Summer camp plans cause a stir in St. Martinville

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, July 17, 2018

ST. MARTINVILLE — A request by the Rev. Zack Mitchell of the Iberia Christian Ministerial Federation to use St. Martinville’s Adam Carlson Park and it’s facilities for a youth camp for New Iberia residents met opposition Monday night from an outspoken St. Martinville resident who was cheered on by some assembled at the St. Martinville City Council meeting.

Mitchell approached the mayor and council with the idea of renting the park space to host a camp that would begin next week. The camp has been organized to cater to New Iberia boys and girls and wouldn’t include young people from St. Martinville, he said.  There are no St. Martinville ministers, or young participants, in the Iberia Christian Ministerial Foundation, Mitchell said

Tangie Narcisse, founder/president of Excellence Abroad, a nonprofit organization for St. Martinville youth, was opposed to the idea. 

“The Adam Carlson Park is taken care of by the taxpayers and the program wouldn’t be able to be offered to the use of St. Martinville youth. I don’t think it’s neighborly respect,” Narcisse said. 

“We had a constituent that requested the use of the building for the youth that was denied, so I think it would put a bad taste in the constituents mouth that we are not supporting our own,” she said. 

Mitchell responded by saying the Foundation is made up of several ministers from various denominations in Iberia Parish, which, he said, is a feat within itself. As the organization grows, he said, he is open to accepting input and joint efforts from surrounding areas yet the need for the facility is immediate. 

His interest in St. Martinville’s park, he said, was because of better accommodations.

“They have a concern for the kids in their community and I understand but our kids are crossing the line in crime and other areas and we need to be concerned for them across the line not only in our individual areas, “ Mitchell said. “And that needs to be the condition of the heart.” 

Councilman Mike Fuselier said there’s a difference between a previous request to use the facility for the youth and what Mitchell is suggesting.

“One request was for the whole summer for free. This is for five days and they are paying us a fee,” Fuselier said.

The council voted to table the issue at the suggestion of St. Martinville Mayor Melinda Mitchell, who said the city needed to research the fees that would be charged so they could apply across the board for any future requests.

Lucinda Darby, head volleyball coach at St. Martinville Senior High School, approached the council for free use of the city pool as a culminating event for the summer. Darby said other programs, such as girls and basketball programs, had been granted similar requests and received funds.

 “We have in the past paid for it but I felt if you can support their activities you can support ours as well,” Darby said. 

The council decided to take no action on Darby’s request, as well as a request for the boys basketball team at SMSH to use the pool.

A motion by St. Martinville resident Nary Smith to change the name of Randolph Street to Willie Francis Street died as a result of not receiving a second by any member of the council. 

Nary spoke about the historical significance of the life and execution attempts of Francis, who he said is mentioned in law school cases around the state. Francis survived a state electrocution on the first attempt and faced the electric chair twice. 

City attorney Alan Durand called Francis’ story one of the most notorious to emerge from St. Martin Parish. Nary said that talks are being held to make a movie about Francis’ life and the city should be interested in acknowledging him as a resident of St. Martinville.