Bridges, Dumpsters And Roadside Trash

BOBBY ARDOIN

Editor/Consulting Writer

Replacement work could be completed this week for a crucial bridge used by vehicles to cross the Bayou Bouef entrance to the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste landfill at Beggs, according to parish president Jessie Bellard.

Bellard said the parish is spending about $80,000 to replace several pilings and stabilize the bridge, which will eventually have to be replaced.

The condition of the bridge as well as the possible finalization of the Hidden Hills dumpster controversy and parishwide roadside trash pickup were discussed Monday afternoon during the regular monthly St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission meeting.

Commissioners also questioned the situation at the Eunice Recycling Center, which has been besieged by individuals who have apparently been tossing garbage and non-recyclable trash into recycling containers.

Landfill Bridge

Bellard said following his annual parish address delivered in Eunice on Monday night, that the SWC has agreed to repay the parish for the work that is being performed this week on the bridge.

“We really have no choice. The road that goes to the landfill is a parish road. It’s also obviously necessary, since all the garbage trucks that go to the landfill each day. We’re thinking that the work on the bridge should be completed by Friday,” Bellard said.

Richard LeBouef, SWC executive chairman, told commissioners that he has spoken with Department of Transportation officials, who have agreed to keep the bridge open following repairs being performed by contractors from Avoyelles Parish.

LeBouef added that eventually the bridge will have to be replaced. While that replacement work is being performed, a temporary bridge will be constructed, said LeBouef.

Hidden Hills Dumpster

The Commission, LeBouef said, has agreed to oversee work that will create a limestone pad for dumpster placement inside the gated community.

Work for the dumpster area was expected to be finished by Tuesday.

The Hidden Hills homeowners association has agreed with a written correspondence that grants entrance onto a private road which will allow the parish to collect garbage.

That letter, LeBouef added, also agrees to absolve the Commission from any road damages that might occur.

Roadside Garbage

Inspector John Guidroz told the Commission that in January that Morgan & Morgan, which is being paid by the Commission to respond to collect trash, received 768 calls – or an average of 45 each day – to report pickup of trash that was left alongside roadways.

Guidroz reported that the calls were traced to 560 locations parishwide.

Guidroz provided a summary of calls from municipalities. Opelousas called in 164 reports of needed pickups, while Eunice had 292.

The number of requested responses for roadside trash is decreasing, Guidroz said,

Eunice Recycling

LeBouef said the situation involving trash dumping at the Eunice Recycling Center is becoming unmanageable.

The 30-yard dumpster used for collecting recyclables at the Center, LeBouef said, is being compromised with garbage that is being mixed with recyclables.

Commission employees at the Eunice site, said LeBouef, have complained about the dumping, which has led to consideration for possibly shutting down the Eunice recycling operation or limiting the number of days that recycling will be available.

Commissioner Jerry Domengeaux suggested placing surveillance cameras at the Center in order to detect the license plates of vehicles that are dumping garbage instead of recyclables into the dumpsters.