The Iberia Parish finance committee on Nov. 19 approved funding of $64,500 to build a secured counter/partition and related improvements in the Clerk’s civil department after staff described prior safety incidents.

Clerk Ditch told members the civil office had been moved behind closed doors after people threatened staff and one person was tased at staff feet; the clerk said the project went to multiple bidders, the low bid came from a local contractor, and the work will improve public and staff safety. Committee members agreed to fund architecture and procurement work immediately and to include the project funding in next year’s budget to avoid current fiscal-year issues.

Members asked whether the project could be handled as a budget amendment or added at consolidated budget time; the clerk and parish president staff said they would work with finance to place the item in next year’s budget and to backfill the expenditure. The committee voted to approve the funding to keep the project moving and directed staff to proceed with procurement.