?CITY COUNCIL
January 10, 2022
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, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: Daisy Cole and Denise Maddox.
Council Vice-Chairman Mark Peloquin called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Casey Whitehead led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the December 13, 2021, regular meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the December 13, 2021, special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the December 29, 2021, special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer read the financial report. As of December 31, 2021, the overall total revenue, actual year to date is $1,548,660.06 with the FYE 9/30/2022 budget being $4,521,710.00 and a remaining budget of 2,973,049.94. The total expenses, as of December 31, 2021, actual year to date totals are $1,232,558.33, with the FYE 9/30/2022 budget total expenses being $6,166,670.00, and the remaining budget of $4,934,111.67.
FIRE REPORT
Chief Johnny Copeland gave the fire report. There were seven (7) calls for December 2021.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Casey Whitehead gave the police report for December 2021. There were 216 violations, 25 arrests, and 235 complaints filed. The fines and bonds collected for the month of December totaled approximately $18,591.87. There were 53 calls for service in District 1, 45 in District 2, 65 in District 3 and 43 in District 4. The PD Officers patrolled approx. 6333 miles during the month of December 2021.
CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT
Mr. Carroll furnished the council with a copy of his report.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the public works report for the street department.
? Gas services were killed on Center Street, 4th Street and Smith Street.
? New services were installed at 723 Beech Street.
? Two culverts were installed on Center Street.
? Completed the painting at City Hall and replaced all ceiling tile in the building.
? Continued to fill pot holes in all districts.
SEWER PLANT REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the sewer report.
? Sewer main and tap were replaced on Green Street.
? Sand filter and grit pump at the Wastewater Treatment Plant were repaired.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
? Daisy Cole, Council member for District 4, has resigned her position on the city council due to health reasons. The council will appoint another resident of District 4 to serve the remainder of her term.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the January 10, 2022 agenda. Without objection, the motion carried.
Public Input
Items Not on the Agenda:
? Diane Ingle, 107 S. Holly St. – Mrs. Ingle asked if there are plans to repair the walking path and baseball complex. She was advised the city will be starting repairs to the walking path in the very near future and plans are in the works for our baseball complex.
? Josh Neal, 111 Azalea Drive, – Mr. Neal, President of the Calcasieu Parish, Ward 6 Recreation Board, presented a proposal on the DeQuincy Sports Complex and briefly explained their plans if the city agrees to lease the complex to the Ward Six Recreation Board.
? Randy Woodard, 106 Starks Drive, – Mr. Woodard is also a member of the Ward Six Recreation Board and spoke about the need to get all of the programs back in DeQuincy and in the future, the Rec Board would like to sponsor the youth baseball, football and Little Dribblers basketball. At the same time, they would also like to empower the people and coaches involved to be positive influences for these young people. There will be so much good to come out of this sports facility and it will not only be good for the young people but for city as well.
? Frank Jones, 508 E. Harrison St. – Mr. Jones asked if the fields will still have the same names posted on them that they were given a few years back and it was acknowledged the names would remain.
? Derrick Davis, 264 Orange St. – Mr. Davis stated he was head of the Dixie Youth and asked if anything was going to be done to the fields to get them ready for the kids to play ball this season. It was told to him the city would do what they could to get the fields ready.
Items on the Agenda:
? Jeff Stampley, 308 N. Boone – Mr. Stampley was asking for clarification on the mobile home ordinance.
? Dana Frye – Lake Area Partnerships – Ms. Frye spoke about the feral cat ordinance that is on the agenda for adoption.
? George Schultz – 3252 Camp Edgewood Road – Mr. Schultz also spoke about his opposition to the fetal cat ordinance that is on the agenda for adoption.
? Scott Wylie, 207 LeBlanc Street – Mr. Wylie asked Mr. Schultz why they would release cats back in the same area after they had been spayed or neutered and not relocate them or bring them to a shelter.
There was a second public hearing on the redistricting plan for the City of DeQuincy. There were no public comments and the public hearing was closed.
A public hearing was held on the mobile home ordinance amending Section 6(A)(2) to read, Districts 1,2,3 and 4 will no longer have mobile homes permitted except in already established mobile home parks. Public comment was as follows:
Bob Ingle, 107 S. Holly – Mr. Ingle asked what constitutes a mobile home park. Mr. Peloquin explained there are two established mobile home parks in the city limits and one right outside the city limits that does have city sewer. These are what they are considering already established mobile home parks.
Jeff Stampley, 308 N. Boone – Mr. Stampley asked the council what they were trying to accomplish with this ordinance. It was stated by Mrs. Jacobs and Mr. Peloquin that they are still wanting to work with families that have property in DeQuincy and want to live in a mobile home but they will now have to go through the variance process with the zoning board and council.
Mr. Stampley then asked why the council didn’t let the people vote on whether or not they wanted mobile homes. Mr. Peloquin said that had been considered but that would be very costly for the people and they did not feel like it would be passed even if it went before the people.
Steven Maddox, 305 LeBlanc Street – Mr. Maddox was concerned about the mobile home ordinance and asked the council what they were doing about all of the dilapidated and abandoned homes in DeQuincy. The council explained it was a very slow process but they were going through their districts and trying to get some of the houses condemned so they can be torn down. He also asked why a new mobile home would bring down the property values in the neighborhood.Tonia LeBlanc, 208 LeBlanc Street – was asking about a house on LeBlanc Street that has needed to be condemned for years and has just now been formally condemned. Was asking for an explanation as to why the process takes so long. Ronda Jacobs mentioned that Vinton now is no longer allowing mobile homes and Sulphur is redoing their ordinances to only allow mobile homes in designated areas. Kim Constance, 206 1st Street – Mrs. Constance asked Mrs. Jacobs if we need to make the whole town a Boise Subdivision. Jason Parker, 305 W. Harrison – Mr. Parker asked if the variance procedure is clearly explained in the code of ordinances so people could easily understand it. Mr. Parker also referred to mobile homes no longer being called “trailers”. They are either manufactured homes or modular homes. A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt the mobile home ordinance amending Section 6(A)(2) to read, Districts 1,2,3,and 4 will no longer have mobile homes permitted except in already established mobile home parks. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: Judy Landry. Absent: Daisy Cole and Denise Maddox. Abstain: None. A public hearing was held on the ordinance addressing the feeding of feral animals in the city limits of DeQuincy. Tonia LeBlanc, 208 LeBlanc – asked Mr. Schultz what they were going to do if they picked up a cat that the owner had already had neutered or spayed. She was told by Mr. Schultz that if they picked up a cat that had already been spayed or neutered, the cat would be returned to the place where it was picked up. They recorded the location each animal was picked up so it could go back to the same location. Trent Buxton – speaking for owner of Zanadu Hair Salon – their problem with the cats is, they leave tracks all over their vehicles and there is a constant fecal problem which causes an odor around the business. So if you are going to catch the cats that are being fed in that area, move them. Do not return them to that area. Bob Ingle, 107 S. Holly – Mr. Ingle stated he felt the city would be opening up a can of worms by passing this ordinance. Bridget Payne – 207 Washington – Ms. Payne stated, if the animals are fixed, it will reduce the number of animals running around. Mr. Peloquin stated it was not the council’s intent to prevent this organization for coming in and neutering or spading cats, their intent was to stop people from feeding the cats on other people’s property without the property owner’s permission. A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to adopt the ordinance addressing the feeding of feral animals in the city limits of DeQuincy. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole and Denise Maddox. Abstain: None. A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the $1,800.00 bid submitted by Danny Landry on the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole and Denise Maddox. Abstain: None. A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the condemnation of the structure located at 110 Self Street. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole and Mark Peloquin. Abstain: None. A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the condemnation of the structure located on Kelly Street on parcel no. 00741779. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole and Mark Peloquin. Abstain: None.
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
Judy Landry asked Mayor Smith to talk to LAWCO about a leak in a ditch by the railroad tracks by Green Street. She will check the address and get it to the Mayor.
Ronda Jacobs stated she was happy to see some of the condemned structures being torn down by the owners.
Denise Maddox asked Mark to thank the fire department and the Police Department for helping with the emergency at her father’s home recently. Special thanks to Officer Loy Bader.
Mark Peloquin asked for clarification on the street repairs that the city is hoping to have done.
There being no further business to discuss, a motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded Ronda Jacobs to adjourn the meeting.
ATTEST
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
COUNCIL VICE-CHAIRMAN:
/s/Mark Peloquin
Run: Feb. 16, 2022 (F-3)
