City Council - Regular Meeting

over there.

So, uh being no public comment be called for a vote at this time. Call for vote, please. All in favor? Any oppose? None. It passes. It'll be 15B. will be the uh changing of the April April 9th regular meeting date in order to accommodate the chamber conference uh bank 15B and we're still on announcements. Hang on a second.

This is just announcement. Okay. Then we uh also April the 20 what's it say the 5th 6 we got love the boot so we will be asking for volunteers to help us do that the flood the boot on April the 25th is that Saturday next yeah what is what is that in reference to u picking up trash picking up trash you know get streets street names and you just uh get some volunteer people and we'll pick up trash that day. There's a lot of book that's uh all Louisiana. So,

is that is that a Saturday?

Yeah, Saturday. Um Ke House Beautiful is doing it that week also. And they stop on the 24th, I think. And we'll do that Saturday. Everybody be off work, so it won't be no excuse. All right, I take this off. Go ahead. Okay. Um, real quick, um, I just like to remind us as a, uh, as a body, uh, uh, as members of the public, uh, that, you know, when we come in here, we come in, we come in here to take care of the city, the business of the city of Bastion. Uh there there is no shape, form or fashion to what we do, but everything we do here is supposed to be all about the city of Bastion. Um and again, my comments are not directed to any to anybody personally. This is about just us moving forward as a city and moving forward as a city, then we need to be seen. Now, we don't always agree on everything, but we still need to make sure that we are seen as acting like a city that uh that supports one another, whether we agree on something or not. And again, let me let me reiterate, this has nothing to do with anybody personally. This is just about coming in coming in here and taking care of the city of I mean, taking care of the business of the city of Bastion. It's just that simple. There are a lot of issues whether they are hot button or whether they're whether they're microwave or old school oven. They still we have to remember why we are here. There is nothing personal in what we do. Now there there there are things that as a as a person in a in a particular job that we have to make decisions on. But

again it should not cause us us to descend into chaos. Nobody wants to see the I know I don't want to see the city of Bastion myself personally or anybody on this body or anybody in the audience or the city for that matter to come up here and we be arguing and just basically acting out of order. There is a thing called the decorum civility mutual respect and uh things of those nature. We have to always remember why we are here. Everything we do it's about the city of Basher. If it's not about the city of Basher, then it should not enter into this room. Uh again, there is no there is no personal animosity toward anybody or anything we do. But again, we need to remember why we're here and why we come here. And that's to take care of the city of Basher, whether we agree or whether we don't agree.

Thank you, mayor.

All right. Go ahead. Agree. I agree. Okay. Based on what the councilman said, I totally agree. And if we govern ourselves according to Robert rules of water, that's very very important that we stick to the rules of Robert rules of water unless we suspend the rules of suspend the rules. But most of the time we we don't suspend the rules. We but we are bound to conduct ourselves in a manner that's bound, you know, that's that's governed by Robert's rules. So if we all abide by Robert's rules of order, we can agree to disagree without it descending into chaos because the public got a right to voice their opinion whether we like it or not. I got a right to voice my opinion about my constituents. We can all agree to disagree even if it's heated and hot, but we must conform to the rules and regulations. That's mean we must always abide by Robert's rules of order. And I'm sure most of us have looked over and read Robert Robert's rules of order. So just that being said, we don't want to stifle anybody's voice because we are elected to serve the people. And everybody deserves a right to come up and speak before this body, especially if they are citizens of of Bastard. They deserve every right whether they agree or disagree. This is we are the elected officials so they deserved it the right to speak but we also need some decor on what councilman said and let's show each other respect even if we disagree because I'm going to disagree with certain positions but I always want to cond we need to conduct ourselves in a manner that not only our constituents that's watching but you know we God is also watching us also so let's be pleasing in his eyes also

on the make free bridge. We We got a company that's looking at giving us giving us a bid. Couldn't find one and now we have one. So, they they will report to us and we will let y'all know, too. Also, Councilman Dodie, that's your district. So, I'll be getting with you as soon as they let us know something. Yes, sir. Well, I'm gonna take

Hey Green, I'm gonna take a little slight detour. I want to just give recognition to um the Dawson Park workers, Cassandra King, Bo Tr and Terry Davis. If you haven't visit park and sometimes you should be a lot of kids out there and they taking their times out and out there training these kids for free. So if you have a kid that's interested in learning how to play basketball, I would advise you to take it to them. So I just want to take this time to thank them for all the hard work they do. Council.

All right. Just spinning off what U. Councilman Doy said. I totally agree. Um, just being a community servant for over 30 years, I take my position very seriously. People are my passion. The mayor made a a very good observation last meeting when he made a reference about kicking the can down the road. It's true. We will get nothing done if we continue to kick cans down the road. I love a project. I love to start new processes. But for me, implementation and action is necessary and have to happen in order to get any kind of city business done. And I guess we're like a married couple in relationships. We're not always going to agree. No, we're not. But the main focus is that we come back together and do what we need to do to make progress in our city. That's it. is not a protein.

Ann JR the outreach JR who was JR Senator Jackson Andrew RF outach. Yeah, we JRF.

Yes, sir. JRF Outreach and Senator Jackson Andrews and State Representative Adrian Fiser. They also gave us $20,000 for Dawson Park bathrooms, uh, flooring, and just to improve Dawson Park uh, kick back off what Councilman Dream said. Uh, we have a lot of young people out there training, playing every day. Uh, we was out there a good way. Councilman Dream be out there all the time. So I went and spent the evening with them uh day before yesterday I believe. Yesterday yesterday and uh day before yesterday

yeah it was it was nice. So to improve that facility and and we have a lot of more things come for Dawson Park is nice to see everybody out there. Everybody getting along and playing and learning to take their skills to the next level. So, we want to thank those for the $20,000 for Dyson Park. Are we going to go to public comments as they relate to uh matters on the agenda? Anything on agenda? Public comments.

Good evening.

Good evening. with the name of Bishop Charles Bradford 1320 South Washington Street also one to publish our local paper that's Mohawk News I would like to talk about make a comment brother on item number 8 A and B and 9 D which I'm on the agenda for let me start with I'm understanding your right say development versus the city of B litigation as you all I know you can't discuss what you're going to discuss as you're going into closed session from my understanding from reading just correct I'd like to make a comment before you go into close session I we can refer to nine 9D where we speak about the attorneys that represent the city ambassadors in this in this particular litigation should not go into close section with the council and the mayor. The reason I state that because I have evidence to prove that the previous council will represent the city baff of the mayor but Dr. Pro of the council already that councilman Jones who serves also had conversation with the judge uh what's his name? Well, he had he had conversation with the judge. Him and both Ricky Smith both I have that information. They had no obligation to meet with the opposition and council in this lawsuit prior to getting approval from the council. They already a part of the litigate. They already inserted theirel into the litigation.

Court, you got anything else you want to explain? Sure. Sure. Anything else other than that to talk about? Anything else other than that to talk about? About what? You have anything else?

I'm talking about this. I'm talking about this, man. That's what I'm coming to talk about this. How can they represent the city master, go into chamber and know our strategies, our defense and they already part of it. They disrespected you. Mr. Jones need to be terminated. This he send me down the wrong road. Okay, Mr. Smith have conspired with him as well. Okay, I have evidence to prove I'm just not making allegation. I know for a fact that they spoke with the judge chamber the day of this petition was filed. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones, my investigation team found that out. We talked to the judge chamber as well. Now, how can they be how who authorized him to do anything? We're being sued without further coming close for the council before they do it like they're doing today. But it's already done deal now. Mr. Mr. Jones took up on the petition was filed at 2:40 on on that day. Mr. Jones went personally and was perfectly served at 5:00 p.m. at the location of the Mohouse Parish clerk office 30 minutes after they were closed. He waited that through his conversation with the chair.

His pleas comments item related on agenda to not going into details or or nothing like that. If you want to uh s I think I think Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We going to keep this as detail. I think I got my point. I think everybody understand and I will say I I can't come back on agenda. Right. You got you got you said you got a A and B you want to talk about, right? Oh, well nine. Oh, that's what you were saying. Yeah. But but they all interine but I'll come back I'm on the agenda. I can come back and talk about as I choose when I come back without interrupting you and keep it in decent order. Won't I just come back? I made my comment. Thank you mayor Moore and the council.

Thank you Mr. Gra. Anybody else got anything about agenda? Anything on agenda? Any comment consent? consent to seek consent to approve appreje 2026. Second. Second. All in favor? Any oppos? All right. We have B planning and zone committee uh report historic district board. Uh the I will say for then planning and zoning board you'll notice that there is some items on there. There were some action items that were came from them. Uh that's how this works is whenever there's like a special use permit they're on the agenda later tonight uh as far as that. So they have issued that's how it works. They make their finding recommendation not to recommend and then it comes to also final vote point of information.

Okay J this committee chair they used to always report to us. What what has changed? I know we we kind of switched up how they do business, but the board is still intact. What happened to the chairman report? I see you got a a paper trail here. I'm I'm I understand what you're saying, but usually she gives us a report. I would normally expect that there's a report. I have not heard from her today or anything, but I just noticed there was on the item it was going to be asked because it so I just I'm just correct. They normally come for

I'm telling you I'm I'm noticing a pattern because it was after we made the recommendation to be an advisory board all of a sudden all of a sudden communication stopped the chairman stopped reporting. So uh do they have anything to do with it? No there's nothing in our we the only thing we changed was the status of that they don't they no longer are final authority on approval. They just need recommendation. There's nothing there's nothing in our ordinances that differed anything as far as reporting require reporting requirements and things like that. Also have correct I have a point of information also.

Um I know we had we discussed about changing some other things about the zoning board. Correct. So where are we with that? Because we had done anything since we did the initial changes. So we we weren't through the initial changes. I think we're in the process. Uh we have pending litigation regarding planning zone and stuff and things that have risen out of there. So kind of at the point until we resolve litigation take any further changes that we thought that we developed in the process. So we won't we want to keep everything in the way it is until we have the decision. Okay. Okay. Mayor

uh since uh since Mr. uh Mr. Thornton is a part of the uh planning and zoning uh zoning committee and he's here and he has a report uh because he was there at the meeting. I know he's on to speak later, but those are other issues outside the planning and zoning. So he has that report then can we allow him to come forward and speak now? Is there a report in the in the package? Do we have a report? Our report is in there. Well, he don't need to read off something we looking at, but there might be something that you know report that we don't know. You got anything other than something we don't know on this report?

So everything the same. So I don't see no I understand I I see Mr. D getting there. We need somebody. I agree to that.

We need somebody. I don't care who it is what if it's the portal administration or the board we need somebody to come before us and speak about it because we have when you approve something usually you know you know you and I talk about this usually you get a graphic kind of detail as to what you voted on but it kind of as you're explaining what Mr. Thornton shows up as the administrator. He explains it to the planning and zoning board and then kind of the handoff is the planning and zoning board when they hand something to us, they would come here and explain what they have, right? Needs to exist.

There's nothing and that that was what we typically had before was a handoff. If it was like for instance the ordinance that they wanted to get through on the horse stuff, they showed up each time to explain why it was necessary and why they felt it was necessary because it's hard for us to know that their reasoning if somebody's not here or Correct. We don't say the same thing. Don't think I would add Mr. Green. I I don't know. I ask Mr. Jones, is it Germaine to the issue? Are you making a motion to uh request that the chairman of the planet zone and start attending meet our representative? Our representative. Yeah, we council me. Are you making a motion for that? We can make a request from American.

We just going to start with just that one board. Second, are you just requiring just the u and see reason I asked a question to you to hear from the historic district report too. So I'd probably say that we need to have points we need to have uh all all these boards have a report they need someone needs not just saying one board. No.

Well, I guess reason I said that because when you speak about zone, you know, because they're an advisory board and if they decide that they looked over the evidence and they say, "Hey, we recommend that y'all don't approve it, right?" Well, we just read what they say. If they was here to explain the reasoning, that's why I'm saying the person actually need to be in our presence because they can either say, you know, we don't tell them what to do. They say we approve or disapprove. Well, if you disapprove, what ordinance did you look at? And what specific thing why did you why you why are you recommending that we not approve? So, if I'm just reading something, I would like to just ask the person standing there because she's the chairman and she and they had their meeting. So, she would be able to explain their reasoning why they said yes or no.

Okay. We'll we'll get somebody here. I already talked to Mr. clean. You need a clean hand off so you're not guessing the logic. What you say? You're not going to have You don't want to have to guess the logic. Yeah. We We'll do that. We'll make I'll make that happen cuz I don't think they've been here since uh somebody here since we switched. Yeah. So that's that's that's telling us something what we need to do. Uh if they can't attend, then we might need to just get another board. So So something noted.

Quality, you have quality assurance panel. which is your ambulance board that that we have the membership of that board. The only thing that needs to occur is that miss uh we need to uh not we but the board needs to board members I guess because most of them are officials or their representatives other than our two members that were picked here. They need to get together and select a date and a time to get that first initial meeting going. Okay. I didn't I didn't know. I mean, yeah, that's fine. We we can get it going any day and we'll we'll do it to public notice just like it agenda like it normally does because it'll be an open meeting. Okay. Because it it needs to happen

if there's some things that need to go on that first initial meeting put on. I've heard some issues that have come along and I know there are some issues that we need to put up there. Council. Yes. Uh Mr. Okay. Uh regarding uh Patrick quality assistance board uh they have not had their first meeting yet. Is that is that correct?

Okay. Uh is there is there anything else uh that would uh go along with uh maybe outside of the quality uh quality uh assurance board? Is there anything that Patford may need to come up? Is there anything that we need to hear from Patrick uh in regarding uh to the contract or either any issues other than other than than they as a public member have a right to speak on any comment other than that legal avenue

there or they've been requested to appear by the council or the the mayor then that board would generally be the board where they would be at to answer questions unless something came here and had to come here for a decision on something. Long as there's not an item on the agenda for them and they haven't been requested to speak here unless they just want to exercise their right. So there's there's three caveats. Okay. So hopefully we can get a meeting up within the next two weeks whoever. And I plan on being at the first meeting everybody get through guide through so we can get the procure get somebody like the chair. So that was Mr. J Green and

D Green. D Green and J Green D. D Green and then we had the the nurse member. Okay. J and then the other members are elected officials or their representative capacity. D I would I don't have one. Oh, so on on 7D the the sort district. Yeah,

I would advise that probably we need to have at least a sort district representative come here pre preferably the chairperson. I would request uh as the mayor that that we have the historic district chairperson come before us and so that we can inquire about the status of that board and where they're at and discuss anything that needs to be discussed. I'd ask just probably have that on agenda. I have a point of information. Who is the historic district? As I understand it is miss it is miss details that was as of a month ago. Okay. Okay. And do they have regular meetings?

I as far as I I'm unaware whether they do have regular schedule. I don't know how they meet. Great. So there's there's some questions I have. So I'd like to if the mayor has point information from city attorney's office as to have so we can discuss information. Mr. Jones, Attorney Jones chair, uh, are all those boards that we referred to, are they fully functional? They are. As I know of, they are.

Yes, as I know, they are they are membership is still on those boards and the the only one that that lacks maybe the structure, which would be a chairperson, uh, is the quality assurance panel. that'll be resolved the first time. But yes, membership is is filled in those boards. I got And I check I check the years and see if they expire or I believe they're all staggered term offices, so they they should roll off at different times, right?

That brings us to 8. Yeah. 8A perfect land and development. This is perfect land development versus city of Basher. This is to discuss the status of the litigation. I would ask that at this time that the council would make the motion to enter into executive session which is an authorized executive session thing as we were discussed a few weeks ago. This is pending litigation here in so that we can provide information during that executive session. So I'd ask it's the council's pleasure we go into session discuss that.

I make that motion. Second favor. The other It's somewhere. You should get tired of Yeah. That's amplitude. That's what's happening.

It's not

ready. Roll call, please. Miss Angela Tappy, District A here. Mr. Henry Dodie, District B. Here. Mr. James Green, District C. Mr. Derek Green, District E. Mr. Howard Block, District E. Can I get a motion exit session? Sure. Turn to the regular meeting. I make a motion to exit executive session and re and then reconvene to our regular schedule meeting. Second.

All in favor? Any oppos? 8B resolution 26-2127 author not uh Uh, all in favor?

Any opposed? Carries. All right. Number nine, request speaker items. Items submitted by the members of the public for the agenda. A, Mr. Henry Char Memorial. Mr. Miles. I am Miles. 611 Pearl Street, Bford, Louisiana. 7122 Mr. Mayor council members all Mr. John, if it's all right, I would like to defer my comments to the next meeting. Okay, that's fine. Yes.

And I'll put you on the You don't have to do this.

You hear the Small Business Administration to Very Pits. Is Ver I don't think she I think she needed the meeting. Uh she had the u grant not a grant but a loan it that's the SBA loan small business

the SBA uh loan for small business if it got messed up in the ice she had came by the office and it's a loan is not a grant but uh it's a good loan for a small business if you need to know a business, a small business that need it. We got information here at city hall if you like it also or you know a small business that need help. Okay, we're going to go to C 103 Oak Street. Miss Mary Hawkins. Mary Hawkins 38 Jefferson Bachelor of MH Enterprise is my company and I see that

can you come to the mic just a little bit closer please? Can you hear me now? Yes. No. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Okay. Uh it say on the agenda 103 Street, but that's not property I'm concerned about. Uh the one that I'm concerned about is 123 North Washington. Um, the problem is is the property that I'm interested in by repair. Can y'all hear me? Which which one? One, two, three. North Washington. Which one? It's by the U Cross Post Office.

Post office. And I want to have that see eye to you all see cuz I not confident to redo that a repair. But you want to tear down or repair? No. What it is we've been tear down so much and just leave the space. So I that building could be repaired. It can't. It can't. No, ma'am. It got to be demolished. It has to be. That's the one.

Well, when you say it has to be demol, it's been it's been uh it's been condemned. Okay. With the city council, we condemned it uh last year, year before last. So therefore, only way you can repair it if we unconddemn it. But we condemned it. So, I don't think we're going to underdo it. Okay. It's in bad shape. Well, I know if somebody can fix it up, you could. You do the job. Thank you.

So, can I Is there any way that I can just go ahead and demolish that because the other building on the right falling down too. The one right next to it connect I think a wall connect to it beed out it's over a certain amount it has to be bided out had to be bided out I'm I'm ask attorney Jones but I'm pretty sure if it's over a certain amount

correct that that project that project requires uh engineering and to look at it because of everything. And then the it would be a project that as we've had the preliminary estimates of engineering that would be in excess of the require it would require a bid to be able to do it because it's too large of a project and a minimum two bids, right? A minimum just we'd have to read it and let it for bid. If one only one bid came back, we could accept it. It just has to be within the bid specifications that we'd have the engineers roll up. Okay. like council.

Uh Mr. Mayor, uh I have a point of order. Uh you can also chime in too, Mr. Uh Mr. Jones. Uh and again, this is just a clarification. Is it okay uh because the item on the agenda is for 103 Oak Street. Is it okay for us to change or allow that change on the fly for the address? Yes. Yes. It's just it's just a discussion item. There's no

action. So there's nothing we could do here. When we get ready to bid it out, make sure you, you know, be one of the people that's bid on whenever we get to that point. Get to that point. I'll I'll make sure to text Miss Mary. She's done a good job. She done great work. appointment information. Is the address just wrong or we doing two different things? Okay. Building next to it, too.

Yeah, that building is falling into all those walls are connected to another building. It's a domino. Yeah. So, is it is it more than one address? They kind of how they was made. It was made right like right right next to one another like where they kind of connect not the next one that we're talking about that was that was an issue with it like with that building the person that owned the building to the left of it if something happened to that building would they tear down the walls of it her building that's what she's saying yeah okay thank you

thank you Okay, we got we got D request to terminate city attorney request occupational license being and beam Mr. Bradford.

Good evening. Charles Bradford, 1320 South Washington Street. I'm here tonight at the council taking action terminating our current council. Mr. Deon Joe, Mr. Ricky Smith. Uh, let me kind of state why I feel this way. You should too if you watch the history of the council. Mr. Mr. Jones, you're in a litigation with perfect land. You just came out of close section. Mr. Jones failed in the past administration to file a monitor to stop the procation estimation. Never gave neither one of us. Neither one yet today. I don't guess tomorrow. That's man. Mr. Jones was the same attorney that brought before the same council of this city government that wanted you all to sign a audit question without you even reading it. Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, like I said earlier, was the same gentleman supposed to be working on the behalf of the city, but he's over there taking care of legal litigation without approval of the council. That tells me what? That tells me Mr. Jones is working with the bank. Mr. Jones had no business or anything on behalf of the city of Bass without authorization before he went over there. He's totally out of order. He have caused his city to go into a deep litigation. And we do not know what this going to cost us. And myself, a former city councilman and a taxpayer and a citizen have the right or have let me say like that I have interest in this project for the simple reason the gentleman came up and made a

criminal allegation against me several months ago. The same peoples. Now with that said, if this city choose to keep Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith as day attorney, I have no other choice but to fight for my interest and I would have to intervene into this legal litigation. I have no problem with that. Well, he won't be able to represent you then. I'm going to submit it both of what they did was unethic and it causing this city a hardship. You may not see it. You smooth it. I like it. Don't get me wrong, but business is business and we cannot continue to waste taxpayer dollars going back and forth with Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones have proven himself in the past administration. Now this president administration done the same stuff. Mr. Joe going to say well I don't know a deal about it. Well, you got to remember that Mr. Jones was a part of dayto-day daily operation. He's probably still part of day-to-day operation. Mr. Jones is not working in the best interest of this community. I know say matter of fact, I like it. But what he's doing is it's just out of what he's done to this city of Ash. Mr. John Saturday when they had a monetary and he knew that they would they ain't working over there. They just doing such such but go back and look go back to it was Louisiana Lane uh Summer Lane and Char Street. They got more solar panels over there in the last nine months than they have out here by city hall. Let me share something with you about solar panels. Solar panels in danger. You do y'all recall Mr. Debbie Rogers. But the question was asked, "Mr. Rogers, why don't you put those uh solar panels

on your on your land out there?" She said, "Well, I have livestock, but we have children. We have a community. There's no growth. If we continue, if we let them get just force their way, we got we got the mayor saying that uh and I heard too, mayor, that Mr. Bubba McGuffin. So, I didn't sign those documents. They didn't come in. Right. They We've been asking for a public meeting. Our citizen deserve a public meeting. You bring such a business of that nature into our community. We've been asking for a public meeting, a town hall meeting. Are we going to sit here? This council going to sit here today. You have a future bastard in your hand. Okay. for council broader. Imagine July and August already 100 105 degrees around that time when no soul and the sun come in over the city of Bash over the children over the hospital over the schools over you know we got we got to be we got to be real serious about our community we just can't let big incorporate come in and just disrespect the low community, 95% of people of color. Where are we? Where are we? Are we Are we that far behind that we don't care about the future of our community, our schools?

This is a serious situation. I'm not I'm I'm not saying this to be smart or be Can I ask for another couple minutes? Can Can I get a motion for another couple minutes? I want Can I get a motion? I can get a second. Can I finish it, please? I got to have stopping me, but I had a man come up last week talking 35 minutes time about something that did over he was I was getting sick of it. Can I talk? I'll make a motion. Give him another couple of minutes. Go ahead.

I want to keep it. Okay. But what I'm saying is may not be so short, Mr. Bradford M. Bradford got the pictures of city and we all know that Mr. Graph you got it's time to step up put up counseling. I ask for you to take action now.

You going to I'll check the clerk record at 4:15 this afternoon. Nothing been filed on the behalf of the city bathroom in this lawsuit. We're in trouble. We're facing trouble. The health of our community is at stake. The health of our community, you represent the community, each and every one of And you have the power to make a recommendation to the mayor in a motion form to remove these council. the council do and I I'm asking my counsel I'm asking you to make the motion to the mayor to re move Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith you may I'm asking you they respond from you sir yes or no we don't get I appreciate what

thank you thank you miss Mr. Mr. bre uh you know there's uh you know we talked about earlier Robert's rules of order and all this uh all these uh other things that we have to go by uh you not only have Robert's rules of order but you got you got the city charter to take take uh into uh account and uh we've got ordinances and we also have state law that we have to abide by and as I'm well sure you know

I do you you you have served in this seat and there is a there is a process by which especially when you go to talking about legalities of removing people because again that gets into a personnel issue but again that's that's personnel issue and I'm not disputing anything you said but again you brought the point to the floor that you had some information for us to consider And do you have anything on paper? Because again, when you're talking about when you're talking about issues of that magnitude. Yes. Do you want I'm asking you do you ask? Yes, I have.

Do you have anything on paper? Yeah. You want Okay. All right. I'mma call for order, please. Ask for a couple minutes.

Anytime you call judge, that's also a public record. Yes sir. And like I say, if this gentleman you come out of this closed session and these gentlemen still employed, I'm going to intervene. He will be testify both right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Graford. Thank you, sir. Uh number 10, reports of city officials. Hey, Bapt City Police Department uh chief is on vacation. U Mr. Tim, do you have anything? Mr. Jim don't have anything see code enforcement you have anything you want I have a question mayor okay

for code enforcement I inquired about I wrote the address down I think it was 805 Marble I think that's the right address I think it was 805 Marville correct what did we find out anything is it adjudicated to the city it's not it's not adjudicated okay So it's a private land owner, right? And not have started the process on. Okay. We got also we need I had ask y'all to give get 20 properties in your own district and give five to me so I can each one of y'all give five properties to me. If y'all got some properties that I can give it to them.

I have five properties and if all else give it to them, you know, we can work on those also. Okay. I guess one more question. You know, I have a bad property on country club. I got one um that's been I think I know I know Mr. Jones started on it. So where are we with that on country club? I did two on country club you know. Yeah. Where the one right next to this parking lot that one went through uh the first environmental court. It was no show. So so where go from there I guess don't be on the city. We from there the city the city can take action with it and do anything that we need to do.

So we ready to take action because I think there's one there and one right across the street. Two bad ones. The ones that's on these circles. We Yeah, those uh be this month. So how many course cases we have by court this month? Um we in the 20s right now. Okay. Um, we was up, but look, we was up to like 28 when we had a few call, you know, and they started the process. When when they started the process,

I kind of pause it and I give them, you know, five or six days or so and I go back, I'll see, you know, how much they didn't got done. But long as they giving some type of effort that they cleaning, you know, hoging, whatever, I kind of, you know, put it at a halt. But um if they don't if they stop within about 10 days, I just start the process. Okay. Well, that's still very positive. You have about 28 30 case studies. We have had none for like three or four years. So, I think that's great. Good job. Good job. Uh Mr. Thornton. Yes, sir. Um uh that 20 20 was the number of cases before the environmental court as of right now. It is as of right now.

Okay. We in the 20s. I can't give the exact 20 number, but we in the 20s right now. Okay. Uh what is the uh what is the date again? Because they have this environment court on a certain day, certain time of the month, right? It'll be the 25th of this month. Yes, the 25th. It's on a Wednesday. It'll it'll be in here city at 9:00 at 9:00. And I guess uh the other part of the question is is this going to be about the same time of the month this happens every every month or is this just going to be like when we get enough cases will no each month each month um environment of court is already s we already have dates for all the way through out till December.

Okay. So it's already set in stone the dates uh it's just about you know getting the cases in. Okay. Okay. Councilman Jay Green.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Move down to D City Clerk. Morray, do you have anything? Thank you. Um, madame clerk, um, do you have like any reports for like upcoming grants or anything that you applying for?

Yes. Apply for the LGAP um grant which you all apply um the city applied for LGAP grant that we apply for that and also we spoke with um a young lady with FEMA. She said right now they are in the process of shut down. But once they lift the shutdown for the state, she'll contact us and she'll schedule where she can come talk with me and the mayor about that grant the uh debris that's going on. So I think Mr. Mayo is helping keeping up with what the um public works are doing out there. So, they'll have to show evidence of the cleanups and everything like that and overtime that they've been working. And so, once they do that process, um I guess they'll decide how much the city will get reimbured back.

And I know the mayor announced earlier about the $20,000 grant from Senator Jackson and Representative Fiser. So, we're in the process probably getting bids for that. I think we already received that. Yeah, we got to get it out.

Positive. Thank you. Okay. You're welcome. Thank you. See me, see the attorney, Mr. Jones. I think I think we probably had enough. I think the one important thing that we're going to have our quality assurance panel meeting before our next meeting. Yes. Thank you. Appreciate you policy and budget.

All right. I'm going briefly talk about what my role is and and what is going on. Uh we on pace to do the uh third quarter budget uh adjustments. Uh so we should have that on the agenda for next month. Um that information will be in your packet a week out before so you have time to digest it. Miss D, go through look at the numbers and bring your questions. Uh I'm going to get with uh Councilman Green. We're going to start setting dates for the budget development. uh going to try to get that first date sometime 1st of April uh to get with the chairman and see what potential dates cuz I think that we still on track to again have a budget adopted uh by that meeting in March in in May. Sorry. Even though it's due uh in June, but we're going to give Ourel a little time, but I think we still be able to meet that benchmark because I think uh with sewer and street uh those budgets are relatively small in comparison to the general fund. So we may can do that in a meeting a meeting and a half uh because um there are some parameters which uh we'll talk about in the uh next finance meeting in regards to set the baselines for the general fund budget development. Um because again I'll send out the mayor's priorities in regards to the budget and um uh the concept that we're going to adopt is basically a zerobased budget. um you know going conservatively project revenues and we're just going to uh budget every dollar backing out from that number and uh try to keep it balanced this to the extent we can. So with that being said that's all I have to mark for

any point of information for the line items that each district have fun. Can you give me like the the requirements? Just say if I have a couple house in my district that I want to demolish, right? What's the process behind? Well, uh and M and Mr. Jones can elaborate a little bit on that. But who can I get to do so?

That's because it's general fund, no money. So, you have to meet the Cabela test u whenever you appropriate those funding. Um you spending public dollars. So, of course, you'll need that CA as we've been executing before. I think we've uh kind of buttoned that up a little bit uh as we move been moving forward to kind of make that clear as possible on the front end before it's exercised. So that process is still the same. So well if if a house adjudicated to the city is the same process if someone if someone own the house but is the hazard is the process different? I'll let Mr. Jones um articulate that point

I guess but the funding part of it um long as it meets the cabella test you know and the budget amount is there if you can spend I guess my question I'm asking because at one point in time when we got those funds I had contacted someone who's ready to start working on some of the houses I need to down my district and I'm I'm aware now that the process might be a little different but I would still like that person to tear down a house I just need to know do I him to contact you guys to we so any house that would have any house that's torn down the the only requirement for us to be able to do it is that that house be condemned by us already if

you say us you're talking about cuz cuz general so I have us so the city council would have we'd have to go through the process and condemn the house once it's condemned then we can destroy it but what if it's a house that because I think it It was one situation where someone the owner wanted the house tore down and it was which was need to be condemned and we had an agreement with with correct with them. If the owner if the owner agrees to to the process we can do anything the owner agrees to through a CA. However, the owner is not in agreement then we'd have to condemn. So if the owner is in agreeing do if I need if I have someone in mind to turn around the house what requirements do they need to have

for for that to occur? We just need to know that is being performed and that if we're the person contracting okay it it goes just there's just some contract requirements about who's going to insure things or if we're just reimbursing the owner if we're reimbursing the contractor. It changes a little bit. Just so transparency is happen to me. Can I can we all sit down with the person I have in mind to do it? Correct. The the requirements are just different as to who we're contracting with. And you got to keep in mind the cost of the demolition. You have to uh what is it without being a contractor,000?

Yeah. It's it's it's if you get over 70 over $5,000, you have to have it you have to have a what is called an affidavit license. If you get over a certain amount above that, then you can have what is a real contractor's license. I can tell you what thresholds are. I had to look at real. Yeah, we was well we was well under that mark. That's why I was it was and so I had to at that moment tell him to hold up. I just want to make sure we in the right really really it just boils down to us is are we doing it without the consent owner or with the consent owner? It's with the consent owner then it's it's it's simple from there. If it's without the consent owner then we just need to have it. Can Can you send those copies of what we do?

Yeah, I can send some standard CAS and whether we pay the home parameters that we have. Just just understand whichever party we pay has to submit a W9 to us which ultimately it's tax form. So if we pay the owner, we reimburse the owner for doing the work. I don't need a contract with the contractor. If we pay because it'll be with the owner. If if we pay the contractor directly, then I need a a W9 from the contractor and something from the owner saying they have consent to do it. But it seemed like intentionally the best way to kind of do it is to reach out to the homeowner, right?

But we've run into traction where where individuals individuals are upset because they're going to receive a 1099 at the end of the year. Okay. That's where we've run into some things that individuals understand they're going to receive a 1099 at the end of the year for that amount of money. We just send us some copies so we'll know. How and we'll do an advisory memo. Yeah. Outlining the different scenarios almost like if this Yes. go here. No, go here. And it's kind of important for each district because even they they like the mayor asked for five houses, but if some of those houses might not be adjudicated to the to the to the city, but it might be a hazard for the district. So, we need to know how to handle going forward.

Yeah. Adjudicated houses. Just remember you always go back to the negative. Yeah. the the city part cuts us out. We we'll try to do a chart. Three scenarios. I can chart them down. Council, what you got?

Uh I got two points of information. I got a point of information. We talking about the budget. Talk about budget budget report. I know how long we've been in about eight months, whatever. I know you process. I had to do it by weeks. So, it's 34 weeks at the end of February. sort of like you know what I'm going to get at you know hey you we we was going to get quarterly reports and uh I know this the first year so we give you a little leeway but we we we was anticipating these quarterly reports and we going into what quarter

D I I said on set we on pace to to have the third quarter budget revisions ready for next month. Okay. For next meeting. Yes sir.

Okay. Great. And I got one other part of information. Uh you remember we got the $50,000 for each district. I was I was wondering the 50,000 we had for the lapidated houses and stuff would that apply if if it's adjudicated property would if it's in a particular district would that goes towards the 50,000 that a lot of these councilors expect. And you know, I I just want to make sure that we ain't reallocating any money with because we already supposed to have $50,000 a lot for each district. Well, if you if you spend it. So,

you know, so we it's imperative that we keep up with the spending in each district because we don't want to go to go over their 50 and then come back for more. It don't work like that. Well, Councilman Green, every every dollar that's uh budgeted has to come before the council. So, that general appropriation budget that you're talking about, dilapidated housing, I believe now promptly talked about it earlier. I believe that was bring it back up. Yeah. $6,000. Well, what I'm saying is if it's adjudicated, it it should come out of general, but it shouldn't go against and it wouldn't unless you designated it coming out of your district, right?

Because that there's two different account codes. You got account code for the money that's uh appropriated for your district. Then you got account code that Madam Pro Tim and I were talking about earlier that's separate and apart from that. So, whatever we don't use, it's going to roll over into the you going to figure it into the next budget. Well, for the next year, operationally, if you don't spend it, it goes back into the fund balance. And then you can appropriate

you can appropriate current projected revenue and you can appropriate monies that's in the the fund balance if you know to to the extent you want to. Uh cuz technically it it's classified as um when you're spending money out of fund balance, you're spending money that um uh how I want to say it. Um you you kind of deficit spending, but not really. Let's say we project the budget. Say if nobody else spends your money in your uh that's allocated for your district, it's going to go back in the fund balance. say fund balance is $10 million and collectively that represents $100. So we got 10.1 million and say next budget we only have 14 million. That's not counting that million that that that's what was allocated. So to go past that that $10 million budget, y'all going to have to go in the fund balance and pull it back out. I I I guess what I'm trying to get at because I still got

pretty bit of money and I think that's Yes, sir. I'm trying to prevent I'm saying Mr. What I'm saying is what I'm trying to say is don't don't do the budget and and exclude that that's what been set aside for district C. That's what I'm trying to get. Right. And I've had conversations with uh Mr. Dod and Mr. Lock Pro earlier in regards to that very issue. So that's that's he missed

but that's okay. But um your your colleagues already on the page that you on. We all should be closer to the 50,000 but probably this should be right. But that's part of the development process. Again, the mayor has his priorities and you know um who's keeping up with what's who's keeping up with each district. It's keeping up with what's I mean every report. You go back to the other reports other budget meals we have. Give me a report. Yes, sir. I can tell you pretty good. But see, that's what he missed our conversation.

And and and that goes to If you've been in the conversation, you probably cuz I found a golden.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh, I'd like to remind everybody again about Robert and we're speaking out attorney who seems to counsel on the left. They forget about Robert when they think they got point of order. Point of information out point of order. Point of order. Point of order to me out of order. Point of order. It was my third floor counsel. We don't have time limit. But when you stop speaking, that's when your time is up. Oh yeah. So I actually was very patient. Only person probably been out of order. It wasn't Councilman Green, but let's when we get too strict, I'm gonna call everybody out of order when you're out of order.

So I go ahead. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh sir, going uh going back to the budget, um the uh I understand the uh budget uh budget adjustments for uh the third quarter uh coming up as well too. Uh but we also have the uh budget for the fiscal year 2020 27th, right? Uh that's that's getting prepared as well too, right? That's that's the process I alluded to. We're gonna start,

right? So what is again what is the timeline? So we'll already know this and it'll already be on the minds of of this body and the public at large. What is the timeline for having that budget uh uh submitted uh for review for public review and then moving on after p public review because again we want

we want to make sure that uh when this when that process comes up that uh uh we we put it out there and when when it's advertised we want to make sure everybody gets the word that hey we we got this thing with the budget going on and we want to make sure everybody is included because again after it gets past that timeline then we don't want to run into an issue of well you know we didn't have a chance to uh and again this is not related to any one person or any one entity this is just for the public at large so we'll have our idea already in our heads about uh you know when it's coming

yeah that's why we we're starting in April 1 tentatively we're going to start this month, but some issues po popped up that was more pressing that we kind of put that on the back burner. But yeah, the goal is to have everything advertised accord to the uh budget act and pass by May's meeting. So, which is artificial date because that's not when it's due, but we want to do well in advance. Yeah. July. We going to do a lot of work between now and that May date because we're gonna have to have finance committee meetings to develop the budget because we just not going to just throw a budget down your throat.

We're going to develop it together which has never been done before. So that's why we starting now. Um and again I probably will get a lot of information to you within the third quarter review because third quarter doesn't end this month end of this month. So um that Friday before the meeting you'll have not only the third quarter meetings but I'll start giving you the what I call my support documents five year actuals some of the stuff that we talk about in um finance meetings about certain things that we want to target. I get that history to you and then we'll start developing the budget. Uh about with that I give the mayor's priorities what he he wants in regards to uh his overall numbers in certain categories. U and we just build we're going to do a zerobased budget. We'll build it together. So we are going to tentatively if you know everything is is equal have the budget put out for public consumption based on um the time frame it has to be out there and have everything done by the May meeting. So the May meeting is you vote on the appropriation for next fiscal year well in advance of uh before the end of fiscal year because the next month we're going to do a a truncated end of the year revisions because I'm going try to project out because I'm not going to wait till the 30th to do a you know to wait after those numbers come in to do a end of year budget going into next year. So it's going that one's going to be kind of truncated. Don't make a lot of assumptions. Uh but it's just trying to keep us within that 5% variance to the best we can. And that's what what these adjustments have been doing because a lot of it is just tracking just trying to okay stay within this 5% bear. Stay within this 5% variance because

the third quarter 10 you know in the perfect world 75% of the budget would have been expended in these categories. So that's the benchmark. So you look 5% variance either way when you look at it. So if you have any questions, see something that's 90, you're like, "Okay, that's supposed to be 75. What's going on with that?" Because I look at those first. So I have answers for those. And then cuz some things may be at 100% because we got property insurance that we pay one time and it's already, you know, so those things I already have highlighted. Say if you have a question, I say we spent an egg appropriation already because that was due back whenever. Um, just like with some of the revenues come all the way in, you'll see them at 98 99%. With this third quarter because we've received all it, you know, but the things that and I already have those highlighted. So, I'd be anticipating those questions. That's why I wasn't comfortable with doing a midyear budget because I had a lot of stuff that was not necessarily missing, but I couldn't account for uh because it just wasn't updated for whatever reason.

All right. Thank you, Mr. Smith. Um, I had I wasn't I had I still had before. Go ahead, Mr. Dodie.

Yes. Um the next one is um I guess this is would have been more suited to uh Mr. Jones, but he had to step out. Uh but again, I'm going ask it and then you can give me your best uh estimation on this. Uh properties that are adjudicated to the city and uh and to the parish. uh when we go to look at uh tearing down or possibly looking at uh certain properties. Um of course again you have some that's adjudicated to the city which is a small amount and then you have some adjudicated to the parish which is which is a bigger amount. Um what what do we uh what do we need to do? Because again, uh if I can speak I can speak just for uh the ones I'm I'm looking at certain properties in in my district. uh a lot of those properties, most of those properties are adjudicated to the parish and I don't are we doing anything to work with the parish as far as uh as far as maybe trying to get uh either get help from them from the parish as well or is there is there a streamline process that we can use so we don't have to spend a lot of time um you know getting getting uh getting the uh getting the yes or the go ahead from the uh from the parish when it comes down to if it's something with you know with their name attached to it as well.

I I'm not aware of a process but there's nothing preventing us from either requesting somebody to come over and talk about that put that on our agenda to talk about it or actually be put on the agenda and talk about that issue because I'm unaware Mr. Jones may be, but there's nothing stopping us from creating that misdo

if it's not in place because it makes sense to do it. So if we don't have it which to my knowledge I don't think we have a process but that's something that we can very well I mean we can just establish and start with creating that initial dialogue is either we invite somebody to come here or somebody goes there maybe the mayor gets put on the agenda and talk to the police jury or we ask someone from the police jury to come speak on this particular issue. I I I can give you I can give you like Mr. Mr. I was doing I was an estimation test.

Yeah, I was gonna tell you. Um, it's a house that's actually in my district um on Right Street that belong to the parish and I've been complaining about it since 2017. Um, so if you're asking what the parish gonna do, nothing work. Um my my my question was not more what can the parish do because again I'm I'm pretty I was pretty set in my mind that when we when we attack properties that's some work that's going to have to be done by by the city. I wasn't looking for help on that on that on that front. What I'm asking about is more of on the legal status.

Right. On the legal side. Yeah. They have they have to give you they have to at that moment even it's two things they have to tell you which give the city the right to tear down which they still own or did they have to give it up in some type of legal way but but get telling the city to do their work parish that's like a tried that before that's like a bridge we have to cross over J You had something

um Mr. Dod to just pig back on what you were saying. I I was in code enforcement earlier before I became a council member. Then after I became a council member, Mr. Jones out here, we we contacted the parish and their response is from their attorney, they don't have to do nothing. We can't make do anything. So he said, "Stop contacting us." That's what he did to me.

That's what this this is this is their legal advisor. So technically, there's nothing you actually can do. But if you kind of work together and I had made the solution one time because they get to pick first property. Why don't you just stop adjudicating property inside the city and allow the city to do it

to adjudicate it and then therefore we won't have to be going through all this process. But Mr. Jones will blast back cuz he he was one of the ones that they told they not going you really can't make them do anything. It's it's it's like taxation without representation. It's like the soy eye belongs to to the city but the legal thing belongs to them because people when they sit in your district first thing they going to say is hey that belongs to the city because people is not invested like we are just trying to see who own what property they just know hey it's in the city

it's it's it's it's on Elm Street or it's on Jackson or it's on Gemini that is inside of the city limits they don't care about who it is and when you go saying, "Well, police jury, they won't give us permission and they won't tear it down." And to answer your question is they're not legally obligated to do anything. And bad part about it, the city can't make them do nothing about it. Now, if you want to spend the city money, I'm glad the police jury probably tell you, "Hey, go ahead and do it." Yep. I haven't talked to you like that on large.

Yep. They'll send you a letter say you're welcome to do anything you want at your cost, but we will not reimburse you for it and we don't have to. That's what I I'm glad you got because I was trying to explain that we already been down this road with with the police jury and that's come from their legal lawyer, right? But that's come from their legal rep. Yeah. They've sent that letter so many times I guarantee your secretary out two seconds with a new address on one thing. Don't even be contacted no more. Yeah. You don't have to contact us. You don't have to ask for permission. Do whatever you want to the property. We're not going to pay the bill. We're not liable for it. Basically, that's an ISO in your city, but yeah, it's attached to us, right? Okay. It's like part It's like parking your jump car in your friend's yard.

May I turning it back over to you? All right, we going to move on to special Mr. Jamie May. Thank you, mayor. Good evening, mayor, council members.

Two quick points. Uh, first of all, couple of the city council members, Mr. Dodie, and also Mr. Green. You mentioned some potholes. I've gotten calls from you. Perhaps all of you may have seen some potholes. and public works has been on that doing everything that we can to try to get some hot mix. Uh normally typically it comes from from Alexandria I believe

and I think that they're out of it. So we have them calling consistently trying to get some but we we're not able to get some. They haven't made any I guess uh for a while and so we keep trying to stay on top of that. So, as soon as we can, we'll get that here to be able to fill those potholes that you you see that you've been calling about.

And the other thing I want to mention real quickly concerning debris removal, and I know because of the ice storm, there's quite a bit of that throughout the city of Bastard. And I had a chance, this was in February, to to spend about a whole day quite frankly, uh, in West Maro at the fire department in which DOEP, which stands for Governor Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to learn all of the ins and out about what will take place to be able to get reimbursement because that's the main thing. And the main thing that they said was that there's a form that they've been using for some time, but they're changing that form.

And should we use that old form, no matter what we do, uh they're not going to reimburse it. So, as Madam Clerk said earlier, we've been communicating communicating with mayor about making sure that we get everything together such that the city of Bastard can get reimbursed. Now, our public works department uh Mr. uh Winfield along with Mr. Dval and also Mr. Thompson been going out and taking pictures of the debris and also um addresses giving it to Miss Dow and public works and to make sure we're documenting all of that such that we can make sure we've got everything make sure all of the boxes are are checked off on the form to make sure that we can get full reimbursion. So, so far so good and uh they're doing a pretty good job. Don't know how much is out there. I know the mayor has indicated that concerning the hot mix, we may look at another alternative to try to uh get that done as it relates to the potholes. I'll stop right there. You have any questions?

Point of information. Yes. You said about the debris y'all started or they started with Yes. They they start picking it up already. Yes. Yeah, we've been picking it up. We have them um call in. They call in, they keep the name. We got to keep up the name, address like Mill said um to take pictures and address. And then we they see them see anything on side of the road as they going, they will also go by and get that and write it down and report the address to. Don't let us know. Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. Yes.

And uh this question and I guess this uh if you can answer it or anybody else uh here that may have some uh not uh can provide a short answer. Is there anything else in the uh in our arsenal that we may can do in in the in in the time span between now and when we actually get the uh the gravel, the tar, whatever we're going to use for the potholes. Uh, is there anything that we can we can use in some spots maybe like clay dirt or anything like that to maybe fill some of these potholes that where we don't have to just wait on the uh on the ground.

It is pretty bad as you know. You've been out there, you pass by every day and I've been out there a couple of times. Met with uh Councilman Green, D Green the other day. We spent a whole hour I guess out there the other day. So, um I'm not sure what all we have uh that we can put out there. I don't know if we have um dirt that we can put out there. Mayor, I'll check on tomorrow. Okay. I'll check on another place cuz you do have some tough spots out there.

Thank you. Appreciate you. want to say hello and thank you to our um association president, Mr. Johnny Green. Thank you for attending the meeting. Appreciate you.

Refinish business action or resolution at previous meeting. thing. Approve ordinance 26-4284. Okay, this is our alcohol permit ordinance. This is the one where we were addressing the fees. We've been previously asked by council person if we look at the fees. Uh I've moved all those fees. There were there's no rhyme or reason when you did a study of other cities. There was no rhyme and reason as to what was ours reflected nor could you find a pattern or practice. I've even reached out to one of our city's attorney Mr. Creek. I talked with the west city attorney who was Miss Kathy Sims now. I've spoke with both of those people that they said it was just arbitrary as what the council had elected. Someone at the time had indicated that they we're going to give preference to other people's business like a retail versus a package liquor sales that the state maximum is 500. Uh the ordinance has 500 in there uh because you can always go down from the maximum. But I placed them all just to be consistent. If you apply for a license, this is it. Uh 500 seemed inconsequential as opposed to what uh most of the sales tax revenues were for these places. Whenever I looked at the sales tax commission's revenues, it's it's just 500's max for us. It's pretty much a lot of them are there, but some of them are not and have to keep it all consistent across the board as to which lots you got. point of information. Um when you when you talking about approving this or this ordinance you going to approve

the increase well my problem is with this with this is when it's talking about you know the governing body. Oh yeah, sorry. I forgot there's a second. There's a second. Sorry. Remember three meetings ago. The other part of it was is where the mayor could approve renewals and could and could approve those things. However, they come to the council. It's a temporary license. They come to the council until the council meeting. This is where the issue we had where we had the special permit with the dove party where they they needed to get one. And so it was as long as it meets the requirements that they spelled out in the ordinance, it allows for them to have like say you started your you forgot that you had your renewal. You showed up January 3rd because your permits lapsed. You don't have to wait till after our January our January meeting, you can go ahead and continue the continuity of your business because you have a what's called an interim license. It's only good for the amount of days in there and then it has to go to a final decision with the council. Well, um, the first part of it, it don't it don't say in, you know, it just said the right to determine which persons shall or shall not be issued licenses.

Correct. And then it's down in the second paragraph spells out the process. Okay. But let me finish. And it said it should be vested in the governing body and mayor. It says and mayor. Now, we all work with the mayor, but you know, mayors come and go just as counselors. So, we got to be specific. Now, when you say and I see what you said, you said you got to keep going on the reading, but you know, some people stop at a period. Yes. Okay.

It is a period. So when you say we don't want to create we don't want to do something good and then create something bad because let me explain something to you because if you got a Monro example and of Mr. values, right? You already got five city council to vote on something, right? And it's hard to get something passed. Then when you add another layer when you say the mayor, the mayor already got a provision in which is called a veto.

Right? So what I'm saying is we it's not you may. I'm talking about I'm talking about this 20 years down the road. Don't exclude you and I. I'm talking about policy and procedures cuz these we got to remember ores are laws and they going to outlast all of us. These are laws. This is what we are governed by. So I just got to reserve and I got a reservation about the word

and mayor. That's because in order for your ordinance not to be in violation of itself because you're going to have further on that he can approve things. up top it says that how it that statute that sentence gives power to the structures. Okay, so like to the governing body and to the to the to the mayor. However, how that's rolled out is later spelled out down here.

Well, I I understand what you're saying, but um you see the problem that we have come that come up before us in the past. We need clear because you know we want to make sure we read everything and we get it because you attorney we can we can we can strike that we can strike that that that from it. Okay. Yeah. I'm just saying so we can you can strike it from it's not going to alter it just makes it clear. So where I was anticipating the battle later on is you don't have the same council because these all outlive us. We that's a lot of our discussion is we're all good here but what does somebody say like that's my point. How many times do you know who's going to be in that seat of this seat?

How many times have we been here talking about 1964 laws? I got kind of funny information and instead of striking it today if this is something we don't need. I already said it in writing because we have been if you can go past practice you know we have been a situation where we have said the council to the Reds. So I already see it in my hands. Yeah, that's and that and and this really comes more pertinent when you get down to November, December. That's why it came this early in the year because we can work through all this stuff. It was just a request we look at it and also look at maybe freeing up that we had the chief of police here a lot on

Okay. Okay. Yeah. I mean everything sound good but you know it's just a few hiccups and this is the beginning point. So now every council member then got his tax looked over and I think it's in everybody's best interest. That's why that's why you start this type thing with the alcohol permit. We're starting 12 we start 12 months out. We're now into it. Okay. Well, I'm going to make a motion that we table this until next month's meeting um with the necessary corrections. Council, we can get Mr. Jones and we can mark it up. I'd like to ask a question before we council uh Mr. John uh with the uh with the uptick in the prices.

You get a motion motion second. Motion second to be further discuss it. Discussion. Councilman Dodie. Thank you.

I'm doing what I'm doing what you said, Mr. That's right. uh is um do we have to as as the uh governing body when we change uh change the uh ordinance change uh whether it's pricing or whatever it is when we change something like that are we due to let the businesses know or the people that this is going to affect are we do to let them know that there is a change coming or being put on record or is it just something they'll find out by So they find so the legal notice that's provided to advertise the ordinance policy and procedure yeah you probably want to mail out to your businesses hey next year this is where increase it to that's what gives us a ground room when we start these things in January so come July August you can mail out to your businesses at say hey when you come here this is where it's going to be okay so that everybody's not surprised

right but I did look at the revenues of people who do get these sales licenses a lot more It was incon nominal. It was inconsequential in trying to decide rather than rather than be arbitrary and pick 100 here 300 there. It was inconsequential to the revenues which I'm sure as a business owner any more cost of a license is not inconsequential to them is you know but as far as over the overall picture of revenues reported it was inconsequential. Okay.

Thank you. discussion done. So then you go to all in favor. All in favor I in both. All right.

Yes, sir. Council. Okay. We're going to go to 12. New business. Action on proposed new resolution a resolution 26-26.

This is the this is the bids that we had should be included in the packet for the this is the sewer treatment plant bids that bulk sent back. They did uh give an opinion on which bid the lowest bid and if it if it met the state requirements. It didn't meet the state requirements. We just simply need from the council a uh motion to accept that bid and a second and then

this is the sewer treatment plant. Uh you know we got that grant. I'll make a motion that we accept the bid please. All in favor? Any oppose? Thank you. We can get started because they've been waiting on me. And that's uh I will remind on the resolution if everybody will sign the resolution. Can we do that real time? Yeah. Because uh just as I caution, Mr. D, you'll have to sign this one from last meeting. Okay.

Actually, we have some more money to spend right there in the same place. Do we do we have one circulate your

matter if you mind put you on the spot that resolution that was adopted authorize the u the uh action on the litigation. Can you send that one around? Which one? The first one that has authorized on that. That was a good bid that came in.

Came in on $100,000 that we lost. So, we can spend that in the same place. That should bring us to 138 zoning. Special use permit. Special use 513 Leon Street. 513 Leon Street.

Nobody speak on this. This is this was a this was a see uh this was one that came to planning zoning per minutes. They issued a a recommendation to approve 53 special use permit.

You didn't do that, did you? So 513 Leon is a special use permit. As as everybody knows, special use permits now uh it go to the planning and zoning administrator reviews it the application. It goes to planning zone. They make a recommendation or they make or they do they do not recommend issuing on 513 Leon. They issued a recommendation on approving that special use permit for 513. Okay. point of information. It goes back to what I spoke previously about. They made a recommendation to approve it. What if four councilman voted for it and one did they deserve the right to know

why? That's what that's got to say that we need them to come and explain and all I have is the minutes at this point. Okay. All right. I'm bringing it to be clear. Okay. Leave. No, no, no, no.

It would it would be very helpful. I think it's a little it's a little out of character to have coach but for the purpose of this one let's see if we can't get to tell us a little bit

I'll make that

all in favor All right. Car got be special use permit for 9 on Fort L Street. Is that where they barbecue stand at? This is this is the gentleman with the barbecue stand. I do have knowledge as a city official because I had to deal with this. This was the the barbecue stand and then there was a it's been sold but there was part of it that there was I believe they were cutting hair in it. Correct. No, it's they're going to put another building right there.

Correct. Correct. And they're going to do that. And that's what that's what it was used. It's always used as a commercial. Uh there was some talk and discussion leading up to it about the parking and kind of how it was, but as I understand, we've discussed with them and the parking was fine with us, but it was a special use because it was just outside of how that building was always commercial and always used in in a similar manner. So, two businesses on the same lot.

No, they're not connected. I actually think that's a good idea. A great idea. They're just you got food in a building. So, it's two occupational license. Just one one already has one. It's not occupational. This is a special use permit. Okay. It's just this is a new new building. And so the previous one had that had that ability to use it. It's been historically used as that. Uh in my legal opinion as I profered it to them is is that the historical use of this we have granted a use of this before. It's consistent customary what we've done before. I make that motion. All in favor?

I oppose motion car. Congratulations.

All right.

We don't have any discussion items modifications. Uh 15A again members approach me. This is resolution that's uh authorizing the mayor to request nominations from sens for appointment uh members to the municipal fire police services board for the city of Bass. Currently the the board has uh three active members. Uh they cannot operate without at least one other member because the requirements is that they have four form. uh and the two outstanding or two vacant positions uh have to come from uh what's nominated by the uh the university 4-year institution which in this area um is defaulted to ulm. So that's what this resolution does. We're going to submit this to pass today to ulm uh tomorrow.

I'll make that motion. I second it. All in favor? I we don't know. They got a picture and we been the police got there. I got there and I got those information. They can't pass discussion. Uh J point of information attorney Jones when pointed I thought they just the mayor kind of recommended to them.

Yes sir. Maybe I'm So, so what happens is is the mayor compiles a list, send it sends it over to them because the civil service the civil service composition you send uh the resumes of a group of people. They then pick from that group. They going to pick they going to pick from who they and then they'll they'll send back a letter and a thing saying this is their pick. Then we always entered that letter into the record that that was their pick and then the council confirms that and and I just want to make sure that you know that the mayor I want to make sure m that you that you that you had

yeah I got on the desk I want to make sure I think this was safe and and Rick and I discussed this it was it was more of a safety val rather make sure that you have the correct blessing than not that's kind of the the pause and tone of what we do we've been doing is to you rather have the resolution than not have the resolution. Okay. That way if there's any question that comes down nobody ever look as we've all learned nobody ever looks at the possibility of if something good were to get contentious with the board and somebody says well that member is not properly there. So just make sure you got it may be extra it may be overkill but the protection is better than no protection if you ever get into something.

Okay. So that's Mr. Smith and Mayor. Let me call for a motion. Motion.

We already voted on it. It was moved and second and voted on and we just have to write you as you can for the minutes. You can make a notation that you support the issue. Even though you missed go 15 minutes 15B. Chamber of Commerce. Uh we want to move uh the date from 4926 to 4826. I move for that change. Second council. All in favor? Any oppose? Thank you.

The council meeting for next month will be April the 8th 5:30 finance and 6:00 regular meeting. It's 5:00 5:00 finance and 6:00 recommended. Thank you, Miss Smith. Introduction of ordinance.

We got ordinance a ordinance 26-4286. We just read it by title and it's introduced.

Let me see what it is. Okay. Once you introduce the title elimination required. Okay. So it's ordinance 264286 an ordinance in regards the corporate limits of uh city of bast Louisiana pursuit of Louisiana by statute 33 col 171 etc and particularly RS 33180 by annexing territory located in Paris W Louisiana said property being adjacent continuous to existing boundaries to bast otherwise providing with respect there too. So, we'll introduce this annexation ordinance and then between now and there we'll receive the tax collector certificate of no uh that there is no that the taxes have been paid. Then you'll receive the register of voter certificate that says there is no register voters living there which is what allows you to annex the piece of property.

Where is this property at? This is this is going to be the is this is the RV park. Oh, this is the RV park. Yes, ma'am. This is the one that the that had already been approved by the parish to be an RV park. It is abunded next to our limits. It's contiguous to it and it's going to be there in any case. The biggest issue is is if it's in the parish, it's going to have to have a sewer pond. So, you're going to end up with a sewer pond what people presume to be our area. Yeah. uh and deal with that or do we allow them to come in then we receive the the property tax and stuff like that and then they can do sewer which eliminates a sewer problem.

So it's one of those things that yes historically we do have we do have zoning code that says that we're not to have any mobile homes on the corridor there. However, this is a project that's been approved before we got there that's permitted before they ever came to us. And so when it comes to us, it falls underneath the fact that we're taking it as is. It's not going to alter or allow other people on that corridor to do it. Basically, what we're doing is we're taking in a project and we're sparing the residents there. What would more than likely be a sewer pond that's going to be built to do it because as you understand the parish is mechanical

and that size and volume would require some and then we're going to be down to the same issue of having what is a parish sewer problem next to our city residents. So the most powerful thing was to reach out to them as the mayor did say, "Hey, we can abate that. We have sewer right there which will eliminate the sewer issue." And on the other side of it, the benefit to us is that we receive taxes, the taxes, but we also eliminate a sewer problem for the residents. And since it's already been permitted by the parish, we're not going to be in there issuing a zoning permit to them because we property as is. voice continues with that.

Uh Mr. Jones, uh as I was reading the information packet to go along with this, uh I forget the name. Can you can you tell me what that name again is? Uh corporation. Yes. Uh this house. No, it should be some tornado. It is right here. corporation TDL TDL. Okay. As I was reading the packet uh yes, it had on there uh it stated about the property uh the parish property taxes, but I didn't see anything on there in relation to uh

because they currently so when you do an annexation, I believe that's going to be probably the property taxes as I have to look. Uh, but it's it's either exhibit three or four and it should be a blank in there to fill in at the adoption hearing what the taxes are because they'll send you a certificate. Uh, so they they're currently not paying city taxes because so when they annex in, they have to be current on their taxes underneath the state law. So that's why certificate is there and then you put in the annexation ordinance from the Secretary of State who this ultimately has to go through. Also, you have to put in there what the taxes were in the previous year that they could pay. And so there will be after that they will have city tax on on it, but currently they do not. They're not city.

So that answers your question. Council Green. So yeah, question. So I got a question. So you saying by us annexing the sew they'll be paying property tax. So we're annexing the property. So because in the city we push we pushing inside the city. So we're taking inside the city because they're going to be continuous to the city. It's going to be outside the city, not inside next to us. A lot of times they're they they are literally right there next they are they have but our city.

I thought we was just doing it so they can get super information. Mr. Jones cuz I think it was some mis I mean I'll let Councilman Green I cuz I was under impression last the meeting they came in we were just in annexing the sewer not actually push them inside the city limit.

No. So the annexation really they not from here. If you annex them inside, if they meet the qualifications to vote by being by being a resident of this parish, I done did my research, you going to possibly have six or I still have more because I thought when they came up here, they said that they went through the the police jury. The only thing they needed us was for the sewer. But now I'm hearing today that they we annex them inside the city which mean they should have came before us to operate their business. They didn't

they did come here they didn't come he was everybody they when these folk I kind of see what do they got occupational license from the city? No. So what you're So what business do they have inside the city? Well I think what you're looking for is not an occupational license but you're looking for do they have a zoning permit from the city? From the city. No, they don't have to ask him. He was most people under some people was under the impression that sitting the sewer since it was so close to the line cuz he came in and was saying that this manhole was in proximity to the thing over here. So what they were saying is we can get this money. So in order in order for you So what did the parish get

the what? So the parish after he's annexed in after he after after he annexes in the only thing he has with the parish he's he's in the city it's just like any other city property his dealings with the parish is only on the level of if you have some parish tax city I I definitely was under impression that we so if you wanted to go that method okay with what you're talking about with sewer you would have to make a consolidated sewer district because you're levying a sewer rate on somebody who's outside of the You don't have authority there. So, you have to get you'd have to get you'd have to make a solid sewer district with the police jury.

What's I I hear what you're saying, but I mean, I asked the question, they was like, "Hey, they can't tap into the sewer, so we got to end that sewer." I thought they was going to utilize our sewer. I didn't know we was pushing them inside the city limit because then their their business should be inside the city.

Their business will be inside the city ultimately. I think they used the wrong language when they came in. They said annex sew. That's I think all I did was all I did was uh excuse me. All I did was if they gonna be right there where they they gonna be there anyway. Regardless whether we annex men or not, they'll build a pond. It'll be more stank over there with all the residents. Or we can annex man get the tax and the sewer off each one. Hello America but they even stay there anyway if whatever it won't be on the city that stay next to it though.

I get what you're saying but it won't be on the city for the residents to stand over there too. Yeah, we already got one issue with a smell in the city. Trying not to create another one on the other end as we try to fix this one. And the city will get sewer from all over 100. So in other words, what you what you guys saying right now if just say we leave it like it is. So that mean just just for just for clarification, who was the police jury for the area? Okay.

So that mean T going to be okay with with the citizen of the city of Asha dealing with the stain. I can't say that he's personally if he's personally okay with it. But I can say this much they are because they permit they got them regardless. So why not let the city make some money and help them out at the same time? That's the conundrum. That's the value

and people because even now even they just just for just for example right just say they do have 100 RBs there right and they just leave that's the only city but they they going to be coming and you're not I I hear what you're saying a lot but also too if they decide just man but get this RV and just leave station they got to be rolling

I I really don't think y'all listen this what I'm saying So if if if cuz now we annexed inside the city limits. So now if you have a 100 RVs there and I'm just going off the ills not seen that happen. If out of the 150 of them say we don't want these RV we going to leave here. Who who that's on the owner just like if it's apartment complex you got if you got residents and they leave you just losing money. Well here's the other thing. It's all I'm talking about the RVs itself. So here's are owned by the people. Milton working. So here's here's the answer to that. It's real quick and easy. It's quick and easy to motor vehicle.

You can't leave an abandoned vehicle. You can't leave an abandoned vehicle because we have a junk. We have a lot of them just stationary around us right now. I think the problem is I think the problem is I got I got a point of information. I think it's too I've just offered what I think I think Councilman Green and I and I and I agree with him. Everything starts off as great. People come in and they sell you this brilliant idea how they going to keep something up. Everybody starts off like that. Tell you we're going to do this, we going to do that. We going to make sure that this don't become like a east side. So I I

what I'm trying to say is we we annexed it in for the money because it was going to build a pun anyway, right? And I I can kind of agree with that. We going to get the we was going to get we was going to get blowback from it also. But my other point is what we annexed them in. They so close. Did we talk to anybody else and see that we can get some more revenues in that area? Annex other people in annex. I have talking about the houses there. the house and other businesses I talked to that they don't mind by getting annex in. Okay. I just had one question there and I'm do I promise. So is there any way that we didn't have to annex them in? They still going to tap into our sewer

there. The only way you can do that is through a consolidated sewer district because here's the issue you run into. You can't levy a fee on somebody outside your jurisdiction. So you make what's called another board which the police jury would have to get with you and agree to allow you to do that. Yeah. I'm sorry. Yeah, it's it's I I've dealt with I've dealt with them to have be inside the city tapped into the sewage than being inside the city and not tapped into the property Walmart that's inside

I just 26 hours generation. Well, I mean, it's six in one hand, six. You either going to get get it with the pond or you going to get better than Absolutely. Yeah. So, so the first order of question is it's coming. It's coming. So, the second question is do you want to come with with the pond or do you want to come with the sewer? And if it comes if it comes with the sewer, then it comes with the revenue, right? People stay with it. So the qu the issue the the threshold issue of is it coming? That's gone.

He told he he actually called said, "Hey, we waiting on y'all. See what y'all going to do. If y'all going to do it, we we'll thank you. Thank you. Thank you. If not, we gonna have to get He waiting on us to see if he got to dig the pun or we gonna do the sewer." So after tonight, I will let him know. and and that's what it's going to be. So, quick question, Mr. uh Mr. Jones, if you will. Um uh the the uh the RV park, right? Is this going to be like a a place where people come in and set up a permanent temporary or temporary residence or how how how are they going to be coming in out of the RV park itself? The RV park, it's 100,

right? Right. I know. Yeah. Yeah. I've seen I would it is an RV park that's designed for people to fill the needs while they're working at the metap and so it's it's not designed to be a permanent home. It's it's designed to be a tren when I say permanent I didn't mean like brand new house. No, this is considered this is very much considered to be a place where it's going to be there's going to be influx and outflux of people. Nobody's going to be staying there or calling this their their permanent is yes very much so like the one in Charlotte. Is it zoned for that inside the city?

So it's currently it's not zoned in any case because it's not in the city. So that's why it's imperative that they had a permit before they did it because if we take it in and then we were to variance zone it. You talking imperative they got a a zoning from the police? Not zoning that they were permitted for the project beforehand because we're taking it as is. Okay. So if they had to come get a permit from us because the project's already been done by the parish then we'd have to issue a variance and then we'd be in this. So if somebody if somebody if somebody want to do that on the opposite side which inside city limited can they no they have to ask for a variance we have no issue that other spot is already inside yeah it's already inside city I know

but since this project had started before us and it was approved we're taking it as is the project we're not giving a variance to ordinance just attorney point of information because that didn't that was a that was a concern that has been expressed asked me about this project was if we do this are we starting a history of giving variances no because it it's coming in as this project it well it's twofold because if we voted on the other day you say we voted on last week I mean last month we haven't voted on this just that I point of information I want to give some clarification

people saying we voted on we have not because well sir So, here's the process on an annexation because I haven't done one here yet. Not today. I've done I've done a lot of them elsewhere, but to kind of give you the process on annexation. When you do an annexation, you introduce it like a normal ordinance. There is a public hearing before the adoption. So, the public will come here, have a public hearing, voice their opinion as to it, then you have the adoption meeting. All right. So, you see what councilman from district, you see his concern. Last month, we voted. We voted Hold Let me Let me finish my train of thought, sir. Sorry. We voted on What did we vote on last month? We voted.

We voted to start the process. There technically didn't need to be a vote, but somehow a vote got called. There was a need for a vote. We voted on just to start the process of annexation. You didn't have to vote on that because you had to wait for a petition to come through. So, what did we vote on? They made the presentation. They made the presentation. They made the presentation.

I think y'all I'm Attorney Jones. Yeah, I think you you you see where I'm getting at. We voted on You don't vote on a presentation. We voted actually on something last month. I'm saying what did we did we vote on the tour? We voted we voted we voted to start the process. And this is the next step in the process again. And we did. And that's what just for me for my clarity. I was just under the impression that we was annexing the sewer. I didn't know that we was pushing them. You're still in the process where this thing has to be voted on. Just me. I'm just saying

these these So to give you the give you the backside of it. If you were to go into the adoption here and say, "Hey, I don't want to annex because this people showed up public hearing and you said, "Hey, I don't want to annex because it's there's there's there's there's there's no there's whether whether you adopt it. Whether you do it or you don't, there's no liability on me because you haven't voted to do it. You just voted to to go ahead and say, "Hey, you can submit your petition to I guess another thing. Why why allow us to vote on something?" Like at some point, Mr. specifically just going to say like you don't eat it. Correct. No sir.

Okay. Yes, sir. So, at that point, you know, here's the deal. There's been a lot of votes on a lot of things that weren't necessary, but votes were taken on them. It's just I don't I'm not the parliamentarian. Mr. is is the last meeting that whatever whatever action the council took. Can can somebody pull that up and pull the minutes up and see what we actually voted on? You have the minutes right there. It's right there. Is there anything in the minutes? If it's not in the minutes, then we can do it. All right. And I recall making a statement. You don't have to vote on anything because petition but it still has to be everybody.

Yes, we did. Yeah, we agree with it because they asked next steps. I mean, I just put on the floor. I think I thought needed more, you know, more money. I'm just trying to I'm just telling you

you have a So, the next step is is you're going to have a public hearing and then you're going to have an adoption meeting just like Okay. Okay. So, we're just at the introduction. So, did we pass a paper around today that that voted to annex those guys into the Did we Did we just do that today? No, you did not. What was that we passed around? Y'all passed around the resolution on the last one. the ordinance 26-4286 and it's saying um an ordinance to enlarge the corporate limits in the city of Astra,

Louisiana pursuant to LR, that's what we just signed by annexing territory located in the parish house. You did the uh you signed two ordinance. one with the authoration matter nomination resolution and then the lawsuit resolutions I did that's only two things I thought we just voted on this 16th no that's introduction

I don't like so introduction and next week we'll do it or the next meeting or whatever because you have to advertise it and it's going to go three times in the publication and then you have a public hearing. So the public don't have to have a discussion. Yeah, we we don't need to because they waiting on us. We got them up. If we're not going to do it, they ready to roll up. Well, now hold up there. We can't just they they everybody's at everyone's leisure, right? I'm talking about you can't talk about they going to go the other way cuz if they was going to go the other way they wouldn't Yeah but I'm trying to get them be

they ain't trying to deal with but they will you know they won't get as many they want to deal with just like just like the resid anyway.

Yeah.

And the deadline to publish is two. So you got three. You got you got at least three more Thursday.

All in. No, we been here too long. He got a