Parish President vetoes parish ordinance to give authority over sewage plant

ST. LANDRY PARISH, La. (KLFY) – The question of who will have control over a sewer plant expansion is a major topic of discussion after Parish President Jessie Bellard vetoed the parish ordinance to grant authority over the facility to the City of Opelousas.

"Before I became parish president, CSLED and the parish government got together and they decided they were going to do a sewer system or sewer plant through capital outlay. And at the end of the term, they give it to the city of Opelousas. November of 2020, a resolution was passed by the parish council to sign a CEA and transfer ownership to the city of Opelousas," says Bellard.

However, that CEA was never signed. So when it came time for discussions between Bellard in the City of Opelousas, Bellard says it was time to do a little research. "The entity that was involved never had anything in writing. It was just word of mouth amongst the three agencies. So there was nothing in writing back then, and everything that was done was signed to the parish government. So when my attorney came back and said, just to show a benefit to the parish and to give it to the city."

Bellard says there is no benefit to the parish. In fact, with growth of businesses and housing along I-49 reaching outside the City of Opelousas, Bellard says it would actually be a disadvantage. "We have a tax base in the parish, and every time a city or a municipality annexes a piece of property that's less tax base for the parish."

Bellard says there is also a legal obligation to keeping control. "In the CEA signed between the parish of Saint Landry and the state of Louisiana to get this money. It tells you in the CEA that we cannot give it, sell it or anything until the bond is paid for. My attorney is telling me, you got to obligation to the state because it's a signed and that you're going to say that you're not selling it or giving it away to anybody."

Taking all of these thoughts into consideration, Bellard says if his veto is not overturned, he will bring in a third party to run the sewer system correctly and ensure proper service to all who use it.

Latest Stories