We applaud the Concordia Parish Policy Jury’s action to hold Plains All American Oil Co. accountable for the damage its overweight trucks apparently have caused and continue to cause the parish’s public roadways.

Police Jury President Melvin Ferrington has been in legal discussion with the oil company over who should pay for damages to Kemp Landing Road.

The policy jury contends the damage is the result of the Houston oil company’s vehicles exceeding the load limit of the road.

That assumption makes sense.

However, Plains All American officials don’t want to pay for that damage.

All oil companies in Concordia Parish pay a safety deposit to cover potential damages caused to roads the company uses. Plains has a $25,000 bond on deposit. However, the company’s insurance company decides how much the company will pay, Ferrington said, and the insurance company doesn’t want to pay for the damage.

Ferrington said Plains is the first oil company to damage parish public roadways, but refuse to pay for that damage.

The police jury needs to act swiftly to hold Plains All American Oil Co., and any other company for that matter, accountable for damage caused to public roadways.

In fact, we think the parish police jury is being generous in dealing with Plains All American. The jury voted Monday night to give the oil company until November to abandon its pipeline near Monterey.

Plains All American trucks travel Kemp Landing Road as part of the company’s work to make a profit for its owners. The taxpayers of Concordia Parish shouldn’t be expected to shoulder the burden of the expenses the oil company incurs while doing its business. Damaging public roadways is certainly part of the company’s business expense.

Plains All American officials should intervene quickly to make right the damage its trucks have caused. If they don’t, we encourage Concordia Parish Police Jury officials to stick to their guns and use all limits of the law to hold Plains accountable.