By John Guidroz

jguidroz@americanpress.com

A Calcasieu Parish Police Jury drainage committee on Tuesday recommended approval of a plan to consolidate the existing drainage districts down to two seven-member boards.

The plan, which goes before the full Police Jury March 21, is a two-phase approach that calls for using existing tools and technology at the parish level to manage drainage based on watersheds, rather than political lines. If approved, the change would take effect June 24.

Alberto Galan, with the office of the administrator, said district funding streams and dedications would remain in place during the first phase. Employees currently managed by the drainage boards would keep their jobs, and each district would maintain a yard and maintenance crew.

To help with the transition, the Police Jury would use existing money to pay part of the initial funding difference for up to three years.

During the second phase, both boards would call a tax in 2020 for a replacement millage, according to territorial boundaries. The proposed millage would be lower than all existing millages, Galan said.

Galan said state Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, R-Jennings, has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would increase the drainage board seats from five to seven.

Reaction

Public opinions on the proposal were mixed. Sulphur resident Ricky Blackwell questioned dismantling the existing drainage boards before allowing it to go before a public vote.

“This is a parishwide decision; it’s not a trivial change,” he said.

Charlie Atherton suggested the Police Jury ask the state Legislature to update the parish’s form of government and let residents have the final say in plans like these.

Sam Gabb, the parish’s legal counsel, said the state Constitution doesn’t allow the Police Jury to put anything related to special service districts, including gravity drainage, on a ballot.

Blackwell said consolidating the drainage districts would weaken the existing smaller districts in outlying areas.

“People from another district are deciding how your money will be spent,” he said. “It doesn’t make any sense. It’s all about control and money. If not, why are you only shuffling the boards?”

Eric Cormier, vice president of policy and strategic development for the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, supported the plan, along with the research done by parish staff.

Ralph Lewing, who represents the Alliance for Positive Growth, said he supports consolidating drainage districts. He said the Ward 3 Recreation District paid for a girls softball field in South Lake Charles because of how well the parish invested its finances.

“These are just some of the things that come with a well-managed district and more efficiency,” Lewing said. “Times are changing; it’s time for us to change because the parish is growing into one.”

Several police jurors who sit on the committee spoke of the need to address drainage problems parishwide.

“It’s time for us to start thinking as one parish and not a district,” said District 1 Police Juror Kevin White. “That’s what we’re here tonight to do.”

“We gotta drain the entire parish,” said District 14 Police Juror Hal McMillin. “We’re consolidating to be better.”

District 7 Police Juror Chris Landry read from a study done by the parish that highlighted several current issues. He said some drainage districts have millions of dollars that aren’t being invested.

“That’s just not smart business,” Landry said.

Landry also pointed out various issues drainage districts have encountered, such as not following budget requirements under state law, several years of not providing records and minutes of meetings and inadequate drug screen policies.

“These districts have problems, and it is not being run smoothly,” he said. “We’re here to look at the whole picture; we have to consider what’s going on in all these districts.”

The full Police Jury is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. March 21.Manhole coverMGNonline