Parish Council changes way traffic devices are installed or removed

FRANKLIN — The last echoes of the battle of the Bayou Vista stop signs didn’t quite fade away Wednesday. But one of the last shots was fired when the St. Mary Parish Council voted to change the way traffic control devices are changed.
Another piece of the puzzle will have to wait for another meeting.
Parish Councilman Scott Ramsey had been trying since November to remove stop signs in the Jupiter-Columbus area of Bayou Vista. He argued that too many stop signs aren’t just an inconvenience, but that they encourage people to ignore them.
Councilwoman Gwendolyn Hidalgo opposed the moves and came to a meeting armed with a petition signed by Bayou Vista residents. She and some of the residents responded to Ramsey’s proposal by saying the stop signs are needed to protect children and senior citizens.
At least two ordinances to remove stop signs went nowhere. But as Ramsey, an attorney, delved into the issue, he became convinced that St. Mary Parish wasn’t complying with state and federal guidance for the placement of traffic control devices.
“It was a moment of awakening,” Ramsey said after Wednesday’s meeting.
He spoke in favor of requiring review by a traffic engineer before traffic devices are either removed or installed.
Ramsey settled on an ordinance that says any council member who wants to have a traffic control device installed, changed or removed must file a written request with the parish chief administrative officer.
The request will be reviewed by a South Central Planning and Development Commission engineer. If the request is found to be in compliance with state law and in agreement with “experienced traffic engineering judgement,” an ordinance may be introduced.
Ramsey’s ordinance calling for the review passed 9-0. Members J Ina and Hidalgo were absent.
“This takes it out of the realm of any kind of political move to put up or take down signage ...,” Ramsey said. “Now St. Mary Parish is in compliance with the law and the rest of the country.”
Another ordinance, which Ramsey feels was directed at his attempts to change the stop signs, was tabled.
Hidalgo had introduced an ordinance that says any ordinance that is defeated by the council can’t come up again for 60 days. It was due for a passage vote Wednesday, but Ramsey suggested putting the vote off until Hidalgo, who missed the meeting because of an illness in her family, can be present.
Another skirmish was rejoined briefly Wednesday.
Parish President David Hanagriff told the council that he believes the Gravity Drainage District 2A board acted improperly when it accepted the donation of a small piece of land on behalf of Drainage District 6. That was one of two districts consolidated in 2020 in a controversial move favored by Hanagriff but opposed by some Parish Council members.
The consolidation merged District 6 in Amelia and District 2 in Morgan City.
The District 2A board reversed the decision to acccept the land for District 6, Hanagriff said. But he said a district official told him the original move was made because that’s what Parish Council members Kristi Prejeant Rink and Dean Adams wanted.
And that, Hanagriff said, raises questions about council interference in the workings of the drainage district.
“I can honestly say that I didn’t say that,” Rink said.
“Before someone brings any allegations,” Adams said, “he better come with something in writing, and it better be certified.”
Hanagriff has said opponents of the consolidation have made attacks on the board. Opponents say they believe the district isn’t complying with its commitment to keep money raised in Amelia in Amelia and money raised in Morgan City in Morgan City.
Also Wednesday:
—The council introduced ordinances setting three property tax rates for this year. They are: 5.72 mills for maintenance and support and 0.31 for debt service for the parish library system; 7.60 mills on property outside municipalities for general parish purposes; and 3.80 mills on property inside municipalities to support the criminal justice system.
—Councilman Rodney Olander praised state Rep. Vincent St. Blanc III and state Sen. Bret Allain, both R-Franklin, for their work to secure repair of La. 182 in the west part of the parish.
The work is now getting underway.
“So hallelujah, we’re finally getting a new road between Franklin and Centerville,” Olander said.