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The Evangeline Parish Police Jury decided to take no action on the state-approved raises of $400 per month during its meeting Monday, December 29.
A public hearing to discuss the raises prior to the special meeting gave several members of the audience the opportunity to voice their opposition.
James Bertrand addressed the jury, stating the jurors knew the pay when they ran for office.
“None of you are dependent on this money,” Bertrand said. “You all have regular jobs. This [being a juror] is a service you provide to the community. If funds are available for a raise, why not put that money to use in the sheriff’s office. They need it.”
Another resident, Donald Vidrine, said this raise was not good for the parish. He added whenever he asks jurors to take care of the road and drainage issues in his neighborhood, he is always told there is no money.
Vidrine then said jurors gave themselves a raise in 1999 and, referring to Jury President Bob Manuel’s comments, this was not the first raise for jurors since 1979.
Manuel said Vidrine misunderstood what he said. Manuel stated the state legislature had not approved a pay raise for jurors since 1979, not that the jurors have not received any pay increase since that time.
Mark Shuff addressed the jury and asked them to think about what they are doing before accepting the raise.
“Just think,” Shuff said. “The state is in the hole, there’s no money for gravel. If you accept this raise, there will be a lot of upset people in this parish.”
Office of Emergency Preparedness/911 Director Liz Hill addressed the jury and praised their work over the years. Hill said there is much the jurors do for this parish behind the scenes and the public is unaware of it. For example, she talked about the hard work of the jurors after hurricanes and the after-hour meetings they attended to get the parish back on its feet.
“It takes a lot of man hours to be a juror,” Hill said. “I don’t think people realize all that you do. You should be commended for that.”
Juror Ryan Ardoin said he wanted to make his stance known and that he attended the meeting with the intention of voting no for the raise.
“I’m here because I enjoy it,” he said.
During the special meeting, the jury took no action on the state-approved raise and will revisit the issue at a later date.
In other business, the jury:
•Approved a request from Ville Platte City Court for $9,800 for the purchase of a new vehicle. Juror Lamar Johnson said he did not believe the jury should begin putting more money into the city court than it already does. Juror Eric Soileau agreed, stating he did not believe the jury should provide the extra funds. Johnson, Soileau, Ryan Ardoin and Davis Manuel voted against the motion. Bob Manuel, Sidney Fontenot, Richard Thomas, Bryan Vidrine and Vashanski Thomas voted for the motion.
•Reappointed Tiqua Manuel to the Mamou Fire Protection District One.
•Approved paying Gayle Briley minimum wage for 20 hours per week for her work at the Ville Platte Health Unit.
•Reappointed Nathan Fontenot as commissioner for Te Mamou Water District.
•Approved increasing City Judge Donald Launey’s salary from $464 per month to $964 per month. Juror Eric Soileau abstained from voting. Juror Bryan Vidrine said Launey deserved the raise because he had served the city for 18 years as judge and never once asked for a salary increase.
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