Trailer park issue on agenda

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, February 13, 2018

The Iberia Parish Council will go into executive session and make any necessary decisions on an ongoing lawsuit between Iberia Parish Government and mobile home residents who are disputing a recent ordinance on trash pickup. 

The council passed an ordinance last year designating mobile home parks as commercial establishments. One of the effects was to make the owners of those parks responsible for their own garbage services, which would cease parish-provided garbage pickup. 

A lawsuit was filed late last year by several mobile home residents, who argued in their petition that mobile home residents pay a half-cent sales tax for garbage services, and claimed the ordinance denied residents of equal protection under the Louisiana and U.S. constitutions. 

A hearing was held Sept. 27 in the 16th Judicial District Court, where the mobile home residents sought an injunction on the law taking effect until the matter was resolved in court. Judge Curtis Sigur granted the injunction. 

Shortly afterward, IPG transferred the case to federal court in the Western District of Louisiana, where it currently is being considered. Since then, defendants and plaintiffs have been making arguments on whether the case should be heard in federal court or in state court. 

The last update was on Jan. 4, when an order was given by U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst that the court would make a decision based on briefs that both parties had submitted.

The IPC is scheduled to enter into an executive session at Wednesday’s meeting to discuss the case. The council also will vote on a resolution authorizing any recommended action following the executive session. 

In other business, the council will hear from representatives of the Iberia Parish Airport Authority about the hiring of a new director for the facility. The council will vote to amend the IPAA’s budget for the amount of $15,000 to receive administrative services from the Iberia Industrial Development Foundation’s personnel, which is all to be funded from various line items in the administrative budget. 

IDA Director Mike Tarantino is serving as interim director for the IPAA. 

Also Wednesday, the IPC will discuss and vote on:

• A resolution authorizing the parish president to execute a contract with American Integration Contractors LLC. for security services for the Main Court Building. 

• A resolution granting substantial completion to the water system improvements on Coteau and Fremin roads. 

• An ordinance requiring all parish boards and commissions to establish their regular meeting times after 4 p.m. to allow the public the opportunity to attend public meetings. 

The IPC meeting will begin at 5:45 p.m.