By Rita Shirley LeBleu

The Cameron Parish Police Jury, upon recommendation of staff, voted to stay with the current vision and dental program because of certain in-network providers. It also voted to pay 100 percent of employees’ health insurance premiums at its Monday, Aug. 10, meeting, despite an 18 percent increase.

Three RV Park owners received the Police Jury’s go ahead with a stipulation. They will be required to get letters from adjacent property owners to determine whether those property owners want a privacy fence. Parks are located in Cameron at 133 Bobbies Lane, 130 Garber St. and 133 Maple St.

RV Park traffic and sewer capacity concerns were also aired by residents and jurors.

When you go fill out a permit, they look at what the pond can hold,” explained Anthony Theriot. “It doesn’t mean your pumping station can get it there.”

CPPJ Vice President Sonny McGee said “siting” would probably need to be addressed in the future. When one small road feeds a park with 200 or 300 spots already, the Police Jury may not want to add anymore (RVs), he said.

“Without zoning it’s very tough to do that but we ought to give it a look and see what we can do,” McGee said.

Four reports were heard during the morning session.

Richie Gregory, The Gregory Agency, told jurors that the reason for the health insurance 18 percent premium increase is that Blue Cross paid out more in claims than collected. Aetna and United Healthcare declined to provide a quote “based upon your claims history.”

Gregory also presented alternatives to the current dental and vision program that would cost less.

Legislative update and “ask”

In his report, David Koke, the Picard Group, told jurors the state collected less than anticipated, giving them about $100 million less to play with when it came to funding state and local projects. However, the governmental affairs and lobbying group secured $2.5 million for the parish, he said.

He noted $800,000 for the parish-wide road rehab, 125,000 for flood prevention efforts, $500,000 for Port of Cameron dock restoration expansion, $800,000 for Hwy. 82 to the Vermillion Parish line, $250,000 for Drainage District 9, as well as “dollars for tourism and a separate drainage board fund.”

Koke also reported that the new ferry, which was expected in July, will arrive in September.

Providing a moment of levity, CPPJ President Michael Fewell quipped, “What year?”

Koke said that was “a fair question,” and answered 2026.

Eighty million dollars of the $120 million dollars needed for repairs of the Big Lake Road Black Bayou Pontoon Bridge has been identified, according to Koke. Federal and state opportunities continue to be pursued.

Koke said carbon capture was a topic at the state level and will be again next session. Leadership was not fully on board with the way bills were written and there was much discussion, he said.

“Certainly we’re letting the leadership know where the parish stands and looking for that local authority on those projects as it relates to the needs and interest of Cameron Parish,” he said.

Jurors asked Koke to look into developing a plan for a Grand Lake Pontoon Bridge as well.

The 2025 audit and a 2027 deadline

CPA Brian McCain, Coy Vincent, Gragson Casiday & Guillory told jurors there were no reportable findings for the December 31, 2025 audit. That indicates a clean audit.

To read the rest of this story, please see page three of the print edition of The Cameron Parish Pilot.