Maurice ‘waiting’ to become a town

MAURICE — Maurice’s transition from a village to a town is currently at a standstill.
Maurice Attorney Ricky LaFleur said during Wednesday’s monthly Maurice Board of Aldermen meeting that steps needed from the federal and state governments have not yet been completed.
“As of right now,” LaFleur said, “we have not received our official notice for the (2020 U.S.) Census.”
Earlier this year, the unofficial Census report showed Maurice with a population of 2,118, up from 964 in ‘10. That increase is more than enough to qualify Maurice as a town. However, that cannot happen until other things are in place.
“Until we get the certified report,” LaFleur said, “we’re in a holding pattern.”
Once that certification is received, the board of aldermen can pass a resolution to change Maurice’s classification from village to town. Maurice Mayor Wayne Theriot would then send that resolution to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office. The Maurice board would then adopt an ordinance that will be sent to Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin’s office.
“That will make if official,” LaFleur said.
Maurice’s three-person board of aldermen will then grow.
“It will kick in that we have to go to five aldermen,” Theriot said. “We have to appoint two aldermen.”
Those appointees will serve on the board until the next election, which will be held in November of ‘22. Qualifying will be in July. A special election is not required because the next municipal election for Maurice is less than 18 months away. Anyone interested in serving until the election can submit a letter to Theriot.
“We have two letters now,” Theriot said. “When the time comes, we will hold a special meeting to make the appointments. The board members will receive the nominations and then vote.”
Until then, as Tom Petty put it, “the waiting is the hardest part.”
“At the rate the federal government is going at getting us the certification,” Theriot said, “I’m hoping for the first of the year. The way it looks now, I’m not sure.
“I know there are people interested, but this is the process.”