SPECIAL MEETING OF NOVEMBER 23, 2004
NOVEMBER 18, 2004
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY
PARISH OF ACADIA
STATE OF LOUISIANA
LADIES & GENTLEMEN:
Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of the Acadia Parish Police Jury will be held in the Police Jury Meeting Room, Courthouse Building, Crowley, Louisiana, at 5:30 P.M., on Tuesday, November 23, 2004, to consider the following item:
AGENDA:
1. Authorize the calling of a special election to be held in the Parish of
Acadia, State of LA, to authorize the licensing of offtrack wagering
facilities therein, and provide for other matters in connection
therewith.
Dated at Crowley, Louisiana
this 18th day of November, 2004.
/s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
CECELIA S. BROUSSARD, PRESIDENT
ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY
We, the undersigned members of the Acadia Parish Police Jury, do hereby accept such service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice and consent and agree that said Police Jury of Acadia shall meet at the time and place named therein and for the purpose therein stated.
/s/ Alton Stevenson /s/ A. J. Broussard
/s/ John Humble, Sr. /s/ Cecelia Broussard
/s/ Jimmie Pellerin /s/ A. J. Credeur
/s/ Cade Benoit /s/ Felton Moreau
A motion was offered by Mr. Alton Stevenson, seconded by Mr. Jimmie Pellerin, to open discussion relative to the order and calling of a special election to authorize the licensing of offtrack wagering facilities in Acadia Parish.
Mr. Allen Bares, representative of Evangeline Downs & Racino, explained the Resolution calling for a special election would pertain only to offtrack betting. He noted that no offtrack betting parlors were located in the Parish of Lafayette. Mr. Bares also assured the members of the Jury that the owners of the Race Track would cover all costs associated with the election.
Juror A. J. Broussard inquired as to whether revenues generated by the facility would be new money from outside the existing area.
Juror Alton Stevenson encouraged the members to consider delaying the election until April. He indicated that Video Poker machines were an issue.
Juror Jimmie Pellerin suggested that the City of Rayne would likely be in support of offtrack betting.
Mr. Earl Starks, owner of Studebakers Casino in Duson, acknowledged the employment of 77 people. Mr. Starks was of the opinion that no new tax money would be derived from offtrack betting operations. He also felt that the Parish would suffer as a result of having such activity.
Juror A. J. Broussard objected to the January election call.
Mr. Roland Boudreaux, representing Frog City Travel Plaza in Rayne, indicated that it was in the Jury’s best interest to delay action on the election call. Mr. Boudreaux presented statistics relative to the economic impact of offtrack betting and the establishment of additional video poker sites. Mr. Boudreaux noted facts relative to current video poker activities in the Parish. He also sited that there had been no appreciable growth in video poker revenue and devices. He strongly suggested the members postpone the election.
Mr. Steve Stefanski explained that the election call was general and open ended. Although offtrack betting is new money the Jury should take time to consider the matter before acting.
State Representative Gil Pinac suggested the Jury shall obtain enough information in order to make an informed decision.
President Broussard noted the need to fund economic development activities and that money is hard to come by. In her opinion, small video poker establishments would not be seriously affected.
Mrs. Mary Brasseaux offered comments about the January election call. She suggested January would be too soon.
Mr. Eric Thomas, a local restaurant owner, complained that competition from large establishments makes it a losing proposition for small business owners. He indicated that there should be a limit on the number of machines.
Mr. Martin Guillory, Jr., opposed the election call due to the fact that it was unfair because taxes paid by offtrack betting parlors was different than truck stops.
Mr. Oren Trahan spoke in favor of the call indicating that 20% of the revenue from video poker goes into the purses for horse racing activity.
Mr. Lavergne Perry suggested that the people be allowed to vote indicating that it would help the horse industry.
Mr. Toby Leger, a resident of the Parish, commented on the taxes paid in unequal amounts by truck stops as opposed to offtrack betting parlors.
Juror John Humble, Sr., called a question to end discussion.
Juror Alton Stevenson withdrew his motion relative to the open discussion.
The following resolution was offered by Mr. A. J. Credeur and seconded by Mr. Felton Moreau:
RESOLUTION
A resolution ordering and calling a special election to be
held in the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana, to authorize
the licensing of offtrack wagering facilities therein; making
application to the State Bond Commission in connection
therewith; and providing for other matters in connection
therewith.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Police Jury of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), that:
SECTION 1. Election Call. Subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission, and under the authority conferred by the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of the Louisiana Election Code and Part II of Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 (R.S. 4:211-227, inc.), and other constitutional and statutory authority, a special election is hereby called and ordered to be held in the Parish on SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2005, between the hours of six o'clock (6:00) a.m., and eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, and at the said election there shall be submitted to all registered voters qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and laws of this State and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit:
PROPOSITION
SUMMARY: TO AUTHORIZE THE LICENSING OF OFFTRACK
WAGERING FACILITIES IN THE PARISH OF ACADIA, STATE
OF LOUISIANA.
Shall the Louisiana State Racing Commission be authorized
to license offtrack wagering facilities in the Parish of Acadia,
State of Louisiana, pursuant to the provisions of Part II of
Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
1950 (R.S. 4:211-227, inc.)?
SECTION 2. Publication of Notice of Election. A Notice of Special Election shall be published in the Rayne Acadian Tribune, a weekly (published on Thursday) newspaper of general circulation within the Parish, published in Rayne, Louisiana, and being the official journal of the Parish, once a week for four consecutive weeks, with the first publication to be made not less than forty-five (45) days nor more then ninety (90) days prior to the date of the election, which Notice shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as "Exhibit A" and incorporated herein by reference the same as if it were set forth herein in full.
SECTION 3. Canvass. This Governing Authority shall meet at its regular meeting place, the Police Jury Room of the Courthouse, Crowley, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2005, at SIX-THIRTY O'CLOCK (6:30) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election.
SECTION 4. Polling Places. The polling places set forth in the aforesaid Notice of Special Election are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, will be the same persons as those designated in accordance with law.
SECTION 5. Election Commissioners; Voting Machines. The officers designated to serve as Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners pursuant to Section 4 hereof, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, shall hold the said special election as herein provided, and shall make due returns of said election for the meeting of the Governing Authority to be held on Tuesday, February 1, 2005, as provided in Section 3 hereof. All registered voters in the Parish will be entitled to vote at the special election, and voting machines shall be used.
SECTION 6. Authorization of Officers. The Secretary of the Governing Authority is hereby empowered, authorized and directed to arrange for and to furnish to said election officers in ample time for the holding of said election, the necessary equipment, forms and other paraphernalia essential to the proper holding of said election and the President and/or Secretary of the Governing Authority are further authorized, empowered and directed to take any and all further action required by State and/or Federal law to arrange for the election, including but not limited to, appropriate submission to the Federal Department of Justice under Section 5 of the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.
SECTION 7. Furnishing Election Call to Election Officials. Certified copies of this resolution shall be forwarded to the Secretary of State, the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Parish Custodian of Voting Machines of Acadia Parish and the Registrar of Voters of Acadia Parish, as notification of the special election, in order that each may prepare for said election and perform their respective functions as required by law.
This resolution having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows:
YEAS: Alton Stevenson, A. J. Broussard, John W. Humble, Sr., Cecelia Broussard, Jimmie Pellerin, A. J. Credeur, Cade Benoit and Felton Moreau
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
And the resolution was declared adopted on this, the 23rd day of November, 2004.
/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
EXHIBIT "A"
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION
Pursuant to the provisions of a resolution adopted by the Police Jury of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana (the "Governing Authority"), acting as the governing authority of the Parish of Acadia, State of Louisiana (the "Parish"), on November 23, 2004, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a special election will be held within the Parish on SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2005, and that at the said election there will be submitted to all registered voters in the Parish qualified and entitled to vote at the said election under the Constitution and Laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution of the United States, the following proposition, to-wit:
PROPOSITION
SUMMARY: TO AUTHORIZE THE LICENSING OF OFFTRACK
WAGERING FACILITIES IN THE PARISH OF ACADIA, STATE
OF LOUISIANA.
Shall the Louisiana State Racing Commission be authorized
to license offtrack wagering facilities in the Parish of Acadia,
State of Louisiana, pursuant to the provisions of Part II of
Chapter 4 of Title 4 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
1950 (R.S. 4:211-227, inc.)?
The said special election will be held at the following polling places situated within the Parish, which polls will open at six o'clock (6:00) a.m., and close at eight o'clock (8:00) p.m., in accordance with the provisions of La. R.S. 18:541, to-wit:
POLLING PLACES
Ward Precinct Location
1 1 Mire Fire Station, 5248 Mire Hwy, Rayne
1 2A Rayne City Courtroom, 301 E Louisiana Ave, Rayne
1 2B Rayne City Courtroom, 301 E Louisiana Ave, Rayne
1 3A Rayne High School Gym, 1020 N Polk St, Rayne
1 3B Rayne High School Gym, 1020 N Polk St, Rayne
1 4A Martin Petitjean Elem School, 4039 Crowley Rayne Hwy, Rayne
1 4B Martin Petitjean Elem School, 4039 Crowley Rayne Hwy, Rayne
1 5A South Side Community Center, 403 4th Street, Rayne
1 5B South Side Community Center, 403 4th Street, Rayne
1 6 North Side Community Center, 608 Martin Luther King Dr, Rayne
1 7 Rayne Federal Housing, 403 West Oak St, Rayne
1 8 B&C Self-Storage, 1931 E Jeff Davis Ave, Rayne
1 9 Martin Petitjean Elem School, 4039 Crowley Rayne Hwy, Rayne
2 1 Mire Fire Station, 5248 Mire Hwy, Rayne
2 2 Cramer Dryers, 1190 Wabash Rd, Rayne
2 3 Branch Fire Station, 173 Dr Parrot Rd, Branch
2 4 Mowata Catholic Church Hall, 29057 Crowley Eunice Hwy, Eunice
2 5 Crowley High Sch Commons Area, 263 Hensgens Rd, Crowley
3 1 Church Point City Hall, 102 Church Blvd., Church Point
3 2 Richard Elementary School, 1616 Charlene Hwy, Church Point
3 3A Church Point High School Gym, 622 S Rogers St, Church Point
3 3B Church Point High School Gym, 622 S Rogers St, Church Point
3 4 Church Point Jr High, 340 Martin Luther King Dr, Church Point
3 5 Richard Elementary School, 1616 Charlene Hwy, Church Point
3 6 Church Point City Hall, 102 Church Point Blvd., Church Point
3 7 Vautrots Store, 1338 Peach Bloom Hwy, Church Point
4 1 Te-Mamou KC Council 4906, 4998 Evangeline Hwy, Basile
4 2 Iota High School Lobby, 474 S Fifth St, Iota
4 3 Crowley High Sch Commons Area, 263 Hensgens Rd, Crowley
4 4 Egan Elementary School, 2166 Egan Hwy, Egan
4 5 Evangeline Elementary, 1448 Old Evangeline Hwy, Evangeline
4 6 Iota High School Lobby, 474 S Fifth St, Iota
5 1A Mermentau Town Hall, 104 7th Street, Mermentau
5 1B Mermentau Town Hall, 104 7th Street, Mermentau
5 2A Estherwood Town Hall, 124 N LeBlanc St, Estherwood
5 2B Estherwood Town Hall, 124 N LeBlanc St, Estherwood
5 3 Morse Elementary School, 200 Wisconsin St, Morse
5 4 Morse Elementary School, 200 Wisconsin St, Morse
5 5 Midland Catholic Church Hall, 214 2nd Street, Midland
6 1 North Crowley Middle School, 401 W Northern Ave, Crowley
6 2 Notre Dame High School, 910 N Eastern Ave, Crowley
6 3A North Crowley Kindergarten, 1119 N Parkerson Ave, Crowley
6 3B North Crowley Kindergarten, 1119 N Parkerson Ave, Crowley
6 4 Courthouse Lobby- 1st Floor, Court Circle, Crowley
6 5 Crowley City Hall, 426 N Avenue F, Crowley
6 6 Old Ross High School, 800 N Western Ave, Crowley
6 7 Rice Festival Building, 717 W Mill St, Crowley
6 8 Immaculate Heart of Mary Hall, 616 S Avenue M, Crowley
6 9 South Crowley Elem School Gym, 1102 S Parkerson Ave, Crowley
6 10 Lyons Point Community Center, 8006 Lyons Point Hwy, Crowley
6 11 Martin Luther King Jr Center, 1725 W Hutchinson Ave, Crowley
6 12 School Board Media Center, 2402 N Parkerson Ave, Crowley
6 13 School Board Media Center, 2402 N Parkerson Ave, Crowley
6 14 Acadia Animal Clinic, 7433 S LA 13, Crowley
6 15 South Crowley Elem School Gym, 1102 S Parkerson Ave, Crowley
6 16 LSU Rice Experimental Station, 1373 Caffy Rd, Crowley
7 2 Tepetate Fire Station, 1404 Redich Road, Eunice
7 3 LSU-E Health & Physical Ed Bldg, 2048 Johnson Hwy, Eunice
7 4 LSU-E Health & Physical Ed Bldg, 2048 Johnson Hwy, Eunice
The polling places set forth above are hereby designated as the polling places at which to hold the said election, and the Commissioners-in-Charge and Commissioners, respectively, shall be those persons designated according to law.
The said special election will be held in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 5, Chapter 6-A and Chapter 6-B of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, as amended, and other constitutional and statutory authority, and the officers appointed to hold the said election, as provided in this Notice of Special Election, or such substitutes therefor as may be selected and designated in accordance with La. R.S. 18:1287, will make due returns thereof to said Governing Authority, and NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that the Governing Authority will meet at its regular meeting place, the Police Jury Room of the Courthouse, Crowley, Louisiana, on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2005, at SIX-THIRTY O'CLOCK (6:30) P.M., and shall then and there in open and public session proceed to examine and canvass the returns and declare the result of the said special election. All registered voters of the Parish are entitled to vote at said special election and voting machines will be used.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED at Crowley, Louisiana, on this, the 23rd day of November, 2004.
ATTEST:/s/ Katry Martin /s/ Cecelia S. Broussard
KATRY MARTIN CECELIA S. BROUSSARD
SECRETARY-TREASURER PRESIDENT
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 DECEMBER 7, 2004, AT THE HOUR OF 6:30 P.M.
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