Maurice grows during ‘blessed’ 2014

MAURICE — For Wayne Theriot, the mayor of the Village of Maurice, 2014 can be summed up in a word...growth.
“One of the highlights of ‘14 is the phenomenal growth that we have experienced,” Theriot said. “That is both economically and population wise.”
The village currently has a population of more than 1,300.
“We opened that 43-home subdivision this year,” Theriot said. “That has been completed.”
There is more of the same expected this year.
“We have approved the start of a 53-home addition to Rue des Cannes subdivision,” Theriot said. “That is showing a tremendous confidence in us by these developers.
“We look forward to that same type of thing in the upcoming year.”
Residential areas are not the only buildings popping up.
“We have some new businesses that are coming in,” Theriot said. “They are starting the ground work for that. We hope that will also continue.”
Business has been good, and remained steady, in the village.
“Our sales tax collection has been phenomenal,” Theriot said. “That shows that our citizens are prospering, as well as our businesses.
“That shows that they have confidence is us, as well as Vermilion Parish.”
As for numbers, the sales tax revenue nearly doubled its monthly average this year.
“We were averaging around mid-$30,000 to the low-$40,000 in recent years,” Theriot said. “We are now averaging basically in the mid-$60,000 per month. It may not sound like a tremendous amount, but for our population, it is.
“We collect the second most of the municipalities in the parish.”
The mayor said that serves as a positive for the entire area.
“It is not just a good reflection on us,” Theriot said, “but it is a good reflection on Vermilion Parish.”
The books reflect well on the village, too.
“We had a very positive financial audit,” Theriot said. “We will move to continue with that trend and do the things that are appropriate, so that we can have another positive audit.”
As for projects, the village has some on tap for 2015.
“We are looking at expanding our sewer system,” Theriot said. “We will be investing money in that system to take in some of the properties that we don’t currently service.
“That’s good that we can take our own money and invest it into our system.”
Growth, in any of its forms, is a good thing. It is even better when it happens with a plan.
The village took a big step this year to make sure that happens. The village created a zoning commission that will work with businesses and other groups coming into the village.
“That is one of the biggest things that we accomplished this year,” Theriot said.
The five-person zoning commission comprises citizens John Suire, Chris Simon, Nicholas Hebert and, John Thibeaux, as well as outgoing Alderman Gary Villien. He will continue to serve on the board in the new year.
“That group has given us a tremendous effort,” Theriot said. “We are able to zone the whole village and it gives us a blueprint of what we want to be and how we want to accomplish that.”
Theriot said there is one major characteristic of Maurice that he does not want to see lost in all the growth.
“We don’t want to loss our village charm,” Theriot said. “I like to feel the Village of Maurice is like a big family.
“We are just taking new members into that family.”
The family aspect shone through recently when residents of Pelican Pointe Healthcare and Rehabilitation had to be evacuated in November during wet, cold conditions. The residents were brought to the nearby Amana Christian Fellowship Church, which opened its doors as an evacuation point. People passing by stopped to help push some of the residents’ wheelchairs. Others brought blankets to cover the elderly residents.
“That was the community coming together to support our citizens,” Theriot said. “It was a tremendous feeling to see that type of support.
“It was very heartwarming to see the villages’ reaction as a whole.”
Theriot said that makes him feel all the better about the Village of Maurice and its future.
“We hope that future is good,” Theriot said. “We have been extremely blessed with what we have been given.
“We are blessed to be a part of the prosperity that is reflective of not only us, but all of Vermilion Parish.”