Harlan Kirgan
The timing may have been off for Richard LeBouef, executive director the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Commission, as he requested a per diem increase for commission members.
LeBouef was at Wednesday’s Public Works and and Administrative-Finance committee meetings in Opelousas.
The per diem request is to raise it from $100 to $150 per meeting. The commission meets at least twice a month bringing the monthly total to $300.
LeBouef said the last increase was in 2005.
The Administrative-Finance Committee voted to forward the request to the full Council meeting on Sept. 16.
At the Public Works Committee meeting, LeBouef admitted “It is not a secret that we have an issue. It is not just south of Opelousas. It is the parish.”
LeBouef attributed the pickup problems with the trucks being used and COVID-19 affecting drivers.
“We are having some problems we are trying to work through,” he said.
The Solid Waste Commission contracts with Waste Connections to pick up residential garbage.
Council member Wayne Ardoin praised LeBouef’s performance, but said, “You call Waste Connections and it is like Waste Connections it goes over deaf ears. It is not really your people it is the contractor that have.”
LeBouef noted that Monday is holiday and that will mean another day of missed collections.
LeBouef said there has been equipment breakdowns and the virus has taken its toll on drivers.
Hurricane Laura has affected the resources from Shreveport, Leesville and Lake Charles, he said.
“So, we have to take what we get from right now,” he said.
Charles Cummings, an Opelousas alderman, said, “I understand you want to blame COVID ... but it has happened a couple of months ago too.”
Cummings said collections in his area were missed several times included three in a row.
“If your contractor is not doing his job you need to get rid of him. These people are paying taxes for this pickup and they expect services. I leave it in your hands,” he said.
Parish Council member Jerry Red noted a plan to reduce residential trash collections from twice to once a week in municipalities.
Rural areas already get a once-a-week collection.
LeBouef said there was proposal to Waste Connections for the once-a-week collection parishwide, but it would have saved only $15,000.
“We have 39,000-plus residential stops parishwide. Eliminate 18,724 and they wanted to drop $15,000. Unacceptable,” he said.
LeBouef said the plan is to solicit bids for new contractors in October 2021 and begin a new contract in September 2022.
Council member Harold Taylor said he lives in rural area with once-a-week collections and has three cans.
“You ought to give then another can,” he said of municipal residents if the service is cut to once a week.
LeBouef said the Solid Waste Commission over the last 19 years has provided $13.4 million to municipalities and parish government.
According to an audit of the Solid Waste Commission, commissioners were paid a total of $33,000 in per diem in 2019. They also were paid a total of $5,792 in travel costs.
Per diem costs by commissioner in 2019 were: Edward Briscoe, $5,200; Gardie McManus, $4,200; Jodie Powell, $3,500; Jerry Domengeaux, $3,500; Cyrus Auzenne, $3,600; Pete Olivier, $3,600; Eddie Godwin, $2,600; Kathy Moreau, $3,200; and Jack Ortego, $3,600.
Travel expenses in 2019 by commissioner were: Edward Briscoe, $363; Gardie McManus, $891; Jodie Powell, $947; Jerry Domengeaux, $560; Cyrus Auzenne, $404; Pete Olivier, $956; Eddie Godwin, $668; Kathy Moreau, $587; and Jack Ortego, $417.