BOBBY ARDOIN
Contributing Writer
Partial funding assistance could be on the way for a series of residential backyards which seem to be sinking inside the Royal Gardens Subdivision located south of Opelousas.
St. Landry Parish council member Wayne Ardoin is looking for revenues that he says would help what engineers have identified as storm drainage pipe and gravity sewer collection problems that had least to private property collapsing.
“The storm drains are separating away from each other and the water which moves downhill has been causing breaks and separations over the years,” Ardoin said.
Residents in original portions of the subdivision have complained about areas of ground that have been sinking for years, said Ardoin, who has personally examined the problems in the yards of several residents.
Parish engineer William Jarrell III has stated in several letters addressed to parish president Jessie Bellard that it will take at least $645,000 to address the existing sewer and storm drainage pipes in original part the subdivision which was developed sometime during the 1950’s.
In his letter to Bellard, Jarrell wrote that the storm drain and sewer collection areas would “likely” need complete replacement.
Ardoin, whose election district includes Royal Gardens, has been actively exploring financing for the project.
Parish government has agreed to provide some limited financial assistance. with American Rescue Act money.
In Finance Committee action taken last week, the Council agreed to pay smoke testing costs that Jarrell has estimated will cost about $35,000.
Now the remainder of the project funding will be obtained from perhaps a variety of sources, Ardoin said during an interview.
“We’re looking at every angle right now. I have talked to (state representative) Dustin Miller. The main thing I want to do is try to get some help for these home owners who are seeing their yards cave in,” Ardoin said.
