Saint Landry Parish has hired a full-time
beaver control officer, but it is unclear what to charge the
parish’s 13 special drainage taxing districts for his services.
While beavers, or more exactly the dams they build, have been a
problem for decades, in the past year they have grown to become a
serious concern throughout most of the parish, blamed for much of
the flooding in low-lying areas.
The parish council has spent about $10,000 to equip the new
control officer, primarily for a four-wheeler to allow him to get
to the beavers, plus traps and other equipment. While most of these
expenses are one-time start-up fees, the parish will also have the
continuing expense of the beaver control officer’s salary and
benefits.
As for a recommended fee for the districts, there was little
agreement within the council during this week’s finance committee
meeting. Some argued for a fixed annual fee, some for a
pay-as-you-go plan and others arguing for a sliding fee based on
the relative wealth of each district.
Collectively the 13 districts, funded by property taxes and
responsible for draining in their respective areas, bring in a
little more than 1 million dollars a year.