SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

From worst to first: Local enjoys Nicholls’ ride to the top, even while battling adversity
November 28, 2018
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
November 29, 2018
From worst to first: Local enjoys Nicholls’ ride to the top, even while battling adversity
November 28, 2018
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
November 29, 2018

The new year will bring control of parish recreation back to individual districts for some areas.

In the fall of 2016, voters agreed on a proposal by the parish council, to consolidate all of the parish’s recreation districts into one board, to provide for better control of finances and personnel, among other things.

Parish Council Chairman Luci Sposito said Parish Administrator Reggie Bagala had a plan, which included one large advisory board, who would then roll out the plan parish wide.


However, Sposito said that plan never was brought to light, as Parish President Jimmy Cantrelle terminated Bagala in early 2017, and there was never really anyone assigned to handle the consolidation.

As a result, the Lafourche Parish Council has decided to rescind the ordinance which consolidated the recreation district boards.

“It’s disappointing, and us rescinding the ordinance that consolidated the districts isn’t a quick fix, but here we are, and now we will try to put the train on track,” Sposito said.


Councilman Corey Perrilloux, who advocated for the consolidation, said there has been a parish-wide recreational millage of 1.65 mills in place, to operate all seven of the parish recreation districts.

However, prior to the vote in 2016, he said four of the seven districts had received their own money for construction and maintenance, from property tax millages, which were approved by voters. These districts were in Bayou Blue, Gheens, Lockport and Raceland. The amount levied ranged from 2.48 mills in Lockport to 9.98 mills in Gheens.

Perilloux said most of these taxes currently, either expired or, are in the process of expiring.


“Frankly, operating recreation is going to cost us a half million more in dollars. Money that we do not have, because the consolidation did not work,” he said.

“So now, we have to put these smaller boards back together. Then, we have to convince these communities that it would be in their best interests to go back and generate their own dollars for their children to have their own recreational operations.”

But Perrilloux would like the council to keep the consolidation advisory board intact, to advise the council on how the $1.6 million should be spent for recreation, although this board will not have any control over finances.


“We assembled some talented folks, who have great vision and ideas,” he said.

Raceland Resident Raymond Toups, a current member of the Raceland recreation board and a long-time figure in recreation, told the council earlier this month that the consolidation created, “a lot of contention between communities because everyone felt they did not get their fair share of funds.”

“And now you have a new recreation center in Lockport, but you will not have any money to maintain it,” Toups said.


“I am confident that you will be able to get these property taxes levied again, because it is the right thing to do for our children,” Toups told the council.

Councilman Daniel Lorraine said he was disappointed the

consolidation didn’t work, but isn’t so sure returning recreation back to the “way it was, isn’t going to work either.”


“We have control of the checkbook now. Turning it over, well I’m not so sure things will be done right. And this money is for the kids,” Lorraine said.

“Now that’s my opinion. Also, I don’t think you are going to see anyone pass any new taxes or even property tax millages. Not for awhile, anyway,” he said.

Toups suggested the council appoint “the right members” to the respective boards, “then they will advocate for children,” he said.


Perrilloux insisted, “power has to delivered back to the local communities.”

“We tried something. Now let’s go back to the way it worked; financially, this is for the kids of Lafourche Parish,” he said.

Parish Interim Administrator Brent Abadie disagreed.


“Although I have no vote, for a new tax to pass, that is a hope and a prayer. I really believe that the council has not given recreation consolidation enough time,”Abadie said.

But Toups fired back to Abadie, “Having to do requisition orders for pencils and papers is ridiculous.”

Then Abadie interjected, “Look, there was no accountability before. The current system could use more time to work out the bugs. This is a toxic tax period right now.”


But Councilman Bo Melvin ended the discussion by saying, “the consolidation looked great on paper when it was presented, but we found, it is not.”

“And as far as accountability is concerned, especially when it comes to any possible misallocation of funds, especially ones that are earmarked for children, well those folks need to go to jail if they are guilty.”

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES


Raymond Toups, a longtime parish recreation board member, told the parish council that us time the power comes back to the parish recreation districts so they can get their fair share of funds.

HOWARD J. CASTAY