How to fix Eunice’s state-owned highways?

Eunice city leaders are urging the state Department of Transportation and Development to repair the pothole-laden Maple Avenue. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)
There was more movement on what can be done to upgrade the state-owned roads in Eunice at Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen’s meeting, but no formal decisions.
Bill Oliver, state Department of Transportation and Development district engineer, spoke at the meeting along with state Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice.
The discussion was pointed at the city taking over maintenance of College Road and the Old Crowley Highway.
Oliver said the state road work has been crippled due to funding issues, but he suggested problems with Maple Avenue, La. 91, may be solved through the state’s capital outlay process.
Oliver also explained a state program called Right-Sizing allows the state to transfer its roads to local government with 40 years of maintenance credits.
Mayor Scott Fontenot said the funding amounts to about $400,000 per mile. The mayor said he is in favor of the program for College Road and the Old Crowley Highway.
Maple Avenue should be remain a state-owned road he said because of the amount of traffic on it, Fontenot said.
Oliver agreed with the mayor’s assessment about Maple Avenue. A transportation department planning process determined that Maple Avenue should not be transferred, he said.
Oliver was in concert with Jack Burson, alderman at-large, that the transportation department was starved for money to do projects during the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal.
“We have to be realistic and understand that our highway department statewide has been much deprived of necessary resources,” Burson said.
Some $60 million was diverted from the highway department to State Police, Oliver said. “We are just getting that back,” he said.
Oliver said a bridge replacement project on Maple Avenue at Bobcat Drive is delayed as a detour is studied.
“The real issue is we have to rebuild the road going to the high school,” he said.
The project is scheduled to begin this year.
Oher Board business included:
— A resolution for a House bill to allow Police Chief Randy Fontenot hiring, discipline and firing powers was approved. The police chief’s hiring and firing decision now must be approved by the Board of Aldermen.
— A resolution for a House bill to change how the promotion from sergeant to lieutenant in the police department was approved. A promotion from sergeant to lieutenant would be based on the number of years served as a sergeant rather than years of employment as a police officer.
— Tabled selecting two nominees from LSUE to the Civil Service Board.