OCTOBER 29, 2021

 

 FIRST I MUST SAY, WITH THIS OPTION/PLAN IF ACCEPTED, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR A RE-DEDICATION TAX IMPOSED ON BOTH THE LIBRARY OR THE HEALTH UNIT AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BRING

UP A NEW TAX ON THE PEOPLE OF EVANGELINE PARISH.

 THIS PLAN OPTION WOULD COST THE TAX PAYERS NO MORE ADDITIONAL MONEY.

 

 STATE LAW MANDATES THAT THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY (POLICE JURY) PROVIDE A GOOD AND SUFFICIENT JAIL AND IS OBLIGATED TO FUND ITS OPERATION FOR THE SHERIFF.  I HAVE A COPY FOR EACH POLICE JUROR FOR VERIFICATION OF ALL APPLICABLE STATUTES GOVERNING THIS.

 

 1.   MY PROPOSAL IS SIMPLE.  THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WILL PAY THE COSTS AND BUILD A NEW PARISH JAIL EXCEPT ANY REQUIRED UP FRONT MONIES SUCH AS DOWN PAYMENTS, ETC.  THE COSTS IS

APPROX. $100,000 PER MONTH FOR A 200 BED FACILITY.

                               

2.   THE GOVERNING AUTHORITY (POLICE JURY) WILL PAY ALL EXPENSES IN RUNNING AND OPERATING THE NEW JAIL; WHICH INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FEEDING, CLOTHING, MEDICAL,

MAINTENANCE, UTILITY COSTS, REPAIRS, FURNITURE, INSURANCE, ETC. THESE EXPENSES WOULD BE FOR THE HOUSING OF PARISH AND PRE-TRIAL INMATES/DETAINEES.  ANY DOC INMATES BOTH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND THE POLICE JURY WILL SHARE THESE EXPENSES AT THE RATE OF 75% TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND 25% TO THE POLICE JURY.

 

WHEN HOUSING DOC INMATES, THE REVENUE RECEIVED WOULD BE SHARED AT A RATE OF 75% TO THE SHERIFF AND 25% TO THE POLICE JURY.  IN ADDITION, THE POLICE JURY WILL CONTINUE TO

PAY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE $3.50 PER DAY PER PRE-TRIAL/PARISH INMATE OR DETAINEE.

 

3.   THE PROPOSED SITE FOR THE NEW JAIL WOULD BE DIRECTLY BEHIND THE 911 BUILDING AND THE POLICE JURY WOULD PROVIDE 10 ACRES FOR THE NEW JAIL AND POSSIBLY EXPANSIONS.

 

                                                                                                    HOW CAN THIS PROPOSED PLAN BE ACHIEVED:

1.  THE CURRENT EXISTING COMMISSION OF THE 911 BOARD SHALL BE ELIMINATED/ABOLISHED AND THE EVANGELINE POLICE JURY WOULD THEN BECOME THE BOARD OR COMMISSION.  THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF WOULD BECOME THE 911 DIRECTOR AND EOP PERSON. THE SHERIFF SHALL BE DIRECTLY IN CHARGE AND THE SOLE PERSON MAKING DECISIONS OF ALL HIRING AND FIRING ALL 911 PERSONNEL.

 

2.  THIS PLAN/OFFER WILL COMPOSE OF MERGING 911 COMMUNICATIONS AND THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE DISPATCH WITH THE SHERIFF BECOMING THE 911 DIRECTOR AND EOP.  THERE WOULD BE CUTS IN ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS MERGER THUS UTILIZING OUR TAX PAYERS MONEY MORE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.

                                         

AS BOTH THE 911 DIRECTOR AND EOP, THE SHERIFF WILL NOT RECEIVE A SALARY.  SO THE 911 DIRECTOR SALARY WILL REMAIN IN THE 911 BUDGET AND THE EOP PORTION WOULD BE FUNNELED BACK TO 911 BUDGET TO BE USED TO HIRE OTHER DISPATCHERS OR ANY POSITIONS NEEDED. THIS WOULD CAUSE EPSO'S BUDGET TO INCREASE  BY APPROX. $250,000 ANNUALLY WHICH THESE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS THEN COULD BE USED TOWARDS THE NEW JAIL COST.

 

IN SPEAKING WITH MR. CASEY ARDOIN ON 911 BUDGET, THE AVERAGE YEAR END BALANCE IN THE LAST 4 YEARS RANGES FROM $40,000 TO $60,000 WITH THE HIGH END OF $130,000.  WITH THE YEAR END BALANCE AND ELIMINATING ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS IN 911, THERE WILL BE SUFFICIENT REVENUE TO PAY FOR THE EPSO DISPATCHERS TRANSFERRING TO 911.

 

WITH THESE PROPOSE CUTS IN ADMINISTRATION AND MERGER, THE CURRENT 911 BUDGET CAN SUSTAIN THE MERGER TO PAY FOR THE ADDITIONAL DISPATCHERS TRANSFERRING FROM THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.  CURRENTLY, NO EPSO OR 911 DISPATCHERS SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS AND THE TOTAL FUNCTIONS OF 911 WILL CONTINUE. IN ADDITION, ALL EPSO DISPATCHERS WILL BE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN 911 FUNCTIONS.  THIS WILL ONLY ADD MORE DISPATCHERS FOR MORE CALLS BEING ANSWERED.                                        

ALL DISPATCHERS INCLUDING 911 AND EPSO WILL BE SUPERVISED BY THE CAPT. OF COMMUNICATIONS FROM EPSO AND THE SUPERVISOR ON NIGHT SHIFT.

 

THIS MERGER WILL BE A GREAT ASSET TO EVANGELINE PARISH AS ALL COMMUNICATIONS WILL BE UNDER ONE ROOF.  THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A NEED FOR TRANSFERRING OF CALLS DELAYING           MUCH NEEDED TIME.  THIS MAKES COMMUNICATION FUNCTIONS AT ITS BEST.

 

3.  THE TWO BUDGETS BOTH 911 AND THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF WILL BE MAINTAINED SEPARATE AND INDEPENDENT.  MR. CASEY ARDOIN WILL REMAIN THE CPA AND ACCOUNT FOR BOTH AGENCIES INSURING THE SEPARATION OF FUNDS.  IN OTHER WORDS THE 911 BUDGET WILL BE SPENT ONLY ON 911 FUNCTIONS AND EPSO BUDGET ON SHERIFF'S OFFICE FUNCTIONS.

 

4.  THE SHERIFF SHALL REMAIN THE 911 DIRECTOR AND EOP FOR THE ENTIRE LOAN DURATION OR UNTIL THE EVANGELINE PARISH JAIL IS PAID.

5.THE 911 BUDGET DOES HAVE A 1.1 MILLION DOLLAR FUND BALANCE (SURPLUS) WHICH IMMEDIATELY WILL BE USED TO UPGRADE 911 CAD SYSTEM WHICH IS PAST DUE.

 

A MEETING OCCURRED BETWEEN ALL OF THE DISTRICT FIRE CHIEFS/CHIEFS ON OCT. 28, 2021 TO DISCUSS COMMUNICATION UPGRADES.  FIRE CHIEFS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CURRENT

CAD SYSTEM THAT 911 CURRENTLY HAS AND AN EXPLANATION OF EPSO'S CAD SYSTEM UTILIZING E-FORCE WHICH 'REAL-TIME' COMMUNICATIONS WITH ALL INFORMATION BEING INPUT ON THE

CAD SYSTEM IMMEDIATELY.  ALL EPSO DEPUTIES HAVE AT THEIR DISPOSAL A FIRSTNET CELL PHONE WITH E-FORCE SO ACCESS TO ALL INFORMATION ON THE CAD SYSTEM THAT CAN BE VIEWED IMMEDIATELY. I PROPOSE THAT ALL DISTRICT FIRE CHIEFS AND CHIEFS WOULD HAVE THIS SAME REAL TIME FIRSTNET CELL PHONES WITH E-FORCE SO THEY TOO CAN VIEW THE CAD SYSTEM WHEN ENROUTE TO A FIRE.

 

AS 911 DIRECTOR THE CAD SYSTEM WILL BE UPGRADED IMMEDIATELY AND ALL DISTRICT FIRE CHIEFS WOULD BE ASSIGNED A FIRSTNET CELL PHONE TO ACCESS ALL CAD ENTRIES.

 

6.  FIRE RATINGS WOULD NOT CHANGE EXCEPT TO IMPROVE.

 COMMUNICATIONS ONLY COMPROMISE OF 10% OF OUR FIRE RATING WITH 90% COMPROMISING OF THAT PARTICULAR FIRE DISTRICT RATING.  EACH FIRE CHIEF CAN CONTROL AND DIRECTLY MAKE CHANGES IN THEIR PERPECTIVE 90% TO IMPROVE THE FIRE RATING IN THEIR DISTRICT.  THE PORTION OF THE RATING INVOLVING 911 COMMUNICATIONS WILL ONLY IMPROVE WITH AN UPGRADED CAD SYSTEM UTILIZING E-FORCE AND FIRSTNET SMART PHONE ASSIGNED TO DISTRICT FIRE CHIEFS.  WITH DIRECT REAL-TIME COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION POSTED ON THE CAD IMMEDIATELY. THIS WOULD AID THE FIRE DISTRICTS GREATLY.

 

FINALLY,  EVANGELINE PARISH CONTINUES TO GET LEFT BEHIND.  WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS AS A BUSINESS AND MAKE THIS MOVE OR NOTHING WILL CHANGE.  TOUGH DECISIONS ARE ALWAYS MADE TO KEEP A  GOOD BUSINESS GOING.