Cotten Road may be gated because of illegal activities

A locked gate may be placed toward the end of Cotten Road to prevent trash dumping and other illegal activities that may be taking place in a wooded area between the roadway and the Intracoastal Canal.
Members of the St. Mary Parish Council heard a request Wednesday from property owner Scott Green to put up the gate. He said he is the owner of all of the property on both sides of the southern end of the road.
Cotten Road runs from U.S. 90 and serves as the access to Kemper Williams Park, Wedell-Williams Aviation & Cypress Sawmill Museum and the Atchafalaya Golf Course at Idlewild before it reaches Green’s property.
“We’re having a lot of traffic, a lot of dumping trash … I just purchased the property and I’m concerned about liability plus I don’t like picking up everybody else’s trash,” he said.
He assured the council he would provide keys to all who need them.
“Just about every night somebody goes down there and dumps a (animal) carcass,” Councilman Steve Bierhorst said. “I don’t understand why people have to bring their couches down to the end of Cotten Road and throw ‘em on the side of the road when we pick up trash twice a week.”
“Plus outlaws, too, there’s a lot of that that goes on,” Green said in reference to illegal hunting at night. The area also is used as a lover’s lane, he said.
Bierhorst added that the road has served as access from the Intracoastal by drug runners in years past.
“Most people that are back there, they’re up to no good,” Bierhorst said.
The council agreed to place the item on its next agenda after legal counsel researches the ability of placing a gate on a public road.
In other business the council:
—Introduced an ordinance to authorize the assessment of an additional $10 fee on court costs and fines in Ward 3 Franklin City Court. Revenue derived from the additional fees would be dedicated to the construction, acquisition, leasing, equipping and maintaining the court facility and establishment of a “Judicial Building Fund.
—Passed resolutions authorizing extension of an intergovernmental agreement with the state Department of Transportation and Development on the detour of U.S. 90 to La. 182 via Duhon Boulevard; and requesting the members of the Louisiana federal delegation to ask President Barack Obama to extend the public comment period on Executive Order 13690, the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, and pass legislation delaying implementation until NACo and state and local governments are consulted on the impacts of the executive order.
—Passed a resolution in support of American Red Cross Month in March and accepted a Red Cross flag from Acadiana Chapter board members Allison Pellerin.
—Approved a request for funding from the Bayou Teche Wooden Boat Show in the amount of $1,000 from three-tenths sales tax collections. The show is held in Franklin on April 17-19.