State Of The Parish
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com. Editor
St. Landry Parish president Jessie Bellard described the myriad of functions performed by departments within his administration during a fourth annual State Of The Parish presentation hosted last week at the Delta Grand in Opelousas.
The event which normally highlights the major functions during the previous year, attracted a large crowd of parishwide and municipal officials.
Bellard however did not discuss the overall parish financial situation for either 2025 or the current fiscal year.
The Parish Council voted last week to introduce a pair of ordinances that deal with amending the operating budget from last year in addition to tackling the issues ahead for 2026.
State Of The Parish Highlights
Bellard presented three major awards at the event.
Yancey Fontenot was presented with the President’s Award. Fontenot is scheduled to become the director for the $1.5 million Eunice Community Health Center. Construction work on the building is scheduled to start within the next several months, Bellard said.
Martin Langley, a Parish Jail supervisor and Cee Cee Savoy, who coordinates events and usually hosts the warming shelter at Indian Hills Country Club, were each presented with Employee of The Year awards.
Progress
The Health Center, Bellard said, will be built at what was once the Moosa Memorial Hospital complex.
Design plans for the 11,000 square-foot building were introduced during the event.
Bellard said he feels there is a necessity to construct the Health Center in order to provide medical care to low-income individuals who reside in the Tri-Parish area that includes Evangeline and Acadia.
Leased office space will be provided to physicians, said Bellard.
Revenue
One source of revenue last year, Bellard noted, was the sale of 38 adjudicated properties which netted $127,997 in revenue.
The parish had control of 1,208 adjudicated properties last year, said Bellard. The parish has ownership of adjudicated properties that are relinquished due to unpaid taxes and have not sold at a sheriff’s auction.
Grants
Bellard said $2.6 million has been received for Nap Lane capital improvement and $100,000 has been received for a parish sports complex.
An airport hangar project received $386,000 in funding through Cleo Fields.
Animal Control
Support from the nationwide Bissell Foundation has helped the parish maintain the parish animal shelter.
In 2025 the shelter acquired 809 animals and adopted 137. According to parish records, 514 animals were transported to other areas of the nation.
Blighted Properties
Bellard added that the parish received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant to address 42 identified blighted properties in order to remove unsafe conditions and create neighborhood revitalization.
Community Action Agency
The grant-funded program made 4,238 trips that accommodated 392 riders last year.
There were 2,593 residents who were given low-income assistance and 2,898 who visited the good pantry.
Courthouse
State District Judge Jason Meche received a new courtroom provided by grant assistance while the parish government moved to new downstairs offices.
