Beauregard officials said they are happy to have industry in their area but may revisit how companies deal with damages made to parish property.

After some negotiating, Parish Administrator Bobby Hennigan said Cheniere Energy has offered to help repair Texas Eastern Road, which has experienced some wear and tear from truck traffic. The company had previously given the parish money for the road to fill in potholes. Workers are in the process of completing that project now. The additional funding would go toward an overlay of the road.

Hennigan said the energy company has offered $250,000 to repair Texas Eastern Road, which runs in the southeastern part of the parish and intersects La. 190. If the Beauregard Parish Police Jury accepts the offer during today’s meeting, the governing body would pick up the rest of the $150,000 tab, making the total cost of the overlay $400,000. Hennigan said the parish has the money.

Pending the approval of the police jury, the repairs and overlay would likely be completed during spring or summer of 2015.

The police jury will also be reviewing its drilling ordinance during the road and bridge committee meeting. According to a parish ordinance, when oil companies cause damages to parish property, the parish makes the repairs and sends a bill to the company for reimbursement. Hennigan said he is bringing it to the jury to see if they would like to revisit the ordinance or update it.

“We don’t want to discourage drilling or logging by any means,” he said. “We certainly want those kinds of businesses operating within our parish.”

Both items will be discussed during committee meetings today. If police jurors decide to move forward with accepting the funds and changing the drilling ordinance, the items would be voted on Aug. 12. They will also consider items regarding moving staff from the Beauregard Parish courthouse to the interim facility while the building is being renovated.(MGNonline)