On Monday night, after much discussion, the Evangeline Parish Police Jury approved the Request by IBV Energy Partners and/or Bayou Chicot Solar, LLC for certain tax exemptions and other considerations negotiated by the Industrial Development Board for the Bayou Chicot Solar Farm with a vote of 6-3. This project is now ready to move on to the next phase.
After opening items, the public was invited to speak on agenda items, and there were numerous speakers who had comments and questions about the Request by IBV Energy Partners and/or Bayou Chicot Solar, LLC for certain tax exemptions and other considerations. Earlier in the day, the Industrial Development Board and other community leaders met with IBV Energy Partners to amend the resolution adopted on March 19th. Note that this resolution is only attributable to the Bayou Chicot Solar Project. The Ad Valorem Pilot was changed from a 75-25 split to a 72 – 28 deal for the first 15 years of the project. In the 16th year of the project and going forward, the company will be obligated to pay 100% of the ad valorem taxes that will then be assessed. The maximum increase in the value was removed from the resolution, so the Parish can share in the total increase in value of the project, but the minimum valuation of $240 million was kept in the resolution. A Sales Tax Pilot was also added, so that the company will pay $5,000,000 in sales taxes. When this is added to the amount being collected from IBV, the incentive changes to 60-40, and this is the best deal that currently exists in the state of Louisiana based on research done by the Parish Tax Assessor. Funds collected will be distributed according to the Ad Valorem schedule in place. These changes were made in accordance with the concerns of the Jury Members and their constituents. The total amount of funds expected to be collected in the first fifteen years of this project is $58 million.
There were questions about the tax incentives, and what amounts of money will be realized by the Parish. There were concerns about the way the moneys will be divided among the taxing entities. People also wanted to know what jobs will be created and if local businesses will be hired for work to be done. All of these issues were discussed by the Jury and the Representatives from the Industrial Development Board.
Troy Wayman from One Acadiana spoke at the meeting. He let everyone know that IBV plans an initial investment in this Parish of $169 million. There will be many jobs during the construction phase. The tax impact from sales in the first year and a half is expected to be $4,000,000. The total amount in taxes projected to be collected for the first 15 years is $58 million. The power infrastructure will be improved by this investment as well.
IBV has proposed to award $2000 scholarships for one graduating senior from each of the five high schools in the Parish. The split of the funds will be 53% to the Police Jury, 8% to the Sheriff, and 39% to the School Board.
This project has been under way for four years. All of the due diligence has been done. The argument was put forth that this project will set a precedent for future industries considering this parish for development, and that this is something the needs to be done for the future of the parish, and for the children and grandchildren.
When the resolution was put to a vote by the Board, there were three votes in opposition – Kevin Veillon, Darion Arvie and Daniel Arvie. Those in favor included Bryan Vidrine, Keith Saucier, Sidney Fontenot, Ryan Ardoin, Timothy Causey, and Brent Guillory. This project was approved to move to the next phase.
At the closing of that discussion, IDB Board Member Wayne Vidrine asked the Police Jury Board to strongly consider an industrial park near the highway. The Parish loses potential investing companies because there is no access to a four lane highway.
The Board then continued on with the remaining Agenda for the meeting.
Rotary Club Meeting – 4-2-24
The program at Tuesday’s Rotary luncheon was presented by Rotarian Beau Wilson. Beau introduced Connie Lamke, the Founder and President of ...
On Monday night, after much discussion, the Evangeline Parish Police Jury approved the Request by IBV Energy Partners and/or Bayou Chicot Solar, LLC for certain tax exemptions and other consideration...
It will be quite the night in Nashville this evening for one Acadiana native as country singer James Dupré will be making his debut on the hallowed stage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Sheriff’s Office Arrests
May 3, 2023 Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News the following arrests: A Ville Platte area man, Jonathan Sittig age 40 , turned himself to authorities Wednesday, May 3 on an outstanding warrant for Simple Battery. One other subject is still wanted: Jason Peschier age 45 of Ville Platte on a charge of Aggravated Second Degree Battery in the same case. He is described as a white male, six feet one inches tall, 235 pounds in weight with brown eyes and short blonde hair. If anyone has information on the whereabouts of the subject , please contact the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Department at 337-363-2161. The charges are in connection with a disturbance at a bar at the intersection of LA 13 and LA 10 in September of last year. The victim was attacked by multiple subjects at the bar and one of the subjects struck the victim with a pair of brass knuckles. With the use of surveillance video, deputies were able to identify the two suspects. In another cases, Ville Platte City Police on April 26, arrested a suspect wanted in connection with an incident at the Dollar General Store in Bayou Chicot. The sheriff’s spokesman identified the suspect as Erica Joanne Roberts, age 33, of Ville Platte. She was arrested and charged with aggravated battery by Evangeline Parish authorities. The arrest was in connection with the Dollar Store incident in November of 2022. Deputies responded to the Bayou Chicot Dollar Store in reference to a theft. Upon arrival, deputies learned that the victim attempted to stop the suspect from leaving the store parking lot with stolen merchandise. The suspect struck the victim with the vehicle almost running over the victim. In another case, sheriff’s deputies arrested Christopher Duplechain, age 51, of Basile was arrested on April 28 on a charge of Domestic Abuse Battery. He remains incarcerated in the parish jail awaiting a Gwen’s Law hearing. The arrest was in connection with information gotten from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services investigators involving a possible case of abuse in the family home. Upon completion of the investigation, it was determined that the father, Duplechain, struck his 14 year old daughter causing multiple injuries that required medical attention. They also determined that this incident was the culmination of a pattern of abuse over time and it ended with this incident. Also assisting in the investigation were representatives of the Hearts of Hope Child Advocacy Center. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.