CITY COUNCIL
January 14, 2019
DeQuincy, LA
The city council of the city of DeQuincy met in regular session on the above date in the city hall council chambers located at 300 Holly Street, DeQuincy, Louisiana, with the following members present: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: None.
Council Chairman Denise Maddox called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Ronda Jacobs led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Denise Maddox to approve the December 10, 2018 regular session minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Valecia Royer, CPA, gave the financial report. As of December 31, 2018, the overall total revenue, the actual year to date is $1,233,510.39 with the budget being $4,161,100.00, with a remaining budget of $2,927,589.61. The total expenses, as of December 31, 2018, are $1,208,881.92, with the budget being $5,409,770.00, with a remaining budget of $4,200,888.08.
Fire Chief Johnny Copeland gave the fire report for the month of December 2018. They had five (5) calls for the month.
Chief Suchanek gave the police report. The bonds and fines totaled $18,027.00.
Eddy Dahlquist gave the public works report. They had two sewer taps, moved two gas services, killed one gas service and cleaned out culverts. Our new dump truck has been ordered and is expected to be in the end of February.
CITY REPORTS GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
Mayor Smith invited the local ministers to a prayer service on January 2 and there was a good turnout.
Bradley Parker, a street department employee, returned to work today after being hospitalized for the past couple of weeks. We are glad to have him back.
We are in the beginning stages of trying to secure grants for work that needs to be done at our sewer plant and hopefully, by our next council meeting, we will have more to report on our progress.
We have recently learned, after making several inquiries that Calcasieu Parish Gravity Drainage may possibly start maintaining Buxton Creek. They are checking on the details and will get back with us sometime this week.
Mayor will be reaching out to a couple of council members for their input on Deep South and any suggestions they may have as to how we can help them expand in our area.
Mrs. Maddox thanked Mayor Smith for the informative email the council members received from him this week.
Judy Landry made a motion to approve the January 14, 2019 agenda and Mark Peloquin seconded the motion. Without objection, the motion carried.
PUBLIC INPUT
Items not on the agenda.
None
Items on the agenda.
None
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Mark Peloquin to introduce an ordinance amending the FYI 9/30/2018 budget and set a public hearing for February 11, 2019. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Department Head appointments were made by Mayor Smith. They are as follows:
Police Chief- Michael Suchanek
Public Works- Eddy Dahlquist
City Clerk- Pat Brummett
City Attorney- Adrian D. Cox, Jr.
City Magistrate- Cade Cole
Fire Chief- Johnny Copeland
Superintendent of Recreation Facilities – Eddy Dahlquist
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Mark Peloquin to approve the Department Heads appointed by Mayor Smith. Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to take the condemnation hearing on 309 N. Perkins Street off the table. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to allow an additional 90 days, from today’s date, for the house at 309 N. Perkins’s to be torn down, with a stipulation that, if the house is not torn down within the 90 days, the council will proceed with condemnation. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the appointment of Lynn Treme to serve as Commissioner of the Housing Authority, replacing Riley Smith. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A lengthy discussion was held regarding the Wastewater Disposal Agreement between the City of DeQuincy and Georgia Pacific. There seemed to be a misunderstanding with some of the constituents as to what the agreement was and how the city was using the money received from Georgia Pacific. Hank Frazier, with the DeQuincy Sewer Department, explained why the city entered into this agreement and the benefits to the city for having the agreement. He also explained the reasons for many of the sewer problems around town and explained the smallest of projects would cost close to $1,000,000.00. Mr. Frazier suggested the first place to start doing repairs should be at the sewer plant and the money we receive from Georgia Pacific will be used to help with the cost of the repairs.
COUNCIL CONCERNS
Mark Peloquin asked that Eddy check with LAWCO regarding the repairs at the corner of First Street and Front Street.
Ronda Jacobs thanked the city crew for cleaning out culverts.
Daisy Cole passed around pictures showing problem areas in her district. Richard Allen and William Still Road is a real problem and has been for a long time now. Hank Frazier explained the elevation on the west side of town is about 26 feet higher than the east side of town so when we get a big rain, it is like an underground river in the sewer mains. When it gets to the Douglas Road lift station, with all three pumps running, it still cannot pump the amount of water that is going in. Because the water has to go somewhere, it overflows out of the manhole at the corner of Richard Allen and William Still because that is the lowest manhole on the system. The problem is not the pumps. We have three new pumps. The main problem is infiltration in the system from the rainwater. Ms. Cole also mentioned, in order to help the drainage, the overgrowth at the corner of Front and Coward needs to be cleaned out. Another problem in her district is the high grass and weeds growing around the park by Grand Avenue Gym. Lastly, a home on Richard Allen Road needs to be addressed.
Judy Landry asked that the City Clerk send a letter to a homeowner on Hereford Street that has partially torn down a mobile and left trash bags all over the lot. Ms. Landry also asked that the council address the firework ordinance and possibly think about revising it.
Denise Maddox thanked everyone for coming to the council meeting and welcomed our new council member, Daisy Cole.
Daisy Cole also mentioned a complaint she received about farm animals at a residence on Grand Avenue. The chickens running loose have become a real nuisance and the Police Department was asked to address the problem.
Ronda Jacobs made a motion to adjourn and Judy Landry seconded the motion.
ATTEST:
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:
/s/Denise Maddox
Council Chairman
Run: February 13, 2019 (F-6)
