St. Landry Parish President Orders Weed Spraying

The St. Landry Parish President says that he wants parish-wide weed spraying started next week because it has not been done in the past three years.

St. Landry Parish President Bill Fontenot made the order this week even though the council voted last week to rebid the contract for spraying services.

Fontenot says it's a safety issue.  The St. Landry Parish Council's attorney Lance Pitre says the council's vote to let the contract out for bids should be honored.

However, Pitre points out that the cost of spraying would be $78,824 and that does not fall under state bid law guidelines.

Fontenot told the council that if they did not agree with his plan, they could take him to court.  He says he would win the case.

It's been three years since weed spraying has been done on the more than 900 miles of parish roads.