September 2, 2001
The Ascension
Parish Council
c/o Mr. R. Loupe
208 East Railroad
Gonzales, La. 70737
Dear Sir:
Ascension Parish is growing at a phenomenal rate. Yet our parish government isn't. Most council persons hold a full time job elsewhere and consider being your representative a part time job to subsidize their mortgage payment, or take advantage of the parish' medical plan. To make the point, try contacting your council person Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The odds are you can't!
As it stands now, not one council person has nine to four guaranteed office hours. This means that your concerns, requests for improvements, or just to say hello would be put on hold for who knows how long. And from some of the feed back on my site that could be never.
The parish president and I discussed this matter some time ago, and the idea of council members at large was brought up as a possible solution. At least your concerns could be brought to a real persons attention instead of an answering machine or a secretary taking a message.
The real solution though would be to revamp the parish charter so that all elected representatives for all districts were full time positions, and those elected were dully qualified, (could prove a proven track record), for that position.
Attached are some inquiries made about this subject and the answers received.
Sincerely,
Chuck Le Mieux
From: Chuck Le Mieux [clemieux@inascension.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 22, 2001 6:36 AM
To: Ascension Parish Council CO; Ascension Parish CAO
Harold,
Please supply the names of all council members who are available to their
constituents Monday through Friday from the hours of 9 AM until 4 PM.
In advance, thank you.
Chuck Le Mieux
http://annasdollhouse.com
http://inascension.com
From: Patricia Cook [PCook@ascension.par.la.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 3:08 PM
To: 'Chuck Le Mieux'
Cc: Harold Marchand
Subject: RE:
The following four Councilmen are available (retired) from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00
p.m. weekdays:
Donnell Nickens, Milton Vicknair, Allison Bourque and
Shafter Kling.
Patricia Cook, Exec Sec
Parish of Ascension
Email: pcook@ascension.par.la.gov
Phone: 225-621-5754
FAX: 225-621-8567
www.ascensionparish.net
From: Chuck Le Mieux [clemieux@inascension.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 02, 2001 5:19 PM
To: Patricia Cook
Subject: RE: council members
Patricia,
Thank you for that info.
Now if you will kindly supply hours and days that the other council members are
available to their constituent.
Also, any info that you may have to your constituents that may help them receive
immediate attention to their concerns.
This request was never answered.
