CITY COUNCIL
May 13, 2019
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, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: Daisy Cole.
Council Chairman Denise Maddox called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Mark Peloquin led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the April 8, 2019 regular session minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Valecia Royer, CPA, gave the financial report. As of April 30, 2019, the overall total revenue, the actual year to date is $3,244,113.23 with the budget being $4,161,100.00, with a remaining budget of $916,986.77. The total expenses, as of April 30, 2019, are $2,735,004.44, with the budget being $5,409,770.00, with a remaining budget of $2,674,765.56.
Fire Chief Johnny Copeland gave the fire report for the month of April 2019. They had fourteen (14) calls for the month.
Interim Police Chief, Roy Williams gave the police report. The bonds and fines totaled $30,700.00. To date, a total of $27,075.50 has been paid for the fines in the new Amnesty Program. Chief Williams also explained to the council he has put into effect a new policy on the use of police cars. No Police cars are to be used for any security details outside the DeQuincy City limits. In addition, Chief Williams informed the council that the railroad crossing on Hwy. 12 on the west end of DeQuincy will be repaired on May 16 and a city vehicle will be in Starks directing traffic to keep the big trucks from turning south on Hwy. 109. This is official city business and will be done to prevent the city from having to pay another agency to redirect traffic.
Eddy Dahlquist gave the public works report. The crew has changed culverts on two driveways, cleaned curbs on Page and Coward Streets. Our new dump truck is in and we will be able to start cleaning out ditches. We have had some bad sewer jobs in the past month and the crew has been working on a Gordon Street sewer job for the past few days. The new sludge pump for the sewer plant came in and Hank and Sam were able to installed it for the city. The crew has also been cleaning out manholes and found one on the main line completely stopped up. It looked like someone took the cover off and just threw junk down the manhole. On the gas service side, we killed one service and extended our gas main on Corley Road. We also got our gas line buried on Nursery Street and got the fence up on the Oak Street side at the state yard.
CITY REPORTS GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
Mayor Smith thanked the City Council for helping with the shuttle rides at the DeQuincy Railroad Festival.
Mayor Smith welcomed our new interim Police Chief, Roy Williams and advised we will be accepting application for Police Chief until May 31. The interview process will then start and committee of two council members, Denise Maddox and Mark Peloquin along with Mayor Smith will conduct the interviews.
Mayor Smith discussed the city entertaining the idea of getting fuel cards for city vehicles. The tank currently at City Hall will not be eliminated but will be used for emergency purposes.
Mayor Smith asked that the committee working on the junk and travel trailer ordinances delay their meeting until after a new police chief is named since he needs to be on the committee.
We have received the three bids needed for the camera installation at the Police Department and we will be going with the lowest bid.
Mayor Smith advised the council that Hershel Frazier, former Secretary/Treasurer for the DeQuincy Volunteer Fire Department, has passed away and his funeral will be Wednesday at the First United Pentecostal Church.
Mayor Smith reiterated Hwy. 12 West would be closed on Wednesday, May 16, for repairs to the railroad crossing.
Mark Peloquin made a motion to approve the May 13, 2019 agenda and Ronda Jacobs seconded the motion. Without objection, the motion carried.
Mark Peloquin made a motion and Judy Landry seconded the motion to amend the agenda for May 13, 2019 by moving council concerns to no. 17 and as no. 16, authorizing Mayor Smith to sign an Agreement between the City of DeQuincy and Meyer & Associates for Professional Services on the DeQuincy Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements.
PUBLIC INPUT
Items on the agenda.
None
Tems not on the agenda.
Arnold Blagrave thanked the council for taking care of the matter he mentioned at last month council meeting.
Mary Peterson Smith asked when the potholes would be fixed at the intersection of Harrison and Velmer Street. She also advised the council of a hole in her back yard which is caused by the sewer line. The fence belonging to Mrs. Haley was blown down during the tornado and is still down. She asked that the city contact her to repair the fence.
Josh Foster addressed the council about his rental property at 312 Smith Street and the problem he is having with stray cats. He asked what the city’s policy was on stray cats.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of an ordinance changing the sewer rates for customers connected to the city sewer system. There were no comments.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt an ordinance changing the sewer rates for customers connected to the city sewer system. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000.00) of Sales Tax Bonds, Series 2019, of the City of DeQuincy. There were no comments.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Mark Peloquin to adopt an ordinance authorizing the issuance of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000.00) of Sales Tax Bonds, Series 2019, of the City of DeQuincy. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
The council discussed the Peddler’s Application of Dorian Lee Botley, who was present, and made suggestions to Mr. Botley as to how to get word out of his new business rather than going door to door. Then, if this method does not work for Mr. Botley, and he still wants to obtain a Peddler’s Application, he could come back before the council at the July 2019 meeting.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to authorize Mayor Riley Smith to proceed with the development of the LCDBG proposal. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt a Citizen Participation Plan/Citizen Complaint Procedure and appoint the City Clerk a Citizen Complaint Officer for compliance with the LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grant) program. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Mark Peloquin to adopt a Procurement Policy for compliance with the LCDBG Program. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to authorize Mayor Riley Smith to proceed with the procurement and selection of professional services for the purpose of assisting in the development of the LCDBG proposal and implementation of the project. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of an ordinance selling city property located at 114 S. Pine Street to Alvin Dale Smith. Arnold Blagrave asked the selling price of the property. The selling price is $8,000.00. There were no further comments.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to adopt an ordinance selling city property located at 114 S. Pine Street to Alvin Dale Smith. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
After a brief discussion regarding the selling of city property located at 211 N. Pine Street, a motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to table the discussion until the June 10, 2019 city council meeting. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Mark Peloquin to proceed with the condemnation of the house at 120 S. Pine Street. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
Mayor Smith explained to the council the situation with our current waste management contract. We will be going out for bids this week and will need a committee to determine which company we will go with. Judy Landry and Ronda Jacobs will be on the committee.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to authorize Mayor Smith to sign an agreement between the City of DeQuincy and Meyer & Associates for Professional Services on the DeQuincy Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
COUNCIL CONCERNS
Mark Peloquin commented on another successful Railroad Festival and Trash Bash. Both had a good turnout. He also asked that the city crew look at the condition of South Harrison Street, toward the ballfield, at Holly Street. In addition, LeBlanc Street needs several potholes filled.
Ronda Jacobs asked that the dumpsters be left longer after the trash bash so people could continue to bring trash. There is a vacant house on Green Street that needs to be addressed and there are several potholes that need to be filled. Mrs. Jacobs also asked that the city address the houses that have no house numbers. Lastly, the dead pine tree on Hwy. 389 needs to be taken down before it falls down.
Judy Landry mentioned the house on Velmer Street is being worked on as the owner agreed to do. The lot on Hereford Street still needs to be cleaned off and the holes on Frazier Street by the carwash need to be filled.
Denise Maddox asked that the culverts and ditches be dug out when the weather permits. She also asked for an update on Buxton Creek and what the Parish is doing to help us. Lastly, Mrs. Maddox asked that the culvert on Brantley Street be looked at because it is becoming a real problem.
Ronda Jacobs made a motion to adjourn and Judy Landry seconded the motion.
ATTEST: APPROVED:
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:
/s/Denise Maddox
Run: June 12, 2019 (Ju-3)
