Avoyelles Police Jury buys new heavy equipment
In an attempt to upgrade its aging fleet of heavy equipment, the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury authorized spending over $100,000 for new equipment at its March 14 meeting.
The parish will buy a John Deere tractor for $51,629. It will finance the purchase of a boom mower with BanCorp for three annual payments of about $17,743, for a total cost of $53,230.
The Police Jury has been attempting to replace old equipment either through lease or purchase over the past few years. Jurors indicated they will continue that effort as budget constraints allow.
In another matter, Carol Aymond of Bunkie accused the jury of “discriminating” against him because the parish did not repair the last section of Scary Woods Road, which he uses to access his property.
Most of the road was repaired some years ago, but the end section was not. Aymond said he only wants some rock and limestone placed on the road. Aymond was told that the road will get attention as soon as possible, but the parish must address issues on roads serving more people.
“We have 500 miles of parish roads and limited resources,” Police Jury President Charles Jones told Aymond.
Aymond said he addressed the jury in October and nothing has been done. He demanded that work be done on the road because he “pays a lot more in taxes than would be spent on this road.”
Jones commented that “everyone pays taxes” and that the jury’s responsibility is to spend its resources where they can do the most good. He assured Aymond that his road would be addressed in the near future.
Later in the week, Jones said that if good weather continues the parish road crew should be in that area within six weeks. He said he does not know if the work they will be able to do on the road will satisfy Aymond, but the road will receive limestone and be graded as soon as possible.
Aymond left the meeting in a huff, telling jurors they would be hearing from his attorney.
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business, the jury:
-- Set a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the parish junkyard/salvage ordinance for 5:45 p.m. on April 10.
-- Called a “work group” meeting of police jurors and Avoyelles Library Board members for 5 p.m. March 29 in the Police Jury meeting room or Grand Jury room, depending on turnout. The purpose is to discuss enhancement and expansion of library services in the parish.
One main issue will be the creation of a library branch in Ward 1. Other topics will be the upcoming library relocation of the Mansura branch to the recently renovated Mansura Depot Museum building and updates on work at the Simmesport branch, Bunkie branch and proposed relocation of the Cottonport branch.