St. Landry EMS to appeal police jury’s permit denial

CROWLEY - St. Landry EMS apparently is not taking no for answer when it comes to seeking a permit to operate in Acadia Parish.
The Opelousas-based ground ambulance service was denied permission to conduct business in Acadia by a close 4-3 vote at the Sept. 12 meeting of the Acadia Parish Police Jury.
Eight days later, the police jury received a letter from James T. Lee, a Bunkie attorney, advising that he had been retained to represent St. Landry EMS in appealing that decision.
According to Lee, the company has “met and exceeded every aspect” of the parish’s “Qualifications for Permit” ordinance, but was “denied a permit without reasonable cause.”
“Under Ordinance Section 16.5-58, a denial may be given only if it is determined that ‘said applicant is not a fit and proper person to have such a permit or license,’” Lee said in the letter.
The ordinance includes a 10-day window during which time an appeal can be filed.
“The only thing you can do today is set a date for a hearing on the appeal,” Brad Andrus, attorney for the police jury explained.
Jurors decided to conduct the hearing during their next regularly schedule meeting on Nov. 14.
Jurors voting against the permit at the September meeting included Kerry Kilgore, Jimmie Pellerin, Richard Faul and David Savoy.
Voting in favor of granting the permit were Robert Guidry, Ronnie Fabacher and Chuck Broussrd.
Danny Hebert was absent.