Council accepts donated drainage equipment amid questions over district millage and use

The Lafush Parish Council voted unanimously March 24 to accept a donation of equipment from Fifth Ward Gravity Drainage District No. 5 and to authorize the parish president to execute related documents. The ordinance and accompanying resolution were presented by administration and moved by Councilman Melvin with a second from Councilman Pierce.

The most pointed discussion came from Councilman Lraine, who said the drainage district’s tax was approved every 10 years and “the last time that they approved their tax was 2017 and it would expire in 2027,” but alleged the district ‘‘cut four years’’ in 2023. Lraine said that made the board’s earlier actions ‘‘illegal’’ and asked whether equipment purchased by the district should be deployed only within the area that paid for it or anywhere in the parish.

Council members and other speakers described the history of district operations and local maintenance: Lraine argued the equipment was paid for by residents in the 308 Leaf Crossing area and should remain dedicated to that district; Councilman Melvin and others noted the parish has taken responsibility for some duties since 2023 and expressed concern about continuity of maintenance if the district’s staffing or funding changed. The parish did not provide a written accounting of the specific equipment-by-location during the hearing.

Despite the objections and questions, the ordinance and resolution were approved on voice vote (nine yays, zero nays). The council also approved a related resolution implementing the donation agreement.

Next steps: the council approved the administrative authorization for the parish president to sign and implement the donation agreement. The record contains discussion about the district’s millage timing and the intended geographic use of the equipment; the council did not adopt any amendment restricting equipment use to the original district during the meeting.