St. Landry Parish Council minutes

ST. LANDRY PARISH COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 @ 6:00 P.M.
OLD CITY MARKET, 131 W. BELLEVUE ST.
OPELOUSAS, LOUISIANA

MINUTES

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Leon Robinson.

ROLL CALL:
PRESENT: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller-Matthews, Huet Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
ABSENT: Gary Courville.

• Condolences were offered by Members of the Council for the deaths of the following:
Councilman Jerry Red: Marshall Edwards and Jabari James
Councilman Hurlin Dupre: Lance Lomas, Louis O’Connor, Frank Castille Jr., Irene Kimble, Eddie Ellis, Glynn Devillier and Walter Lantz.
Councilman Wayne Ardoin: Gayle Meche Simmons and Gerald L. Chachere Sr.
Councilman Timmy Lejeune: Terlin Olivier.
Councilman Jimmie Edwards: Florella “Flo” DeBarge, Susan Smith, Hubert Joseph Fontenot, Pam Granger, Theresa Aymond, Herbert “Chick” Dupre, George Sonnier, Jessica Myers West, Elias Darbonne, Jr., Dale Vidrine, Virgie Richard, Victor Leon Vice, Ison Fontenot, Eveline Picard Thibodeaux, Gene Duplechain, Nolton J. Thibodeaux, Sr., Leroy Andrus, Diane Lee Darby Mitchell, Billy Dean Hallum, Chester Joseph Godeau, Mary Agnes Berken Harrington, Rhonda Ann Godeaux Thibodeaux, Emma Lela Bergeron David, Grace Olivier Fagan, Charles Ray Landry, Lauren Elizabeth Picou Hebert, Kenneth Lee “Toopee” Courville and Joseph D. “Joe” Turner.

• Persons to address the Council:
• Lawrence Richard; 107 Jordan St. Opelousas; addressed the Council regarding St. Landry Animal Control taking away his horse that was located on private property.
He informed the Council he was not notified or giving any warning that they would be taking the horse and now they want him to pay ten dollars a day. He said he did not know much about having a horse or laws dealing with horses because that was his first time owning a horse but did build the horse a shed.
Councilman Alvin Stelly questioned the reason why animal control picked up the horse.
Mr. Richard answered because of a neighbor who calls in complaints about everything and if he has to he will get an investigator because he is not paying for his own horse back.
Parish President Bill Fontenot stated this is something that just recently happened and only received part of the story. He questioned if there was a complaint filed against Mr. Richard and the horse by a neighbor. He said it is hard to understand what is going on and asked Mr. Richard if the goat he was referring to earlier that the animal shelter had for sale had a sign on his neck because he does not think the parish sales goats.
Mr. Richard answered he was in the office and knew the people that were buying the goat and the adoption fee was one hundred and ten dollars.
Bill Fontenot stated yes; you may have to pay some adoption fees it was either kill the goat or get it adopted. He advised Mr. Richard the investigation is pending between the sheriff’s office and parish government’s office where some answers will be giving but it seems like from the information received there was a complaint that the sheriff was answering to and animal control was called to help out.
Councilwoman Fekisha Miller Matthews asked what was the complaint to where you would just pay money to get the horse back and what was so bad that it needed to be taken in the first place.
Bill Fontenot said a lot of times the sheriff gets the complaint where he investigates and informs animal control if the animal needs to be picked up because of persons not getting along regardless of rather the animal is a bad dog or a horse that is crossing the fence. He said if the differences are worked out with the neighbors and they are cleared to give the animal back or set it free there is an expense to catching and feeding the horse. He advised Mr. Richard he would be glad to meet with him regarding this matter.
• Rustin Legendre; 60097 Hwy 11, Slidell, LA; introduced himself to the Council as the manager of Government Relations for Charter Communications. He stated he has been with the company for almost a year and since taking this position he has been traveling to council chambers and elected officials offices within their footprint to introduce himself and answers any questions, complaints and offered his assistance with anything that is needed.
• Wayne Reiners; 468 Young Road, Opelousas; addressed the Council regarding the reappointments to the Bayou Mallet & Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10. He requested the Council consider appointing the board as it stands and also clarified not all members of the board are from District 4; two members live in District 3.
Councilman Red stated but there is no one that represents District No. 1.
Mr. Reiners stated they represent the whole district and cross district lines on a regular basis within the drainage district so they do not consider whether that person is from one particular council district or not. He said they just consider what needs to be done on that property.
Councilman Red asked Mr. Reiners where he lives which is in District 3.
Mr. Reiners answered he lives on Young Road.
Councilman Ronald Buschel requested the board members present at the meeting stand up in order to identify who each person was.
• John Trahan; 208 Muscadine Road, Opelousas; questioned if any asphalt has been laid with the Smooth Ride Home project.
Bill Fontenot stated yes; there has been tons laid. He said they have twenty six million under contract and probably about fifty percent complete which is about sixty miles.
John Trahan stated he does attend a lot of council meetings to keep abreast of what is currently happening in the parish and on numerous occasions he has seen some forms of bullying which occurs when members of the council ask questions or proposals are being presented. He said this happened last committee meeting which he thought was very ugly and was embarrassed to be a citizen of the parish when questions were raised about the paving of streets in the Cankton Village. The Bill he voted for and the Smooth Ride Home was strictly for roads in the parish; that is what he voted for. He questioned if the intergovernmental agreements made can just have anything written into it and does the intergovernmental agreement override the vote of the people of St. Landry Parish.
Bill Fontenot stated he will address that because he was the one who managed that program, introduced the program and appreciated the people supporting it. He said it is for the rural areas of St. Landry Parish; you must understand the nature of certain process such as Savoie Road in Cankton which has been around for many years and has been a parish road. The parish has been maintaining it for certainly longer than his term which is in his fourth year; three years of maintenance makes it a parish road but has been maintaining that road for twenty years or more. He said over time cities grow and when they grow they do not grow at a uniformed rate; when annexations are made they are made at different times to address certain development issues as the town grows and sometimes that portion that is annexed is irregular and will overlap the road. That is a parish road so we keep maintaining that part that is in the city; we continue to maintain and operate it because it is a parish road. He stated with the position he has he would have not even had to bring it here because he is confident that it is within the law; if it is a parish road it can be paved. He said just like the state has state roads through the city which a lot of times the cities annex over the interstate but that does not mean that the city will maintain that interstate just like if Cankton annexes over Savoie Road a piece of land that does not mean they will take over maintenance of it because they are doing that to justify providing services such as water, sewage and electricity. He commented he brought the corporative endeavor agreements here so no one would question later the paving of part in the city; they cannot dissolve the responsibility of maintaining that road. The parish still has the legal responsibility to maintain it, operate it and improve it. There is very little of this in the parish and he thinks a lot is being made out of it. He said it is good questions but when arguing the philosophy about the tax payers; if the taxpayer who live in the city shops in the country he pays tax too. As far as the legality of having responsibility for that road and the legal right to pave that road; as long as it is a parish road we have that right. He said he just put it in writing so everyone could see that there is perfect clarity and transparency and there are no deals; they are just doing what is normally done on a day to day basis.
John Trahan commented he noticed in the parish just like state does state roads for example Hwy 182 when it got to Bayou Carencro it stopped at the line and also Hwy 754 which went from St. Landry Parish to Acadia Parish; when you hit the parish line it stopped.
Bill Fontenot asked if the road ends there because that is a program where they pave it within the parish and have to put a limit on improving the road.
John Trahan stated it does not look good for the rest of the parish that is struggling with gravel roads and people that are not included in the tax proposal are benefiting.
Bill Fontenot commented from an operational and legal point of view if only part of the road is paved and skip what piece that is in the annex sections that they still have legal responsibility of people might go in at a speed of fifty miles an hour and hit a bad piece of one thousand feet of road and cause a crash the parish is liable. He said that would be a foolish and irresponsible thing to do for engineers and government not to pave the road.
Councilman Alvin Stelly questioned if those people inside the city limits voted for that two cents sales tax.
Bill Fontenot answered the majority people that use it had the opportunity to vote for it and how can you tell who is traveling the road if they come from the rural area; no they did not vote on it.
Councilman Stelly commented then they cannot use it; he does not believe it is right to use parish money for the rural areas inside the city limits.
Bill Fontenot stated on Savoie Road thousands of feet of it are right down the center of the corporate limits so the parish would just pave half the road.
Councilman Stelly answered if that is what has to be done then that is what we will have to do.
Bill Fontenot responded that would be a very foolish and irresponsible thing to do.
Councilman Stelly commented in other words he is calling him stupid.
Councilwoman Pam Gautreau commented the other intergovernmental agreements such as Eunice who has agreed to put up their share of the monies. She said she believes there was work done in Port Barre and around Krotz Springs that these roads fell into the municipalities; the municipalities paid their share. She said the issue is not so much Savoie Road as it is Menard and Credeur Road. There is a vast majority of those two roads that fall into the corporate limits of Cankton. She stated looking at the intergovernmental agreement with Cankton; questions were asked in the meeting before the vote was taken what Cankton will be contributing to the road and an answer was never given. She said there is no dollar figure on the resolution which it should have one. She asked Mr. Fontenot if he went speak with the Mayor of Cankton and told him that if the parish could not get this road done for them that he would loan them the money.
Bill Fontenot answered no.
Councilwoman Gautreau asked if the mayor was lying.
Bill Fontenot stated Mrs. Gautreau is saying he said something and the mayor said something else regarding him loaning money.
Councilwoman Gautreau stated she received a phone call from the mayor who was very upset that Pam Gautreau would be fighting something in her district and when attempted to explain to him how this proposition was written and how is it that the other municipalities are going to be putting their fair share to have the road continue so that the road does not stop so that you do not have a crash.
Bill Fontenot stated she is comparing apples and oranges.
Councilwoman Gautreau read the proposition of which the people of St. Landry Parish in the unincorporated areas of this parish wrote it. She read shall road District No 1 of the Parish of St. Landry consisting only of the unincorporated areas be authorized to levee and collect a tax of two percent said use of this tax to be dedicated and be used only and exclusively for constructing, improving roads, bridges and related drainage in the district. She said that is what the people voted on and she does not want to see anyone in her district suffer; that is not the point. The point is that there was no dollar figure placed on this resolution and we are going to use an unincorporated tax to fix and improve roads within municipalities without them paying their share.
Bill Fontenot responded we do not have an intergovernmental agreement with Eunice that says they will pay for anything.
Councilwoman Gautreau suggested speaking with the parish engineers which she did speak with because she also received a phone call from an Alderman in Cankton that said Mrs. Gautreau had Savoie Road, Menard Road, and Credeur Road taken off of the improvement list which is incorrect because she does not have that authority. She informed Mr. Fontenot she did contact the parish engineers who said they have been waiting for Parish Government’s response so they put Savoie Road on the back burner because of the question arising about the legality of using the unincorporated road tax for municipal roads. They have sent letters to Parish Government where they have been waiting for the response and to advise them on what to do. She said as of this date they do not have any response from Parish Government advising them of the legality of such.
Bill Fontenot stated again Mrs. Gautreau is absolutely wrong and incorrect and her information is way behind time because passing that corporative endeavor agreement was the response; it is in the program to be pave. He said if people would sit down and try to understand it which he knows she doesn’t because she didn’t vote for the tax or didn’t trust him that she told people publicly. He said she does not want any improvements because he guesses she just prefer to just stay backwards but he has a program in place that is moving forward. He has given them a response which is in the program but did not put it on the front burner until he decided as to whether or not it was legal to pave those roads and is absolutely sure that they can be paved. He said he put it in an agreement so that way it would be on the table but it probably doesn’t need an agreement because all the law that exist supports what is being done; it is a parish road and is in the program. He stated Mrs. Gautreau does not want to see it paved just to throw mud at him which is basically her point and what she lives for.
Councilwoman Gautreau stated she can assure him that she has higher aspirations to live for.
Councilman Jerry Red commented there is a fine line with the road situation and does understand the legalities of it but questioned Attorney Pitre if it would be acceptable to make a motion to receive clarity before the road is overlaid. He said he would just like to get clarity for the council and the parish sake that if this body along with the Road District No. 1 can overlay roads in the municipality with this two cents sales tax.
Attorney Chad Pitre advised not at this time but could bring it up later during the meeting.
Councilman Wayne Ardoin questioned if it would be acceptable to bring this matter up during the approval of Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes under item number ten.
Attorney Pitre answered yes.

• Chairman Leon Robinson addressed item six regarding the approval of minutes.
Councilman Huet Dupre offered a motion to amend the agenda to discuss item number eight in the Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes concerning the five appointments to the Bayou Mallet & Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10.
Attorney Chad Pitre informed the Council they could not amend the agenda once the meeting has begun; it must be done at the beginning of the meeting.
Councilman Jerry Red stated he knows what Mr. Dupre would like to do and it is still in the committee meeting minutes and can bring it up then.
Attorney Pitre questioned the request in amending the agenda because you cannot amend the agenda at this point; you can only amend the agenda at the beginning of the meeting by unanimous vote and the added item must be laid out in Special Business.
Councilman Huet Dupre stated he would like to discuss item number eight in the Public Works Committee Meeting minutes.

• A motion was made by Councilman Ronald Buschel, seconded by Councilman Wayne Ardoin to approve the minutes from the Regular Meeting held January 21, 2015.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville. ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• A motion was made by Councilman Ronald Buschel, seconded by Councilman Jimmie Edwards approve the minutes from the Special Meeting held January 27, 2015.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville. ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• A motion was made by Councilman Wayne Ardoin, seconded by Councilman Timmy Lejeune to accept the Parish President’s Report.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville. ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• Councilman Jerry Red suggested item number one on the agenda regarding the placement of the Council’s employee that is located in the Eunice office be removed from the agenda because it was already voted on at a Special Meeting held the prior week.

• A motion was made by Councilman Dexter Brown, seconded by Councilman Timmy Lejeune to accept as Substantially Complete the City of Opelousas Bridge Replacement (Burr Street over Bayou Yarbor) Project #49PARA2101 relative to the Gustav/Ike Disaster Recovery Community Development Block Grant Parish Implemented Recovery Program and authorize the Parish President to sign all documents associated with this substantial completion.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville. ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• Item number three on the agenda; Request Parish Administration to research if there are monies available to assist the Opelousas High School Band with travel expenses for a trip to Washington D.C. in order to participate in the National Memorial Day Parade.
Councilman Wayne Ardoin asked Attorney Pitre to provide the Council with the information he told him regarding this matter.
Attorney Chad Pitre advised the request sought after by the Opelousas High School Band for travel expense to Washington D.C. for the Memorial Day Parade under Louisiana Constitution it is probably considered a prohibited donation. Article 7 Section 14 states that you cannot pledge, loan, or give monies even if it is a great intent and for a good cause unless it is part of the Council’s roll to fund school bands it would be prohibited donation in his opinion. He said there are a few exceptions under that particular constitutional article but does not see any for a band.
Councilman Ardoin requested a letter be sent to Opelousas High School Band notifying them the Council cannot donate for the cause but if any Councilmember wants to make a personal donation they are welcomed to.

• A motion was made by Councilman Wayne Ardoin, seconded by Councilman Timmy Lejeune to request a letter be sent to Opelousas High School Band notifying them that the St. Landry Parish Council could not assist in travel expense for a trip to Washington D.C. due to legality issues.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville. ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• Discussion of the allocation of fifty thousand dollars from the St. Landry Parish Historical Development Fund No. 1 to be used for the former Sunset High School and The Michel Prudhomme Home which will be forwarded to the St. Landry Parish Preservation Society.
Councilwoman Pam Gautreau stated this was brought up towards the end of last year during the budget adoption process where it was agreed upon that the budget could be amended once it was adopted even though we did not have full information on certain funds before adopting the budget. She said the Council as an opportunity to do other things with that money aside from the one entity that has been pretty much the sole beneficiary of this fund for the past five years and the original allocation of the funds went to the renovation of the Council’s Chambers. She said the tax is to help maintain and improve this building which has been improved but looking at the budget from last year none of that fund went to this building so it is now a self-sufficient building apparently. She stated the Delta Grand has been enjoying the proceeds of that tax since this parish council agreed to buy the building and after all this time the Council has an opportunity to direct or redirect some of the dollars so that it can benefit other historical properties within the parish. Not privately owned entities but publicly owned in which the tax would still be within the guidelines of the law that states it is to be spend related to improvement and or preservation of the Old City Hall City Market in Opelousas, operations of the Delta Grand and any other related tourism activities in St. Landry Parish. She said the Council can change and help other entities within St. Landry Parish both municipal and unincorporated areas. She is asking the Council to allocate some of the funds from the St. Landry Parish Historical Development Fund to help the Sunset High School and Michel Prudhomme Home. She advised she is not asking for the whole fifty thousand to go to the Sunset High School and is not even asking for fifty thousand dollars. She said finally the Council knows that the Delta Grand has been paid off as of March of last year so there should be monies available.
Councilman Timmy Lejeune commented he is not opposed to offering any funding but is opposed to the way the Council is offering this funding and thinks it should be advertised to give an opportunity for all municipalities not just because it came up in one committee. He said if there is available funding for that then it needs to be advertised where they submit applications and set up some type of program that does some kind of match funding and maybe form a committee to do that.
Councilwoman Gautreau stated the funds are available if the Council says it is available.
Bill Fontenot stated as the manager and CEO of the Parish there is no money to be given out; the money as Mrs. Gautreau phrases it as though the building gets a benefit; the building is a public service building that provides some theatre and provides items that are related to living our culture because it is a service where many events take place that is expense to run so when the year ends there is no money left over to be passing out. He said there are probably a hundred or more of these buildings that are historic but this is a public service building that is also used for government enterprise and government service so it has a great contribution to the parish. He stated there are many supporters; if you ever come to an event there are many private supporters that also donate to the benefit of the services provided to the Delta Grand. He said it provides a place for youth and even adults to share in cultural events at that location which are beneficial and valuable to the community and believes that is why the law was written in the way it was.
Councilman Hurlin Dupre suggested a way to do this would be to put the monies in an escrow account where anyone can come and request those monies so it would not be just dedicated to one specific thing.
Councilman Red commented he has been using the Delta Grand for three years which this will be the fourth for the Black History Program and this is a church event which does not cost the church anything but it does cost himself as a Councilmember for putting on the event. He said it cost a couple hundred dollars every year and he does not ask anyone for anything it is a free event but yet they have a place to hold the event which will be the fourth black history program the Sunday coming up.
Councilman Dexter Brown questioned the wording of the items on the agenda that starts with “discuss” which the Council was advised by Attorney Pitre that they could not make a motion or vote on it because of the word “discuss”.
Attorney Pitre informed him that the Council can discuss and take action on it but at the last meeting he was referring to the item listed “any other business” because the Attorney General has issued many opinions regarding that matter and also in the handbook it state the Council cannot take action under that item. He said many bodies still do take action but he tries to give advice against it because it is not specific; those agenda items need to be specific per the Sunshine Laws and Title 42.
Councilman Wayne Ardoin questioned Bill Fontenot if salaries are paid out of those funds for the Delta Grand.
Bill Fontenot answered yes, which is part of operations.

• A motion was made by Councilman Timmy Lejeune, seconded by Councilman Wayne Ardoin to research if adequate funding is available in the St. Landry Parish Historical Development Fund No. 1 in order to form a committee to set up a program for advertising and accepting applications to offer municipalities with assistance with historical buildings in St. Landry Parish.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: Ronald Buschel and Hurlin Dupre. ABSENT: Gary Courville.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• The Council reviewed the Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes from February 4, 2015.
Councilman Wayne Ardoin questioned the status on the request made for Bill Fontenot to ask three firms for quotes to do a traffic study on traffic lights for intersections of Judson Walsh and Highway 182 and also Harry Guilbeau and Highway 182.
Bill Fontenot stated he has been in discussion with DOTD within the last two weeks who does have some records because they have done several analysis on a couple of these so they will put together a comprehensive report on an evaluation, summary or update of all of these which he should be receiving in about a week.
Councilman Ardoin asked if it would be provided at the next Public Works Committee meeting.
Bill Fontenot answered yes sir.
Councilman Dexter Brown asked for the status regarding 1-49 northbound traffic study.
Bill Fontenot answered it will be in the summary from DOTD also.
Councilman Huet Dupre offered a motion to vote on the five appointments to the Bayou Mallet & Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 at the present meeting.
Attorney Pitre questioned if this is the regular protocol the Council has followed in the past such as when committee reports are presented before the full council does the council take action.
Councilman Huet Dupre answered yes.
Councilman Dexter Brown questioned if the applicant William Bill Fontenot is the same person who was just appointed to the Ag-Arena authority and can he serve on two boards at the same time.
Attorney Pitre questioned if it was a paying position.
Bill Fontenot commented that is an advisory board over the Ag-Arena so that would not be a paid positon.
Attorney Pitre advised generally a person can serve on more than one board as long as there is no conflict or overlap of jurisdiction or authorities unless the Council has an internal rule that does not allow it.

• A motion was made by Councilman Huet Dupre, seconded by Councilman Hurlin Dupre to vote on the five appointments to the Bayou Mallet & Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 to serve a four year term from 02-01-2015 to 02-01-2019.
Votes Were:
Jerry Red: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Fekisha Miller Matthews: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Huet Dupre: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Ronald Buschel: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Hurlin Dupre: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Alvin Stelly: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Pam Gautreau: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Wayne Ardoin: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Dexter Brown: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Hugh Guidry.
Timmy Lejeune: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.
Jimmie Edwards: Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur.

• A motion was made by Councilman Jerry Red, seconded by Councilman Huet Dupre to reappoint Floyd J. Dupre, Howard Owens, August Hebert Amy, Jr., Wayne Reiners and Jimmie Lafleur to the Bayou Mallet & Plaquemine Gravity Drainage District No. 10 to serve a four year term from 02-01-2015 to 02-01-2019.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Hurlin Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• A motion was offered by Councilman Wayne Ardoin to authorize Legal Advisor Chad Pitre request an Attorney General’s Opinion on the legality issues concerning Road District No. 1 using funds to overlay roads within a corporate limit without the financial assistance from the municipalities.
Councilman Ardoin stated Krotz Springs had equipment and got roads overlaid because they paid their part. He asked if the parish will be putting the monies up for Cankton and would just like to know if this is legal so he is asking for an Attorney General’s Opinion.
Parish President Bill Fontenot stated he does not think that is a question that reflects the entire situation so if a question is asked the facts need to be laid out; it is a parish road and has been a parish for twenty years or more and have been maintaining it. He said so just asking if they can pave in the city limits more than likely you will get the answer “no” but this is formally a parish road that was annexed over time and the limits of the annexation took in some of the road but did not take in the responsibility for maintenance; that is the proper way to clarify the law.
Councilman Ronald Buschel requested to include in the motion the continuation of a parish road into the city.
Councilman Ardoin commented the attorney will draft the letter the way he wants to but he knows the concerns and the Council will know if they are standing on good grounds by doing so because the people of St. Landry Parish voted that the roads in the rural areas get overlaid.
Attorney Chad Pitre advised what he would like to do is propose a rough draft and present it to see if the right questions are being asked but does understand the concerns. Councilman Ardoin stated he just thinks the Council needs to show the people they want to do what is right and Mr. Fontenot may be doing what is right but there are still some people asking questions which he cannot be denied; people are asking questions about this.
Bill Fontenot stated that is why the agreement was put out there so that way everyone would understand but Mr. Ardoin tactics are to twist the words to where now he is saying to the people they voted on the tax but Mr. Fontenot is spending it somewhere else so Mr. Ardoin words make the paper that he is saving the people but he is also saving the people too by putting it in the right place. He said there is a question on their part if he is doing it right just like everything he has done since the first day. He said he has been questioned which makes the paper and Mr. Ardoin gets a big splash like he is on the side of the people and he is not, when really he is holding up progress and obstructing progress in this parish. Mr. Fontenot said it is ok with asking for an opinion but guarantees his approach is transparent with the truth and has a lot of experience on what can be done within the law but if they would like someone to repeat it and spent all this time he is ok with that but all these words about saving the people and they paid for the tax well he would like to put his words on the table and on record too; he would not take a chance in blurring the integrity of this office by doing something that would be on the line of not being appropriate. He also stated he would like to clear up a comment made by Mrs. Gautreau who said he said the mayor was lying; the mayor and himself have had plenty of discussions and thinks he is a practical man but did tell him that this was going to happen; that it would be put out on the table but probably could do it without any joint use agreement or cooperative endeavor agreement because he is solid in the law in doing this but wanted to make sure if anyone had a question it would be out on the table that it is the appropriate and legal thing to do and serves the motorist of this parish with the integrity of good engineering and good government. He said he did tell the mayor in the end it would probably be no cost because the parish is responsible for continuing to maintain and improve this already existing parish road. He stated they may have said this might be like a loan and may have discussed those things where he understood it to be a discussion about a loan but basically it is not a loan; we are doing it because it is the parish’s responsibility at no cost to Cankton.
Councilman Alvin Stelly questioned how those people could not vote on the two percent sales tax but their roads will be paved.
Councilwoman Gautreau stated what Mr. Fontenot did on a state level is totally different from a parish level because the people of this parish voted for that tax not the people of the state or the DOTD; the people in the unincorporated areas of this parish who are fully expecting disclosure and transparency. She said he can say what he will but she is here to represent her constituents and will be transparent and always asked for transparency whether someone likes it or not but the fact that the proposition is very clear.
Bill Fontenot stated that is exactly what he is doing; what is on the proposition and is doing it right and will continue to try to do it right in spite of her abilities and efforts to obstruct.
Councilwoman Gautreau requested to also ask the Attorney General if it would be legal for the Parish President to loan the St. Landry Road District No. 1 fund money to anyone.
Bill Fontenot stated he is not loaning any money so if he thought he said that he misunderstood and when people are talking and several are talking at the same time someone might have tossed in there something about a loan but he wants it to be understood he is certainly not calling the mayor a lair but by the agreement he introduce and wrote was not to provide a loan it was to provide at no cost which is the appropriate legal thing to do; to pave the road that is a parish road that is subject to irregular annexations.
Councilman Timmy Lejeune questioned if Savoie Road will remain a parish road after it is black toped; it will not go into the city inventory.
Bill Fontenot answered absolutely it will remain a parish road.
Councilwoman Gautreau commented Menard and Credure Road are not in the Cankton inventory.

• A motion was made by Councilman Wayne Ardoin, seconded by Councilwoman Pam Gautreau to request an Attorney General’s Opinion on the legality issues concerning Road District No. 1 using funds to overlay roads within a corporate limit without the financial assistance from the municipalities.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Hurlin Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• A motion was made by Councilman Ronald Buschel, seconded by Councilman Jerry Red to accept the minutes from the Public Works Committee Meeting held February 4, 2015.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Hurlin Dupre, Alvin Stelly, Ronald Buschel, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• Councilwoman Pam Gautreau questioned item eight in the Administrative Finance Committee meeting minutes regarding the canceled note on the Delta Grand that was supposed to be provided at the present meeting.
Bill Fontenot answered he does have it and then provided each member with a copy during the meeting.

• A motion was made Councilman Wayne Ardoin, seconded by Councilman Jimmie Edwards to accept the minutes from the Administrative Finance Committee Meeting held February 5, 2015.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Hurlin Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None. ABSENT: Gary Courville.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

• A motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Pam Gautreau, seconded by Councilman Timmy.
Votes Were: YEAS: Jerry Red, Fekisha Miller Matthews, Huet Dupre, Hurlin Dupre, Ronald Buschel, Alvin Stelly, Pam Gautreau, Wayne Ardoin, Dexter Brown, Timmy Lejeune and Jimmie Edwards.
NAYS: None ABSENT: Gary Courville.
ABSTAINED: None.
Motion carried and was adopted the 19th day of February, 2015.

I HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOREGOING TO BE EXACT AND TRUE
LAYCIE ALFRED, COUNCIL CLERK