Lake Hermitage residents press council to resume garbage pickup after road repairs; council asks administration to review standards

A lengthy public comment session on Nov. 14 focused on Lake Hermitage, where several residents said parish garbage service stopped visiting private lanes after road‑condition concerns. Speakers including Clay Boudreau and John Matherne told the council they spent money to repair the lane and expected service to resume; they say trucks previously picked up trash there for decades.

Parish legal and operations staff explained that while the parish can legally enter private roads to collect waste if residents pay for the service, the administration will refuse service where conditions risk damaging parish equipment or creating safety hazards. Officials described a case‑by‑case approach that depends on roadway construction, turn‑around area and truck safety; they also proposed asking residents to sign waivers protecting the parish from claims where private roads might be damaged.

Councilmember LaFrance and several colleagues pushed for a clearer, written policy so residents know standards and next steps; members asked engineering to draft minimum structural standards for private lanes, and administration said staff would meet with residents and aim to report back before the next East Bank meeting in January. A motion to resume pickup on West Cass Lane was made and later withdrawn while administration promised direct follow‑up with residents.