Police Jury names new sect.-treas.

Laura Faul of Egan will replace two-term secretary-treasurer Richard “Dickie” Latiolais on the Acadia Parish Police Jury administrative staff.
Faul, a former paralegal at Edwards, Stefanski and Zaunbrecher for 25 years, was one of five applicants for the position when the jury opted to open it up to the public at its January meeting.
Previously, the jury nominated and appointed a secretary-treasurer for a two-year term in even-numbered years.
Faul, who also ran the Egan Water Corp. for a number of years and “handles all the finances” for three family-owned businesses, told jurors she is “a very open person and transparent about everything.” She takes office immediately.
Faul was one of three actually nominated for the position during Wednesday night’s police jury meeting. She was nominated by Juror Charles “Chuck” Broussard.
Terry Lacombe, who was replaced by Latiolais as secretary-treasurer four years ago, was nominated by Ronald “Ronnie” Fabacher and, in a surprise move, Donna Bertrand, current Human Resources Director for the jury and not one of the five applicants, was nominated by Robert Guidry, who chaired a specially appointed committee to review applications.
Bertrand received two votes — from Guidry and David Savoy. Faul received six — from Broussard, Fabacher, Charles “Danny” Hebert, Kerry Kilgore, Jimmie Pellerin and Richard Faul (not related).
As all eight jurors had cast a ballot for the position, Lacombe’s name was not submitted for a vote.
“On behalf of the jury, I want to thank Mr. Dickie for the fine job he’s done for the jury for the past four years and I hope we can come to some kind of arrangement for him to hand around for a while,” President Savoy said as the meeting was adjourning.
“It has been a pleasure working for the police jury,” Latiolais replied. “I enjoyed it and it has been an educational experience.”
Latiolais also agreed to remain on the staff for a while longer while Faul becomes acclimated with the position.
Among other action taken Tuesday night, the jury:
• approved 2015 final budget adjustments;
• authorized the president to execute an annual agreement with the Lafayette Juvenile Detention Home to house juveniles at a rate of $125 per day plus any medical expenses;
• appointed Juror Faul to the Acadiana Metropolitan Planning Organization Board;
• appointed Leander Daigle Sr. and reappointed Martin Guillory Jr. and Paul Guidry to Fire Protection District No. 6;
• reappointed J.D. “Bunski” Sittig Jr. and Richard Ruppert to the Bayou Mallet Gravity Drainage District;
• reappointed Amy Simon and Melvin Clay to Fire Protection District No 3;
• reappointed Stephanie Romero to Fire Protection District No. 8 to fill the unexpired term of Terry Romero;
• reappointed Brandon Romero and Justin Lopez to Fire Protection District No. 8;
• accepted recommendations of the Airport Committee, including:
- leasing the old Landry-Aero Hangar to Michael and Gene LeJeune at 14 cents per square foot for a term of five years with an optional five year extension that would include CPI adjustment;
- leasing the land where the trailer is situated adjacent to the old Landry-Aero Hangar, the awning and the parking lot to Wayne Guillot in the amount of $167 per year for 10 years with an optional 10-year extension; and further, that after 10 years, the trailer would become police jury property and could be rented for $150 per month plus the land use rent of $167 per year;
• accepted recommendations of the Road and Bridge Committee, including authorizing the calling of a public hearing to receive comments on the abandonment of dedicated street that branches off of Elaine Street in Boudreaux Subdivision.