The Legislative Committee of the Acadia Parish Police Jury was busy this week, handling issues ranging from library board quorums to surveillance cameras to subdivision regulations.
All recommendation of the committee will be forwarded to the full jury to be considered at the Tuesday meeting.
The Acadia Parish Library Board of Control currently is a seven-member board. However, two of its members are — and have been — unable to attend meetings, making it difficult to obtain a quorum for meetings, according to Ted Landry, Acadia Parish librarian.
“One of the members has moved to Texas, making him ineligible to be a member, and another has health problems that preclude attendance,” said Landry.
By statute, the board must consist of “no fewer than five members,” according to Landry, who added that finding replacements for these two has been difficult.
On Landry’s suggestion, the committee is recommending that, temporarily, the board be reduced to five members.
A quorum for a five-member board is three; a quorum for a seven-member board is four.
Since he took office in January, Juror Walter Andrus, chairman of the Legislative Committee, has been spearheading a joint effort with the City of Crowley to install surveillance cameras at strategic locations in his district, which comprises the western area of Crowley.
Tuesday night, Patrick White with Homeland Safety Systems, Inc., of Shreveport, was at the committee meeting to present a proposal.
He explained that 14 camera sites had been selected. Total cost of the project, not including a monitoring site, is $163,462.
That figure includes $153,596 in “state contract” equipment and $9,866 in “non-state contract” equipment, according to White.
The Office of State Procurement secures state contracts and agreements for commodities and services that are frequently used by multiple state agencies.
“I don’t expect (the police jury) to handle the entire amount,” said Andrus, who explained that possible partnerships in addition to the city include the West Crowley Subdivision and Westwood Apartment Complex.
The split between the jury and the city was not mentioned.
Police Jury President Chance Henry, an ex officio member of all committees, recommended that the proposal be taken under advisement.
“Let’s wait and see what this hurricane is going to do,” he said.
The committee agreed and no recommendation was made.
A possible revision of the parish Planning Commission regulations also was discussed.
Karl Aucoin, engineer, explained to the committee that the current ordinance regulating the commission was adopted in 1977 and has been amended 14 times.
“It’s good, it works, but it’s 43 years old and some of it is outdated,” he said. “Besides, certain developers have found ways to circumvent some area of the ordinance.”
As an example, Aucoin pointed out that some developments are being established in “flood-prone” areas of the parish.
“These area are not on any flood map, but they are prone to flooding,” he explained.
He suggested the jury appoint a committee to review and revise the current ordinance.
“There’s not a whole lot wrong with what we have, we just may have to tighten up the language some,” he said.
The committee agreed.
The Legislative Committee will recommend that the November committee meetings be moved from Nov. 3 Nov. 4.
because of the presidential election.
The planned meeting of the Solid Waste Committee was canceled because information was late coming from the state regarding air permitting services at the landfill.
The Roads and Bridges Committee was canceled due to lack of quorum when A.J. “Jay” Credeur and Jeffery Morgan were absent.
