Richard Report: Moderator added to annual address

Published 12:30 am Friday, August 10, 2018

Iberia Parish President Larry Richard is preparing for his annual address to discuss recent events to local residents. 

The State of the Parish Address will be held on 6 p.m. Aug. 14. The event is held annually by the parish president and will take place at the Sliman Theater on Main Street in New Iberia. 

This year’s format has changed a bit and the program will include a moderator who will seek information from Richard regarding topics important to Iberia Parish. Richard asked for anyone who is interested in topics related to the parish to make plans to attend. 

• Iberia Parish Government is in the beginning stages of preparing the 2019 fiscal budget. 

“Our financial group is gathering information and planning budget meetings with each department,” Richard said. “The process is a tedious one involving a collaborative effort with all departments and boards. It is very important that we stay on schedule in order to complete the process within the allotted time required by law.”

Once all information is compiled, it is presented to the Iberia Parish Council for review. The administration plans to present the consolidated budget to the council by the end of September.

Following the submission of the consolidated budget, the council will schedule multiple budget meetings for review of the consolidated budget.

The process culminates with the presentation of funding requirements to the Parish Council by the administration. At that point the council will vote to approve or deny the funding requested for the budget.

By law, this must be accomplished prior to the last meeting in December. Richard said the plan is to have the final document presented to the council by the end of November.

“While we are still faced with a less than favorable economy, and revenue has been down for quite some time, we did receive some positive news on this months revenue report,” he said.

“We are still down in all revenue generating funds based on previous years collections, but this months report actually showed a slight increase in some funds from previous monthly reporting.”

• “As I reported earlier this year Governor Edwards was forced to veto many capital outlay projects, but did agree to fund the Acadiana Regional Airport Access Road through capital outlay,” Richard said.

“We are moving ahead with this project that has been a long time in the making. Property purchases for the road are complete, and we are well on our way to making this road a reality.

“This project, along with the straightening of Highway 88, will decrease the time it takes to access the Acadiana Regional Airport and help with our ability to attract large cargo transport companies and others to move into the region which will help to boost our economy.

In addition to the Acadiana Regional Access Road a roundabout at Louisiana 675 which will connect 675 to the access road is also in the design process. 

Richard said the administration recently submitted 60 percent completion plans to DOTD for review and are on schedule to have 100 percent completion plans submitted by the end of 2018. 

“This roundabout is said to be one of the largest, if not the largest, in the state and will not only enhance movement of large loads to and from the area but also improve intersection safety,” Richard said.

“I am very excited about the movement we are making towards infrastructure development and enhancement, and also with the partnering relationship we share with DOTD and all entities involved in making these projects a reality.”