A/C unit at court annex already toast

After only seven years, the air conditioning unit at the parish’s courthouse annex on St. Martin Street needs to be replaced.
At the Aug. 4 Parish Council meeting, Parish President Guy Cormier said that the unit, which began developing problems just three years after it was installed, was now out of order completely.
The annex, which houses offices of the assessor, clerk of court and registrar of voters, and the main courthouse have separate units and each serves as back-up for the other. The main courthouse unit is now powering both buildings, with no backup.
Cormier said that the parish was considering upgrading the replacement from the existing 70-ton unit to 100-tons, the same size as the larger courthouse.
The change will require upgrading the electrical service and possibly other systems as well.
Total cost is projected to be about $125,000, which is under the limit that requires the full bidding process. Parish legal advisor Chester Ceders said that work should proceed on a “near emergency” basis, with the usability of the whole complex at risk should the remaining unit quit. Parish Government has the resources in the budget to replace the unit immediately.
In another issue, the council approved an ordinance to allow the parish to purchase a parcel of land in Cecilia from the First Baptist Church of Opelousas. The land has been used at no cost as parking for Paul Angelle Park. District 8 Councilman Miko Robin discovered that the parcel might go on the market and proposed the purchase. Cormier commended Robin for his quick action, as parking would become a problem for the park if that space was not available.
As an added plus, Cormier said that the church plans to build a new gymnasium in Opelousas with the money, which will allow expansion of recreational programs for children in St. Landry Parish.