Parish Council may shorten minute publications

The St. Landry Parish Council appears headed to ending verbatim accounts of its meetings published in its legal notices.
Councilman Ken Marks’ proposal to end the practice and replace with a summary of the meeting proceedings goes to the full council after a vote by the Administrative-Finance Committee on Wednesday in Opelousas.
The Parish Council proceedings and other legal notices are printed in the Daily World of Opelousas, which is the council’s official journal.
Parish President Bill Fontenot said the summary was published when he first took office four years ago, but at some point the council decided to print a verbatim account of meetings. The cost to print the minutes went from about $1,500 to $7,000 to $8,000, he said.
Marks said the verbatim version would continue to be provided to council members and to the public upon request.
Parish Council Chairman Harold Taylor said the verbatim proceedings could be available on the parish’s website.
Mark’s proposal will go to the full council session on Feb. 17.
Councilman Wayne Ardoin gained approval for a full council consideration of asking the Legislature for permission for the council to name more than one official journal.
Ardoin also is asking that the journals be the Daily World, The Eunice News and The Acadiana Advocate.
The Daily World and The Eunice News have offices in St. Landry Parish. The Acadiana Advocate has an office in Lafayette.
Fontenot recommended the council avoid setting itself up for more rules set by the Legislature. The council must print its public notices and meeting proceedings in its legal journal, which it selects, but may also print them elsewhere, he said.
Vivian Olivier, a Sunset area council member, voted against Ardoin’s proposal.
The meeting Monday was the first for six newly seated council members.
Taylor appointed Jerry Red, Feskisha Miller-Matthews, Ken Marks, Vivian Olivier, Wayne Ardoin and Timmy Lejeune to the Administrative-Finance Committee. Red was elected chairman of the committee.
Taylor named Nancy Carrier, Mildred Thierry, Alvin Stelly, Dexter Brown, Jimmie Edwards and Coby Clavier to the Public Works Committee. The committee elected Clavier as its chairman.
In other committee action:
Marks asked for a workshop on the parish budget. “I don’t like to make decisions without facts and documents and questions,” he said.
Heard a report that the Lawtell Water District 1 water tower is in need of emergency repairs that may cost up to $300,000.
Asked for the cost to place video cameras in the Old City Market building.
Heard a representation by Celeste Gomez, parish tourism director, on the St. Landry Parish Tourism Commission. The council is to select commission members.
In a special meeting, the council rejected a resolution to hold a tax election in Fire District 3 in April. The district proposes a special 10-mill property tax for 10 years. The tax for fire protection facilities and obtaining water for fire protection.
Voting “Yes” were Marks, Stelly, Ardoin and Olivier.
Voting “No” were Red, Carriere, Thierry, Lejeune, Edwards and Clavier.
Miller-Matthews and Brown were absent.