OPPJ: “Best Efforts” to Return Tax if V-Car Craters

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury last night adopted a resolution “to use its best efforts” to return tax monies collected for the local portion of V-Vehicle grants if the contribution does not come due. The local portion of the grant money is not due until March of 2010.

Sources tell Lincoln Parish News Online that passage of the property tax is problematic.

The resolution was authored by District A Juror Charles Jackson. The resolution also says no further taxes will be collected if the local contribution does not become due.

The jury also accepted a bank letter of commitment presented at last week’s Police Jury meeting. Parish Attorney Jay Mitchell said that bond attorney Grant Schlueter recommended the Jury make the deal.

More Tax Opposition Surfaces

Another letter to the editor appeared in The (Monroe) News-Star this morning opposing the property tax that will be on ballots October 17. The writer asserts that existing businesses will end up paying the tax.

V-Vehicle Contract Monitor Named

Lincoln Parish News Online has learned the name of the Contract Monitor who will oversee the V-Vehicle project. In response to a public records request, the Louisiana Economic Development Department said that Robert (Bob) Fudickar would serve in that capacity. The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement says the Contract Monitor is charged with the responsibility of reviewing the Company’s compliance with the agreement.

Also revealed in response to the request was that V-Vehicle Company has not invoiced the State of Louisiana for any work so far under Phase I of the CEA. Nor has the state received any documentation from the Company for its obligations toward Phase II of the project.

The public records request was responded to by Leu Anne Greco, Executive Counsel for the LED.

These revelations would tend to belie assertions of progress from the company as Greg Hilburn writes in today’s News-Star.

UPDATE: 5:30 pm

Greg Hilburn making it up out of thin air again.