April 18, 2002
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Mesdames Elizabeth Conway Griffin, and Sandra J. Treme; and Messrs. Francis Andrepont, Algie Breaux, Brent Clement, Calvin Collins, Mike Danahay, Chuck Kleckley, Chris Landry, Charles S. Mackey, D.D.S., Don Manuel, Hal McMillin, and Cornelius "Cornie" Moon
Absent: Mrs. Luvertha August (ill)
Also present were Mr. S. Mark McMurry, Parish Administrator, Mr. Bryan Beam, Assistant to the Administrator, Ms. Kathy P. Criglow, Recording Secretary, Mr. Richard Gremillion, Director of Office of Emergency Preparedness, Mrs. Cheryl Heisser, Director of Human Resources, Mr. Jerry Milner, Director of Finance, Claude Smart, Parish Engineer, Mr. Allen Smith, Legal Counsel, Mr. Gerry Trahan, Director of Facilities Management, and Mr. Jim Vickers, Director of Planning and Development.
President Derbonne called the meeting to order and pronounced the invocation which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll was called with the result being as outlined above.
President Derbonne advised that action was necessary at this time, as advertised in accordance with law for 5:30 p.m., to promulgate the results of the election held on April 6, 2002, for the authorization of additional riverboat gaming activities in Calcasieu Parish, namely, PNK (Lake Charles), LLC.
In accordance therewith and upon motion made by Mr. Manuel, which was duly seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously, the following resolution was adopted:
PROCES VERBAL
BE IT KNOWN AND REMEMBERED that on this 18th day of April, 2002, at 5:30 o'clock p.m., in accordance with a resolution adopted January 17, 2002, by the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (the "Police Jury"), the governing authority of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana (the "Parish"), and recorded in the records of the Police Jury, being a quorum thereof, met at the temporary meeting place of the Police Jury, in Courtroom A of the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse located at 1000 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and according to law, received the certified tabulation sheets and results of the voting machines from the Commissioners and Commissioners-in-Charge of the election held in the Parish on April 6, 2002, in accordance with said resolution and there proceeded to count the ballots to determine the vote on the following proposition:
PROPOSITION
SUMMARY: TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL RIVERBOAT GAMING ACTIVITIES IN CALCASIEU PARISH.
Shall PNK (Lake Charles), LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., be allowed to conduct riverboat gaming within the Parish of Calcasieu pursuant to a new license to be issued by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as provided in the board decision entered on November 20, 2001? Yes ( ) or No ( )
The results of said election on said Proposition proved to be as follows:
No. of Votes No. of Votes
Precinct Polling Place In Favor of Against
160 Gillis Elementary School, 916 Topsy Road, Gillis 159 105
161 Gillis Elementary School, 916 Topsy Road, Gillis 97 83
162 Moss Bluff Middle School, 1104 Recreation Boulevard, Moss Bluff 307 274
163 Sam Houston High School, 880 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, 233 144
Moss Bluff
164 Moss Bluff Elementary School, 481 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, 38 31
Moss Bluff
165 Sam Houston High School, 880 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, 302 183
Moss Bluff
166 Moss Bluff Elementary School, 481 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, 368 237
Moss Bluff
167 Sam Houston High School, 880 Sam Houston Jones Parkway, 255 154
Moss Bluff
260 Holmwood Fire Station, 5599 Highway 14 East, Holmwood 81 37
261 Bell City Library, 7085 Highway 14 East, Bell City 56 46
262 Hayes Fire Station, 8141 Galley Road, Hayes 55 69
300 Ray D. Molo Middle School, 2300 Medora Street, Lake Charles 236 92
301 Washington/Marion High School, 2802 Pineview Street, 198 91
Lake Charles
302 Chateau du Lac, 333 Mill Street, Lake Charles 81 29
303 Ralph Wilson Elementary School, 1400 Opelousas Street, 136 71
Lake Charles
304 Calcasieu Parish Multi-Purpose Center, 2001 Moeling Street, 157 71
Lake Charles
305 Jessie D. Clifton Elementary School, 100 N. Prater Street, 176 71
Lake Charles
306 Drew Park Pavilion, 416 South Ryan Street, Lake Charles 386 90
307 Chateau du Lac, 333 Mill Street, Lake Charles 57 27
308 Calcasieu Parish School Board Curriculum and Instruction Office, 171 56
600 South Shattuck Street, Lake Charles
309 Foreman-Reynaud YMCA, 215 Albert Street, Lake Charles 190 79
310 Calcasieu Parish Courthouse, first floor lobby, 1000 Ryan Street, 159 42
Lake Charles
311 Pearl Watson Elementary School, 1300 5th Street, Lake Charles 73 43
312 Calcasieu Parish School Board Office, Rosteet Annex, 2423 6th Street, 270 112
Lake Charles
313 John F. Kennedy Elementary School, 2001 Russell Street, Lake Charles 96 46
314 St. Louis High School, 1620 Bank Street, Lake Charles 246 57
315 Lake Charles/Boston High School, 1509 Enterprise Boulevard, 290 116
Lake Charles
316 Barbe Elementary School, 400 Penn Street, Lake Charles 174 79
317 Barbe Elementary School, 400 Penn Street, Lake Charles 198 63
318 T. S. Cooley Elementary School, 2711 Common Street, Lake Charles 159 61
319 St. Margaret School, 2510 Enterprise Boulevard, Lake Charles 147 53
320 Oak Park Elementary School, 2001 18th Street, Lake Charles 209 111
321 T. H. Watkins Elementary School, 2501 7th Avenue, Lake Charles 152 73
322 Oak Park Middle School, 2200 Oak Park Boulevard, Lake Charles 182 110
323 T. H. Watkins Elementary School, 2501 7th Avenue, Lake Charles 129 44
324 Fairview Elementary School, 3955 Highway 14, Lake Charles 174 96
325 Prien Lake Elementary School, 3741 Nelson Road, Lake Charles 306 140
326 College Oaks Elementary School, 3618 Ernest Street, Lake Charles 309 108
327 Henry Heights Elementary School, 3600 LA Avenue, Lake Charles 123 63
328 Brentwood Elementary School, 3825 Brentwood Avenue, Lake Charles 347 225
329 Brentwood Elementary School, 3825 Brentwood Avenue, Lake Charles 306 154
330 Fairview Elementary School, 3955 Highway 14, Lake Charles 174 110
331 College Oaks Elementary School, 3618 Ernest Street, Lake Charles 232 96
332 Frazar Memorial Library, McNeese State University Campus, 361 170
Beauregard Street, Lake Charles
333 S. J. Welsh Middle School, 1500 West McNeese Street, Lake Charles 374 157
334 S. J. Welsh Middle School, 1500 West McNeese Street, Lake Charles 162 94
335 Gayle Hall on McNeese State University Campus, 4414 Ryan Street, 249 91
Lake Charles
336 A. A. Nelson Elementary School, 1001 Country Club Road, Lake 300 120
Charles
337 Dolby Elementary School, 817 Jefferson Drive, Lake Charles 250 122
338 Forrest K. White Middle School, 1000 E. McNeese St, Lake Charles 331 195
339 Dolby Elementary School, 817 Jefferson Drive, Lake Charles 446 197
360 Ward Three Fire Protection District No. Two Fire Station, 116 53
3088 Old Town Road, Lake Charles
361 Waterworks District No. Five of Ward Three Office, 300 Deshotel 98 47
Street, Lake Charles
362 Prien Lake Park Pavilion, 3700 Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles 300 174
363 Prien Lake Park Pavilion, 3700 Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles 485 189
364 Fairview Elementary School, 3955 Highway 14, Lake Charles 150 111
365 St. John Elementary School, 5282 Weaver Road, Lake Charles 141 59
366 Prien Lake Park Pavilion, 3700 Prien Lake Road, Lake Charles 123 46
367 St. John Elementary School, 5282 Weaver Road, Lake Charles 570 238
368 St. John Elementary School, 5282 Weaver Road, Lake Charles 298 148
369 M. J. Kaufman Elementary School, 301 Tekel Road, Lake Charles 272 131
370 Calcasieu Parish Agricultural Services Center, 7101 Gulf Highway, 283 108
Lake Charles
371 Calcasieu Parish Agricultural Services Center, 7101 Gulf Highway, 336 199
Lake Charles
400 D. S. Perkins Elementary School, 565 North Crocker Street, Sulphur 286 397
401 Calcasieu Parish Health Unit, Sulphur Branch, 201 Edgar Street, 175 249
Sulphur
402 Frasch Park Recreation Center, 400 Picard Road, Sulphur 175 219
403 Frasch Elementary School, 540 South Huntington, Sulphur 253 344
404 R. W. Vincent Elementary School, 1634 Beglis Parkway, Sulphur 389 392
405 Center Circle Recreation Building, 80 Center Circle, Maplewood 477 472
406 W. T. Henning Elementary School, 774 Henning Drive, Sulphur 255 339
407 R. W. Vincent Elementary School, 1634 Beglis Parkway, Sulphur 296 324
408 T. D. McMurry Park Gymnasium, 300 South Hazel Street, 247 332
Maplewood
440 Westlake High School, 1000 Garden Drive, Westlake 262 173
441 S. P. Arnett Middle School, 400 Sulphur Avenue, Westlake 197 167
460 Ward Four Fire Protection District No. Four Fire Station, 105 211
789 W. Houston River Road, Sulphur
461 Mossville Recreation Center, 3825 Old Spanish Trail, Mossville 119 139
462 S. P. Arnett Middle School, 400 Sulphur Avenue, Westlake 31 37
463 Westlake High School, 1000 Garden Drive, Westlake 245 198
464 Riverside Park Pavilion, 1700 Miller Avenue, Westlake 175 125
465 Frasch Park Recreation Center, 400 Picard Road, Sulphur 54 85
466 Carlyss Fire Station, 5151 Volunteer Road, Carlyss 255 377
467 Carlyss Fire Station, 5151 Volunteer Road, Carlyss 118 174
468 Ward Four Recreation - Carlyss Complex, 6043 Carlyss Drive, Carlyss 114 224
469 Ward Four Recreation - Carlyss Complex, 6043 Carlyss Drive, Carlyss 62 170
560 Starks School, 137 Highway 109 South, Starks 37 116
561 Starks School, 137 Highway 109 South, Starks 16 152
562 Edgerly Fire Station, 2205 Edgerly Road, Vinton 7 97
600 DeQuincy High School, 207 North Overton, DeQuincy 49 106
601 DeQuincy City Hall, 300 Holly Street, DeQuincy 46 116
602 DeQuincy Branch Library, 102 West Harrison Street, DeQuincy 49 111
603 Calcasieu Parish Health Unit, DeQuincy Branch, 618 Center Street, 62 71
DeQuincy
660 Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One, Company No. One Fire 57 182
Station, 1271 Highway 27 North, DeQuincy
661 Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One, Company No. Two 44 94
Fire Station, 4775 Highway 27, DeQuincy
662 Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One, Company No. Two 62 98
Fire Station, 4775 Highway 27, DeQuincy
663 Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One, Company No. Three 31 43
Fire Station, 3533 Highway 27, DeQuincy
664 Ward Six Fire Protection District No. One, Company No. Three 79 149
Fire Station, 3533 Highway 27, DeQuincy
700 Vinton City Hall, 1201 Horridge Street, Vinton 9 217
701 Vinton Northside Middle School, 900 Horridge Street, Vinton 3 102
702 Vinton High School, 1603 Grace Street, Vinton 18 287
703 Shaw Park Recreation Building, 1615 Horridge Street, Vinton 9 190
760 Ward Seven Fire Station, 2815 Foreman Road, Vinton 20 196
761 Ward Seven Fire Station, 2815 Foreman Road, Vinton 15 192
762 Edgerly Fire Station, 2205 Edgerly Road, Vinton 13 60
800 Iowa High School, 401 Miller Street, Iowa 205 111
801 J. I. Watson Elementary School, 221 East First Street, Iowa 230 138
860 LeBleu Fire Station, 6443 Highway 3059, Iowa 306 175
861 Ward Eight Fire Protection District No. Two Fire Station, 166 107
3395 Manchester Road, Manchester
Absentee Votes 751 372
Total 20,413 15,321
It was, therefore, ascertained that the majority of the electors qualified to vote under the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution and Laws of the United States, voting at said election in the District, on the foregoing proposition, was in favor of the Proposition.
On this 18th day of April, 2002, at the temporary meeting place of the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, we did examine and canvass the returns received from the Commissioners and Commissioners-in-Charge of said election according to law, and our finding was that the returns indicated a majority in favor of the Proposition.
Total Votes in Favor of the Proposition - 20,413
Total Votes Against the Proposition - 15,321
Therefore, we declared that the result of said election is in favor of the Proposition, as stated above.
In accordance with law, a resolution promulgating the aforesaid results was adopted, and the Parish Secretary was ordered to have a copy of said resolution signed by the President of the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and to have said resolution and this Proces Verbal published in the "Lake Charles American Press", a newspaper published and having general circulation in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and being the official journal of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
We did, likewise, order that one copy of this Proces Verbal be sent to the Secretary of State to be recorded in the archives of the State of Louisiana, and that one copy be sent to the Clerk of the District Court of the Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana, to be recorded in the archives of said Parish, and that one copy be filed in the archives of the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
THUS DONE AND SIGNED in the presence of Kathy P. Criglow and Alicia R. Sittig, competent witnesses and qualified electors of the Parish of Calcasieu, State of Louisiana, on this 18th day of April, 2002, at the temporary meeting place of the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Courtroom A of the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse located at 1000 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, present and participating in the canvass of said election.
/s/ Francis Andrepont /s/ Luvertha August
/s/ Algie Breaux /s/ Brent Clement
/s/ Calvin Collins /s/ Mike Danahay
/s/ Elizabeth Conway Griffin /s/ Chuck Kleckley
/s/ Chris Landry /s/ Charles S. Mackey, D. D. S.
/s/ Don Manuel /s/ Hal McMillin
/s/ Cornie Moon /s/ Sandra Treme
WITNESSES: APPROVED:
/s/ Kathy P. Criglow /s/ Enos Derbonne, President
/s/ Alicia R. Sittig
The following resolution was thereupon introduced in written form, was read, and pursuant to motion made by Mr. Don Manuel, and seconded by Mrs. Elizabeth Griffin, was adopted by the following vote:
YEAS: Mr. Andrepont, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Clement, Mr. Collins, Mr. Danahay, Mrs. Griffin, Mr. Kleckley, Mr. Landry, Dr. Mackey, Mr. Manuel, Mr. McMillin, Mr. Moon, and Mrs. Treme
NAYS: None
ABSENT: Mrs. August
NOT VOTING: President Derbonne
The resolution was signed by the President, attested by the Parish Secretary, and reads as follows:
RESOLUTION
PROMULGATING THE RESULTS OF A SPECIAL ELECTION HELD IN CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA
WHEREAS, on the 6th day of April, 2002, an election was held in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, to determine the Proposition hereinafter set out; and
WHEREAS, said election was held, and the returns thereof were canvassed by the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, governing authority of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, on April 18, 2002, according to law and as set out in the notice duly published as provided by law in the "Lake Charles American Press", a newspaper published in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and the results of said election were declared to be in favor of the Proposition.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, the governing authority of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, as follows:
Section 1. That an election was held in the District on April 6, 2002, to determine the Proposition hereinafter set out; that said election was duly and properly called by the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, by resolution adopted January 17, 2002; that notice of said election, embracing all matters required by law to be contained therein, was given by publication in the "Lake Charles American Press", a newspaper published in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and of general circulation in Calcasieu Parish, in accordance with law; that the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, did in said resolution designate the polling places of said election and provide for the holding of an election through the use of voting machines and other necessary equipment; that the Registrar of Voters of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, furnished to the election Commissioners and Commissioners-in-Charge lists of citizens entitled to vote at said election; that all qualified electors of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, under the Constitution and laws of the State of Louisiana and the Constitution and laws of the United States, were entitled to vote at said election; that voting was not restricted to taxpaying electors; that the printed ballot in the voting machines was in the form provided by law; that the officials who served in said election were duly and properly appointed in accordance with law, and that the places of absent Commissioners and Commissioners-in-Charge were properly filled in accordance with law; that before opening the polls, the Commissioners and Commissioners-in-Charge were properly sworn in accordance with law; that the polls at said voting places, on the day of the election, were opened at 6:00 a.m. and remained open until not later than 8:00 p.m.; that the votes were properly counted and tallied and the necessary records were delivered to the Police Jury of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and to the Clerk of the District Court of the Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana, as required by law; that all things required by law to be done in connection with the holding of said election were properly and duly performed in the manner and form required by Chapter 6-A of Title 18 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 (R. S. 18:1281-18:1295).
Section 2. That in said election, the following Proposition was approved by a majority of the qualified electors of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, voting in said election:
PROPOSITION
SUMMARY: TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL RIVERBOAT GAMING ACTIVITIES IN CALCASIEU PARISH.
Shall PNK (Lake Charles), LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc., be allowed to conduct riverboat gaming within the Parish of Calcasieu pursuant to a new license to be issued by the Louisiana Gaming Control Board as provided in the board decision entered on November 20, 2001? Yes ( ) or No ( )
Section 3. That the results of said election shall be promulgated by the Parish Secretary by the publication of this resolution of promulgation and Proces Verbal one time in the "Lake Charles American Press", a newspaper published in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and having general circulation throughout Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
Section 4. That all ordinances and resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith be and they are hereby repealed.
And the Resolution was declared adopted on this 18th day of April, 2002.
ATTEST:
/s/ S. Mark McMurry, Administrator & /s/ Enos Derbonne, President
Ex-Officio Secretary
* * * * * * * * * * * *
At this time Mr. McMurry presented a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Division of Finance staff, and he pointed out that this was the tenth consecutive year to receive the award. Mr. McMurry advised that only 3% of local governments in the United States receive this award and there were only three parish governments in the State to receive it, with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury being the only police jury form of government to receive said award. He further advised that the receipt of the award helped bond ratings for all agencies in the Parish. Mr. McMurry congratulated Mr. Milner and Ms. Tammy Bufkin for receiving the award and thanked them for setting such a high standard of excellence.
Mr. Milner thanked Mr. McMurry and the Police Jury for allowing him the capability of hiring such a quality staff. The Division of Finance received a standing ovation for their efforts in obtaining the award.
Motion was made by Mrs. Griffin, seconded by Dr. Mackey and carried unanimously that the following application for a beer permit be approved:
WARD 1
The Bronco Stop, LLC
Dennis Marceaux, President
Philly's Deli
393 A N. Highway 171
Lake Charles, LA 70611 Beer $35.00
(Don Manuel's District)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Upon motion made by Mr. Manuel, which was duly seconded by Mr. Danahay and carried unanimously, the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Police Jury dated March 21, 2002, were approved as written, and the reading of same was dispensed with.
President Derbonne advised that action was needed on Zoning Case RZ01-014-02 which was a request by Betty Joe Remine to rezone from A-1 (Agricultural) to R-1 (Single Family Residential) to allow single family residences on Joe Miller Road in Ward One, Police Jury District 14. He further advised that the Planning and Zoning Board had met on Tuesday, April 16, 2002, and voted 7 (for) to 4 (against) to recommend that the request be granted provided a community sewer system was installed.
Mr. Manuel pointed out that there were a number of people from the Moss Bluff area in attendance for this particular item. He stated that the developer of the property in question, Mr. Elmer Conner, was an outstanding contractor and a good person but unfortunately, the proposed location was not a good one for the type of development being proposed.
Mr. Elmer Conner, 4215 Holly Hill Road, Lake Charles, appeared before the Police Jury and withdrew the application for rezoning. He stated that he would prefer that the property remain zoned agricultural because if it was rezoned residential, he felt anyone could come in and put in any kind of development they wanted to, and he did not want to be a part of that.
Mr. Conner further stated that he did not feel he had done a good job of communicating to the people in the area, because he felt the project would have definitely improved property values and would have been an environmentally sound project. Mr. Conner also stated that perhaps another project could be done in the future which would not necessitate a community sewer treatment system.
Mr. McMillin commended Mr. Conner for his efforts in this regard and asked him to consider developing a similar project in his (Mr. McMillin's) district. He pointed out that the project was a great one, but the location was wrong, and he appreciated Mr. Conner's withdrawal of the application.
Motion was then made by Mr. Manuel, seconded by Mr. McMillin and carried unanimously that the withdrawal of Zoning Case RZ01-014-02 be accepted and that the property associated therewith remain zoned A-1 (agricultural).
President Derbonne advised that no action was necessary with respect to Zoning Case RZ04-016-02 which was a request by Eric Bourgeois to rezone from A-1 (Agricultural) to R-MHP (Manufactured Home Park) to allow a manufactured home park off St. Anthony Lane in Ward Four, Police Jury District 13, due to the fact that the application for rezoning had been withdrawn.
President Derbonne advised that no action was necessary with respect to Zoning Case RZ06-015-02 which was a request by John and Marie Marcantel to rezone from A-1 (Agricultural) to R-MHP (Manufactured Home Park) to allow a manufactured home park on Kelly Street in Ward Six, Police Jury District 11, due to the fact that the application for rezoning had been withdrawn.
President Derbonne advised that a discussion would be held at this time regarding the proposed improvements to Nelson Road south of Country Club Road. He further advised that while no action would be taken on this date, bids for the project would be received at the Public Works Committee meeting on April 25, 2002, after which discussions would be held with the City of Lake Charles, the Port of Lake Charles, and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital prior to any action being taken on said bids.
Mr. John Bruce of Meyer and Associates, Inc., the engineering firm handling the project, appeared before the Police Jury and advised that several years ago the Police Jury had seen the need to improve Nelson Road, and that during the planning process, development had begun taking place at the intersection of Nelson Road and Gauthier Road. Mr. Bruce further advised that the expansion of Lake Charles Memorial Hospital had extended the improvements to Nelson Road above what was originally planned, and that was what was currently "driving the project". He explained that his company had been asked to develop plans for improvements to Nelson Road which would be compatible with a project to five-lane a section of said road to handle increased traffic and to minimize impact on already developed property in that area, as well as to connect with a State project for Nelson Road just south of Country Club Road.
Mr. Bruce stated that under this scenario, lane widths had been reduced but were still within design limits and that additional right-of-way was being obtained in the section north of Ham Reid Road to provide adequate right-of-way from the edge of the travel lane.
Mr. Bruce advised that the project would be completed in two phases, north and south divided by Ham Reid Road, with Phase 1 being the south phase starting just south of Gauthier Road to Ham Reid Road, and with Phase 2 being the north phase from Ham Reid to Country Club Road. He pointed out that outside lanes would be constructed while traffic was being maintained in the inside lanes, and upon completion of the outside lanes, traffic would be switched over to the newly-constructed lanes in order to rebuild the existing lanes.
Mr. Bruce stated that the Police Jury would receive bids for the project on April 25, 2002, and depending on what alternates were chosen, Phase 1 could be completed in the time frame of March 25 - July 25, 2002, and Phase 2 in the time frame of August 25, 2003 - January 25, 2004. Mr. Bruce gave the following opinions of probable cost: 5-lane Portland Cement Concrete Pavement (PCCP) - $8,200,000; 5-lane Asphaltic Concrete Pavement (ACP) - $7,200,000; 3-lane PCCP - $7,300,000; and 3-lane ACP - $6,400,000.
Mr. Smart spoke of the impact to the residents of Crestview Subdivision insofar as noise, reduction in land usage, etc., and stated that because it was the Police Jury's duty to try and mitigate those damages, Love and Associates, an appraisal firm had been hired, and representatives of said firm would soon be contacting property owners to explain the impact to them. Mr. Smart also stated that the Parish wanted to hear the property owners' concerns and hopefully come up with an amount of compensation that would be agreeable to all.
Mr. Breaux stated that he thought the residents understood the necessity of upgrading Nelson Road but one thing they had discussed with him at length was the fence which would be constructed alongside Nelson Road, and he asked if that had been included in the construction cost. Mr. Smart advised that there would be a cost to rebuilding said fence but that it was uncertain at the present time as to how that would be handled.
Mr. Breaux stated that it was his impression that the kind of fence the residents were being told would be built was not satisfactory to them, and he asked what kind of fence was being discussed. Mr. Smith advised that he had discussed this with Mr. Raleigh Newman, the developer of Crestview Subdivision, and in their search of the legal records, they could not find who owned the fence but they felt that ownership was vested with Mr. Newman. Mr. Smith stated that the fence had been struck on several occasions by vehicles, and Mr. Newman would file a claim on his insurance and then turn the money over to the Crestview Homeowners Association for the repairs. Mr. Smith also stated that Mr. Newman had indicated that penetrated wood which was very durable was used to build the fence and that one could not get that type of wood anymore. Mr. Smith further stated that he had suggested that Mr. Newman talk with the Homeowners Association and give them the option to take the fence down and replace it with one paid for the Police Jury and with the easement for the fence to be dedicated to the Association. Mr. Smith pointed out that there were still some questions to be answered but that they were attempting to do the right thing by everyone involved.
Mr. Kleckley asked how close the nearest house was to the right-of-way, as well as the first travel lane, and the furthest home. Mr. Smart advised that Mr. Keith Fontenot's house would be approximately 23 feet from the right-of-way line and 38 feet from the curb.
Mr. Kleckley pointed out that with regard to the fence, Mr. Smart had sent a letter to one of the residents, Mr. Foux, which stated that if it was legal to do so, the homeowners could come up with the design of the fence they wanted and if it fit within certain parish parameters insofar as cost and design, the Police Jury would issue a check, and the homeowners could build their own fence.
Mr. Smith stated that there was a possibility that the fence could be disassembled and then reassembled with some modifications and that way, nobody would be buying a new fence, but his suggestion had been to let the homeowners build it however they wanted to instead of the Police Jury tearing it down and putting it back up. Mr. Smith further stated that he wanted to hash all of this out with Mr. Foux and Mr. Newman but had not yet had an opportunity to do so.
Mr. Edward C. Laszcz, 1731 South Crestview Drive, Lake Charles, appeared before the Police Jury and stated that the residents of Crestview Subdivision supported the development in south Lake Charles and would not stand in the way, however, they did want the Police Jury to be sensitive to their concerns. Mr. Laszcz stated that it was news to them to learn that Mr. Newman had title to the fence. He also spoke of the vehicles that had left Nelson Road and went through peoples' yards, pointing out that most of these families had children. Mr. Laszcz stated that the existing culverts would slow down a vehicle if it left the roadway but once those were removed, the situation would be even more dangerous.
Mr. Laszcz also spoke of the residents' concerns about what type of vehicles would be traveling Nelson Road and what kind of products tractor-trailers would be hauling, i.e., hazardous materials. He pointed out that the area was residential and that there would be no way to get in and out in the event of an emergency.
Mr. Laszcz stated that the residents were also concerned about increased traffic and associated noise. He pointed out that 21.9 feet from the edge of the road was very close when one considered traffic traveling at a speed of 45 mph.
Mr. Laszcz asked that when Nelson Road was five-laned, the Police Jury give the affected homeowners some privacy and security, pointing out that the existing fence would not "cut it." He stated that they understood budget constraints and if the decision was made to three-lane Nelson at the present time instead of five-lane, that the improvements be put in the center of the roadway equidistant from Crestview and Deep Woods subdivisions and perhaps salvage the existing fence. Mr. Laszcz explained that the residents knew when they bought property in the subdivision that Nelson Road would one day be a three-lane road and the liability issue of the fence remaining where it was presently located but that this was something the attorneys could work out.
Mr. Laszcz asked that if the decision was made to five-lane that the Parish at least consider at a minimum putting a guard rail with a typical break wall behind it. He closed by saying that the residents would work with the Parish but that the Parish also needed to work with the residents and that when Nelson Road was five-laned, they really did not want to be living 17 feet away from a "Highway 27-type situation on a Saturday night".
Mr. Chuck Molbert, 5366 Pheasant Lane, Lake Charles, appeared before the Police Jury and suggested that a committee be formed to make sure the proper things were done with respect to these issues. He stated that the residents felt they were being asked to sacrifice everything, i.e., land, safety of their families, dealing with environmental issues in conjunction with the trucking situation, etc. Mr. Molbert also stated that the residents knew that property values in the entire subdivision would fall and that while the progress was wonderful, he did not think it was right for the residents to pay the "ultimate sacrifice".
Mr. Molbert stated that over the past year there had been six or more accidents on Nelson Road where the only thing that saved peoples' lives was the open ditch. He also stated that his wife had been standing three feet from the fence when a car went through it, and his neighbor had boards go through a secondary fence and into his back yard.
Mr. Molbert stated that he felt communication was really bad between the residents and the elected officials but also between the jurors themselves. He stated that he had spoken to some of the jurors who were totally unaware there was a problem even though there had been accounts in the media as to the residents' plight.
President Derbonne asked if Mr. Molbert was representing the Crestview Homeowners Association or the neighborhood coalition, to which Mr. Molbert responded that he was speaking for the coalition of seven homeowners.
Mr. Molbert continued by saying that the residents had heard comments from some of the jurors such as "you'll get used to the noise in time" as well as "take us to court if you don't like what happens."
President Derbonne asked if Mr. Molbert's main concern was safety or noise. Mr. Molbert stated that safety was the most critical concern but that noise from traffic was already a problem. He further stated that when the open ditches were removed, it would be impossible to stop vehicles from coming through yards and killing children, and he did not think the jurors wanted that on their consciences.
President Derbonne stated that he lived on University Drive which was a noisy street but that he did not hear a truck unless he went to his front door and listened, therefore, he said Mr. Molbert would not be able to "sell" the Jury on the noise issue, however, the jurors would listen to him about the safety concerns.
Ms. Carol Sanderson, 1723 South Crestview Drive, Lake Charles, appeared before the Police Jury and stated that her concerns were the same as everybody else's and asked for help in protecting their children.
Ms. Jo Mouhot, 5365 Pheasant Lane, Lake Charles, appeared before the Police Jury and stated that she lived on Nelson Road and was concerned about safety.
Mr. McMillin advised that this project was very dear to his heart and that everyone realized the need for progress. He stated that the current Jury was a positive one and that the jurors were good communicators. Mr. McMillin further stated that the jurors were concerned about the project, were listening to the residents, and were dedicated to doing the fairest and best thing they could do.
Mr. McMillin also stated that he did not like it said that the Police Jury did not communicate well and that he would stand up for that. He advised that the jurors were in almost daily contact with each other via telephone calls, faxes, and/or e-mails. Mr. McMillin concluded by saying that the Police Jury was a fine body and would work with the residents of Crestview.
Mr. Breaux asked that Mr. Smith research the applicable laws to determine what regulations there were on the transport of hazardous materials through a residential community, and Mr. Smith assured Mr. Breaux that he would.
Mrs. Treme stated that she wanted the residents of Crestview to know that she had read all of the letters she had received in detail and that there were a lot of good points contained in said letters. Mrs. Treme also stated that while the Police Jury did have to move forward, it also had to be conscious of how the lives of people would be affected in the process. Mrs. Treme explained that she lived in DeQuincy and when Highway 27 going into DeQuincy was four-laned by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, it left several houses within three feet of the roadway. She further explained that most of the houses were maybe 20 or 30 feet from the roadway, but those were built after the four-laning of Highway 27. Mrs. Treme stated that she had received no complaints from the people living along this section of Highway 27 nor did she have any recollection of an accident in which a vehicle had hit a house.
Mrs. Treme stated that with respect to noise, there were trains coming through the City of DeQuincy from all directions and at all hours and that they were extremely noisy. She said she was not telling the residents of Crestview to get used to the noise because one never did but that there had come a point where residents in DeQuincy were able to sleep at night and not hear the trains.
Mrs. Treme stated that she believed that if the Police Jury addressed the suggestions brought up by the residents, such as having some type of guard rail for safety, and as long as those suggestions were not overbearing from a cost standpoint, she thought all the jurors would be willing to look at those types of things. Mrs. Treme pointed out that there was probably not a resident with a vehicle in the five-parish area that did not use Nelson Road and that when the Women's Hospital (Lake Charles Memorial) was opened, it would be utilized even more extensively. She also pointed out that there were other routes that could possibly reduce the amount of traffic on Nelson Road, i.e., Lake Street and the Prien Lake/Cove Lane exit off of Interstate 210. Mrs. Treme concluded her comments by saying that she did understand and appreciate the residents' problems and concerns and that she was willing to work with the staff and her fellow jurors to find solutions.
Mr. Landry asked if the reason there were cars going off the road on Nelson was because there was no curb, to which Mr. Smart responded by saying that there were a number of reasons for the accidents, i.e., driver errors, narrow shoulders, etc., but that once the new road was built, the wider shoulders would help. Mr. Smart also stated that a barrier curb was included in the design which would deflect errant vehicles back into the roadway and that the new road would meet AASHTO standards.
Mr. Landry also asked if it were not true that the present truck route was Country Club Road and that trucks should not be traveling Nelson Road. Mr. Smart stated that this was true and that although the Sheriff's Department did help in enforcing the restrictions on trucks traveling on Nelson Road, this was not something that was extensively regulated.
Mr. Clement asked what kind of liability the Police Jury would have if a brick fence was installed, particularly if it was installed by the Police Jury. Mr. Smith stated that the problem was that if someone was injured as a result of the fence, the owner (of the fence) would be liable for that injury and that if an injury occurred during the tearing down and/or rebuilding of the fence, the contractor responsible for same would be liable. Mr. Smith pointed out that just having a fence should not cause liability, but the question was who owned the fence that was currently in place.
Mr. Smith advised that if the Homeowners Association wanted to own the fence but the Police Jury assumed the responsibility for taking it down and rebuilding it, the proper thing to do would be to make sure that the contractor who did that work was insured and to have a "hold harmless" agreement with the owner of the fence to protect the Parish. Also in answer to a question by Mr. Clement, Mr. Smith advised that in preliminary discussions with Mr. Raleigh Newman, he (Mr. Newman) had indicated that he would prefer that the Homeowners Association own the fence. In answer to a question by President Derbonne concerning whether any money paid for the building of the fence would go to Mr. Newman or the homeowners, Mr. Smith advised that in his opinion any funding for this purpose would go to the recognized owner of the fence.
Mr. Manuel stated that the jurors would do whatever they could to support the project and help the homeowners. He suggested the planting of shrubs to help absorb some of the road noise.
Mr. Andrepont stated that he would support the project to five-lane Nelson Road because he felt that it would be counter-productive to three-lane it with the vast number of people moving south of Lake Charles.
With regard to statements made earlier about the lack of communication between the jurors and the public, Mr. Kleckley stated he did not know how anybody would be unable to communicate when Mr. Laszcz was involved. He further stated that Mr. Laszcz had done an excellent job handling issues regarding Crestview Subdivision and communicating through e-mails, voice mails, etc. Mr. Kleckley also stated that he had talked to anybody that had called him regarding this matter, and he thought Mr. Smart and Mr. Conner of the Parish's engineering staff had done the same. He advised that if anyone had questions, Mr. Smart and/or Mr. Conner would be available to review the engineering plans with them.
Mr. Kleckley stated that he thought the suggestion pertaining to centering the three-lanes of traffic was a legitimate one, as well as the suggestion for a brick fence if the Parish could legally write the Homeowners Association a check and the Association could build it. Mr. Kleckley asked that the staff and Meyer and Associates review the comments made by the residents on this date and implement the suggestions if they were "workable" and within budget constraints.
Mr. Kleckley further stated that he had tried to be sympathetic and sensitive to the needs of the residents during this whole process and that he appreciated Mr. Laszcz's comments even though there were times they had not agreed with one another. Mr. Kleckley stated that hopefully some of the residents' questions had been answered during the course of the discussion on this date, and he thanked them for attending the meeting.
President Derbonne stated that he also appreciated the comments made and pointed out that he believed all of the jurors made it a practice to vote for the greatest good for the greatest number of people. President Derbonne reminded the residents that the Police Jury would receive bids for this project at its Public Works Committee Meeting on April 25, 2002, and after meeting with representatives of the City of Lake Charles, the Port of Lake Charles, and Lake Charles Memorial Hospital, would award the contract at a future meeting.
Motion was made by Dr. Mackey, seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously to receive and acknowledge the report, and public comments offered.
Upon motion made by Mr. Breaux, which was duly seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously, the following resolutions were adopted:
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, notification has been received that an application for a Department of the Army Permit has been made to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and an application for a Water Quality Certification (WQC) has been made to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality by Sulphur Parks and Recreation to clear, grade and deposit fill to expand the McMurry Recreational Park. Preliminary determinations have shown the proposed expansion project to be located within an 18 acre area, of which approximately 8.65 acres of jurisdictional forested wetlands will be impacted. The proposed work will include the construction of two soccer fields, two baseball fields, walkways and a public parking area, all adjacent to the existing park. Also, the construction of a four foot wide and 220 foot long drainage system will be constructed and routed to an existing ditch for drainage of the proposed parking area. The fill operation will consist of the deposition of approximately 8,174 cubic yards of earthen material and 1,055 cubic yards of concrete. Said project is located in Calcasieu Parish, Section 2, Township 10 South, Range 10 West, off of Hazel Street, located within Sulphur, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the staff of the Division of Planning and Development has evaluated the proposal of Sulphur Parks and Recreation relative to its compliance with current parish ordinances and provisions, such as zoning classification, flood zone regulations, coastal zone regulations, and required development permits, as well as its impact on the Parish Transportation System; and
WHEREAS, upon completion of evaluation, the staff of the Division of Planning and Development concluded there is no cause for objection to the permit application based on parish ordinances and provisions, since the project is located within the city limits of the City of Sulphur.
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, convened in regular session on the 21st day of March, 2002, that it does hereby indicate no objection to the proposal of Sulphur Parks and Recreation to clear, grade and deposit fill to expand the McMurry Recreational Park. Preliminary determinations have shown the proposed expansion project to be located within an 18 acre area, of which approximately 8.65 acres of jurisdictional forested wetlands will be impacted. The proposed work will include the construction of two soccer fields, two baseball fields, walkways and a public parking area, all adjacent to the existing park. Also, the construction of a four foot wide and 220 foot long drainage system will be constructed and routed to an existing ditch for drainage of the proposed parking area. The fill operation will consist of the deposition of approximately 8,174 cubic yards of earthen material and 1,055 cubic yards of concrete. Said project is located in Calcasieu Parish, Section 2, Township 10 South, Range 10 West, off of Hazel Street, located within Sulphur, Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the no objection position of the Police Jury in this permit application is based solely on the evaluation of the parish staff of the project's effect on current parish ordinances and provisions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a study on the environmental impact of the aforementioned project has not been made due to the lack of expertise of the parish staff to accomplish such a study, and the Police Jury requests that agencies and/or individuals with such expertise make an environmental review of said project and forward their findings to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
THUS PASSED AND ADOPTED on the date above inscribed.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, notification has been received that an application for a Department of the Army Permit has been made to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and an application for a Water Quality Certification (WQC) has been made to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality by Calcasieu Parish Drainage District No. Six to dredge to maintain an existing ditch to improve drainage for flood protection to an existing subdivision. The proposed work will be within an area about 1,320 feet long and 24 to 38 feet wide. The project activity will affect approximately 0.3 acres of vegetated jurisdictional wetlands which include the removal of approximately 510 cubic yards of material, which will be deposited adjacent to the ditch. Said project is located in Calcasieu Parish, off LA Highway 27, in Section 2, Township 9 South, Range 10 West, central to a location approximately 9.7 miles southeasterly from DeQuincy, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the staff of the Division of Planning and Development has evaluated the proposal of Calcasieu Parish Drainage District No. Six relative to its compliance with current parish ordinances and provisions, such as zoning classification, flood zone regulations, coastal zone regulations, and required development permits, as well as its impact on the Parish Transportation System; and
WHEREAS, upon completion of evaluation, the staff of the Division of Planning and Development concluded there is no cause for objection to the permit application based on parish ordinances and provisions, provided all necessary permits are obtained from the Parish Division of Planning and Development prior to commencement of the project.
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, convened in regular session on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby indicate no objection to the proposal of Calcasieu Parish Drainage District No. Six to dredge to maintain an existing ditch to improve drainage for flood protection to an existing subdivision. The proposed work will be within an area about 1,320 feet long and 24 to 38 feet wide. The project activity will affect approximately 0.3 acres of vegetated jurisdictional wetlands which include the removal of approximately 510 cubic yards of material, which will be deposited adjacent to the ditch. Said project is located in Calcasieu Parish, off LA Highway 27, in Section 2, Township 9 South, Range 10 West, central to a location approximately 9.7 miles southeasterly from DeQuincy, Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the no objection position of the Police Jury in this permit application is based solely on the evaluation of the parish staff of the project's effect on current parish ordinances and provisions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a study on the environmental impact of the aforementioned project has not been made due to the lack of expertise of the parish staff to accomplish such a study, and the Police Jury requests that agencies and/or individuals with such expertise make an environmental review of said project and forward their findings to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
THUS PASSED AND ADOPTED on the date above inscribed.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, notification has been received that an application for a Department of the Army Permit has been made to the U.S. Corps of Engineers, and an application for a Water Quality Certification (WQC) has been made to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality by Calcasieu Parish Drainage District No. Six to dredge to maintain a drainage ditch system to improve drainage for flood protection to an existing subdivision. The proposed work will be within an area about 9,240 feet long and 40 to 61 feet wide. The proposed project will affect approximately 5.0 acres of vegetated jurisdictional wetlands which include the removal of approximately 13,127 cubic yards of material, which will be deposited adjacent to the ditch. Said project is located in Calcasieu Parish, off LA Highway 27, in Section 2, Township 9 South, Range 10 West, central to a point approximately 9.8 miles southeasterly from DeQuincy, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, the staff of the Division of Planning and Development has evaluated the proposal of Calcasieu Parish Drainage District No. Six relative to its compliance with current parish ordinances and provisions, such as zoning classification, flood zone regulations, coastal zone regulations, and required development permits, as well as its impact on the Parish Transportation System; and
WHEREAS, upon completion of evaluation, the staff of the Division of Planning and Development concluded there is no cause for objection to the permit application based on parish ordinances and provisions, provided all necessary permits are obtained from the Parish Division of Planning and Development prior to commencement of the project.
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, convened in regular session on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby indicate no objection to the proposal of Calcasieu Parish Drainage District No. Six to dredge to maintain a drainage ditch system to improve drainage for flood protection to an existing subdivision. The proposed work will be within an area about 9,240 feet long and 40 to 61 feet wide. The proposed project will affect approximately 5.0 acres of vegetated jurisdictional wetlands which include the removal of approximately 13,127 cubic yards of material, which will be deposited adjacent to the ditch. Said project is located in Calcasieu Parish, off LA Highway 27, in Section 2, Township 9 South, Range 10 West, central to a point approximately 9.8 miles southeasterly from DeQuincy, Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the no objection position of the Police Jury in this permit application is based solely on the evaluation of the parish staff of the project's effect on current parish ordinances and provisions.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a study on the environmental impact of the aforementioned project has not been made due to the lack of expertise of the parish staff to accomplish such a study, and the Police Jury requests that agencies and/or individuals with such expertise make an environmental review of said project and forward their findings to the U.S. Corps of Engineers.
THUS PASSED AND ADOPTED on the date above inscribed.
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It was moved by Mrs. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Clement and carried unanimously to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby approve a Service Agreement between the Police Jury, Waterworks District No. Nine of Ward Four (Carlyss), and Firestone Polymers, LLC, whereby the waterworks district will provide potable water to Firestone Polymers, LLC, which is within the Rose Bluff Industrial Area.
BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that the President of the Police Jury, or his designee, when appropriate, is authorized to execute all documents related thereto.
THUS DONE AND PASSED on the date above inscribed.
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Motion was made by Mrs. Griffin, seconded by Mr. Clement and carried unanimously that the President of the Police Jury be authorized to execute the necessary documents for acquisition of right-of-way from Stream Family Limited Partnership on Walker Road in Ward Four, Calcasieu Parish Project No. 2002-07, in accordance with criteria established by the Police Jury and recommendation of the Parish Engineer.
Upon motion made by Mr. Danahay, which was duly seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously, the following resolution was adopted:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby approve the renewal of a Joint Services Agreement between the Police Jury and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Department for the purpose of providing heightened security patrol at all Parish parks.
BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that the President of the
Police Jury, or his designee, when appropriate, is authorized to execute all documents related thereto.
THUS DONE AND PASSED on the date above inscribed.
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Ms. Kathy Jackson of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Department appeared before the Police Jury with reference to the foregoing resolution and stated that the program was going well. Ms. Griffin advised that she was receiving fewer complaints concerning the problems at Mallard Junction Park and expressed her appreciation for the efforts being made in this regard.
It was moved by Mr. Manuel, seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously to adopt the following resolution:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby approve an Act of Transfer between the Police Jury and the Calcasieu Parish Communications District, whereby the Parish agrees to transfer the 1979 Fruehauf Mobile Communications Trailer to the Communications District.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the Police Jury, or his designee, when appropriate, is authorized to execute all documents related thereto.
THUS DONE AND PASSED on the date above inscribed.
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With reference to the foregoing resolution, Mr. Gremillion explained that this vehicle was the one Citgo had donated to the Parish approximately three years ago but that with the events of September 11, 2001, the Communications District needed a secondary operation site in the event of a disaster where they could relocate and thus continue uninterrupted operation of the 911 communications system.
Motion was made by Mrs. Treme, seconded by Mr. Manuel and carried unanimously that the following resolution be adopted:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby approve a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Police Jury and the State of Louisiana, Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, with reference to the provision of public health care in the DeQuincy area due to the closure of the DeQuincy Health Unit by the State of Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that the President of the Police Jury, or his designee, when appropriate, is authorized to execute all documents related thereto.
THUS DONE AND PASSED on the date above inscribed.
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With reference to the foregoing resolution, it was noted that on December 21, 2001, the Police Jury had adopted a resolution designating DeQuincy Medical Associates as universal providers for the DeQuincy area after the closure of the DeQuincy Health Unit but that the State had requested that the agreement be signed in addition to previous action taken by the Police Jury.
Upon motion made by Mr. Manuel, which was duly seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously, the following resolution was adopted:
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE POLICE JURY OF CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened on the 18th day of April, 2002, that it does hereby approve the renewal of an amended Agreement between the Police Jury and the Calcasieu Parish Voluntary Council on the Aging, Inc. wherein the Parish's Office of Community Services will provide transportation service for the delivery of elderly and disabled passengers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the Police Jury, or his designee, when appropriate, is authorized to execute all documents related thereto.
THUS DONE AND PASSED on the date above inscribed.
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With reference to the foregoing resolution, Mrs. Treme expressed her appreciation for the services provided by OCS under the rural transit program and stated that these services made a big difference in the daily lives of the people of Calcasieu Parish whether it was providing transportation to the grocery store or the doctor's office or dialysis, etc. Mrs. Mason, Executive Director of OCS, stated that the system was growing rapidly and not only served persons in the rural areas but all of Calcasieu Parish. She pointed out that the transit system begins operation at 5:00 a.m. and makes its last delivery around 11:30 p.m. or 12:00 midnight.
Motion was made by Dr. Mackey, seconded by Mrs. Griffin and carried unanimously that the Budget Committee Report dated April 18, 2002, be approved as follows:
BUDGET COMMITTEE REPORT
April 18, 2002
A meeting of the Budget Committee was held at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2002, in Courtroom A of the Calcasieu Parish Courthouse, 1000 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, with Mr. Francis Andrepont, Chairman, presiding and the following members present:
Mr. Mike Danahay, Mr. Enos Derbonne (Ex-Officio), Mrs. Elizabeth Conway Griffin, Charles S. Mackey, D.D.S., and Mr. Chuck Kleckley
Absent: Mrs. Luvertha August
Also present were Mr. Algie Breaux, Mr. Brent Clement, Mr. Cornie Moon, Mr. S. Mark McMurry, Mr. Bryan Beam, Ms. Kathy Criglow, Mr. Jerry Milner, and Mr. Claude Smart.
Said Committee:
(1) Recommended approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Request from various public entities for funding from the Special Projects by Ward allocation and Special Service District allocation of the Riverboat Fund. (attached)
(2) Recommended approval of a Cooperative Endeavor Request from the West Calcasieu Port, Harbor and Terminal District for funding in the amount of $49,500 from the Economic Development and Parishwide Projects allocation of the Riverboat Fund for a barge removal project.
There being no further business, Chairman Andrepont declared the meeting to be adjourned.
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It was moved by Dr. Mackey, seconded by Mr. McMillin and carried unanimously to accept the proposal of ESI Acquisition, Inc. in the amount of $26,121.65 for purchase of an electronic emergency operations center management system for use by the Office of Emergency Preparedness, said proposals having been received by the Purchasing Agent on March 26, 2002.
Upon motion made by Mr. Manuel, which was duly seconded by Mr. McMillin and carried unanimously, the following proclamation was issued:
PROCLAMATION
Be it Proclaimed by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury that
April 24, 2002, shall be known and remembered as
Administrative Professionals Day
in the Parish of Calcasieu.
/s/ Enos Derbonne, President
Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
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Motion was made by Mr. McMillin, seconded by Mr. Manuel and carried unanimously to suspend the rules by a two-thirds majority vote to discuss an item not on the agenda as requested by Mr. Gremillion.
Mr. Gremillion advised that bids had finally been submitted for professional liability insurance coverage, the policy for which would expire in the following week. He pointed out that the former insurance carrier, Coregis Insurance Company, had cancelled because of past claims but that St. Paul Insurance Company was willing to write a policy for $76,000 which was what was previously being paid but with an increase in the deductible from $25,000 to $50,000. Mr. Gremillion recommended that this quote be accepted with one amendment and that was to pro-rate the cost of the policy to January 1, 2002, for an amended cost of $58,041, so that the policy would expire at the same time as the Parish's other insurance policies.
Motion was made by Mr. Clement, seconded by Mrs. Treme and carried unanimously that the rules be suspended by a two-thirds majority vote to accept the recommendation of the staff and to accept the quote of St. Paul Insurance Company for professional liability coverage in the amount of $76,000 pro-rated to an amount of $58,041.
Motion was made by Mrs. Griffin, seconded by Mrs. Treme and carried unanimously to suspend the rules by a two-thirds majority vote to go into executive session to receive a report from Mr. Allen Smith, General Counsel, on State vs. Langley.
Following the executive session, the Police Jury reconvened in regular session and motion was made by Mrs. Treme, seconded by Mr. Andrepont and carried unanimously to approve the report given by legal counsel during the executive session.
There being no further business, motion was made by Mr. Moon, seconded by Mr. Danahay and carried unanimously that the meeting be adjourned.
Enos Derbonne, President
S. Mark McMurry, Administrator &
Ex-Officio Secretary