OPELOUSAS – Wednesday’s St. Landry Parish Council meeting passed swiftly as the council moved unanimously on a number of ongoing issues.

The council voted to accept five changes to the to the proposed revised trail ride ordinance 11-0, with Councilmember Albert Hollier abstaining.

Last month, Parish President Don Menard introduced a proposed trail ride ordinance, but the council took exception to the clause stating that the parish president’s office would be responsible for accepting or denying trail ride permits.

Several council members said that, as representatives of their districts, they should continue to be the body that approves trail rides.

Some council members also expressed concern about trail rides originating from outside the parish using St. Landry Parish.

The issue was sent to the Administrative/Finance Committee, which recommended the following five changes to the proposed ordinance:

1) Trail ride boss must be a resident of St. Landry Parish

2) Parish council to remain the deciding body to approve or deny trail ride applications

3) Permit fee to be raised from the current $100 to $300 and a damage deposit of $500 established

4) 8.5 x 11 inch numbered stickers required on the backs of each registered horseback rider participating in a trail ride event.

5) Total allowed horses for an event limited to 1,000

The council voted on the five changes in one motion after Hollier’s substitute motion to vote on each change individually failed to be seconded.

The council also voted unanimously to approve a resolution relating to the $12.7 million hurricane mitigation grant the parish received through the Louisiana Recovery Authority.

Last month, Menard said that all but six projects had been approved, the rest requiring further documentation that the projects fit into the hurricane mitigation criteria.

The resolution authorizes Menard to move forward on the approved projects, preparing applications and soliciting an engineering firm.

The resolution also certifies that seven additional projects meet the grant conditions: parish courthouse improvements, sheriff’s emergency response system, equipment for fire districts Nos. 1 and 3, Krotz Springs drainage improvements and Krotz Springs fire hydrant replacement.