A couple of thoughts about items in the local news.

• So weeks after we first were alerted to how some Jeanerette residents had received water bills totalling more than $1,000, we’re still left to wonder what happened, and what the city was doing to help residents who received such an unpleasant surprise in their mail.

Jeanerette Mayor Aprill Foulcard wasn’t talking to this newspaper when the issue was first reported, hasn’t volunteered any information since then and didn’t return calls made over two days last week, ahead of a story in Friday’s paper seeking some update on the situation.

Our reporter did talk to one city resident who said she got a $1,700 water bill and who said she thought as many as 180 other residents had also received the unusually high water bills. But then this resident would only confirm something had been “worked out” but wouldn’t provide any details on what that might have included — having the bill forgiven or working out a payment plan or what?

The mayor doesn’t have to talk to this newspaper but there are still plenty of Jeanerette residents who say they too are still left to wonder what happened that such big water bills were sent out, catching those who received them by surprise along with others who heard about them.

Mayor Pro Tem Tia Simmons said in Friday’s story she hasn’t been updated so she too is left to wonder what happened even though she’s part of the board that’s charged with managing the city’s business.

Whatever happened and whatever’s being done as a follow up, members of the city’s board of alderman ought to know, as should city residents. We’re all left to wonder why it’s such a big deal to explain what happened, and what’s being done to address the problem.          

• Wouldn’t we all love to be in the position to say, “Darned, I have to take a pay raise, because that’s the law.” That’s kind of what we heard from Iberia Parish President Larry Richard who says the parish’s Home Rule Charter says his office’s pay is supposed to be based on the average pay of the sheriff, the assessor and the clerk of court.

He said last week he’s stuck, that the parish is obligated to follow the charter and it appears based on the charter’s formula, the parish president’s pay is too low.

Yes, to get qualified candidates for offices like parish president the parish needs to pay a competitive wage. It’s a big business and needs a capable parish administrator, and the charter sets the salary, not the parish president.

But wouldn’t we all love to be able to say we were forced by law to take a pay raise? Darn it.

WILL CHAPMAN

PUBLISHer