Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Anthony Bartie lifted the burn ban at the Thursday meeting. The order is effective beginning Friday, Nov. 8.

Jurors voted 7-5 to come back in 60 days to vote to amend a  community-type sewerage system ordinance. One juror had a strong reaction. 

Before the meeting, Public Works Director Allen Wainwright explained the amendment.  

“Currently, we have an option that upon completion of construction, the sewage system can be turned over to the Police Jury or the developer to operate in a new subdivision. We think turning the system over to the Police Jury (removing that option) would avoid some problems in the longterm.”

Judd Bares, District 12, appeared to take the move for deferral personally, raising his voice at one point when Brian Abshire, District 5 was explaining why he made the motion. Later in the meeting, Bares interjected a remark directed at Abshire referencing the deferral during an unrelated agenda item. 

During discussion Abshire said that he felt like jurors had moved a bit fast in the last few weeks. He thought a third party was needed to review the plan and provide outside information. He added that he felt like there had not been enough stake holder input. 

According to a note about the agenda item, the Wastewater Study Committee and the Parish-Wide Drainage Committee initially reviewed the proposed ordinance in May. The Planning and Zoning Board received an introduction in May. The Board took action in June. The Police Jury received the proposed ordinance at its meeting June 20 and deferred action at meetings in July and August. 

Roger Marcantel, District 11, seconded Abshire’s motion for the 60-day deferral. He also wanted to hear from stakeholders, subdivision developers. 

“We haven’t done it this way for 50 years, so what’s the rush,” Marcantel said during a telephone interview after the meeting. 

Voting in favor of deferring the vote were Brian Abshire, Joe Andrepont, Randy Burleigh, Ron Hayes, Roger Marcantel, Darby Quinn and Mike Smith. Voting against were Judd Bares, Brent Clement, Mary Kaye Eason, Tony Guillory and Tony Stelly. Absent were Eddie Lewis and Chris Landry.