Fontenot stresses road program

St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot’s place in parish history picked up another first in the Nov. 16 election when he won a third term.
In the young home rule charter government, Fontenot, 68, is the second president. He succeeded Don Menard, who served two four-year terms, but was defeated by Fontenot.
Fontenot’s prime historical role though is likely the Smooth Ride Home program that’s paved 325 miles of road in the parish.
Another 20 miles of road paving is underway.
The 2% sales tax in unincorporated St. Landry Parish produces from $5 million to $6 million annually in revenue, he said. The initial 15-year bond issue costs about $5 million a year.
The balance is used to do more road, drainage and bridge work, Fontenot said in a telephone interview.
The parish has about 300 miles of gravel road left to pave, he said.
“We are going to pave those roads as the surplus dollars allows us to pave,” he said.
There is nine years left in the program, he said.
The road improvement project is a first in parish history and Fontenot headlines it in his response to what his priorities are in a third term.
But a watershed project is next on his list. Started after the floods of 2016, Fontenot said the plan is to develop flood control based on watersheds and plans that “don’t flood the guy downstream.”
The state has $1.2 billion for a flood program. Some of that money will be directed through the Acadiana Planning Commission. Fontenot is chairman of the commission.
Parish government has often been under severe financial stress, but Fontenot said there is a progress in the finances.
He expects in the next four years parish government will be able to end the use of a line of credit to bridge the gap between tax collections.
About 17 public works employees were laid off due to budget problems two years ago. The result has been there about a dozen employees left to do the maintenance on parish roads, he said.
Fontenot would also like to see about a parish library system, but admits there is likely little support for a new tax.
The question of tax support was highlighted in the Nov. 16 election when a one-mill, 10-year property tax renewal for operating and maintaining a jail facility failed with 53% voters opposed. It was same percentage that Fontenot garnered to win election over District 6 Parish Council member Ken Marks.
The jail tax will be returned to the ballot, he said.
About $646,400 is expected to be raised annually from the tax.
Economic development, a new animal shelter and programs for youth area also are on his agenda, he said.