Funeral services are pending for former St. Francisville Mayor Billy D’Aquilla, one of the longest-serving public officials in the Feliciana parishes.
D’Aquilla, 85, died Sunday morning at his home, his son, District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla, said.
He left office in December 2020 after a 48-year career that included service as the town’s mayor, mayor pro-tem and alderman.
His survivors also include a daughter, Mary Dreher, and St. Francisville’s current mayor, son Andy D’Aquilla.
He served 12 years as an alderman, including eight years as mayor pro-tem, before he was elected mayor in 1984.
A proclamation issued when his final term ended in December 2020 commended him for maintaining an open-door policy as mayor, for leaving the town in excellent financial shape, working with other public officials in the parish and state and promoting the town through his service in various capacities through the ¶¶Òõh Municipal Association.
His final accomplishment in office was promoting the successful passage of a half-cent sales tax to partially fund a new sewage treatment plant to replace an oxidation pond system that was often flooded by the Mississippi River.
The treatment plant is now operating, and the town is now finishing the project by closing the oxidation ponds according to state environmental standards.
When he left office, D’Aquilla circulated a list of grants, totaling $5.38 million, that he helped obtain during a 15-year period for public works projects, utility system improvements, streets and bridges and new equipment.