Iberia Parish President Larry Richard recently received Parish Council approval to sign entity agreements for two major parish projects.

Richard said the first is an agreement between the Department of Transportation and Development, Iberia Parish Government and the Acadiana Planning Commission for the Lewis Street and Admiral Doyle Drive intersection project.

The project was proposed prior to Richard taking office, and the Acadiana Planning Commission will provide 80 percent of the funding for much of the project, he said.

Another project is for the Louisiana 675 roundabout at Airport Road. The project, also proposed before Richard took office,  also will have the Acadiana Planning Commission providing 80 percent of the funding as well.

“I am pleased to say that we were able to take both projects that were somewhat dormant and breathe life into them,” Richard said. “I am also pleased that the relationship we have with the Acadiana Planning Commission has resulted in roughly $5 million dollars being made available for funding of projects right here in Iberia Parish.”

Richard also touted the improvements in revenue collection recently in Iberia. The only area so far experiencing a decline is the occupancy tax collection, but Richard said all other funds generated an average increase of 5.95 percent.

An overall increase in revenue was shown from 2017 to 2018, 3.63 percent to be specific, Richard said.

Finally, Richard said the new public works building for Iberia Parish Government continues to show progress.

“The current weather break has given us a window of opportunity to begin some of the initial ground preparation for the upcoming renovations of the Property,” Richard said. “We look forward to occupying a portion of the facility as early as the end of the first quarter of 2019.”

Richard said the move will make public works more accessible and one that will afford a greater amount of protection to our assets during major weather events due to its higher elevation than the current Public Works location on Avery Island Road.

“We continue to move forward in an effort to improve the quality of life for everyone who calls Iberia Parish home,” he said.