Parish Council wants Solid Waste Commission records

Capping months of turmoil between the St. Landry Parish Council and the parish Solid Waste Commission, the council decided to request financial records from the commission.
The council was unanimous in the action taken after a 68-minute closed session Wednesday, according to a report in The Acadiana Advocate.
The closed session occurred as Charles Cravins began as the council’s representative in all matters pertaining to the Solid Waste Commission.
Chad Pitre, the council’s attorney, cited a conflict of interest last month in representing the council and Solid Waste Commission.
District Attorney Earl Taylor responded with the appointment of Cravins.
Pitre remains as the council’s attorney in issues other than the Solid Waste Commission.
According to The Acadiana Advocate, the council requested:
— A complete financial report for all funds received by the commission.
— The commission’s secretary-treasurer’s salary. A.F. “Pete” Olivier is the commission’s secretary-treasurer.
— The amount of funding the commission has provided to parish government during the past eight years.
The nine member commission includes five appointees by the St. Landry Parish Municipal Association and four from the Parish Council.
Over the past several months, some council members have challenged the actions of the commission on matters such as garbage pick up procedures and importing trash to the parish landfill.
Gary Courville, a District 13 Eunice area council member, said what was requested Wednesday is public record.
Courville said the action is is part of an election year issue for rural council members and commission members are respectable people.
Jimmie Edwards, a District 12 Eunice area council member, said the matter is likely to be settled between the managers with the commission and parish government.