The group, “The Citizens against Multi-Chem” learned bringing their fight to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury is not going to do any good when it comes to trying to stop Multi-Chem from relocating to Vermilion Parish.

A group of citizens who live in the Indian Bayou area, where Multi-Chem is clearing 60 acres of land to build a facility, attended a police jury committee meeting Wednesday in hopes of try to convince the police jury not to let Multi-Chem build a facility on the land off of La. 92.

Police Jury attorney Paul Moresi III explained to the group that without zoning there was nothing the police jury can do. Moresi said the company was able to get state permits from DEQ to build the facility. The police jury has no power to overturn a state permit, he explained.

The police jury attorney told the group the only permit the police jury issues is a permit to build a building on the location. If Multi-Chem meets code requirements for its building, then a permit is issued. What is built on the land, other than a building, the police jury has no say, he explained.

Police Juror Ron Darby told the group their fight is with DEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who issues the state permits.

Marcella Manuel, who created the group, “The Citizens Against Multi-Chem” told the jury it is not safe having a chemical plant near homes and schools.

Dale Stelly, a citizen from the Indian Bayou area, told the jurors that zoning is needed in the parish to prevent a chemical plant locating anywhere in the parish.

“We need to plan for the future,” Stelly said.

Multi-Chem released a fact sheet about the facility.

• The company is building a new complex on a 64-acre tract of land. The complex will include an office facility, a blend plant, a state-of the art field laboratory. The complex will be built on eight acres of land and 56 acres of green space surrounding it.

• Halliburton plans to hire 20 more new employees and will transfer 40 workers from its New Iberia plant.

• Muli-Chem said it will not manufacture chemicals at this facility but rather will blend and mix raw materials into products for sale to its customers.