PUBLIC HEARING
It was announced by the Vice President that notice had been given that the Acadia Parish Police Jury would hold a public forum on February 17, 2004, at 5:30 P.M., Police Jury Meeting Room, Courthouse Building, Crowley, Louisiana, to receive public comments on proposed partial abandonment of Homewood Road consisting of the entire part extending beyond the segment dedicated to the Parish by the Louisiana Irrigation and Mill Company on February 12, 1952, approximately 3 tenths of a mile in length west of the Community of Egan to the dead end.
Written comments were received prior to the hearing.
A letter from LIMCO was received January 12, 2004, indicating that the property donated by their company in 1952 should remain as dedicated and under public maintenance.
Written letters were presented and read by the Vice President from Elder and Elder Enterprises dated February 5 & February 16, 2004.
Mr. Elder indicates that according to his unofficial information Homewood Road is private. That being the case he questioned how the Police Jury could vote to abandon a road that it does not own. He also requested that the definition of abandon be made clear in the deliberations which take place and include it in the minutes. Mr. Elder also indicated in his correspondence that a portion of Homewood Road belongs to his company and he does not wish to relinquish ownership. Mr. Elder also stated in his letter that if the Parish did indeed improve their portion of the road in error that he would be pleased to reimburse the Parish for his appropriate share of the money spent.
Mr. Kenny Webb questioned whether or not the boat launch at the end of the roadway proposed to be abandoned was built with public funds.
It was indicated by Mr. Raymond Breaux that the boat launch was not built with public funds but with private funds.
Mr. Webb also noted that he had in his possession an aerial photograph showing the road in question going all the way to the landing.
Juror John Humble indicated that he did not feel that he could abandon a road that the Inspector General had deemed as private.
Mr. Bill Gano, representing a family owning property where the road to be considered for abandonment was located, said he had no knowledge of the boat launch being there. He had also no knowledge of improvements to the road in question. He noted that the road should be private and should not be a public camp site. He felt that an error had been made.
Juror A. J. Broussard noted his conversation with Ms. Stewart over whether or not the road should be public.
Mrs. Earline Oliver noted that the road was there to access the Fenner Duncan property.
Juror Humble indicated that the Police Jury stayed off the road since the Inspector General’s Report was released.
The Jury asked for any additional comments relative to the subject of the proposed abandonment. No further comments were offered and the hearing was adjourned.
This public hearing was recorded on audio tape and will be made available upon request. The notes transcribed here are not transcribed in total.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS TO COME BEFORE THE JURY, THE SECRETARY ADJOURNED THE PUBLIC HEARING.
CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
FEBRUARY 17, 2004
THE ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY met on the above date at 6:30 p.m., in the Police Jury Meeting Room, Courthouse Building, Crowley, Louisiana, in regular session with the Vice President, A. J. Broussard, presiding. At the request of the Vice President, a moment of silence was offered and the Pledge to the Flag was recited in unison. The roll was called and final attendance was recorded as follows:
ALTON STEVENSON
A J BROUSSARD
JOHN HUMBLE SR
JIMMIE PELLERIN
A J CREDEUR
THOMAS BENOIT
FELTON MOREAU
ABSENT: CECELIA BROUSSARD
A motion was offered by Mr. Jimmie Pellerin, seconded by Mr. Felton Moreau, to amend the agenda to consider the purchase of drainage pipe for Orchid Road. Motion carried.
A motion was offered by Mr. John Humble, Sr., seconded by Mr. Felton Moreau, to consider the condemnation of Lot 69 in Greenland Park. Motion carried.
A motion was offered by Mr. Felton Moreau, seconded by Mr. Thomas Benoit, to consider action relative to the Manufacturing Facility in the Crowley/Rayne Industrial Park. The following roll call vote was cast: Yeas: Alton Stevenson, A. J. Credeur, Thomas Benoit and Felton Moreau. Nays: John Humble, Sr., and Jimmie Pellerin. A 2/3 vote was tallied and the agenda was amended to consider the matter.
A motion was offered by Mr. Jimmie Pellerin, seconded by Mr. Felton Moreau, to approve the Minutes of the February 3, 2004, Regular Police Jury Meeting. Motion carried.
PUBLIC FACILITIES/BUILDING & GROUNDS
The Vice President set the parameters for receiving comments relative to the proposed jail facility.
Mr. Martin Zaunbrecher, property owner near the Crowley/Rayne Industrial Park, made note of the fact that someone was interested in buying the former Fruit of the Loom Building from the Police Jury and that the intent of the Industrial Park was for commerce and not for locating jails. He noted that other property in the Parish could be made available with less impact.
Mrs. Elizabeth Zaunbrecher, resident near the Industrial Park, asked why property owners near there were not notified and that it was not intended to locate a jail but to provide space for businesses.
Mrs. Margaret Zaunbrecher made reference to Mr. B. C. Delahoussaye who worked at developing the park for industry. Mrs. Zaunbrecher felt certain that the covenants set forth for the use and maintenance of the park would prohibit the location of a jail inside the facility.
Legal Counsel André Doguet fielded questions relative to the park covenants. A letter addressed to the Police Jury from Mr. Russell Zaunbrecher was read into the record indicating his opposition to locating the Correctional Center in the Crowley/Rayne Industrial Park.
A letter addressed to the Jury from Mr. Kenny Privat, representing a local business, was read which extended an offer to purchase the former Fruit of the Loom Building.
Questions relative to the cost to construct a jail and administrative space to consolidate the Sheriff’s operations was presented by Mr. Mark Lalande, Architect. He answered questions related to a May cost estimate prepared at the time the Police Jury was negotiating with LaPac, Inc.
Mr. Fred Zaunbrecher addressed the Jury recognizing the lack of information to make decisions.
Ms. Marcia Pellerin commented on the importance of considering both sides of the issue.
Mrs. Margaret Zaunbrecher made a final remark indicating that the covenants governing the park should be changed before considering a jail in the Park.
Mr. Kenny Habetz, a property owner located near the existing Detention Center, stated that the family was willing to work with the Parish to provide property to expand the existing Correctional Center.
Juror A. J. Credeur listed a number of reasons why the manufacturing facility in the Industrial Park should be left for commerce.
A motion was offered by Mr. A. J. Credeur, seconded by Mr. Felton Moreau, to entertain Mr. Warren Guidry’s request to purchase the manufacturing facility in the Crowley/Rayne Industrial Park and refer it to Building & Grounds Committee for further consideration. A roll call vote was taken: Yeas: Alton Stevenson, A. J. Credeur, Thomas Benoit and Felton Moreau. Nays: John Humble, Sr. and Jimmie Pellerin. Absent: Cecelia Broussard. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION
BY MESSRS: JOHN HUMBLE SR AND FELTON MOREAU
BE IT RESOLVED: by the Acadia Parish Police Jury in regular session duly convened this 17th day of February, 2004, does hereby authorize the Secretary to publish notice of intent to sell a two acre tract in the Crowley/Rayne Industrial Park to Mr. Mark Daigle at a price less than fair market value in exchange for new jobs.
ADOPTED: FEBRUARY 17, 2004
ATTEST:
/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
RESOLUTION
BY MESSRS: JIMMIE PELLERIN AND JOHN HUMBLE SR
BE IT RESOLVED: by the Acadia Parish Police Jury in regular session duly convened this 17th day of February, 2004, does hereby authorize the President to execute an Act of Sale Agreement for the purchase of a 4.2 acre tract of land from the Pauda Corporation adjacent to the Rice Arena in the amount of $42,000.00.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Police Jury authorize the payment of legal fees associated with said purchase.
ADOPTED: FEBRUARY 17, 2004
ATTEST:
/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
The Director of Emergency Preparedness and Homeland Security presented for clean up property located in Greenland Park. The Director indicated that the property met all of the criteria and legal notice was sent to the property owner and recommended that the Jury declare the property condemned.
RESOLUTION
BY MESSRS: ALTON STEVENSON AND JOHN HUMBLE SR
BE IT RESOLVED: by the Acadia Parish Police Jury in regular session duly convened this 17th day of February, 2004, does hereby authorize the condemnation of Lot 69 in Greenland Park Subdivision pursuant to the Parish Ordinance relative to derelict properties and further authorize the cleanup of same.
ADOPTED: FEBRUARY 17, 2004
ATTEST:
/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
PUBLIC WORKS/ROAD & BRIDGE
A motion was offered by Mr. Thomas Benoit, seconded by Mr. Felton Moreau, to approve the Emergency Work Report for the month of January, 2004. Said expenditures to be in the amount of $166.13. Motion carried.
RESOLUTION
BY MESSRS: THOMAS BENOIT AND FELTON MOREAU
WHEREAS, the Secretary advertised the calling of a public hearing to consider the abandonment of a portion of Homewood Road, and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was conducted and comments were received relative to said abandonment, and
WHEREAS, the majority of comments presented were in support of the Police Jury’s abandonment of the roadway advertised as that portion extending beyond the segment dedicated from LIMCO.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Acadia Parish Police Jury in regular session duly convened on this the 17th day of February, 2004, does hereby authorize the abandonment of Homewood Road consisting of the entire part extending beyond the segment dedicated to the Parish by the Louisiana Irrigation and Mill Company on February 12, 1952 and recorded in Conveyance Book H-11, Page 152, approximately three tenths (.3) of a mile in length located west of the Community of Egan, LA to the dead end.
The following roll call vote was cast:
YEAS: Alton Stevenson, Jimmie Pellerin, A. J. Credeur, Thomas Benoit and
Felton Moreau.
NAYS: John Humble, Sr.
ABSENT: Cecelia Broussard.
ADOPTED: FEBRUARY 17, 2004
ATTEST:
/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
A motion was offered by Mr. A. J. Credeur, seconded by Mr. Thomas Benoit, to approve the expenditure of $658.00 to remove a tree out of the Parish right-of-way on North Cherokee Road. Motion carried.
A motion was offered by Mr. Alton Stevenson, seconded by Mr. Thomas Benoit, to approve the purchase of an 84" culvert to be installed on Orchid Road in the amount of $2,500.00. Motion carried.
The Sales Tax Report was presented for the month of January, 2004. The report indicated a gross receipt of $419,060.46, a decrease of $66,819.83 from January, 2003.
COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Legal Counsel André Doguet reported on pending litigation with K.A.S. Construction relative to the Acadia Rice Arena roof repair.
A request to assist with building permits addressed by the Planning Commission was made by a landowner on Normandy Lane and a comment was offered to the members about providing information to the new elected Jurors.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THE MOTION WAS OFFERED DULY SECONDED, THAT THE MEETING ADJOURN UNTIL THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF MARCH 2, 2004, AT THE HOUR OF 6:30 P.M.
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