Jury directs attorney to study paying tree removal damages

Saying “We did wrong going on the property and we did damage their property,” Juror Dale Trahan argued Tuesday night that instead of simply having their legal counsel Brad Andrus review demands for the damages to the Holland Road property of sisters Danna Premeaux Guillot and Jerrie Premeaux St. Amant, the Acadia Parish Police Jury should direct Andrus to “recommend what we can pay.”
The sisters allege a parish road crew, while clearing a ditch along the road, illegally entered the property creating damages and the removal of 1,100 linear feet of mature pine trees.
The sisters demanded the land be redressed and leveled and mature trees be replaced, along with $15,000 in damages be paid.
Trahan’s motion was seconded by Jury Al Stevenson and was accepted by other jurors.
In response, Mrs. Guillot said, “Thank you.”
District Attorney Keith Stutes told jurors that he would not appropriate $9,000 (a total of $18,000 for the full year) from his budget to support the professional services of attorney Andrus.
Indicating the appropriation appeared to be a “private agreement between his predecessor Michael Harson and the prior Acadia Jury,” Stutes declined to pay the bill, believing such a payment would be prohibited. He pointed out the district attorney’s office can serve as the Jury’s legal counsel, saying, “I’m still your attorney.”
When Juror A.J. Credeur questioned which previous Jury “sent the D.A. a bill,” no one on the Jury or staff could provide an answer.
Stutes also raised the issue that prisoners are held in the parish’s D.A. office during court dates, citing his concerns about security. It doesn’t occur in other parish D.A. offices (Lafayette or Vermilion), emphasized Stutes.
Stutes also mentioned a need for more office space for his assistants and staff in Acadia.
Jurors promised to refer Stutes’ requests to the Building and Grounds Committee.
Jurors tabled several issues or referred them back to committees.
Opposing motions to accept three-year versus one-year bids for auditing services ended with 3-3 ties (Jurors David Savoy and Robert Guidry were absent), as Juror A.J. “Fatty” Broussard originally calling for the acceptance of the low bid of four from Wright, Moore, Dehart, Dupuis & Hutchinson of Lafayette. The issue on the bid format will likely be returned to committee.
Action on two bids for a landfill compactor was originally recommended tabled by attorney Andrus when one bidder offered to remove the cost of a fire suppression system from his bid. Juror Julie Borill’s substitute motion to return the bids to the Solid Waste Committee was approved with Broussard dissenting.
Bids for the demolition of surplus modular buildings at the parish detention center were also tabled after Juror Trahan suggested the Jury get estimates to reroof, remove mold and other concerns. Trahan argued the structure should be modernized instead of demolished. The demolition bids ranged from $43,000 to $30,000.
Jury Secretary-Treasurer Richard “Dickie” Latiolais noted the Jury received no purchase bids after advertising in area newspapers.
Jurors also tabled any action on developing an ordinance prohibiting the use of bows, arrows and crossbows in recognized subdivisions.
Jurors approved the holding of tax elections on Nov. 21 in the Iota Fire Protection District for a 10.60 mill renewal and a six mill renewal in the Bayou des Cannes-Nespique Gravity Drainage District.
The Jury approved renovations to the Rice Arena office at a cost of $15,028, with a supporting grant of $6,865.
Jury President Borill was authorized to execute a contract with Charles Habetz for the operation and maintenance of the Crowley/Rayne Industrial Park for the monthly sum of $1,000.
John Istre presented the 2014 audit report which show a $76 million budget.
Resolutions granting exceptions to the current La DOTD design standards for construction of the
South Avenue F bridge over Bayou Blanc and the Napp Street bridge were approved.
Jurors accepted the resignation of Derek Bisig as a member of the Acadia Parish Planning Commission, and the resignation of Richard Myers as a member of the Mermentau River Harbor and Terminal District.
Ordinances setting a 35 mph speed limit on Monceaux Road and a 35 mph speed limit on Bulldog Lane were adopted.
A recommendation from the Building and Grounds Committee to execute an agreement between the 911 District and the Stefanski & Zaunbrecher Law Firm concerning the location of a generator on the firm’s property was authorized.
Jurors accepted a recommendation to accept the quote of Risk
Services of Louisiana to add parish equipment to the existing automobile liability policy.
Public hearings were authorized to receive comments on setting a 15 mph speed limits on Lake Cove Road and Theriot Road and a 25 mph speed limit on Arpent Road.
Jurors also accepted replacement of bridges on Sidney Richard Road and Pointe Noir Road.