Harlan Kirgan
A 15-year road paving project is on the drawing board for Eunice, Mayor Scott Fontenot said.
The program would involve using existing funds to pave streets in one project instead of the once every two year schedule the city uses now.
“It is consolidating money knowing we have a steady source of income and going to the bond commission and asking for a loan,” he said.
The program is similar to what St. Landry Parish Government is doing with its Smooth Ride Home Program that has paved more than 300 miles of road in a 15-year program.
“We are looking to do maybe 15 years because that is what Karl Aucoin suggested,” he said.
Aucoin is the city’s engineer.
Fontenot said the average lifespan of a city road is 15 years.
Road-paving in Eunice has been funded by a 5-mill property tax that is voted for renewal every 10 years.
The tax generates about $500,000 a year, which has been bundled into $1 million road projects every other year.
Fontenot spoke about the possible road project in an interview about his plans as mayor.
In November 2018, Fontenot won his first full term as mayor with 82% of the vote. Fontenot had served as interim mayor after Rusty Moody resigned due to health issues beginning in October 2015. He was elected to serve the remainder of Moody’s term in March 2016.
During the interview, Fontenot said he plans to run for re-election.
“I feel like we’ve made a lot of progress already,” he said.
A challenge facing the city is Liberty Theater.
The National Park Service recently terminated a contract with the city that separates the theater from the Jean Lafitte Prairie Acadian Cultural Center, he said.
The Park Service wanted out of the contract partly because the heating and air conditioning unit at the Liberty needs an estimated $400,000 in repairs, he said. The unit services both buildings.
The Park Service is working with the city, he said.
“If we want to continue that to be a permanent destination for Cajun culture we need to do some more improvements to the Liberty itself,” he said.
Among the improvement is a better sound system, he said.
There have been meetings with Liberty supporters to gather ideas such as fundraisers and a gofundme account, he said.
Fontenot expects more focus on economic development and discussions have been held with One Acadiana, Acadiana Planning Commission and St. Landry Economic Development.
“We’ve just got to keep the momentum going,” he said.
The installation of LED street lighting is continuing with work happening daily, said.
There are also proposals to sell youth ball fields that are no longer in use, he said.
The old boys field off Juanita and the girls field on Maple near the new splash pads are eyed for development, he said.
The idea would be to use the proceeds from a sale for improvements at remaining areas along with developing a skate park and dog park, he said.
The city will continue to explore annexation opportunities, particularly with areas that generate sales tax revenue, he said.
The city also is nearing the completion of work at the wastewater treatment plant to bring the system fully online, he said. There are two plants on the site, but only one has been operational, he said.