By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

VACHERIE – St. James Parish President Timmy Roussell told the parish council Wednesday that he is working on a pair of initiatives that would get parish employee input on the direction of the parish for the next four years and beyond.

Roussell said he has compiled an employee survey, which details the job function, vision, goals and overall opinion for each employee within government. He said the survey will help him and his administration determine the strengths and weaknesses in each department.

“The employees are here everyday, they have an understanding of what is going on,” Roussell.

“They may have the ideas we are looking for,” he added.

In addition to the survey, Roussell also said he is soliciting volunteers for an employee task force. He said he is looking for one employee from each department that would gather up concerns and issues that employees may have.

He said his goal is to have the task force up and running by Jan 31.

“Employee involvement is critical for our success,” Roussell said. “The parish is on good footing, but we want to keep it that way.”

In other action from Wednesday’s meeting, the council approved a resolution to adopt a formal public records request form for access to parish government records. Roussell said the form would serve as a guide to ensure the needed information is provided to those requesting it and would also protect the parish with documented evidence that the information was delivered properly.

State law requires that any request for public government records must be satisfied within three days of the request.

The council also approved the advertisement for bids on assorted vehicles and equipment needed to replace aging equipment that will be sold at an auction this morning at 10 a.m. at the Lafourche Basin Levee District yard on River Road near Wallace. The equipment includes excavators, dump trucks, tractors, pick-up trucks and assorted computer equipment.

Finally, the council approved a resolution to accept a bid of about $709,000 bids for the 2012 parishwide road improvement program. The bid, from R.J. Daigle and Sons, was about $441,000 less than the estimated $1.15 million budget for the project, which includes street improvements and asphalt overlay for 10 streets in the parish.

Streets selected for the program include Dey Say Street in District 2; South Angelle Street and Admiral’s Landing Street in District 3; Martin Street and Rev. Thomas Scott Street in District 4; Back Quarters Street, North Rosary Street and Harry Lane in District 6; and Fern Street in District 7.