"We definitely seem to be very split at the moment, but I think we are going to come together," Chairman Kenneth Vidrine said at the end of the two-hour meeting that heard from numerous citizens as well as all 13 council members.

"You are all concerned with what is best for St. Landry Parish as a whole. That hasn't been heard before. I commend you on that," Menard said.

He said in the past, under the police jury and in the first term of the parish council, which was dominated by former police jurors, the individual council members tended to look first at what was best for their district and only then at what was best for the parish.

"This new council wants to cooperate; they want to work for the good of the parish, not just their individual districts. I like the way they are thinking," Menard said after the meeting.

Vidrine said he plans to hold further discussions with all 13 council members to help work out their differences and come up with a plan to be put before the voters at the next general election in October.

"If it is approved, next year we can start tackling drainage, overlaying our blacktop roads and hopefully begin dealing with our gravel roads," Vidrine said Saturday. "We are very optimistic."

He said in all probability the council will vote to put several items before the voters, not just one.

During Thursday's meeting, called just to deal with roads, numerous ideas were proposed from a modification of Menard's earlier Roads to Our Future plan to a one-cent sales tax for the unincorporated areas of the parish.

The most popular idea during the public comments section of the meeting was some form of user tax - a fee on license plates, inspection stickers or driver's licenses.

Arlen LaFleur of Grand Prairie praised the council for trying to solve an almost insolvable problem.

"We have tried a property tax and it didn't pass. A sales tax is regressive and keeps us from being competitive with other areas," LaFleur said in support of a user fee.

He proposed increasing the cost of vehicle inspection stickers, similar to what is being done in Orleans Parish. "That would be a fair tax. I don't know anyone who wouldn't be willing to spend an extra $20 a year for better roads," LaFleur said.

He said the parish has 116,000 vehicles, meaning a $20 fee would bring in $2.3 million a year.

Daniel Lyons, a rancher, said he supports a user fee because property owners pay enough already. He called for a sliding fee, based on the size of the vehicle.

The problem with a user fee, regardless of how it is applied, is that many people would simply register their vehicles in another parish.

District 5 Councilman Ronald Buschel said that is a problem Orleans Parish is already having to deal with. "I've talked to the people in Orleans Parish. They're having a lot of problems," Buschel said.

Many of the other vehicle fee proposals are illegal under state law, but Sherman Cravins said laws can be changed.

"If we need legislation, then let's go get it," Cravins said. "They say it can't be collected. I don't believe that."

As for people registering their vehicles outside the parish, Steve Vidrine said it would still be better for the parish to get some money rather than none at all.

While there were many proposals put forward during the meeting, there was a general agreement that it is time to act. Many said they are willing to do their part even if it means paying more.

"I don't think you can find a fair tax. There is no such thing as a fair tax. No tax will affect everyone the same way," said Winfred Sibille from Cankton. "A vehicle tax, a property tax, whatever, I will do it."

"It is past time to look at issues and set priorities," said Jack Ortego. "We have got to do something. We all have to contribute in some way."

The other general area of agreement was that it is time to end the host of special taxing districts that currently dot the parish. According to a report issued by the state Auditor's Office last year, most are inefficient and operate with little accountability.

"We should go with one entity. We need one person in charge of these entities who can be held accountable," Lewis Faye said.

Lyons also expressed frustration with the special taxing districts. Every 10 years, when the parish voting lines are redrawn, while the taxing district remains the same, the council person over it often changes.

"I have been changed from one councilman to another and then to another. I don't know where that money is going now," Lyons said. "We need to unify these districts. We need to stop piecemealing this here, there and everywhere."