Council committee approves surplus of damaged candle inventory after parish-caused power outage

The Terrebonne Parish Budget & Finance Committee unanimously approved a resolution to declare and dispose of roughly 618 candle-related items — candles, wax melts and associated containers — that were removed from a resident’s home after parish equipment accidentally severed the home's power line.

The surplus declaration, moved by Councilmember Danny Babin and seconded by Councilmember Clyde Hamner, passed 9-0 in committee. A parish staff member described the incident and the reason the inventory is being surplused: “Our employee was picking up some debris or used a skid steer, accidentally took the power line that runs to a resident's home. So a 100% our fault in that matter. We had to fix the electricity to the house, and in the result, there was a candle business in that house. She lost a good bit of inventory and product there. So we we as a result of settling out that claim, we had to remove that product from her possession and then dispose of it legally.”

Nut graf: The items are being declared surplus because they became parish possession during settlement of a property-damage claim; the committee authorized disposal by legally approved methods.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about what a “wax melt” or “dough bowl” referred to; staff replied that the containers and wax items were part of a single inventory lot taken during the claim settlement. Councilmembers indicated the unusual nature of the item but accepted staff’s explanation and approved disposal.

Ending: The disposal authorization clears property-control and risk-management staff to follow parish surplus procedures for final disposition of the items.