Parish Council Wednesday Meeting Agenda

{FIRST MEETING}
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025
6 O’CLOCK PM
OLD CITY MARKET, 131 W. BELLEVUE ST. OPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA

AGENDA

MEMBERS: Nancy Carriere, Mildred Thierry, Alvin Stelly, Vivian Olivier, Wayne Ardoin, and Jimmie Edwards. Ex-Officio: Jody White.

Call to Order.
Pledge of Allegiance & Invocation. (Councilwoman Mildred Thierry).
Roll Call
Persons to Address Committee:

 Shadrick Joseph- Land Erosion and Drainage Problems along his property

on Wisdom Road and Hackberry Street

Public Works Report:
Discuss four- wheelers, side-by-sides, and golf carts on the roads. (Councilman Alvin Stelly)
Forward all applications received for three appointments to Bellevue & Coulee Crouche Gravity Drainage District No. 20 for a four-year term.
(05-02-2025 – 05-02-2029)
Authorize the Council Clerk to advertise for five appointments to St. Landry Gravity Drainage District No. 14 for a four- year term. (06-21-2025 – 06-21-2029)
Authorize the Council Clerk to advertise for one appointment to St. Landry Waterworks District No. 5 for a three- year term. (4-21-2025 – 4-21-2028) Jody Fontenot resigned.
Update on Smooth Ride Home and what those funds can be spent on. (Councilwoman Mildred Thierry)
An update on Bayou Carron. (Councilwoman Mildred Thierry)

12. Authorize the Council Clerk to advertise for one appointment to St. Landry Waterworks District No. 3. (No Set Term) Julie Fourrier resigned.

13. Discuss any other business properly brought before this committee. 14. Adjourn.

MEMBERS:

Call To Order.
Roll Call

{SECOND MEETING} ADMINISTRATIVE/FINANCE COMMITTEE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025
6 O’CLOCK PM
OLD CITY MARKET, 131 W. BELLEVUE ST. OPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA

AGENDA

Faltery Jolivette, Harold Taylor, Ken Marks, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Ernest Blanchard. Ex-Officio: Jody White.

Persons to Address the Committee
Parish President & Finance Reports:
Further discuss the Appraisal of the Lease of Immovable Property by St. Landry Parish Government to Allegiance Health Management, Inc. dba Acadian Medical Center.
Discuss the salary adjustment for the Assistant Council Clerk Karen Barlow.
Forward all applications received for two appointments to Fire District No. 2 for a two-year term. (05-15-2025 – 05-15-2027)
Authorize the Council Clerk to advertise for one appointment to Hospital District No. 2 (Opelousas General) for a six-year term. (06-07-2025 – 06-07-2031)
Authorize Parish President Jessie Bellard to sign the Intergovernmental Agreement between St. Landry Parish Government and the St. Landry Parish Housing Authority.
Authorize the Lease and Operating Agreement between St. Landry Parish Government and Robin C. Ardoin for Lots 24 and 25 at the St. Landry Parish Airport.
Forward to Full Council Resolution No. 009-2025
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO AMEND La. R.S. 33:130.302 AND TO ENACT A NEW STATUTE REQUIRING PARISH AND/OR MUNICIPALITY APPROVAL FOR PROJECTS THAT WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT LOCAL TAXES.

WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:130.301(B) states the St. Landry Parish Economic and Industrial Development District was “established for the primary purpose of stimulating industrial and commercial developments in St. Landry Parish… special attention shall be focused on developing stable and more extensive employment opportunities, promoting economic development in disadvantages communities, improving infrastructure, and promoting the overall welfare of the citizens of the parish.”

WHEREAS, St. Landry Parish Government, the governing authority for St. Landry Parish, must protect the tax bases of the parish and its municipalities;

WHEREAS, St. Landry Economic and Industrial Development District possesses the authority to negotiate economic development projects that may reduce, eliminate, abate, or otherwise affect the tax bases of the parish and/or its municipalities, without any requirements of notification provided to or approval received from St. Landry Parish Government;

WHEREAS, the Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer of the St. Landry Economic and Industrial Development District is appointed by the board of commissioners;

WHEREAS, St. Landry Parish Government can effectively protect the taxes bases of the parish and its municipalities if St. Landry Parish Economic and Industrial Development District was required to submit a detailed proposal of any economic development project that may reduce, eliminate, abate, or otherwise affect the tax bases of the parish and/or its municipalities, for the governing authority’s review and approval and allowing forty-five (45) days for the governing authority to conduct a public hearing and to

approve or deny the agreement by resolution.

WHEREAS, St. Landry Parish Government can more effectively ensure that the St. Landry Parish Economic and Industrial Development District is fulfilling its purpose and focusing special attention on the areas identified in La. R.S. 33:130.301(B), and protect the taxes bases of the parish and its municipalities if the Executive Director of the St. Landry Parish Economic and Industrial Development District reported to the St. Landry Parish President who (1) shall have authority to provide general direction, strategy, and supervision to the Executive Director or Chief Executive Officer, and (2) will work at the pleasure of the Parish President.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Landry Parish Council hereby expresses its support of legislation to amend La. R.S. 33:130.302 and to enact a new statute requiring parish and/or municipality approval for projects that will negatively affect local taxes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to those members of the Louisiana Legislative representing St. Landry Parish.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the St. Landry Parish Council.

12. Forward to Full Council Resolution No. 010-2025
A resolution approving the holding of an election in Bayou Mallet and Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein.

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Bayou Mallet and Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Bayou Mallet and Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana (the “District”), adopted a resolution on April 9, 2025, calling a special election in the District on Saturday, October 11, 2025, to authorize the continuation of a special tax therein; and

WHEREAS, the governing authority of the District has requested that this Parish Council, acting as the governing authority of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, give its consent and authority for the District to hold the aforesaid election, and in the event that the election carries to continue to levy and collect the special tax provided for therein; and

WHEREAS, as required by Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, it is now the desire of this Parish Council to approve the holding of said election and in the event that the election carries, to authorize the District to continue to levy and collect the special tax provided for therein;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish Council of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, acting as the governing authority of said Parish, that:

SECTION 1. In compliance with the provisions of Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, and in accordance with the request of the Board of Commissioners of Bayou Mallet and Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, this Parish Council hereby approves the holding of an election in the District, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at which election there will be submitted the following proposition, to-wit:

PROPOSITION (MILLAGE CONTINUATION)

Shall Bayou Mallet and Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana (the “District”), continue to levy a special tax of 12.19 mills on all property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $333,000 reasonably expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2025 and ending with the year 2034, for the purpose of constructing, maintaining, operating and improving the gravity drainage works in the District?

SECTION 2. In the event the election carries, this Parish Council does hereby further consent to and authorize the District to continue to levy and collect the special tax provided for therein.

13. Forward to Full Council Resolution No. 011-2025
A resolution approving the holding of an election in Ward 1 South Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, on Saturday,
October 11, 2025, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein.

WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners of Ward 1 South Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana (the “Governing Authority”), acting as the governing authority of Ward 1 South Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana (the “District”), adopted a resolution on April 14, 2025, calling a special election in the District on Saturday, October 11, 2025, to authorize the renewal of a special tax therein; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Parish Council of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, acting as the governing authority of said Parish, that:

SECTION 1. In compliance with the provisions of Article VI, Section 15 of the Constitution of the State of Louisiana of 1974, and in accordance with the request of the Board of Commissioners of Ward 1 South Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana, this Parish Council hereby approves the holding of an election in the District, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at which election there will be submitted the following proposition, to-wit:

PROPOSITION (MILLAGE RENEWAL)

Shall Ward 1 South Gravity Drainage District No. 1 of the Parish of St. Landry, State of Louisiana (the “District”), continue to levy a special tax of 3.49 mills on all property subject to taxation in the District (an estimated $312,000 expected at this time to be collected from the levy of the tax for an entire year), for a period of 10 years, beginning with the year 2026 and ending with the year 2035, for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, maintaining and/or operating the District’s drainage works?

SECTION 2. In the event the election carries, this Parish Council does hereby further consent to and authorize the District to continue to levy and collect the special tax provided for therein.