time, they would get the rest of the bonus.
Vidrine said they are going to talk it over with the legal department to see if they can offer a contract. She and the council have done everything they can do with money in the budget for the police to help with public safety. She hopes to have an answer soon from the legal department. The police department is currently taking applications.
Vidrine said the city received a quote on a big hole on Dossman and Magnolia Streets. The contractors quoted $18,040 to fix it and do repair on the sewer line. City Engineer Ronnie Landreneau said the city did a dye detection and believe the leak is on the sewer main running east and west under Magnolia. It is approximately eight-and-a-half feet deep. The money is to dig down and repair the leak, replacing the concrete, etc. Landreneau said if the city would want to repair the street at a later date, they could deduct $2,000 from that estimate and then pour the concrete themselves or hire someone to pour it. The caveat is making the assumption that the point repair is on the north side of the underground canal. If it has to be approached from the south side, the work would have to be suspended and additional work necessary. The council voted to approve the repair with the $18,040 quote, but with the condition that if there is additional cost, Landreneau would inform the council.
Councilman Lionel Anderson said he is concerned about tennis shoes on wires. When shoes are hung up on wires, it indicates drugs are sold in that area. The mayor asked anyone to report tennis shoes on wires to the police department so they can be removed.
Vidrine also said there are 12 positions open for the Streets Department. The criteria is to be able to pass a drug test and not have had a felony conviction in the last seven years.