Hessmer ballpark improvements almost finished

   Work on the Ronald Mayeux Ballpark west field is almost complete, thanks to generous contributions from area businesses and individuals and many hours of volunteer labor, Mayor Travis Franks told the Village Council.

Franks presented a report at the council’s June 1 meeting.

   Hessmer’s “Cajun Crossroads Festival,” which celebrated the town’s 60th anniversary as a municipality, “was a huge success,” Franks said. “Fireworks, baseball and jambalaya. I’m already looking forward to next year’s Cajun Crossroads Festival.”

   Best estimates are that 3,000 people came through the gates of the Hessmer Recreation Complex during the event.

   Police Chief Kenneth Smith said the festival went smoothly and thanked not only Hessmer police officers but those from the Sheriff’s Office and Town of Mansura for helping with security and to the Fire Marshal’s Office for being present during the event.

   Smith said the only thing that would have made the festival better would have been more parking areas. The village will work on providing another parking area for next year in anticipation of the festival growing.

   Franks said the event benefitted the Little League program in town and provided an opportunity for visitors to enjoy a good time in the village.

   Franks said work at the Mayeux Ballpark -- named in honor and memory of former teacher, superintendent, principal and Little League supporter Ronald N. Mayeux -- is being done solely with private donations and not with municipal funds.

   “Many people have donated and there have been a lot of volunteers,” he said. “Without them this would not be possible.”

   The current work on the west field, also called the “T-ball and softball field,” is “just a start,” Franks said. “We are definitely not finished.”

   Major contributors to the project include Daryl and Olivia Deshotel, $29,500, for work on the center block dugouts, backstop and concrete work; Keith and Vicky Armand/Cenla Fabrication, $17,000 for metal work, including roofs for dugouts, bleachers and backstop; Coastal & Highway Erosion Control/Anita and Cory Galland, $11,000 for material and construction of all fencing around the field; Shawn’s Supercenter, $2,500 for fencing material; Travis and Jennifer Franks, $1,900 for electrical wire and lighting; Gibko, $1,500 for concrete.

Others providing donations of cash, material and labor included Boo-Key’s, 3B Trucking, Todd Smith, Cleco, Joey and Brandi Ducote, Herman Pierite and Mac’s Building Supply. 

   In other business, Village Engineer Brendan Gaspard told the council that it should be receiving news on grant applications soon and that the council needs to select a project for its Community Development Block Grant application.

   Gaspard said CDBG funds are for low-to-moderate income communities, and Hessmer would not qualify for a municipal-wide project. However, it does have neighborhoods within the village that do qualify.

    After some discussion, the council indicated it will look at the possibility of a sewer system improvement project that would target rainwater infiltration into the system in neighborhoods that meet the CDBG eligibility criteria.