Watch Your Step out of Vermilion Parish Courthouse

The step is only six inches high but some people are not seeing it as they leave the Vermilion Parish Courthouse.
Over the last month, three people walking out the door of the entrance of the courthouse have fallen onto the brick floor because they did not realize there was a step.
The step, which has been there for more than 30 years, is now marked with yellow/black tape in hopes of getting the attention of people walking out of the courthouse.
Linda Duhon, the administrator for the police jury, educated the police jurors about the step and asked what their wishes were to fix the step problem. She told the jurors the people who have fallen are leaving the courthouse.
One way to solve the problem is to cut into the brick plaza and make a ramp in the middle, in front of the entrance of the courthouse.
She spoke with architect Gene Sellers Jr., who already drew preliminary plans of what the ramp would look like. Sellers was waiting on the OK from the jurors to get quotes on the cost of constructing the ramp.
Sellers also informed the jurors a railing could be built, instead of a ramp, by the
entrance of the door. The railings would remind courthouse visitors there is a step.
“We could put a railing instead of a ramp,” Sellers said. “With the railing, they will know there is an incline change.”
“If they have a railing, they will automatically go to the railing,” said police juror Allen LeMaire.
Police juror Wayne Touchet told Sellers since the drawings are already made, find out what it would cost to build a ramp.
Sellers said depending on the slope of the ramp will determine if railings will be needed along side of the ramp.
The police jury is already in the process of putting three railings at the lower three-steps near the entrance because accidents have occurred.
Sellers is hoping to have prices for a ramp by Tuesday at the regular police jury meeting.
It is not uncommon for the security guards at the front entrance of the courthouse to step outside and help the elderly walk down the steps by the road.
There is a handicap ramp but is off to the side of the entrance door.