Harlan Kirgan
Downtown development and neighborhood cleanup were on Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot’s mind as he discussed winning his first four-year term.
There will be a focus on clearing the city of properties that have been adjudicated to the city and parish governments, he said.
The idea is to clean the city up and put property back on the tax rolls, he said.
“I want to see redevelopment of our downtown historic district, he said Thursday in a phone interview.
The redevelopment includes the La. 13 north and south corridor.
Fontenot said he working with state officials, including state Rep. Phillip DeVillier, to determine if the city can get a round about at La. 13 and Maple Avenue along with improving the state highways in the city.
Improving drainage will remain a top priority, he said.
Fontenot said the city’s economic development group has been brought back into play. A city plan is being discussed and progress is being made to make a healthy business climate.
Fontenot won re-election with 82 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s election.
He first became mayor after former Mayor Rusty Moody died in late 2015. Fontenot was named interim mayor and in March 2016 ran for election winning with 1,379 votes in a field of four candidates.
He 33 years old when he first was elected mayor.
Fontenot first won election to the Board of Aldermen to represent Ward 4. In a three-way race, Fontenot received 53 percnet of the vote.
“I’m very thankful to be able to serve another four years,” he said. “We have some big plans in the works to really put the city forward.”
Fontenot said, “I’m hopeful to have a council that is going to work together because the last eight years has been a real pleasure, particularly the last four.”
Marion “Nootsie” Sattler was not challenged for the alderman at-large seat.
Also elected were Ernest Blanchard in Ward 3 and Connie Thibodeaux in Ward 4.
The remainder of the Board is to be settled in the Dec. 8 election.
There are runoffs in Ward 1 between Chad Andrepont and former alderman Roland Miller; and Ward 2 between incumbent Germaine Simpson and challenger Jackie “JuJu” Vallare.
Fontenot said he plans to continue running the city in a fiscally responsible manner.
Among the accomplishments he cites in the past two and half years are two splash pads and improving the recreation department.
Also, “We’ve committed to public safety. We’ve bought more police cars in the last two and half years than they bought in the last 12 combined.”
The city also purchased two new fire trucks and is about to start a $1.6 million project to install LED street lighting through a state Public Service Commission grant.
A half-million paving project in the Happy Hills area is about to start, he said.
“I feel like there are many more to name,” he said.
Fontenot said the time has seemed to go by fast since he was first elected in 2010.
“Time goes by fast when you are having fun,” he said.
St. Landry Parish Council members ended their meeting by cell phone light on Wednesday at the Old City Market in Opelousas after a hail storm. At right is Eunice Council member Coby Clavier. (Photo by Harlan Kirgan)