It has been an exercise in patience, but the Abbeville City Council remains focused on gaining state funds for flood protection and drainage projects in parts of the city.
The Council voted 5-0 during its regular meeting Tuesday evening to allow City Engineer Richard Primeaux to submit a request for funds through the Louisiana Capital Outlay program. The request is due by Nov. 1. The funds would cover projects in four areas of the city.
The Council first applied for these funds through the state’s Capital Outlay program for specific flood protection and drainage projects in 2010. As the ensuing years have gone by, the city has yet to receive those funds. The city’s request has most recently been among Gov. John Bel Edwards’ vetoes.
The projects include drainage improvements around 5th Street, East Lafayette Street and South Louisiana Street, Robert Wells Drive, around Harvest Time Church, and the Cedar Street area.
Primeaux said the city’s cost share for the project is 25 percent, which comes out to at least $125,000. That is the number that was updated in ‘13. Primeaux said it may be necessary to once again update the city’s projected share of the cost.
“I am sure we have gotten some increased numbers since 2013,” Primeaux said.
Edwards’ veto nixed several projects in Vermilion Parish. Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza was among the group of parish mayors who met with the Governor in Baton Rouge in August to discuss the issue.
“He assured me that he would be willing to sit down with us and discuss this project,” Piazza said during Tuesday’s meeting. “He said he will do that in March, along with our Legislators.
“We are looking forward to that.”
Councilman Brady Broussard Jr. said he is certainly looking forward to the end of this process.
“We are going to keep the pressure on our representatives to get this funded eventually,” Broussard said.