City Council - Regular Meeting

Turn four, please. Miss Angela Tap, District A here. Mr. Henry Doug, District B, here. Mr. James Green, District C, here.

Mr. Derry Green, District D, Mr. Block, District E. Okay. The record will show that we have three present. We do have a floor applications in prayer. Father God, we thank you for another another wonderful thing that you've given us. Father God, we just thank you for everything that you've done already in our lives. We thank you for the things that are coming in advance. Lord, give us the mindset. Give us the heart. Give us the love. give us compassion to deal with the city of Basel's needs. Lord God, again, I pray that that you will you will continue to to uh fill us with your love that we may do the best we can for for the city of Baptist. Again, it's all about your people. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

Amen. To the stand, indivisibley forice all [Music] take a moment of silence for the loss of life of Mr. Willie Parker and 911. Thank you.

Three agenda modifications. Um I have just one request and we may be able to handle it under unfinished business. I would like the status of the Cers um street project. So I don't know which way we can do it. either under the unfinished business or standard agenda.

It's just discussion and again members uh uh Tony uh at Tony Jones was unable to be here as council excuse his absence. He accidentally agreed to provide a proono expungement tonight at Robson Center at 5:30. So if it's just a discussion item, you can put it at 12B if unless there's some action to be taken. Just a discussion item. So you'll make a motion to expand the agenda to add 12B to discuss the status of the uh is it C?

Yeah, Collier's Lane. The solar panels lane. project project. Okay. I'm going to make a motion to expand the agenda to address the Collier Lane project and make item 12B. Second. I'll second all in favor. For the record, just have a roll call unanimous consent to approve. Roll call. District A, Miss Angel. District B, Mr. James Green. I'm sorry, Mr. Henry Doug. Yes. District C, Mr. James Green. Yes.

District D, Mr. Derry Green. District E, Mr. Howard Lock. Okay, we do have three in favor. Extended measures. That'll be item number 12.

I'd like to also add a item to the agenda. Um this is in reference to the uh MAC feed division street bridge. Um uh I am I am steady getting a lot of calls and ask about what's the status on it and uh I think if if we can if we can publicize that then you know people will have a better idea uh of what's going on. We know there's a lot going on with the meta site and everything surrounding that, but we need to make a uh I think we need to make a public comment and let people know exactly what's going on with that uh that project tell update on unless you just want to discuss about it. Let's go ahead and add it to the agenda. It won't be a bit of discussion.

You got to make a motion. Got to make a motion 12 C to discuss the status bridge project. I'd like to make that motion to add uh to expand the agenda 12 city to expand the agenda to add the uh M bridge back east street bridge to the second

district A miss Tapen yes district B Mr. Dodie yes district C Mr. James Green. Yes. District D. Mr. Derry Green. District E. Mr. Howard L. Show that we have three in favor. Three members present. Members, I think you have a request for me. Distinguished member Cindy Hendricks. Yes. one Z56 Lynch Lane. Did you already

Okay. I just want to expand the agenda for announcement of a $50,000 grant that we may have access through keep house beautiful and we need some support from y'all. Okay. Okay. You want to make a motion to expand the I make a motion. Well, is there is there something that the city council needs to vote on or it's just some weird discussion? It's just a maybe a discussion, but mainly to also get it out to the public. Yeah. Um, you can either have that done in public comments or Oh, okay.

public comments would be good. Coming up next, right? You want me to stand? Uh if that's not anything else we have to amend you go first. Okay. Other comments say they relate to the items on the agenda. Well that's not that's not on the so you got you got to enter. All right. So this is public comments. So you may entertain a discussion item uh members because as again we don't have a general public comment uh item on the agenda. So this will be under discussion items. This could be 12B.

Okay. I'm going to make a motion that we add discussion. Um making item 12. Yes. is my Okay. Well, we just added the other two items, Mr. Smith. Thank you. Oh, little slapp.

Yes. Mr. Dodie. Yes. Mr. James Green. Yes, Mr. Dary Green. Mr. Lock. Okay, we have three in favor of expansion. Okay. Four public comments as they relate to the items on the agenda.

Good evening.

Good evening, Pastor Louisiana. Uh I want to talk about uh three items on the agenda and the first is going to be 9B adopt ordinance 25 483 ordinance to amend curfew and miners and penalties. Uh I would like for this board to table that since you don't have a full board. I think the other two board members would be here to uh to voice their concerns about this. I like to voice my concern about this. Now, you already have a law in place for curfew. Just enforce that law before it's penalty-wise. It's going to be a burden on the parents, which I know you're trying to get their attention. But the majority of these kids, parents, single parents raised by a mom, a grandma, a great grandma, and they'll be the ones that be paying these penalties. So if this board will consider this tableless until uh the other two gentlemen be here we can have a full confirmation on what you plan to do about this curfew. We know we have a lot of try inside the city that need to be addressed but the law is already in place to address that. We just need to enforce it. And I say this with due kindness because majority of these kids who are here doing this father figure is not in the house. They either don't care or either in jail or either dead. Next item on the agenda. I'd like for you to table this also. Item 10 B, resolution 25 2112, approving Mayor Mark Mo authorizing party grants. I can concur with that. We need to be full authority on these grants that's coming in here on the

money that the city is going to receive and I concur with that. The last item on the agenda I'd like to discuss and I need to hold board to be present on this as well. And if I can find it right quick without my glasses on. Item 10 D approved payment to the M Par for services. Now with all due respect to you madam Mr. Mayor and Mr. Dodie uh you was quote unquote civil individuals Mr. Tapp and the other two council members James Diddy Green and Mr. Lock are familiar with this now how we get back paying right to services and from understanding the lawyer Mr. Jones read the law that that service supposed to be done free. Now, is he charging Bouage, Cson or Gridge, but needed for service when they offices closed? I bet they're different. Now, we didn't already paid them one point quote unquote $1,400 some,000 already from the previous administration. Now, how this get on the agenda? How did this come about? me paying my tour to without a resolution or payment a memorandum of contract with agreement to control this city. Far as I'm concerned, whatever happened from the past administration, the f quote unquote she left, this is done illegal. This is it was done illegal from the beginning. Let's get this matter corrected. Let's not put this four years in trouble about public safety.

Let's build our department up so we can have a full department so we can address these juvenile crimes and all this other issue that we facing. We can't do it with a part-time police department. I want to thank you for your time. Table these until a full B get here. Mr. Dr. Mr. Green need to get this. This is very very very delicate. Thank you for your time.

Good evening, Christian Bradford.

I have several items here like discuss 13 South Washington Street Louisiana. I'd like to start with number six included with other previous minutes. That was a meeting done in August I want to say the 25th at 710 714 Washington Street known as second chance. It was a bright meeting committee meeting on a city letter head and I didn't know we could form committees and have meetings without the counselor or somebody knowing anything about it. I I wanted to Mr. Mayor was not here his name surround on this on this tape as well. But uh again that that's that's illegal to have a meeting a committee form committee have a meeting at a different location other side I'm under we're working under two location now u assistant to the mayor uh council 55 they got their office and we got the city here have a little quite how that coordinate but those type of meet cannot be conducted every anytime you have a meeting concerning city issues city issues make sure that you post it and I don't think you have any minutes from that meeting I don't see unless it's in your packet the council get any minute that you what you talking about

the meeting August 25th meeting at at at second chance the bright You want to give you a copy? Thank you. I thought we s

I I watch the clock. What what I'm saying to the ultimates and the mayor and the mayor that when we have public meetings concerning committees like uh the zoning committee and all different type I don't know if y'all know about this committee being formed or not. I don't know either. No, they don't. They don't. Okay. Okay.

Okay. Well, they they other words kind of be more transparent with one another, you know, that that uh that we know because I hear certain committees that were located that were present but they weren't formed by the city you know wasn't posted in the city like I think I think the keep the mohawk union was there u miss I'm not going to call that but some people were there I I would love to be there because I'm definitely interested in black in this community I'm I'm a citizen don't live in the city but I live in the city They're going to meet about the city blight. I think it should be posted through the city. I'm sure the mayor probably want to be, you know, I I can appreciate him. He just started. I just want to, you know, keep him up and up on that, you know, that that we all be informed. Thank you. When zoning committee have meeting, they have to post it. And that like I said the committee had even been formed for the college committee according to that form. The next thing I will deal with got sever spoke on curfew. I like these people on the two uh I don't know size the table because they ask you to or what but again curfew we we need to have more detail on the curfew you know because curfew it it is going to affect single parents that's at work you know don't have a father figure and like I said I hope that can change because uh those those two ultimates not here. Your district was the highest.

Mr. Bradford's time expired on which issue five minutes five minutes total. Sir, make it you can request to the council question. I'm sorry. I had three minutes each. I'm sorry. Five minutes total. I like for a motion to continue send my time please and I move fast. Okay. So, we would agree to give them maybe another three minutes. You just move. I haven't been mentioning. Okay. We we would I mean I'm asking that you give him another three minutes to conclude his items. Is that a second? Yes.

Ma'am, there's been a motion to extend. You said three additional minutes. It's been moved and second call for Miss. Yes. Mr. Dodie. Yes, Mr. James Green. Oh, yes. I got a I got just clarification on this. Like what he's saying. Is it We got to get Is it five minutes total or is it five minutes each issue that we address? Let's talk about

this total. But if we going to keep expanding it, we don't need more time. We can just do away with the time to be good with

I mean I mean I mean what I'm saying is if we gonna keep letting people get more time they haven't failed yet. We going to do mile. We put we set a time five minutes. That's what it mean. [Music] When you want to start before I start though, I I want to state one thing. before start you start you you added three more things to the agenda tonight that's not here that we just got knowledge of like the $50,000 grant the M feed bridge the Colin lane issue I mean anyway we I can appreciate what you saying may there about you know try to keep the move but we should and I was on the previous council I didn't know we had it uh five minutes that was it that some y'all must have doctorred under your new administration

that's why I was clear cuz I thought it was it was under the last administration as well. There was a 30 minute time. Okay. What did I stop here? Excuse me for a minute. Y'all know I'm really rushing. Okay. I don't know what you going to do about the silver lane. The max bridge the Let's talk about Grant. Leave Grant come in. This this is 10 A and M miss uh Susan also they ask about 50,000. Do we have any government overload grants that they're receiving? Do we have to sign off on those grants? That's the question.

Okay. Well, they're getting grants under umbrella of the city of Bachelor because they are nonprofit organization working on another city. They call Mohigh beauty. Look like we should have some input on that. That's another day, another subject. I'm not the time I I I'll probably be on the agenda next time for that. I just I didn't quite know exactly what that meant. Miss Mary Hawkins have not been paid. I got a minute 17 to talk about. Why have Miss Mary Hawkins have not been paid? Item number 15 B. Why has Miss Mary Hawkins been paid for the work she done at 1305 Mick Street? You ask a question.

Yes. Why have Mr. Mary Hawk been paid for her invoice? She's submitted that she's on the gender. I'm respond to it because see, let's go back to something. I'm not ask uh Miss M had been paid for the last administration and then no nobody can answer that. Uh I want to say something about shar like how did he get back in the payment when we told he would be paid? I and and the invoice I'm looking at dated the 22nd I mean 27 uh 28th of June of 20 25 and I was sitting on the council re you going to get to M.

Yes sir. I show appreciate you and uh I want to see where you where you change the time for public speaking. Okay. In the future, I I come through the week, you know, I come here every day, you know. Yes, sir. I'm here and I get through half.

Was it or resolution? I think it was a resolution. Well, I don't know

district one district. um district 8 and I think everybody in Mo house Parish is so happy that construction has started on Piland and Country Club. Um I'm excited. Everybody's excited. So we just want to say um thank you to Mayor. What he say new way? Well, we're seeing it day. So appreciate it. Okay. Also, we're trying to get our kids uh we're going to extend time uh football to um Wednesday and then we will we got the health and pass moving over tomorrow. We will get get the kids signed up and we will have football this year. Uh so, Wednesday will be the last day you can sign your kid up for football flag or tackle. uh Wednesday we will start we gonna have football this year not giving back money so this is gonna be the first year in a while and I like everyone to support if you know kids that want to sign up please get them there I think I got two people I got one person want to sign two kids up they'll pay for it so if you know any kid need they paying for it bring them on up at the city hall right here on the second Parker trying to get the kids something to do. Come on, bring them up.

And I wanted to announce we do have a governor coming October the 8th at the mist center. And I want to thank the city workers for putting out working really hard uh not only just cleaning the mission center up all around the city. Uh maybe I I get them some praise on because they got the city looking real good. We still got to tackle stuff and it's winter time. We will tackle a lot more stuff that people are talking about. As of right now, I just want to thank the city workers. Mayor, you said uh the governor on October 8th. We have a time. Is it like a munchie? It's a munchie. 11:30.

Okay. Also, we'll have a table for you. Okay. 11:30 consent approval of previous meetings. Regular meeting August 14th, 2025 and special meeting August 19th, 2025. I'll make a motion that we accept these minutes. I motion. All in favor? I motion pass.

Seven, consideration of any action on reports of committee appointing of the governor body a finance committee report. I make a motion that we accept this month's finance report. I second. All in favor? Motion passes. B, planning and zoning committee report. Yeah. Okay. All right. We got number eight, reports of city official. I have something y'all want to talk about. Chiefs go to office. You have anything you want to say?

Okay. I would like to know the status of the um police report like the police staffing. Have we hired anybody? Where are people [Music]

cuz I can't read this. It's all

I'm asking about the staffing of your department. How many officers we have? How many we still need? I know you're actively recruiting, right? Still some number still remains the same as last month. We still have Seven on patrol. We have two in that category. We have three. We have three applicants. We had three, right? So, and we're trying to work on getting some more because uh we have I have a meeting next week with advertisers on the commercial and see if we can track some more potential employees.

Okay. Because I thought I saw a new officer, a young lady. So she is patrolling on on her own. That's the one that was in the academy. They graduated the last academy and she got about three more weeks and she'll be on. Okay. So that'll bring number officers and we have one in the academy that's going to graduate and we have three people that uh be interviewed this week but they won't be able to start until the next academy because none of them have experience. So they have When is the next academy? Uh January. Okay. It's still reachable.

Oh yes. Yes. Far as part time, I haven't had any part time in the parttimes to approach me right now. Usually those are officers that are already working at other departments. So you know, I've been reaching out to them. So far the numbers remain the same.

Thank you. Uh, Chief Reed, while you're here, um, can you can you uh talk about uh how you're patrolling is intersecting with the uh or still moving along with the uh Parish Sheriff's Office? Uh, is there is there patrol still needed or how we how are we that's going to be on TN? That's not I'm just asking about the control.

It still remains the same. We have three nights out of the week that we're able to control the full shifts and on the nights that we are unable to have a full shift working the sheriff department still supplementing us.

Okay. Chief, you just hold a lot of your comments. We're going to call you back about that. N unfinished business action on or resolutions introduced at previous meeting uh a 25-42 A2 members Ricky Smith uh offic Mayor, uh, in your package, you should have received a copy of the ordinance that attorney Jones drafted and executed uh, based on the recommendations that the council provided essentially u maintain the current structure of the zoning committee. It's just the role changed to advisory capacity.

Look at the last look at the last page. We can't pass it with this.

See the um the mayor mayor one I have. Okay. You can u when you vote to to approve it just prove that amendment uh you amend uh that uh and I don't have it. So you have to verbally amend to indicate the proper is that the only area you saw

again members u it it essentially get goes away with that board of adjustments that board of adjusters that we looked at as practical application cut y'all out of the process totally uh with this change the current zoning uh board still in place it's just going to become an advisory uh capacity and every uh item that's not uh approved by our right by the administrator soon to the strict guidelines that are set uh goes to the zoning committee in which the same manner it was previous. It's just y have to find the same we make a motion to amend last page. Yes, that's right.

Say Mayor Mark Moore and we'll say clerk the current clerk. It's been moved in a second to amend before we approve. I second roll call. Miss Tapp. Yes. Mr. Doey. Yes. Mr. James Green. Yes. Mr. Gary Green. Mr. Lock. We have three in favor.

I can't hear you out here. Ordinance is 25-4282. Yes.

Yes. So that provision has been uh amended. Uh members pleasure. Okay. I make a motion that we adopt ordinance 25-4282 with the necessary corrections previously mentioned. I second. All in favor? I motion pass. All in favor? I

I don't any oppos ordinance 25-42 A3 members this ordinance was provided to you in the packet uh the high points again it changes the time frame to mirror what I believe um some state agencies use in regards to set time parameters for these type of things says 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunset to keep from having you know a arbitrary time frame that doesn't match up to because you know we have daylight savings time and you know we fall back and spring forward so those times may not necessarily match up So those are some of the adjustments that were made in the ordinance uh by Mr. Jones our recommendation and uh again there was some penalties that uh were changed um there were always been penalty provisions uh within this ordinance just those changes uh that were recommended by council placing the ordinance that's just subject to your approval or you referred to uh 25-4283 is the ordinance to amend curfew for miners and the penalties we already have it. We're just redoing the uh the penalty phase up. So, it's already

it's already current law in place. They just making some modifications to the law.

Correct. And you're clearing up the hours that the curfew applies and just set it by, you know, dust almost in a more sight, clear manner. So, there'll be no ambiguity in regards to enforcement of it. Um it's an hour before uh after sunset. Couldn't enforce that. Um and it you know ends an hour before sunrise. Couldn't enforce that. And again those penalty provisions just were changed slightly. That was already in place. and citizen spoke earlier today. He spoke about having the whole council or his representative here to vote on it. So guys, you want to call for the vote? Um

just to address that [Music] and just before you vote, mayor, um been included in some of the dialogue and the uh this was discussed several meetings before in regards to changing and uh discussions. Uh and I'm not sure uh if Mr. Lock and Mr. D Green were present, but I believe they were they they were here when we first passed it. Um they were part of the board. So, I just want the record to be clear that this not something

something that's new because it was it was carefully thought out, carefully crafted because when you look at what's going on in our community and you look at the age group that's really been participating in this type illegal activities, that's why the council and the mayor and citizens, they came up with a a comprehensive resol resolution to go back in time and we just want to reinforce the law. It's already on the book. We just want to reinforce the curfew. So, it's not nothing that's brand new. It's just trying to put teeth in it because as it was written, it was nothing to be done. And, you know, we we trying to curb teen disobedience. We want to be encouraging to our youth, but also we want the parents to know it's going to have to be some accountability if we're going to move the city forward. So, this was not done lightly. It was c it was carefully thought out and each member on the council has already looked at it and for some you know reason another day was absent today you know no fault of their own. So I think we as a council should not table this and vote on it.

And I want to make another statement for the record. Um, we passed this original ordinance. Um, myself, Mr. DD Green, and Mr. Lock, we were all on the council when we when we put this in place. So, this is nothing new. We've had it in place and we just has have not been enforcing it. So, they are totally aware of this ordinance because they were instrumental in passing this ordinance.

Yeah. Let me let me say this. uh it may kind of uh be new to some people uh because uh some people just may not be aware that it's on the books and that's that's all well and good. But we have a way to to uh to inform the people. And again, this this meeting serves as a as a uh as a instrument to inform people about about what's going on. Uh I don't see the shock value in uh changing it. Uh again, from what I understand, this this law has already been on the books. It's been on the book for uh been on the books for a while and there is something that has that has to happen to make uh to uh to curb uh some of this violence and some of this, you know, just uh illegal activity. And again, a lot of activity may not be totally illegal, but they they um they would tend to serve as, you know, maybe something immoral, something something unethical. And usually if you're participating in those types of activities, they're going to lead to something uh illegal. And that's been proven. It's been shown. So um before um before we just uh you know we get upset about about this issue uh there has been clarity already been provided uh for this issue and there was an opportunity for the citizens to come and address it and uh so you know at this point uh I would have rather uh the other council members to have been here but you know a lot of times when we title stuff. Uh you're basically kicking

the can down the road because it's going to come up at the next meeting. So what happens in the next 30 days before we get to the next meeting? How many events have to happen before we decide to go ahead and pass it? You know, uh what happens next month? If I for some reason can't be here, Miss Miss Tapp can't be here, what what what do we do? So, at this point, you know, uh I agree, you know, with what's going on right now and um I believe we should go ahead and uh take care of this tonight. Can I get a motion? I'll make a motion. I second. Second. All in favor?

I oppose. Motion pass. New business. Action on proposed new resolution. Hey, resolution 25-211.

Okay, get in my head. Approve. Change order for city hall.

I also asked, was this the last payment we'll be making? I just called right right at 5:00 and he said this was the last payment that we made. I have a question for clarity. Why the big increase from 473,000 to 529,000? What what happened that they increased itself? I don't have the uh because look like every month we come here it's a revision

and it just keep going up and up and up. What is changing is a material cost. Yeah, I mean we need a comprehensive breakdown of actually what is being done, what items are being purchased because this this is getting out of hand every month we come. Just because we have one that don't mean you got to take it from us. I believe the work has been completed. So yeah, it's completely itemized list won't change that price.

Yeah, that's it. That's I mean they done working on it. They came back and they cleaned up uh everything. And they looked at everything. Everything was done. That's final payment. Final payment. What was the last thing you think that the retainer the floor? Yeah. See the front floor. It's H cribly. carpet. Mr. Smith.

Yes, sir. Let me get time to do the research. What was the original figures versus the figures that we have now? Well, if you go to the offer report, the original uh total [ __ ] obligations were $628,000. Uh $628,221. And what's the cost there? Uh that should be it. 56,000. So whatever that amount I think man pro 10 said it was 529 5296,98. So because I think the 400 and um whatever number that

was already expended and that's a change order. We get most of those change orders, you know, uh again, uh if itemized requests for those costs, uh you won't for approving it requested, but it's probably changes in uh you know, product cost, supplies, probably number of economic factors that probably that you know, But if you want clarity before you approve it, you can see again those costs are already incurred and obligated. They already done the work.

Everybody,

can I get a motion on it? A vote on it? Okay. I'll make a motion that we approve the change order and I second the motion. All in favor?

I motion pass. New business action on proposed new resolution. Resolution 25-211. Uh members, this is a resolution to confirm mal appointment uh for the uh civil service. They have a vacancy. The mayor has chosen u makes the appointment who who is the um vacancy

who vacated yeah uh that I'm not sure

it was Matthew one of Miss

there's two. We got to get this one so we can uh have the civil service. Can't do it without. So yeah, I think this is okay. Necessary. All right. Well, I'll make the motion that we approve um Miss Green as a civil service board member.

Okay. Second. Before you before you do that, uh has has this has this particular uh item uh has it been vetted? And again, uh I said I asked that because it was brought to me and uh I want to make sure that we're doing everything that we're supposed to do. Uh again, we know this is Councilman Gray's wife, so there's there's nothing hidden there, but uh all the ethical obligations have they been met and of this appointment? Yeah. And this is the mayor's appointment. So the mayor who basically

only requirement and Mr. Green knows what requirements are. So there's no real issue in regards to uh vetting. I mean, this uh the process is what it is. May has authority to you have the authority to approve. So, and this knows what he has to do. Of course, that's his appointment. I call for the vote. It's a motion on the floor. Motion by Miss Angela. I didn't get a second. I get a second. Can I make that?

You don't want to make a second. board. You don't have a second. So, we can't be able to have a civil servant meeting without a second.

When is the next meeting chief? you can pass this and Mr. Green will show up after this point just pass it and other council member comes out. Okay.

So pass uh So we pass it. It failed because of a second pass. Do what? You just pass it to Okay, we going to move forward just before pass. Go to B resolution 25-2112 approval of Mayor Mark Moore as the authorized party for grants. I make that motion.

I get a chance I think it's very important for the mayor came across my desk. I know I'm not but you are you familiar with me. I want make sure you $500 some. Yes sir. Uh D. Yes sir I am. Thank you. Okay. Yes sir. There's a motion on the floor.

M pro Tim has made a motion to adopt resolution. I motion. All in favor? I opposed. All in favor?

Motion pass. See, resolution 25-2113. Members, this is uh I mean, y'all done this every year, been on council. This your first opportunity to uh vote on the auditor. Um this is routine. It's what you do every year. And this resolution authorizes the uh picks the auditor for the annual. Can I ask a question? Yeah. He has a question. What happened to our previous auditor? Did he not want to

Oh, okay. Okay. All right. Gotcha. I'll make a motion that we accept resolution 25-21. All in favor approve payment for the fair sheriff office for service. We work on it three days a week and the sheriff come.

What was the bill? All right, members. Uh again, Rick Smith with the office of the mayor. Uh in your packet, I include a memorandum outlining the uh sheriff tub request in regards to reimbursement for salaries incurred by his agency for providing supplemental control assistance. Uh look at the periods uh that outline memorandum. It goes from uh June the 28th to August the 20th. uh totals $15,920.3 or 421 hours 421.5 75 hours uh which include assisting and or responding to 94 complaints

question how many other municipalities have to pay for patrol outside of enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement and the city council or parish entity council entity approving uh that cost that's the only circumstance where it will happen uh this is brought to the council because this uh sheriff Smith is invoiced to the mayor there's no CA in place I got I got information

yeah there's no CA ca in place so in order for this to be paid has to be approved by resolution of council uh you know show your pleasure on what you decided to do in that regard. So that's all I coun when we passed the budget we had the money was already applicated and a lot for those for policing for overtime overtime policing for the department.

Okay. So I got another question. So we we done away with CA with the sheriff's department. My other question is if we done away with CA because when we spoke to attorney Jones, as long as the police department was open, the sheriff department had a duty to assist. But just listening that the police chief, he said they actually was shut down three days a week, two days a week. I don't want to quote it but we actually was shut down sometime. So they actually was performing the duty by themselves. My question is if we would have been open sheriff would have a duty to assist but why would we close our police department down and rely on the sheriff department when we get away with the CA?

Uh council because we don't we we can't we don't have a CA to pay them. We don't have a contract because we did away with it. So why would we close down at 6 when we don't have a CA with the sheriff department? Uh council greenhouse good question. I think Chief Reed if he's here come forward. he'll be in a better position to uh answer that question

because you now you're coming to the council and you asking us to pay $4,000 and we was getting away from paying the sheriff department because we thought we had came to an agreement that as long as our police officers was there, the sheriff department is legally obligated to assist the police department. That's why we stressed the emphasis of staying open 24 hours. So therefore, they would have to render assistance. But I'm kind of kind of on a loss for words now because you set the budget. We streamlined the budget and the police department is doing a great job. They actually saved on overtime. Correct.

When I looked at the U chief, they actually did a great job. But then you offsetting it by us having to pay the sheriff department. And if we continuously going down this route, we're going to bust the budget. This not sustainable.

And that's just before uh Chief Refor look at the uh the footnotes in uh on on the memorandum submitted to you. Uh the overtime budget quarterly that we put in the budget for overtime for just the police department is about 7 17,260. I want to commend Chief Reed because he's at a pace to where at the end of this quarter uh he looks to spend around 13,200 uh in expenses. So that's a savings of almost $4,000 on his current trajectory. and chief re keeps that management up. That's going to save the city uh almost uh $13,000.

But this 15,000 is going to offset all that. It it will it will reduce the chief re will have to work on a budget overtime budget of about $13,000 for the last three quarters of the year. Uh and that's assuming uh if Sheriff Tub is paid this time, I'm sure he send another invoice out payment again. But I can't speak for it. Sheriff department. But in regards to this payment, u we don't have a CA and this would have to be approved by the council to be paid. So you save 4,000. We paid the sheriff's department 15,000. Yes, he did.

Yeah. It's going to have to be adjusted in the the the the next three quarters to compensate for that. So Chief Reed will go from having a a quarterly budget for overtime 17,000. I I guess what I'm I guess what I'm getting at since we all are allocating money and we don't have a seed yet. I think it's going to be the day-to-day operation with the mayor come up with a plan with the U sheriff's department to see what they could do because we already done allocated the money. Now you I see what you're saying. we don't have a CA, but then you won't ask us to pay him $18,000. And I want to know why. And then I got my answer earlier because I didn't realize the police department was kind of shutting down at 6:00, 3 days a week, two days a week. Keep reaching your address.

It's a personnel issue. Uh you can't they can only work a certain amount of hours and come back and be able to work the next day. So if you if you with the amount that we have, if if we don't do it the way we're doing it, they would never be off and it's just not sustainable. Okay. I had a suggestion a year back, probably a year back. My suggestion was if you got to bring in extra help, still staff every shift with your own people. Could we do uh

at least if you have one full-time officer on this shift and then the sheriff department supplements and I give that example because that's what we had to do at the hospital. I would never let a a shift run as straight agency people. I always had one of my own people there who knew the works and knew the how everything worked and then you supplement to what you have. This is an understanding that will have to be made probably with the mayor and the council between Sheriff Tubs that uh that type of agreement. We uh discussed this a couple of months ago when we had officer involved incident um where we had one officer working and there was supposed to be two deputies working and it almost turned into a tragedy. Um luckily it didn't. Um, it happened several times and at that time period I was instructed by the appointing authority not to put one officer out at night by themselves and depend on the uh other agency to bag us to make sure I always had at least two for sure. And that's what I've been going by. Uh, I'm right there. We see it. We know what's going on. And it they can say or one can tell someone they're going to do something, but when it comes down to doing it, I'm right there seeing what's going on. And I'm not trying to throw any shade at anyone or anything. But believe me, the one officer is not going to work like that. And then you got to look at the fact that when you bring those other two deputies in, then you really going to be paying because their overtime rate is $30 something dollars an hour.

All right. I have I have a question and I'm just asking. Um or do you or the assistant chief patrol?

The assistant chief is out on sick leave. I help out when I can. Um, I have administrative duties along with also doing helping on the felonies that we receive. I don't have a uh uh assistant chief anymore and he's probably not going to be back before he retires. So, as far as front office personnel, you just got me and one other person. Chief, I got another point of information for you. Um, he run three on shift. How many is he how many is the sheriff running on the shift? How many is they charging those per shift? How many minutes mean? So, is it overtime or the regular time?

So, when I'm running when we're running three people on the ship, the sheriff department doesn't assist at all. No, I'm saying when you close down you you run three on the ship, our ship when they take over, how many are we paying actually pay? How many officers are we paying them per ship? It's supposed to be two. We're paying two. Okay. Was it a premium or overtime? Over time. Over time. But now he didn't move. He got one now. Now he That's what he said.

So So let let me get this straight. This is Mo's Parish. That's in Mo. So you tell me that we going to when you say that he's just going to go back to one officer assisting you or one officer patrolling at night? One officer assistant and one officer patrolling at night. Both. And then the would be the other officer outside the city. They come in to help if needed. Okay. That's why I was stressing the point that we really need to arrange to have a meeting with the sheriff. Yeah, we will the council, the mayor, and all of us.

And the governor is coming on. We need to pull up to the side for money, please. Thank you. Thank you. I'm looking at a minute.

Okay.

Monday on the 28th of June. on number 11 business ahead of administrator for planning and zone control ordinance members again passed the new uh ordinance regard special use part of that uh now definitively establish who the administrator is in the process uh for the administrator it's my understanding Mayor code enforcement officer as an administrator.

Yes. And uh that's the nomination that y'all have to consider with regards to establishing this administrator. So when you read when you reference the code of ordinance regards to planning zoning and you mention the administrator is this appointed person this appointed person. That's our code enforcement officer. Yeah, Mr.

I make a motion. I second. All in favor? I motion. Mayor, can he come up and introduce himself to people that do not know him?

Yes, ma'am. My name is Lanna Thornton and my address 804 North Marville Street in M Louisiana. Um I'm the new code enforce officer. Um it's a pleasure to be working here. Um I'm just asking everyone to be patient with me right now because I'm working a lot of stuff that was already on my desk and I'm trying to play catchup. Um, but we don't get this city tackled without this black. Keep looking at me. That must have told you about me. I'm

But uh, it's a lot. It's a lot right now. We gonna get it done. We gonna get it done. I'm already, you know, out signing, you know, getting everything back to my assistant so we can get these letters out and get everything done. Of course, it's a process. So, Oh, thank you. All right. On item B, 131 M Street, she will not be here. She couldn't make it tonight. So, we will table that.

I get a motion to table that. Then I'll make a motion that we table um this this application. I second. All in favor? I

opposed that item will be tabled to the next meeting between a discuss discussion items. Uh hey contract and related issues. U that's my um item. I was asking for um consideration of allowing a second ambulance service just to have um contractor to be able to come into the city or the parish in case of emergency. Now it was a lot of issues last couple of meetings but path has u resolved a lot of these issues but still um they're limited on trucks. So, I would like to have allow another ambulance service to come in in case of emergency. It's no way that we want our citizens staying in the ER for long periods of time. If they have emerging conditions, they need to be um transferred out. So, that that I know is up for just discussion, but I am definitely uh interested in having this. So just I'm making notes for uh attorney Jones want

to review alternative options for ambulance service for emergency services. Yes. I mean of course path would still have priority but it's just if they cannot um get the patients out in the time demand. That's it. Lane. Um, that that's my question, too. I want to see the status of that uh solar panel project going on there,

the status of it. Are they working or what what's going on with land? We got a code enforcement officer now. So we should have some answers. Okay. All right. [Music]

Let's see. Is Max Bridge? I'm looking for uh for an update uh on the project. Uh it's been out for a while. Uh there's a lot of issues that have gone on uh with the price of uh last last I know it is uh uh it's going to be kind of delayed because of the meta project. Uh again, I have asked for if it would be okay for the uh engineer, Board engineer to come down and uh have a meeting or just, you know, to the tour the site and to to better explain exactly what's going on with the bridge, why is it shut down, uh what, you know, what what what the uh major problems are, and uh where do we go from here? And again, uh it's of big concern uh to that district uh to district B uh because it's limiting uh limiting the routes. So basically that's that's that's what the ask is uh what what the current status is of bridge is making comments discussion. So there we go. The plan is almost finished. What the engineer Mr. Chris is working on. Uh they'll look over it and improve it uh sometime next week. Uh once they look over it and send it to me, we'll look over it and uh once we approve it uh the next day, I can call and they can start putting it out for

bids. So it's I mean next week we'll know we approve. We got approved. No, not just me looking over and once they and after that they they said the next day they can go out and start putting bids out because we already allocated the money. So Yes. Yes. And also if he needs uh he said he would love to come next month for the meeting to be on them if we need him to. But um this right here information I don't think there's no need

and and just uh to add to that we're working on comprehensive uh plan not a plan comprehensive uh report that I'm going to use as a tenative outline for capital outlay budget just to inform the council on what projects are out what has been uh allocated in the budget what's coming up just kind of idea of what's out there because that's moving forward. That's what we want to do with each budget uh cycle that we go through is pull out as a a budget um I forget the term I use supporting document will be pulling out everything that's in a budget that's capital outlay and having one you know sheet or two that show you every project whether it's funded general fund street tax or sewer. So you can be readily available and that's what we going to do. It's just I think the mayor addressed that a couple meetings ago that you know uncovering projects here and there and getting correspondence about projects that we weren't aware of coming in on July 1st. So it's been a process just identifying.

So that's coming. That's coming. So you know what's coming next [Music] don't know about

look all you want to talk you like to then out but uh yes he he he's being very transparent with that that that free bridge is at the end there now I mean all the thing we do now is look over the plan look over when he sent it to us I'll relocate it and next thing the next day go out for bids and I don't know how long that process is about to be. Okay. If if you will, my uh my major ask is can you uh before before the next meeting or or he comes or when you get the plans all laid out, can you ask and and and give us give me an answer? Uh what is the what why is the bridge out of service? What what is going on with the bridge for it to be down in the first place? What do they have to fix? And that's what's that's what's unknown.

They got to tear it completely down. Everything's going to be gone. Use two train of course. Put them side by side so the water can flow through. They cover it back up with dirt and everything else they do. But the whole bridge need everything just messed up on it. It's it's all of that all of that under the bridge got to be dug out everything everything you see side to side everything be done

and replace with train corks flat put them side by side and it'll be a wide area might have to put a guard on both sides but everything has to be replaced it can't be done and let me ask this last question uh is there is there any plans uh to have the bridge once they get done. But is there any plans to have like a sidewalk on either side from both sides or either side? He said he said he said it was going to be real wide. I don't know about the sidewalk, but it's going to be real wide. The bridge itself.

Yeah, it won't be a bridge anymore. But yeah, got D Do I need to state my name?

Cindy Hendricks 100056 Lynch Lane. Uh this is about a grant that Keithmore House Beautiful would like to apply for. It's a T Mobile grant and it's for $50,000. I wanted to make y'all aware of it because I need your support. This grant is for a structure to be built on the property of the sheriff's department that's located that's adjacent to property located to city hall. You know where I'm talking about. Yes. Right in the green in the grassy area. In the grassy area. Yes, sir.

It is. It the reason we chose that is secure. It's already maintained by the sheriff's department. It is a space which employees of the city and the sheriff would have uh sheriff employees would have access to a day on a daily basis to relax at a break or just a to talk just to have a private area to talk and um we thought that that would be very convenient because a lot of times just even take a lunch break. Now, as far as the service to the community, um there are many different ways, and I'm just going to name just a few, but it would be great for the access to access it for May Madness for people just to go and sit. Uh we thought that being Christmas lighting if you wanted to have any kind of uh event or anything out there that it would look nice and it would also be good for picture taking. So, it's just a nice little area. And I don't know for sure, but we're looking at maybe um a structure that would be, you know, not really a gazebo, but a structure that you could sit up under. And then we would also maybe use park benches and things like that out there. Um the police jury has already committed to it um for us to build a structure there and I've already got an architect that's going to be looking at the way it's going to be built. We're going to try to make it where it looks very cohesive to what we've already got. And uh so what I'm asking y'all and I'm asking any organization that would like to to send a letter of support that's part of the grant to see how it's going to affect the citizens of Morehouse ambassador. Um so the grant is due by the end of the month. So, I would need a letter of support from the city um so that I can get it in by at least September 25th if we need to make any

kind of changes. Um I want to acknowledge all the hard work that I think that y'all are already the mayor's already doing. Code enforcer. I told him I loved his Facebook bill. That's really good. And uh this is one of the projects that I want us to really kind of use so that the city of Bastard knows um the people can look at the city of Bastard and know that we're trying to unify in Morehouse Parish and in the city and I know that a lot of we've had the motto spirit pride and progress. So, I just thought it would be a great time to something that would be really good to kind of enhance the spirit that we already have and show that pride and that progress. So, that's what I ask. Oh, if this is the address to address it to, it's um T-Mobile Hometown Grant Program Review Committee. And this I don't have any papers to give you on the grant because it has it has to be done online. So, I've had I already have some people someone that's working on the grant and I'm just needing a letter of support and anybody else that would like to send one.

Okay. Thank you. I'll give it to you. I hope y'all like the idea. Oh, yes. Glad to go out there and eat lunch. Thank you. Thursday, introduction of order. No, we uh 13. What? 13. They just got 14. There we go. Skip to 14 of the opioid settlement plan. Oh yeah, it's supposed to be on. That's where it's supposed to be. It's supposed to be right there at 13.

Where is it on the internet? Right. We don't have it on on our post.

Can you get another Again, members, this is 13A. Authorize the mayor to complete the open settlement claim forms. Uh according to uh attorney general's notes uh council's previously approved the hiring of man law firm for this uh this opioid litigation oxycont action suit uh there were three separate claim funds uh each due by September the 25th of 2025. Uh we received them via email on Tuesday uh September the 9th. Attorney Jones said he's not sure how much more

we don't have you got two to three. That's a majority. Two more step. Okay. Go to the next item and come back to those speaker. I mean we can pass it to Mr. D come back and go to the speaker.

Okay. We go to 15 request items. A total mile. My name is Tony Martin at 61 Pearl Street ambassador and uh thank God for blessing me able me to be here before you all to put forth a proposal for a memorial for Mr. in the child cotton and if you would let me I'd like to read the introduction we have just witnessed history in the child cotton with a special individual at his memorial service hearing all the accolades the achievements the accomplishments the awards the testimonials all the tutoring he did all the people he has prepared for the ACT the millions of dollars in scholarships he helped people to Yeah, he was a pastor, assistant pastor. He taught Bible study. He could fly an airplane. He was an army veteran, a husband, and father of nine children. He was a mentor. His service to the community was invaluable to so many people. He was diligent working at church, home, or just helping neighbors. He started the first black radio station in Bas. He did enough for two men. While he was the mirror bastard, I saw him at Burger King around 10 o'clock one Saturday morning. He came in to get something to eat. He was wearing a t-shirt that was soaking wet. He said he had been in a field picking peas.

He showed the way. He led the way. That man did not mind getting his hands dirt. He talked to talk and he walked the walk. He was hands-on and always willing to help anybody. He was one of the smartest people that ever lived. He knew almost everything. He could do almost anything. He was not one to complain. He could see the fault in everybody, but he only acknowledged the good. He spent most of his life helping others and doing things that would benefit others. You can search the world 10 times over and not find anyone whose resume can stack up next to him. He was one of the greatest being that ever lived and history will show. It seems only right that since we live through this part of history that we become a part of history and make the birthday of Penny Charles K a city holiday and that we not stop there but that we also because he was a pilot and did fly a plane that we change the name of the airport to the Henry Charles Cotton Memorial Airport. I thank God because I know we can do this. And I'm sure you all know about his many accomplishments more than I. I was just reminded that he was a photographer and a substitute school teacher. He was always busy trying to make a difference. And if you talked to him, you probably heard him say, "I love you." I'm not trying to say he was a saint where he was early in life and he was later in life. But you take a soldier, you put him on the battlefield, sooner or later he's going to have to come out

and get some R and after he has rested and recuperated, he gets back on the battlefield and he gives it all he's got. There's a verse in the book of Matthew. Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen." I would argue that the chosen are the ones that can get the job done. Thank you and God bless.

Thank Thank you. Just for the record, Mr. Green, you were correct. Council need to have quit, but court was reestablished by 7:32. Mary, you do have so you can continue with the speaker item or you can go back to We go to B Mary Miss Mary Hawkins. Okay. Yeah, we go to B. Miss Mary Hawkins.

And Mr. Mr. Smith, when you move to that, can you put those items on Mr. Jones's list um to see can we possibly address the the two things he requested. Yes. To see what we need to do.

Mary Hawkins 358 West Jeff. Um I came here tonight to get get a paper. Okay. Uh this been going on for for ever since 8th of this year. I haven't received a paid no more than special one that 13 me street. That's the one question. So I want to know what is the status of uh members. Uh I'm going to read attorney Jones putting his memorandum for me to adise the council on items or so that

I'm sorry Mr. refer um per Tony uh at Tony Jones payment uh in regards to this item uh Miss Hawkins was hired by uh Miss Carolyn Hawkins reported to be the land owner manager Harris what I say

okay I'm sorry Carolyn Harris uh Miss Hawkins was hired by Miss Carolyn Harris who reported to be the landowner manager or authorized person to oversee the property. Uh our CA which is a contract which was approved by the council uh and it was between the city of Nashville and Carolyn Harris. Miss Harris signed saying she was the authorized party to make a decision on the property. Miss Hawkins was hired by Miss Harris to do the work. were agreed to reimburse Miss Harris if she presented an invoice for demolition of the house and proof it was removed. Miss Harris has not signed the agreement. Uh there was no W9 provided. Thus, no CA has been executed by Miss Harris. uh just put some notes that the property was not condemned by the council which requires us to enter uh the property and have the house uh the demolition to the house. So we can't pay Miss Hawkins for the work she did because we have no right to enter the property and diminish the house the modest house and paying the private person to enter the property at the monster house will be the same as us entering the property. Mr. Hawkins needs to file suit on Miss Harris and Miss Harris feels that we owe her uh a contract or Ca speak last part said Miss Harris needs to file a suit on Miss Hawkins need to file a suit on Miss Harris and if Miss Harris feels we owe the city owes her for a contract the CA that she never signed we can deal with it through that process. Uh the easy remedy uh Mr. Jones outlines that if Carolyn Harris comes and signs

the already approved CA and fills out a W9, then we can pay Miss Harris, reimburse her for the amount she owes, Miss Hawkins. Mrs. Per, the city attorney. And it sounds like Miss Harris is not willing to do that. Is she here? Okay, she's here. I didn't even come up here for this. Uhhuh. I came up here for support. First of all, how you all doing? My name is Carolyn Harris, 521 Oliver Avenue, Bash, Louisiana.

First of all, I didn't do the work. Second of all, I did not hire her. Third of all, yes, I signed the paper saying that I was the overseer of the land. That's it. I'm not putting anything on my taxes that I got to file. I don't talk to my lawyer. So, do what you got to do. That's all I had to say. My name at the time that this took place. Hold on just a second. Will you Mr. Bre? Uh, Mr. Smith. Yes.

Uh, in the original CA, the original CA, the original document. What does that document state? Whose names are on that document? According to attorney Jones, it was between the city of Bash and Carolyn Harris. She just said what she was going to do between Miss City and the city city of city of B.

Okay. So with that with that document being as it is, uh what would what would need to happen now? What what is different from this property and the other properties that uh that she was? Mine was contracted. Well, let me let me No, but you asking about No, no, no. Listen, let me finish the question. Was condemning condemn.

Listen, this ain't about calling nobody out. This is just about getting to the root cause of why she can't get paid or why she hasn't been paid. because people need to know there is a difference in the property uh the properties that she was paid on and the one that she was not paid on. And again, a lot of the contention is that uh from Miss Hawkins's side, excuse me,

Miss Har's side is that she was assured by Mr. Jones uh and the mayor according to her that she would get paid and they would take care of that and that went through a twice process and after after that was stated she still didn't get paid. So what what kept what changed after after we said that we could get her paid? I'm gonna go back to your first question. You said who parties to the contract were right the city of B

and Carolyn Harris full stop. I'm not sure what conversations were had or what ancillary things were promised, but if you go by the four corners of the document, you start with your first question. Who are the parties? Mhm. City bathroom Carol stop. Anything else that you were told is irrelevant? That contract indicates you got you got the original CA that may sign that we voted on. I have a original copy of the document and the name on it is not Carolyn Harris. It's Caroline. Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. That's what it say. Caroline. My name Caroline. My name just my comment he asked what was the difference between the two properties. I know my my properties were condemned by the city of Astro. We u went through a a a long process um to initiate that and then my properties were some of the first properties that were condemned by the city of Astro. That's why I could enter into contract directly with this office. So that's just my statement. Okay. Uh Councilman Green,

I don't care what the circumstances is. It was the city fault or whatever. You can't have nobody to go out and do work anticipating on being paid by the city because that's what everybody was doing. She was doing it. She been doing this work in Bastro ever since I've been part of code enforcement back during the last before that too. And before that it it it

I know what you're talking about the CA. But when we voted on it, we was all under the impression when we seen when we talked about it that it was going to be basically like everybody else. We done a lot of CAS up here, not just condemning, not just those houses that was condemned. We we've done a lot of CAS. And it's not fair. I I don't care what legal wrangling you we use or whatever. It's not fair for a person to go out and do work, constructive work for the city of Bastra, thinking that everything is legal because you got a clerk's office, you got all this done. Why did nobody pick up on this before she started work?

So, what I'm saying is, Mr. Craft of the same councilman that signed off on and everything. He gave it was $10,000 to organization over there, which is a good thing. That's $10,000. This Miss Hawkins actually went did physical labor and you give somebody $10,000 for educational purposes and then she goes out and does manual physical labor to enhance the city of Bastra and can't get paid. Now, I don't know what we need to do to rectify this problem. I hear what the attorney is saying, but you got to look at it from you got to be fair,

right? You got to look at she actually have done work. It's not like where you it's a disagreement but this was manual labor done. This was physically this this was something done physically. She actually tore down a structure and now we talking about you know well it wasn't everything went to the tea of the law. Come on now. We find a way to do everything else. I'm sure we can find a way to get up pay cuz this is unacceptable. I know when you talk about the legal, we can't go against legal advice either. You got to do what your council say. So, we can't vote to go against the judgment of our attorney. But I'm just encouraging everybody involved to think outside the box and let's get her paid because it's not fair. Who want to do work for Bastro and you might not get paid?

That don't make sense. If somebody comes do your roof and then they get finished and you say, "Well, the right name ain't on there." What you think going to happen? They have done your roof. They going to want their money. They don't care nothing about you. You made a mistake on on on the paper.

Yeah. I have another comment about I think it was two two meetings ago or two months ago. I did hear the attorney say myself that everything was taken care of for Miss Hawkins. So, how can we go back on our word like that? She did it in good faith. They told her everything was going to be taken care of. So, why can't we enter into another CEA? We know she did the work. The proof is in the pudding. The area is clean. So, why can't we enter into another CA and get this get her paid? because this making the city of Bast look bad. I've said this over and over again. Who's going to want to come in and do work for city of Bastra if they have out there the city of B is not paying? So, we need to figure out a way to make this right.

And I said coming in as mayor, I will pay Miss Hawkins. I paid her what I could pay her. That's my legal legal advice I got from our attorney. I would not sign it against his will. And he he put out the the easy remedy. Uh but I mean again he so that's not an option.

So I'm not sure and again I I would defer to uh attorney Jones in that regard to advise the council where the mayor on this matter. But just going back to just the basic contract we have parties off they are uh whether or not the amended CDA can be done. Uh that's something that I would write and I would oppose attorney Jones to see if uh that's allowed being retroactive point of information. I don't think we need to go down that road amending CAS, going back and redo CAS cuz you going to open up a can of warrants because if you do that then that solar panel that we don't want over there, they going to do the same thing, come up here and ask for an exception. So, I don't think we need to go down that route. I think we need to figure this situation out individually. I think we need to come up with a comprehensive solution to what has been done because it's an injustice because she done she was doing it based on thinking that everything was in order.

Right? So she called good faith exception. She was operating on good faith because she felt like hey I've been doing this all the time for the city of Bast. So what is different between what I've been doing now versus what I'm doing now? If you go back and look at some of her other CAS, they might not be right in it, but she got paid. Well, uh, Madam T pointed out that a clear distinction to that you should not overlook. Those properties were condemned. Yeah. That gave the city the right to go into that. But when Miss let me go back to when we let's hearken back to the beginning of this

probably reason she did it because we didn't really even have to have a CA based on what Miss Hart the description she was giving us fund go back and look at the tapes is because the money the money was already there. So this is a meat point really because it was already there and we was talking about doing what see she was like really that's not necessary right now go back and look at the tape but because the money was done with the what you say means and swap right that's that that that is what created this issue so it's not her fault

graphic yeah thank thank you may uh I just want to say I heard everybody Oh, I'm sorry. Excuse me. Charles Bradford 132 South Washington Street, Buzz. Okay, I I heard everybody. I just want to give my signatur appear on that original form as well. Okay, let me show you how this work. Miss Mary Hawkins name is on that form as well. Now, I don't know why Mr. Smith don't say don't have it tonight. He said what he reading from the original form. have Mary Hawkins, Cal Carolyn now, Caroline need to call you and mine. I sign, Miss Hawkins sign, Miss Harry sign. All three of us sign that form. Now, let's get back to with the condition of the property. The property was judicated by the police jury. Mr. Mitchell, attorney for the police jury, uh, researched and sent out a letter to Mr. Jones to the city of Bastra. I have a copy to the city of Bast saying the police jury have no problem with this conjudicated property being cleaned up. Okay. After that happened, then we got back from Mr. Mitchell, M. I got with Mrs. Harris and I got with Mrs. Hawk and they went okay to clean the property up. Dr. Mr. Harris said that I don't want to I didn't do the property. I didn't do the Mr. Brown. I just gave her approval because I'm just the overseer of the property. She didn't say she gave her she was just overseer of the property. She said yes, she could clean up. She had no objection to it. That's what the form should read. And now they made a type on the form put some other way. That's the way this was

the first original AIP money issue. American the first ARP funding issue. We brought the letter from the from the attorney from the police jury. We brought Miss Harrison sign, Miss Hawkins sign. That shouldn't be an issue. Let me go just a little further. After we after Mr. Jones came around said, "Well, M. Harold got to sign this uh form." M. Har said, "Oh, I don't want to sign because I didn't do the problem." Then he came up and he amended it. He said, "Well, all we'll get it straightened out and we'll get everything straightened out." And I got everything straightened out. All the mayor have to do is sign. At that time, you coming in, mayor may she was going out. She never signed. That's why I feel on your table and I can appreciate that. But then Mr. John telling you some legal technicality about who the prophet is blah blah blah. It doesn't really matter like um Pastor Green said I mean excuse me brother uh Green said okay my preacher okay but he said it's just a matter if we decide to pay Mrs. talking and and here's the person that signature okay as the overseer of the property which she is okay there's not a doubt about that but what's the problem you have the overseer sign you have the a person that did the work and and and you have the proof of adjudicated property by the parish those are three parties involved

we can sign the check to this car miss we write the check to Miss Harris Could you He can sign check. Well, oh, she don't want the W2. I mean, she don't want the tax issue. I'm sorry. Because it wasn't condemned before.

Yeah. It been judicated man. And then from my standing write the check to Miss Adams because she said she was over here blaming. Whatever she do with the money is on her. But as the legal attorney said, I can't just put in this office. I I signed checks that I could sign. I told

Okay. I couldn't hear what you're saying. Any way possible, you can sign this check in both part name and it'll show that you work and you responsible for you both on my taxes. point of information. Point of information, man. I got I got one point of information cuz we don't want to set a D of prison because you you just state that it's adjudicated to the parish.

Now, if you now we as a city body don't want to pay and it's judicated to the parish because they saying they still got a overseal. Now, you know, we got a lot of black profit ambassador and over 50% of it goes to the parish because they get the first shot. So what's going to happen now? You set a precedent that you can't go do adjudicated property that belongs to the parish because you got to get the overse. We're not going to get anything clean. Just think about let that sink in what I just said. I mean now you're saying it's adjudicated to the parish, right? My understanding

yeah adjudicated to the par. I got a letter I got a letter from the par Mud. See the par was the property was adjudicated to the parents for lack of taxes. Yeah. Okay. It wouldn't judicate to the city. It was adjudicated to the parent for lack of tax. When we found out that the property was judicated, I went to Mr. Mitch. He he sent a letter to the city of B. I can answer that for you. When it's judicated, they still got a certain period of time that they could reclaim it. It still is in their name. Mr. Jones attorney Jones explained it to just because it's adjudicated. It's still in it's still their property.

Is it still in that time frame? No problem. No, whatever. But but listen to what I'm saying as as a from a city standpoint because we trying to do blight. And when you go pull up that chart, most of it's going to belongs to this parish

inside the city limits. People don't realize that a lot of these blighted houses inside the city limits belong to the parish adjudicated. Now, if you saying that we can't work on adjudicated property from the parish, then we going to be in a big big trouble, big big trouble trying to fight the blight because how can you fight it and it belongs to the parish, but you we can't pay property that's judicated to the parish because it's not condemned. So when we get ready to go on a property and just say on such and such street, everybody's complaining about it. We get ready to go do work over and say, "But hold up, this belongs to the parish." What are you going to do then? [Music]

I was instructed by Mr. Jones to go to since we found out was Judic when it first came up. I was in instructed by Mr. Jones to go get uh go to the par. That's why I went to the pair and Mr. commission gave the city ambassador a letter said we have no no uh you know no problem with you all condemning the property I mean you know condemning doing whatever deliminate moving the property I want to use the right term but god knows different but doing away with the property at that time I brought it back to Mr. Jones did the paperwork in her name and Mrs. name both people's name and I signed on my name because I was just in my district.

She was telling me it was it wasn't condemned. And now that it's cleaned all up, we can't go condemn something that's already I got I got a I got something. So probably this won't happen again in the future. This probably won't solve this problem. But if you got a legal attorney, I think my recommendation would be when we do a CA again dealing with any property that's going to be worked on by any individual that it goes to the attorney, the city council sign along with the attorney. So when the work is done, the mayor, the attorney, and the city council have signed off on.

So if it comes back something wrong, all of us made an error. Only thing was missing from this completing this transaction was Mayor's signature. We had Mrs. Harris. We had Mrs. um excuse me and you know the change of office and they and Mr. Mr. Jones came just before he said don't worry about we'll get that taken care of in the next administration. I already got everything set up that can be done.

Well, I'm I'm talking about going forward like it's going to be a legal issue here. and it's out of our hands cuz once the attorneys say that you can't you can't sign off on nothing. I you can't go against legal advice cuz all of us will be in trouble. He said we we can't do it. And I I just think it's I think it's I think it's a bad precedent. I think it's awful because a person has done the job. It's it's not right. But you have to go by what legal

advice you should have to get attorney. I mean, I hate to see the city go through, you know? I mean, we're trying to save money, but hey, let let the judge say who paid. I I can I can appreciate that. That's what coach is for. Let the general effect

we have agenda item trying to move so No, I'm saying

if you will. Now, this is uh we've given as a council, we've given a lot of leeway. Uh hold on just a second. We've given a lot of leeway to this to this issue. I understand which and and what what I'm saying now is you can't specifically you can't keep interrupting the meeting with passing out stuff and doing stuff and we've got to do this by we've got to do this by I'm just I'm just going to move back to u we're going to go back to 13

hey 13 days uh we Mr. Smith, Mrs. Smith 138. Mr. Mr. Jones, Mr. Jones, we can't have that. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Jones, you can't throw no paper at no add. So, uh, none of my employees first.

We go to 1380. That's why we have to stick with Robert Roose. Everybody left the bill.

We We just been complet about Robert Roose water. That's just the bottom line. extended time, all of it. Everything going to go back to like it's supposed to. No talking out of order and that's how it's going to go or they could be removed. 13A uh my computer died. Members, this is uh authorize the mayor to complete the wheel settlement. Uh like I was saying before uh council previously approved man firm to conduct this uh participate in this settlement. Uh this is just authorize the mayor to do the necessary paperwork. Uh Senator Jones not sure what the ultimate payout will be. Uh but it's no cost to the city. Um you know once the money received uh you know GB general fund money council can either appropriate this if it comes in this this fiscal year appropriated or just let it go into fun.

I make a motion that we uh authorize uh mayor board to complete the opio settlement claim forms on it. Could you find me all in favor? I oppose motion pass. May I get a motion to join? I'll make that motion.