VA van may now get a driver

Parish government and mayors have teamed up to help the local Veterans Affairs transportation van bring patients to appointments.
Mark Bogan previously reported that the national Veterans Affairs required certain criteria for drivers of the transportation van.
He corrected Wednesday at the parish council’s regular meeting that the driver does not have to be a veteran, they must just pass a physical examination, drug screening and background check.
Parish President Paul Naquin said he has spoken with local mayors and all have agreed to pay into a driver’s position.
Bogan said the VA will take care of insurance, and Naquin said he’ll need an official letter verifying that arrangement.
There remains a question of how the actual funding will be accomplished; the VA will not allow the funds to flow through its office, and the parish is not able to do so legally. Naquin said a solution to that problem would be sought.
Also Thursday, Baldwin Mayor Donna Lewis Lanceslin asked permission to pay a bill of $3,000 from May 2014 that has not been paid from a $15,000 parish allocation for parks and recreation projects.
The bill was for uniforms and equipment for baseball league team members.
The council will have to reallocate the purpose of the funds, which must be done by ordinance which can be introduced at the council’s next meeting.
Lanceslin also said both Baldwin’s garbage trucks are broken down. She sent out a plea for any governmental entity or other source for a replacement garbage truck.
Baldwin has faced severe budget shortfalls over the past few years and Lanceslin has been addressing that crisis since elected last fall.
In other business:
—Candidate for lieutenant governor and Jefferson Parish President John Young announced his candidacy.
—Ordinances were introduced renewing the 5.72 mil and .33 mil library taxes; renewing the 3.62 mil law enforcement tax; and issuing sewage sales tax refunding bonds.
—The council adopted an ordinance assessing a $10 fee to Ward 3 court traffic, misdemeanor and code proceedings as well as the filing of civil proceedings to fund buildings and equipment.
—Resolutions were adopted authorizing the parish president to sign a cooperative agreement with Louisiana DOTD for donation of reclaimed asphalt pavement; and proclaiming May 10-16 as National Women’s Lung Health Week.
—Donald C. Lantz was appointed to the Water and Sewer 2 board; Willie John Dore Jr. was appointed to the Sewer District 8 board; Wilson Judice, Alton Broussard Jr. were reappointed to the Fire Protection 2 board; and appointment to the Fire Protection 11 board was postponed.