Stoney Point to vote to incorporate Saturday

The Daily News

STONEY POINT - The signs of an election are everywhere - sheriff's candidates, parish council candidates and candidates for state representative, but there's one that's more pressing to residents in the Stoney Point community - regarding Saturday's election on incorporation for the area.

"Vote NO for village" reads the red letters on a white background on signs along La. Highway 16, Highway 450 and a number of side roads, including Wilton Seal Road.

And although there are no visible signs of support, the cashier at KC Grocery, located at the corner of Highways 16 and 450, said, "It's going to pass" as she collected money for an early morning sausage, egg and biscuit today.

"Oh, no, don't say that," said another store worker. "I hope it doesn't pass."

Both the KC and Stewart's Seafood and Steak House, located across Highway 450 from one another, have signs opposing the election. While other businesses are located in the affected area, those are the two most visible.

Stoney Point is one of 23 unincorporated communities in Washington Parish, but by 8 p.m. Saturday, it could be on its way to becoming the parish's fifth incorporated community.

Voters will go to the polls beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday to determine if the area, generally bounded on the south by La. Hwy. 10 and the north by La. Hwy. 440 will become a village. There are two precincts and, according to documents filed supporting the call for the election, a total of 571 persons living in the proposed municipality. More than a quarter of them - as required by law - signed a petition supporting the vote.

"It all came about from Senate Bill 639 (last summer)," explained Stoney Point resident Beth Mizell in an earlier Daily News story. "It became so clear at that time that unincorporated areas had no representation and that the incorporated areas had all the power. We felt pretty unprotected out here already."

Mizell said a group of landowners and citizens felt the need to do something.

"We want to protect the quality of life we have ... gain some protection from eminent domain," she said. Rather than change the way Stoney Point is, we want to keep it and protect the quality of life we have."

It gives the community, she pointed out, some right of self-government.

Parish President Toye Taylor said he would hate that it was the fear of expropriation that brought about the effort, but pointed out, "If it is passed and they become incorporated, they (town government) will have that same power. No one wants to take someone's land, even though the (U.S.) Supreme Court says it's OK, but that is a power governments have had all along."

Mizell stopped short of offering an opinion as to whether the incorporation effort would be successful or not.

"I have no idea," she admitted. "There are a lot of people in favor and there are a lot of people fearful because they think it (incorporation) automatically means taxes. It doesn't. No one will be taxed unless they vote for a tax in Stoney Point."

Mizell said monies will come in from fees and taxes simply because Stoney Point would be a municipality.

"The big question is how will we maintain the roads? We will get a portion of the taxes that are paid; we will get a portion of the property taxes and a portion of the landfill tax. That will be enough to maintain our roads."

According to parish records, there are more than 20 miles of roads in the area that would become the responsibility of the village.

Mizell said there would be no payroll to support because anyone holding the position of mayor or alderman would be a volunteer. The sheriff's office would still be obligated to serve the community and fire protection wouldn't change, either, she said.

But Taylor says there's more to it than that.

"In addition to all of the roads within the municipality, there's also the responsibility of drainage," he said. He said fire protection could probably remain the same, but that law enforcement - unless the sheriff's office opted to provide protection for free - is another consideration.

"The Village of Varnado and the Village of Angie both have police departments," he said, adding, "Abita Springs eliminated their police department and the sheriff's department provides law enforcement, but there is a contracted cost."

Taylor said there are other concerns that have been raised by callers to his office.

"What about a town tax? What about a municipal building?" Taylor asked, adding, "There are a number of questions people have and I just want them to have good information."