City, police jury partner on overlay projects in Abbeville

Trying to do something alone can accomplish only so much, but joining with others can create endless possibilities.
That idea has led to the much-needed repair of some streets in Abbeville.
The city recently partnered with the Vermilion Parish Police Jury on a pair of overlay projects. Abbeville Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., whose District C, included much of the area, said he is thankful to the three police jurors who represent portions of Abbeville, Paul Bourgeois, Ronald Darby and Wayne Touchet, with whom he worked so closely on the projects.
“It’s great when different entities can work together for the benefit of the citizens we both represent,” Broussard said. “This project is a fine example of the work we can accomplish together, being greater than what we can do individually.
“Working together, we were able to repair that deteriorated section of road to help the citizens and businesses in those areas.”
That included the repair and overlay of five blocks near the area of Lafayette Street between North Gertrude and North Miles. The Police Jury and the City of Abbeville recently entered into an Intergovernmental Agreement to share the estimated $67,300 for the work.
“This agreement was made possible by the support of both Juror Ron Darby and Juror Paul Bourgeois who share representation of that area with me,” Broussard said.
The cost-sharing also helped improve a stretch of North Main Street, as well as parts of Fairview Street. The police jury and the city each agreed to an estimated $8,000 for half of that project, which Glen Lege Construction completed last week.
“The overlay of North Main Street from East Vermilion Street to the coulee would not have been possible without the great working relationship between Police Juror Wayne Touchet and the City of Abbeville,” Broussard said.
Mayor Mark Piazza and the city council have seen the overlaying of a significant number of roads in recent years with the help of grants from the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant (LCDBG) Program.
The LCDBG grant is awarded every two years. Broussard said the streets, including those near Lafayette Street, could not wait for the grant process to run its course.
“This section of road was an example of roads that needed repair and can’t wait for a possible future grant,” Broussard said. “The cooperation between the city and the police jury made this repair possible.”
Again, the possibilities are endless when it comes to what can be accomplished when government entities come together. Broussard stressed that this is a testament to that.
“I can’t begin to thank these fine jurors enough for the privilege I have to work with them for common solutions that help citizens we both represent,” Broussard said. “In a day and time as now, witnessing such a lack of discourse and cooperation in Washington D.C., this is a great example where the police jury and the City of Abbeville can work so well together in pooling our resources for better roads we all share.”