Parishwide roundup: Rates, repairs, projects and elections

By: Staff Contributor

Local governments and public boards across Avoyelles Parish handled a wide range of business during August, from utility rate increases and bridge repairs to water-system projects, school improvements and upcoming elections.

Cottonport

Cottonport residents and businesses will see higher water and sewer rates beginning Oct. 1 after the Town Council adopted Ordinance 2026-2.

Residential water rates inside town limits will increase from $28.96 to $34 for the first 2,000 gallons, while customers outside town limits will pay $35.50. Residential sewer rates will increase from $18.66 to $21 for the first 2,000 gallons.

Commercial water rates will increase to $36 inside town limits and $37.50 outside town limits for the first 2,000 gallons. Commercial sewer rates will be set at $25 for the first 2,000 gallons.

Town officials said rates had not been increased in seven years and cited rising energy costs, treatment chemicals, wages, maintenance, water-quality testing and regulatory fees.

The council also approved increasing the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center water rate from $1.90 to $3.44 per thousand gallons beginning Oct. 1.

Evergreen

Evergreen officials have called a special election to fill three vacant alderman seats.

The Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a resolution Aug. 25 setting qualifying for Aug. 3-5, 2027. The primary election is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2027, with a general election, if needed, on Nov. 20, 2027.

Mansura

Mansura officials took action on several storm-related and government matters during August.

At the Aug. 18 special meeting, the town approved having the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury repair the Johnson Bridge after receiving two quotes. The Police Jury quote was $10,750, compared with $24,884 from Normand Construction.

Mayor Kenneth Pickett said he had also met with FEMA regarding the possibility of receiving 75% reimbursement for the bridge repair.

The town also changed how employee raises will be handled going forward.

Town Attorney Alissa Piazza told the council that salary increases included in the budget had been handled properly. Pickett said a $5 raise for the municipal clerk had been included in the budget.

The council unanimously agreed that future employee raises will state the amount of each increase and will be adopted through separate ordinances. Officials also agreed that public hearings and special meetings will be recorded, except for executive sessions.

Earlier in August, the Mansura council also called a special election for renewal of the town’s sales tax on Dec. 12, 2026.

Officials continued discussing storm damage to a bridge on Jackson Road that left a resident unable to access his home. The council also received an update on the Bayou Lacombe Project and recognized the town’s Community Achievement Award for its splash pad.

Bunkie

The City of Bunkie awarded a $1.76 million contract for its Water Well “E” project.

Trek, Inc. submitted the low bid of $1,766,071, compared with a $1,942,025 bid from CENLA Utility Contractors. The award is contingent upon state and CDBG approvals, as well as a negotiated deductive change order to bring the project within available construction funding.

The council also introduced a proposed zoning ordinance amendment and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the City Hall Annex.

Bunkie also hired Terrick Clark and Michael Reed as auxiliary patrolmen and removed Devon Voinche from the Police Department upon the recommendation of Police Chief Byron Juneau.

Moreauville

Moreauville officials received several infrastructure updates during their Aug. 20 meeting.

Work on the town’s water-treatment rehabilitation project is expected to begin around mid-October, while rehabilitation of Sewer Pump Station No. 2 was reported substantially complete.

The village also received two bids for the CWEF South Bayou des Glaises Road water-main replacement project. Womack and Sons Construction was the low bidder, and officials discussed reducing the project scope through a deductive change order to keep construction within approximately $37,725 in available funding.

Officials were also told that a railroad crossing agreement affecting Couvillon Street had been signed, with an announcement expected in September, and that paving of Carol Street and Lougarre Street is expected to begin in October.

The village also approved payment of a $32,750 invoice to Feliciana Welders for gas leak repairs along Main Street and reported that Taronda Jacob had been hired as a full-time police officer at $18 per hour.

Plaucheville

Plaucheville officials approved a $394,027 contract with Womack & Sons for water-system improvements along Crackville Road, Katie English Road and English Road.

The village also approved replacing the motor on Well No. 2 at a cost of $6,500 and replacing fencing around the playground at a cost of $4,885.

Officials reported that construction had begun on the new Plaucheville Fire Station, with an estimated completion date in November.

Hessmer

Hessmer officials discussed garbage service, sewer repairs and water-system improvements during the village’s Aug. 13 meeting. Mayor Robbie Dauzat told the board that a new garbage company is expected to begin service in January and that each resident will receive a company-issued garbage can.

The change was discussed after resident Ricky Rabalais raised concerns about how garbage is being contained around the village.

Water Superintendent Keith Moras also reported that the sewer motor pump had failed again and that a repair company was being contacted to determine whether it could be repaired.

Moras said crews will also install new shutoff valves while repairing water leaks. The valves are intended to allow smaller sections of the water system to be isolated during future repairs instead of shutting off service to larger areas.

Avoyelles Water Commission

The Avoyelles Water Commission agreed to continue mapping work with Delta Engineering with a $5,000 cap.

The commission also discussed adding mile markers, air-relief valve markers and valve markers along the interstate to its mapping system, as well as issues involving a clay valve and drilling of a new well.