Start your busy day with time set aside to spend with God
February 14, 2012Spirit of La. fire truck to lead Krewe of Houmas parade Mardi Gras Day
February 14, 2012
When the Police Jury Association of Louisiana convenes at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center for a three-day conference beginning Feb. 23, it will not simply mark the 88th year that elected officials from the states 64 parish and consolidated governments have met together under one roof. Neither is it the first time attendees will have an opportunity to pool resources among their respective regions that vie for the attention of state legislators, the governor’s office and even members of Congress.
The 2012 PJAL convention meets in Houma – a first for the city – and is projected to provide a local economic surge and put Terrebonne Parish on the map in terms of being a preferred location for hosting major conventions in Louisiana.
“This is a very large convention and every hotel and restaurant will be filled with attendees,” Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said. “We certainly hope that while they are here attendees will take advantage of our swamp tours, local attractions and also do some fishing, if they have a chance.”
Claudet said the Tri-parishes’ hospitality, culture and food reinforce the positive image he trusts will be apparent to the concentrated gathering of visitors from across the state.
More than 1,000 attendees are expected for the PJAL convention. Roland Dartez, the PJAL’s executive director, said in addition to government officials, 90 vendors and exhibitors, selling a range of products from dump trucks to engineered products, concrete and incinerators, from around the country will also be present. Resources representing group health insurance and workers compensation will also be on site.
During the event, educational sessions are being provided for the government officials as well as informational forums to learn what is taking place in industries such as petroleum and fishing. “We also have 14 standing committees that will meet and discuss issues from health and hospitals to public works and community development,” Dartez said.
State officials and department heads will also be present to meet with parish leaders. “I think the best thing to accomplish is that similar parishes get to be with similar parishes and can look at ways to fix things that affect them,” he added. “Especially with all this oil and gas stuff, as well as local issues that have statewide impact.”
“We are going to start Thursday [Feb. 23] with a golf tournament at the Atchafalaya Golf Course in Idlewald,” St. Mary Parish President Paul Naquin said, stressing the entire region is involved in this event. “We were going to have some offshore fishing for those who don’t play golf but thought it might be too cold. But if there’s people that want to go fishing, we will arrange something.”
Naquin, who served as the PJAL president for 2011, was instrumental in pushing for Houma to be the 2012 convention location. “I worked closely with Michel [Claudet] and [Lafourche Parish President] Charlotte [Randolph] to make this happen. We all get along real well so we were able to get the convention to come to Houma.”
In addition to meetings, banquets, tours for attendees and their spouses and entertainment, Naquin said that the convention is expected to be addressed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, but did not have specifics on when those appearances might take place. “There is plenty to keep folks busy,” the outgoing PJAL president said.
The police jury dates back to the state’s origins and is unique to Louisiana. A total 41 of the 64 parishes use the traditional police jury system as a legislative and executive government. Constituents elect police jury members. That body then elects a parish president.
Louisiana’s police juries range in size from three members to 15, depending on parish population.
Home rule charters govern the state’s remaining 23 parishes, all of which are represented in the PJAL. That form of government generally includes an elected council, with council chairman who is selected from among that body. The voting public elects a parish president separately.
In the entire state, only four parishes operate as consolidated forms of government, which joins a parish with its largest municipality into one primary governing body. Those consolidated government include East Baton Rouge Parish and Baton Rouge, Lafayette Parish and Lafayette, Orleans Parish and New Orleans, and Terrebonne Parish and Houma.
Because the PJAL convention convenes two days after Fat Tuesday, Claudet is asking the public to help quickly clean up after the festivities. “I’m asking everyone, everyone, to please do your part and pitch in to make Terrebonne as attractive as possible, because the way others will see us is how we will be remembered,” he said.
Meanwhile, JPAL’s Dartez said police jurors are anticipating the trip.
“There has been a big push to come to Houma,” he said. “We are excited to be down there.”
Participants of the 2011 Police Jury convention are anticipating
the first time it is to be held in Houma Feb. 22-25. Terrebonne
Parish government and economic experts anticipate the event will
provide a financial boost to the local economy and put the
Tri-parish region on the map as a serious convention center.
