Harlan Kirgan
Number one on Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto list was a $1.7 million overlay project for Maple Avenue, La. 91, in Eunice.
The vetoes were announced Wednesday.
State Rep. Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, pointed to partisan politics for the governor’s veto.
“I think it is really sad that as much as I’ve tried to work with the administration that he is continually doing things to try to hurt us,” DeVillier said.
The overlay project was in the state’s capital outlay budget three years ago and the governor vetoed it, he said.
“I don’t know what he wants from me,” DeVillier said. “He says he wants to work with us. I just don’t see where he is doing that at all.”
The Eunice Board of Aldermen has approved numerous resolutions asking the governor and the state Department of Transportation and Development to overlay La. 91 from about Bobcat Drive to the La. 13 turn to Crowley.
This year DOTD did complete a bridge and drainage project at Maple Avenue and Bobcat Drive.
Jack Burson, alderman at-large, was critical of the politics involved.
“When you have all of your decision-making occurring based on whether Republican or Democrat comes behind your name so somebody else is telling you how to vote rather than based on what your community needs, that’s what you get,” he said after the aldermen met with Mayor Scott Fontenot to set the agenda for the city’s regular meeting on Tuesday.
Fontenot, also commenting after the meeting, said the veto was unfortunate.
“It is really a big need for the city not only for the citizens who live here but for economic development along that street,” Fontenot said.
Fontenot said he has been to the last three DOTD meetings and pleaded the case for La. 91’s overlay.
The mayor said DeVillier has been trying to put the road in the capital outlay bill “but unfortunately it is getting vetoed every year.”
DeVillier said a water project in the Mire-Branch area and in his district also was vetoed by the governor.
The veto decisions were made before Monday’s final day of a special session in which legislators ended up with a budget that includes steep cuts.
The governor has called another special section open at 6 p.m. June 18.
The 40 vetoes announced Wednesday follow.
Veto No. 1: Delete Page 18 of 130, Lines 25-29: Authorizes $1,700,000 for Highway 91 Overlay within the City Limits of Eunice (Acadia, St. Landry).
Veto No. 2: Delete Page 26 of 130, Lines 5-10: Authorizes $2,400,000 for Bussey Brake Lake Improvements, Planning and Construction (Morehouse).
Veto No. 3: Delete Page 27 of 130, Lines 30-36: Authorizes $5,281,000 for Infrastructure Improvements, Construction (Rapides).
Veto No. 4: Delete Page 37 of 130, Lines 45-49: Authorizes $200,000 for LaSalle Street and Hangar Road Extenaions, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 5: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 1-4: Authorizes $200,000 for Gaubert Road Improvements, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 6: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 5-8: Authorizes $200,000 for Labit Road Improvements, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 7: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 9-13: Authorizes $150,000 for Road Extension From Sidney Blanchard Road to Ed Broussard Road, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 8: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 14-18: Authorizes $200,000 for Road Improvements at Port of Iberia, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 9: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 19-22: Authorizes $200,000 for Parish Bridge Replacements, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 10: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 38-42: Authorizes $200,000 for Event Center at Acadiana Fairgrounds, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 11: Delete Page 38 of 130, Lines 43-47: Authorizes $200,000 for Highway 90 West Drainage Improvements, Planning and Construction (Iberia).
Veto No. 12: Delete Page 39 of 130, Lines 1-8: Authorizes $1,194,400 for Jackson Parish Riding Arena and Livestock Pavilion, Planning and Construction (Jackson).
Veto No. 13: Delete Page 43 of 130, Lines 43-47: Authorizes $600,000 for River Styx Pump Station Force Main Replacement, Planning and Construction (Ouachita).
Veto No. 14: Delete Page 47 of 130, Lines 25-29: Authorizes $1,000,000 for Road Improvements, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 15: Delete Page 47 of 130, Lines 30-34: Authorizes $200,000 for Bridge Repairs and Improvements, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 16: Delete Page 48 of 130, Lines 33-38: Authorizes $375,000 for Flood Damage Reduction and Drainage Improvement projects, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 17: Delete Page 49 of 130, Lines 33-37: Authorizes $675,000 for Hwy. 71 Street Lighting Project (Phase II) Construction Project (Barksdale Boulevard to Parkway High School) (Bossier).
Veto No. 18: Delete Page 52 of 130, Lines 15-19: Authorizes $40,000 for Public Works Facility, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 20: Delete Page 53 of 130, Lines 36-40: Authorizes $375,000 for Gueydan Street Improvements, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 21: Delete Page 54 of 130, Lines 6-13: Authorizes $250,000 for Henderson Municipal Complex, Planning and Construction (St. Martin).
Veto No. 22: Delete Page 54 of 130, Lines 41-46: Authorizes $138,000 for Sewer Treatment Facility Upgrade, Planning and Construction ($912,500 Federal and/or Local Match) (Iberia).
Veto No. 23: Delete Page 55 of 130, Lines 12-17: Authorizes $150,000 for City of Kaplan Street Improvements, Reconstruction, and Drainage Improvements, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 24: Delete Page 55 of 130, Lines 18-21: Authorizes $50,000 for The Pavilion at Clement Park, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 25: Delete Page 55 of 130, Lines 22-27: Authorizes $250,000 for Killian Police and Fire Joint Operation Building, Planning and Construction (Livingston).
Veto No. 26: Delete Page 56 of 130, Lines 17-22: Authorizes $150,000 for Boat Launch Facility Improvements, Phase 2, Planning and Construction (St. Landry).
Veto No. 27: Delete Page 58 of 130, Lines 6-10: Authorizes $100,000 for Drainage Improvements on Charles, Ann and Dale Streets (Iberia).
Veto No. 28: Delete Page 60 of 130, Lines 20-26: Authorizes $865,000 for Municipal Complex, Planning and Construction (St. Martin).
Veto No. 29: Delete Page 61 of 130, Lines 43-51: Authorizes $12,000,000 for Apollo Road Extension (Rue Du Belier and Dulles Drive Intersection to Old Spanish Trail and Apollo Road Intersection), Planning, Construction, and Land Acquisition (Lafayette).
Veto No. 30: Delete Page 67 of 130, Lines 6-12: Authorizes $200,000 Warehouse Distribution Complex, Planning and Construction (Rapides).
Veto No. 31: Delete Page 69 of 130, Lines 37-44: Authorizes $720,000 for Water System Improvements for the Cecilia Water Corporation, Planning and Construction (St. Martin).
Veto No. 32: Delete Page 71 of 130, Lines 33-40: Authorizes $6,500,000 for Lafayette Loop Project, Planning and Construction (Lafayette).
Veto No. 33: Delete Page 75 of 130, Lines 1-6: Authorizes $150,000 for Water Treatment System Improvements, Planning and Construction (Acadia).
Veto No. 34: Delete Page 80 of 130, Lines 12-17: Authorizes $250,000 for Sewer System Improvements, Planning and Construction (St. Martin).
Veto No. 35: Delete Page 82 of 130, Lines 36-40: Authorizes $1,200,000 for LA Highway 616 (Caldwell Road to LA Highway 143) Planning and Construction (Ouachita).
Veto No. 36: Delete Page 83 of 130, Lines 2-9: Authorizes $520,000 for Outdoor Lighting for Multipurpose Venue, Bossier Parish Community College, Baseball, Softball, Student, and Community Events, Planning, Construction, Acquisitions, and Equipment (Bossier).
Veto No. 37: Delete Page 87 of 130, Lines 20-25: Authorizes $55,400 for Drainage Outfall Improvements, Planning and Construction (Rapides).
Veto No. 38: Delete Page 96 of 130, Lines 29-33: Authorizes $4,600 for Multipurpose Aquatic Recreational Facility (St. Landry).
Veto No. 39: Delete Page 98 of 130, Lines 12-15: Authorizes $6,700 for Public Works Facility, Planning and Construction (Vermilion).
Veto No. 40: Delete Page 100 of 130, Lines 6-11: Authorizes $7,200 for Sewer Treatment Facility Upgrade, Planning and Construction ($912,500 Federal and/or Local Match) (Iberia).