City Council - Regular Meeting

February the 12th 2026 we get a roll call district here Mr. Henry D here Mr. James C here Mr. D present Mr. Lost district here. All five are present.

Please, please. Lord God, we thank you for another day that you have given us. We thank you for the things that you've already done. We thank you for the things that ahead that we may not know, but we know it's going to be something awesome. Lord God, we thank you for this gathering and allowing us to come together. Lord, I ask that you guide our minds, our hearts, our tongues so that we may be able to we may be able to have discussions and make the best decision for the city of Baptist because this is what this is all for. This is about your people in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Amen. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America. Commission Council. We got uh got some special awards today. Um uh black issue money is this month. I wanted to save for this this opportunity to give these two special council members their flowers and read veteran service award. Present to James Green in honor and appreciation for your faithful service, steadfast courage and unwavering dedication to the defense of our nation. Her commitment to duty reflects the highest tradition of the US Navy. Mark Boy senior may Louisiana Mr. D.

play with you. Thanks for your service. All right. Have another outstanding councilman. Our veteran service award present to Henry Dodie in honor and appreciation of your faithful service, steadfast courage, and unwavering dedication to the defense of our nation. Your commitment to duty reflects the highest tradition of the US Army. Mar.

I was at JRTC. the Lord. Lord, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. May I have one comment? when nurses would come up. I got also today we going to honor Mayor Henry Charles Cotton Day. Whereas we are here Charles Cart faithfully served the city of Astro Louisiana with dedication, integrity, and compassion, leaving a lasting regity by leadership, service, and commitment to the citizen of our community. hand. Whereas may a cotton life and work amplify public service, civic pride and unwavering devotion to the veteran of Basher, inspiring generations through his leadership, character and love for this city and work as Mayor Henry Charles Cotton birthday provide a meaningful opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate his enduring contribution, achievements and the positive impact he made on the lives of countless individuals. Now, therefore, I, Mayor

Mark A. Moore, Senior, along with the Bapt City Council, do hereby proclaim December 9th as honoring the life of Mayor Henry Charles Cotton Day, and encourage all cities to observe this day in remembrance, reflection, and appreciation of his life, leadership, and lasting service. and witness whereof I here unto set my hand and co the seal of the city of Bash Louisiana to afflect this day this 12th day of February 2026 Mayor Henry Charles cotton we'll also give this to district. D. Yes. Um, February the 21st, we will have our Easter parade beginning at 3 p.m. It was started at Ber High School in Dyson Park. This year, we are celebrating remembering 100 years of black excellence. So, if you want to enter the parade, please contact myself or Sunny Troder. I look forward all my elected officials will be inside. again. I see you all. I see you now.

Okay. Put up the com. Sorry, Bishop. I apologize. Mayor, are you asking for comments concerning agenda matters or agenda matters? Yes. Uh, go ahead.

Good evening. Bradford. I have a comment concern on agenda 14. Item number 14. A Hi I gentlemen Golden Sunday project. I just want to say that why are we still entertaining that particular project they haven't met the first requirements of previous city council even this city council I think we ask for a public meeting I know we all have things so time like anything like Jonathan Johnson Q-tip or whatever it may be I think the city citizens in this community deserve to be heard when you bring research type of project within the city limit. Again, I did my research. I know they have them in big cities on buildings and then you have here on buildings and homes and different things. This is a solar farm. Okay. Uh my research say they have birth effect. I mean, but let's not talk about that. Let's talk about respect and how this particular company went by and got their permit. How they came and couldn't see. I think it was all undermined deal. I feel I look at I went to the tax session for the record uh sunbeam doesn't perfect I think perfect land perfect land something like that that's who actually own the property some reason sunbeam apply for the permit and sunbeam sunbevel I mean perfect land develop excuse me LSC Okay, they it's just strange to me as a

businessman, as a community person being involved that a company come into our community undermining our community. We all discussed in the past how they came back who sign off didn't know anything about it all that we've been dealing with this for over a year now.

Okay. Now, here they are here again still trying to force their way into getting permit from the city government. They did not meet the requirement that we asked when we discover all the undermine and everything. They still refused to have a public uh community meeting. Let the public have an input on it. Know someone say it's dangerous and someone say it's not. You know, I'm I'm not into the science because I know one thing I think the people should be heard on it. And again, the tax they pay on it about the city. The tax they pay on it like maybe they hadund something I think they paid roughly $3,000. Are you sure about that?

I'm sure about that. The tax no more than $3,000. I mean it's a lot of undermines pay millions of dollars on the tax, you know, we make money. It's not not going to be beneficial. That's the number to our city. Okay. And one other thing about it, I I had a layout about it. It it it talked about could nothing be built on it last time they came before the council was a brownfield type it put businesses on brownfield that's our economic this our future our kids we put businesses hotel we our welcome perfect land but not bring solar panels some going to hurt we got out of internationally council yeah you know we have a high council rate here

okay and and and I'm not saying that that it would happen likely B my research but again I think some at least should go through the procedure these citizens of this community should be heard say hey look let's have a time off meeting let's say got your body don't bard your way through you we ask you the seat work over there you start coming you're spending your money I know if you spending millions of dollars or hundreds of thousands of dollars on the car put the project together you didn't operate other way you just disregard this city council, this community, you know, they ain't the way you come into a community. I think it been very disrespectful. I met with one of the gentlemen that was last night. He was say, "Look, let's let's just take it before this community." Okay, Mr. I get back. I said on my way out last week that show get back with stud. I really feel this this land this community should have a say uh about what's going on and what they intend to do there. I mean it just it's just not right for them to come in and do what they're doing. And like I said I don't have anything to get sold on. Don't get me wrong but put right in the heart of your community your future kill your economic growth. You don't have nowhere else to be. The only way you can go that you've been addicted to me that you've been added to. Thank you and I appreciate you and uh I just ask you don't for

Good evening. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh my name is Jay Mitchell. Uh I'm an attorney in Monroe, Louisiana. And first off, I want to apologize to y'all. I'm appear here in my formal capacity as an attorney and I'm not dressed for it. No disrespect to the mayor and council. I didn't get I was not aware that this matter was coming before y'all until about 4:00. So I didn't have an opportunity to get in my lawyer uniform. So, um, and look, I I'm here on behalf of Golden Bean Sunbeam LLC, the owners, affiliated companies with property, u old mill site, Louisiana middle site on Collers. Y'all know that way better than I do, and y'all been dealing with this a lot longer than I have. But I saw on the agenda tonight the chat items uh concerning my client and it said executive session litigation regarding solar projects and special use permits. And of course, and y'all got two great lawyers here, and I'm sure they they told you about executive session. Uh, and you can go into executive session to discuss litigation, but that's with some criteria. It's either pending litigation or prospective litigation after written demand. My clients have received no written demand from the city threatening litigation. And my clients have issued no written demand to the city threatening litigation. There's been no threat of litigation. Um y'all, the litigation is not productive for anybody except the lawyers involved. So from my pocketbook, hey, I'd love litigation, but my client's interest and I suggest the city's interest, everybody's interest, litigation is not a good

thing. Um, respectfully, I don't think it's appropriate for the council to go into executive session to discuss matters concerning my client when there's been no threat of litigation and there is no ongoing litigation. Yes, sir. And you know, I truly Yes, sir. I apologize. Oh, keep going. point of information when you get

and that was what I came before y'all to bring up and to say I I and hearing Bishop uh speak before me if y'all don't mind. I don't want to take too much time, but I guess I will go a little further and and y'all know this better than I do. I don't quite understand where we're at because and and I don't with all due respect to Bishop Bradford client came in went through the process. No.

Well, um, so I do know that they went through planning and zoning through the process and the special use permit was issued on January 27th of 2025. And so, so they've done that. Now, I know there was the issue where the company asked to change the permit name to one of the companies that it owns. They'll withdraw that. They have a permit. The permit's been granted. Now I know that thereafter what in May the council adopted the moratorium on further solar panels. I did ask mayor fruit I think we had sent a public records request a couple weeks ago that we hadn't ever gotten a copy of that ordinance. So while I was here I did ask the clerk and she said it'd be $6. I had no $6. She told me I didn't have it. But

yes, because uh it's amplified the clock and we have set down everything. I I and again you talked to attorney you could have been asking for it. I I understand. But what I was just going to say, I don't know without laying eyes on it whether your moratorum has a spelled out specific grandfather call, but most do for permits that have been issued because there becomes an issue when someone has a vested right permit and then the law is changed on them midstream. And so I get it. moratoriums going forward to the future are are a good thing. Go ahead,

Ricky. Did did it have grandfather provision? You gave time. No, it's okay. But but but anyway, I I certainly understand council's concerns. Um and for the future you adopted a moratorum and I understand that since this permit was issued and all council made some changes in the planning and zoning process but those changes are prospective. They can't you know they don't reach back. So I think the folks have gotten everything they need and look they're here to work with you. That's kind of

they want to move forward. I would want to I did want to make my objection. I have a question for you. Yes, ma'am. Let me make my objection on the record to they're being discussed in executive session and Deon and Richie can can can certainly tell y'all the the implications of of going for you. You stated about executive session.

Yes, sir. We the council did not request to go in exe executive session. That's between the mayor and I'm sure he talked to Devin Jones which is our attorney. So if anything was done wrong, you have to talk the city council has nothing to do with going in executive session. So you might be right, but when you look at that application, I think you need to go back to the beginning. And I'm not here to litigate nothing right now. I know you're the attorney, but I would strongly advise that you really really go and research because we'll discuss it when we get on down to it. I hope you stay for it. Well, this going to be an executive session.

You make my point. We This council did not request an executive session and you said it was wrong. So if it's wrong, it's got to do you need to talk to the attorney, which you say you already been in communication with the attorney and the mayor because city council have nothing to do with going into executive session. We didn't request that. So let's not think that we don't know the law. These gentlemen here why we just stated that we just going into executive session improper. So if he know the law, why would we be in violation of the law? This is what this is for the administration and the attorney. Uh go ahead.

Yes, sir. Mr. Mitchell. Yes, ma'am.

Well respected attorney, but it's things that you're missing. And like Mr. James Green said, you probably need to go back to the beginning. It's a lot of problems with signatures when the permits were issued. So we have ground. We voted no on this last year. So I'm confused as to why work continues. We voted no. No further movement on any solo forms. We allowed this one to keep going but any further ones we did not go for it. Thank you. Uh just once we get down to the line item I have more to talk about but I want to speak just speak briefly based on just get some point information from either one of our attorneys when

okay Mr. Jones point information can you speak on behalf of what u Mr. just spoke about going into executive session. So we have people watching. So we want we want to make sure that everybody know the council know what we doing. There are very specific things under Louisiana law about what executive session can go into. Uh it's listed on the agenda as an executive session that's in light of that was added to the agenda as you see on from yesterday adding in there. that was in light of some rapidly developing things that occurred yesterday that came here the and that's when we get to that session doesn't mean we have to go into executive session means we haven't to do it we can do it in a public form we can choose to executive session if there was a written demand to us there a lot of things flying around like afternoon there's potential that it stated that there was going to be litigation of this if we see a written formal letter we're going to be able to have notice to be able to discuss it being as there's no written formal demand for that. 100% correct the strict letter of law yet written formal demand uh a prospective litigation must been file. However, in abundance of caution in case something were to occur between yesterday and today it would give us the ability to use that executive session. Otherwise, we can just make those comments in open session. We don't have to go into executive sessions. We can have that discussion here.

So in other words, we can go back. They chose to this this body we can go into

not as it currently sits now. We have no formal written demand of litigation. However, as things develop late afternoon yesterday, it's perspective that possibly that could be the very case that we received written uh communication and and written communication has been interpreted into electronic communication regarding it or whatever as the things fly around. that would have been able to give us the perspective ability. All we have to do is to say we choose to discuss this in open session tonight. Not having executive session when discussing open session preserves the item. But that also preserved the ability if we did between yesterday afternoon and today's meeting received that demand or if we issued that demand because something was happening and developing quickly then we could leverage and use the executive session discuss.

So we didn't receive the demand. We didn't receive the demand but I can't amend the agenda because we're for sooner than 24 hours.

Oh, you were just in impression that we was going to receive the demand as everything was developing. Yes. over the last two days. Yes, I anticipate that we possibly receive something that would be a demand or we'd be issuing something that would be a demand. And the only thing I would add to that is that we did it as a precautionary matter because again we could have amended the agenda and added it but in full transparency we would like to put that out so the public had opportunity to see that this could happen or discuss as opposed to if you weren't at this meeting you wouldn't have notice of this agenda item because we amended it at the meeting. So again, we take steps to be proactive and things and and we always try to lend ourselves to be as transparent as possible because we could have kept this and then brought it up and say we need to expand the agenda to add this item to either talk about it public in public open session or executive session. But the fact that we took proactive steps, put it on there just in case we got the demand, but now we don't. We we talk about it.

Yeah, we just we would just proceed on past so the public knows what we're talking about. He gave us a backup plan as things are rapidly developing and things were coming. We don't we're not both

very good lawyering on y'all's got great representation and and I by bringing up the issue and I'm not privy to everything obviously um I certainly not question anybody good advice but uh so I appreciate y'all's time and we'll stick around for the agenda. Thank you very much. Mayor Connell, I believe, had something he wanted to say.

My name is and my address is 4510 Dallas, Texas 75205. Uh I heard that there's a lot of miscommunication maybe and I know that the council passed a moratorum the resolution in March which is adopted in April of last year. Anything prior to that the council didn't approve or disapprove those things. We were just following what we were told. Now I know before me a gentleman spoke Mr. Bradford. I reached out to him and he did say that he wants a public session. If the city or the council wants a public session, they could have asked us May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, January, February. No one has ever from the city reached out to us. No one has asked us or even informed us of anything. I stayed in last week over here. We were issued the occupational license on February Also,

wait, you got an occupational license? I do, ma'am. Last week. Yes, ma'am. February 4th. I'd like a copy of it, please. Ma'am, you can ask your attorney and they can give it to you. I'm I'm talking to my staff. I'd like a copy of it. Now, my my thing is this my time as public.

What I'm asking is this that I was told by the permit office that I need to get a s a fed survey. I hired a uh surveyor today in the morning. They went they got the fence survey done. I submitted that at 2 PM via email and a hard copy as well. I was told yesterday when I came that on Friday uh the respected mayor said that he would see if we can get the permit or not. My thing is this that we were approved. We followed the process and the procedure the way we were told. If city has any documentation or any written emails, mails to us for doing anything wrong, we we're ready to rectify. We're ready. We're here presenting ourselves asking to help us out. I came in the last session with uh our attorney as well and we requested for a special session so we could sit down with the council and address the issues. Now, Mr. Rapers was kind enough to tell me that he would run my campaign and he would get the public there and he would we even walk to the halls to see how he would print the ads in his newspaper and how he would get the gather the public together. I'm ready to do that. But if the city council asks me to do it, not if some is asking me to do it on his own because and he wants to do a marketing campaign on my behalf. Now, as far as their legitimacy of the solar panels, they're everywhere. They're in New York, Manhattan, they are in San Francisco, in downtown, everywhere. So, it's not a matter of there being if they were bad, they would have been there would be a law against them. So, I'm just humbly requesting the honorable mayor and the honorable city council to please see through this. We have no problem talking to the public. We have no problem doing a public session, but we want you to reach out to us. We

really are in a state where we're begging you guys to help us out. So, we have we have the representation from our attorney so he could communicate with your attorney. We are not going in any litigation. I say this openly. We have not pursued anything. All we're asking is to help us, help you guys, and tell us how can we accomplish this that we can make it a win-win situation. It is a private property. It is not owned by anyone. We own the property. We bought the property. It is LB2 certified. It is a Louisiana certified brownfield site which $100,000 were paid. 25 by Entry, 50 by IP, 25 by the previous owners. So that those are the facts. All I ask is that you as the council member, respective council, please look at us and don't mistreat us. You want something from us, you want a special session, please give us the opportunity to come before you guys. Give us a date. Since the last session till this day, we've not been given a day for special session. And if if Mr. Bradford's wish and the council's wish is that we need to do a public forum and go in front of the public and serve adurbs over there. I'm ready to do that too. But the point is this that let's not blackmail us. That's all we asking respectfully honorably.

No, I'm talking about the bishop. I'm talking about the I'm talking I'm talking I'm not talking about the city. I know what time J Green information. Yes, sir. Last time you was here with your representation, which is J somebody, you sent someone here to represent your client. Well, when he was here, they was here and they said they was going to bring me and reach out to me and get me the investments.

Yep. The the the person that you had representing your office, they said they was going to give me the Moore, one of the attorneys in our office. I apologize. I had to be before the Tula City Council that night and Christina agreed to to cover. I was already committed and so I apologize if we missed something. I believe Mr. Scott. No, I I I just have these two documents which I would like to get to Mr. Jones. And I got another point of information for you because And you I'm stay right there because I'm going to ask you something. Do you own the Do y'all own the property or you leasing the property? No, sir. We own the property. We're not leasing properties. When did you when did y'all purchase the property?

This is a de I have we purchased the property from to one Tom Oswald and uh Kenneth Harper, Jeff Messenger. This is the deed for the property. The company that is there uh the company Golden Beams is owned by Sun Sunbeam is owned by that is there as well. That document is true because of the name change but this was given to me by Miss Yolanda the per she is very nice courteous to us it states that provides these things and then we would proceed with the other documentation. We are just following what we are being instructed. I know I'm not in front of the council trying to get the permit, but we come to the office and we ask them whatever they need. We go about I pay $1,200 to Mr. Jeff today to do the survey and get it to Mr. Landa. They came there at 6:00 a.m. because she asked me for it yesterday and I got it to her today at 2 p.m. What I'm saying to you is we are here. We own the property. But we'll discuss that. It's just put in the comment. I just I just want the I just wanted you to clarify something you said earlier. So we'll speak on that when we get to the agenda because we don't want to double talk. We don't want to be our

So the who the investors of the company is matters with respect to the issuance of the person that that's irrelevant when whenever my point is that it's always want something from the city but a man words his bond. I I didn't ask I didn't force them. They want to say well we we'll supply you with the investments. Yes sir. That's what your office said. Okay. Yes sir. And you asked last time in the last meeting that if we had any investors in the 30 mile radius or a 60 mile radius. We don't have any investors in a 100 mile radius of this property. No problem you know. But our investors are all US citizens and and they are all from America but different places in America.

I I'm I'm asking you that for a reason later on. We we'll discuss it later on. We don't want to hear it all. If it's sure looking like we might get respons ain't blackmail and we we asked him when he first came last year to have him read on the the last administration asked him to. I'm going to sit down. We ain't blackmail nobody.

Okay. Come back over here. Thank you Charles Bradford South Washington Street. I'm just going to respond to Mr. So allegation that I'm not blackmailing him. uh when when they first came last year, the previous unit, we asked for a public meeting, but when they asked us to call for they come, they should call and come and sit at the campus of the mayor and and sign a public meeting. I met Woody. I still want the public to be with you because the public is the one who make the final decision in this case. and and and this occasion occur 7122 and on behalf of the cotton family I want to take thank you Mr. Well, and thank this council for the love, honor, and respect that you're showing us to Henry Charles Cotton and the Cotton family. It's a great honor and I can only say thank you and God bless you. I want you to get this criminal allegation.

Okay. Okay. Approval of previous minutes regular meeting January 8, 2026.

I make a motion that you approve the minutes from January 8th, 2026. All right. Consideration of any action on the reports committee. Financial media report second plan is on committee required none. We need to see where we are on that. Okay. They can't give a report because we have not started.

Correct. I'm going to give you all Thank you. the mayor.

I got a question just just to better understand what we're talking about the planning and zoning. Uh are they supposed to be meeting monthly? Yes. There's actually a piece I believe in your packet that would be separate. Yeah, correct. I don't have anything from they didn't meet last month because I saw them. Correct. It's a meeting Monday. Skipping Monday regularly,

correct? And this is the zoning mute. because if they not here's the thing if they're not meeting or don't like to meet let's find some more people they're meeting they didn't meet in January okay

December you had the December agenda said that with these different committees someone from that committee needs to be here to make that report. if they're not here by saying something about it because someone come back to me needs to be here in order to present and I think we need to move on

and we don't we often don't know left on but when the mayor was going through the agenda tonight he asked about that meeting that's why that's why he missed that's why he just didn't call Yes. All right. We're going to go to the reports of city official that's police department. You have anything. Okay. Thank you. Go to color.

We go to the city. Let's just go into council city attorney underneath here we As city attorney, one of the updates I have is the quality assurance panel. It is our panel. We did pick our two members from council. We have our council member. We have the nurse there. I have talked with fire chief. The fire chief either needs to be the person present or have his appointee that he wants to be present. Sometimes he'll have a assistant chief will stand for them. I have discussed with the sheriff. the sheriff will have somebody or he'll have us have somebody on behalf of his office present and then the police department will either police chief or somebody on behalf of his. At that point, what we're going to do is is we will kind of like the uh planning zoning is we'll post the first meeting with the uh with an agenda on a good date for everybody call that first meeting. you can select a chair out of that first meeting and I will be there through the through the course of the meetings uh until until it takes the train off and we'll go forward with that making those agendas and setting dates and times for those meetings monthly. probably the first meeting we'll have a a planning meeting to set good times and dates for those things to have those monthly meetings if it's determined to be a monthly or how it's going to be going be like the civil service board being a little when we have a complaint or when somebody says the chair just called me and so we'll establish one of those signature

panel have met and documents out of the way and get that first meeting so we can set the structure within them to go with that. And so that that's where it leads. As I stated before, I wanted to do uh that that panel's established by by the contract. And so it's really performed underneath the the powers in the contract we have really perform the contract function although it is a public group. And so but we'll that will meet in this room just like planning zoning district anything else like that. And it is with all intent that we will have a report to be given uh at that time noting that you know fire chief can be there can be there or the council person chair person council person can be the person to get the report when it comes to the council we'll discuss that and get it together and but I think we should have our first meeting here in the next thing once we get everybody's we should be on track for Okay.

And so one thing I would say is that uh on the thing is I would ask that the council would allow Mr. Jamie Mayo, former mayor of Monro with Empire Communications. He he is our he is a he is our consultant on several things regarding some policies and for development things. I don't want to it's more his title, but he would it needs to address the council with a few things that we have. I'd ask if he would indulge to have him to do that as I put together the agenda. That was just something that was just left down there. Doesn't really have to be modified or added because it's not an action item. It's just an item. But I would ask that you please be indulged uh for his time to be able to update on some things that he

Thank you, By the Mayor, also council members. Thank you, Mr. Jones. First of all, I've got three quick things. The first one I want want to recognize two outstanding individuals. If you remember maybe a couple months ago the mayor presented a program called the soil program which stands for I was having skills and opportunities for achievement and responsibility. And this is a re-entry program unique program. No one in the state has a program like this. It came off of program that OIC of America in Washington Parish and it has I want to recognize two individuals that u you probably all know them. They're not here to pick up a body.

So I'm going to ask these two gentlemen, Mr. Kristen Armstrong and also Mr. Joe Fails to come come forward because I want the counsel and everyone to see them. They are part of this program. and they have been working with Miss Monica Benjamin out of Monro Watch Parish and they are being mentored you know by the program and they are working if you remember that the program the so program would pay them up to 250 hours I believe $12 an hour and of course um if the particular company that they're working for if they're pleased with them so obviously they are they will be able to continue uh paying either that amount or whatever they're paying. So these two individuals uh they're doing very very well very well very very well and I think that we need to give them a round of APPLAUSE before you uh move forward. Could you tell me the age group on that program?

Thank you. The age group is 18 to 24. 18 to 24. And I think that they both meet those. The previous one was 15 to 18, but what you all approved was 18 to 24. So, um, we're going to continue working extremely hard and I'm very, very proud of these two outstanding young men. They've done a good job. Thank you, council also for that that tour program in bringing it to the city of Nashville. Also you also may appreciate you making a changing the young people lives. Appreciate you.

Okay. And also Jimmy Mayo M5 Consulting Group LMC say that. Okay. The other two quick things is Mayor Moore. One of the agenda items that he has as relates to the city of Bast and I know I believe that the council is very much aware of were two roundts. One was the pastor's ministers roundt and the other one was the business roundt. So we had the first one I believe it was on um January the 30th, Friday, January the 30th. We had approximately 20 at least 20 members of the clergy that attended very very good and um sh to share ideas and also some questions that they had and also some recommendations that they had. And basically their comments centered around crime saving to the youth and a number of other things. But the most significant thing that came out of that in my opinion was that uh Mayor Moore mentioned to them that it was very important for everybody to get together all of the denominations regardless of the denomination and work together on so many different things. some of the things that they mentioned and since we were involved in the ice storm, the aftermath of the ice storm and they uh Mayor Moore mentioned to them about feeding what other people were doing. So in the span of less than 24 hours, they had gotten together and organized and that was on a Friday and they raised some monies and they got some other resources. sister got some people from a different congregation and put on a feeding at 12:00 noon the very next day at Saturday at 12:00 noon. Unbelievable

the the food that they had also the American Red Cross was there and in addition to the American Red Cross so many others that were there just handing out food and just seeing them working together and that's what it's going to take for our community to continue to move forward. I won't say to move forward to continue to move forward because there are some positive things that's going on with this administration also you as council member that you voted on. So I wanted to mention that because that was great and I know mayor wants to have some more of those uh as we go out for the year. The second and the last thing the business round table was held um this was it this week? This week last this week.

Monday.

Yeah, it was held this week and a couple of council members were there. Thank you very much for coming. And basically that centered on um shopping bash shopping locally and that was brought up several times by different participants shopping locally which obviously increased the sales tax revenue for the city ambassador and there were comments that centered around that I would say 90 95% of the conversation in which they talked about that and also um they also talked about local clean up uh cleaning up the thorough affairs and that type of thing. And of course, I know that's part of the mayor's agenda and also your agenda as well to make sure we clean up the thorough affairs and also get into the neighborhoods. And so I know that's going to come. Now, one of the things that I had mentioned to the mayor, if I can find it here, it is a button, and I don't know if the city B has done this before, but is a button that it won't cost the city very much at all. Won't cost anything. But this is a button of another municipality that just simply says to shop this particular municipality. And it says up front to support local businesses and so that you as council members and mayor and city officials and everybody's businesses to wear so as often as you can. I know there are some other municipalities around who's done that. He did Monroe and West Monroe does it and so um but we're talking about the city of Bastard. So that reminds the public that you need to shop faster to to do everything that you can to uh increase the revenue here. Now that does not mean telling anybody that you can't go anywhere else to shop, but if there's something that you can do here ambassador to do it and some of the

challenges that we have with whatever budget challenges or expenditures that we have uh that will increase represent and it will increase there's no doubt about it. Mr. Right. Um, when you say shock bash, is there like are something you going to put in place like a date that we celebrate this shock embarrassment? Because I think one time in the past I know just to get it started it was like a a quick start like coming up with a date this particular day that everybody shot with. Is that something you're thinking about doing or you just How about every single day? I every single day, every single month it'll be ongoing. This will not Yeah, I think push to get started.

Well, that will be to get started. I know the mayor will will do his public deal and I mean some of the meetings that I attend. I mentioned it already and so on on social media and perhaps you know may will make a decision as to how he wants to push it out. The reason I say that because I can't remember when, but it was a young lady that did a good job at that and she had what she did was she created something like child embarrassment. She had people posting on social media what local businesses they u they spent their money at. So that's why it was it was a great thing. So that's why we want to consider to get it started. But of course initially ultimately we want to shop back every day.

Yeah. Well, they'll be rolled out by by the mayor and things like there's almost 40 businesses here in the city of Bastard. I think I asked a couple of you how many you thought were here where you can go and buy something to eat. And I don't think I've gotten the right answer yet from different folks, but it's like close to 40, believe it or not, that you can go and get something to eat. Absolutely. One has to be looking for so I can go ahead and give it to you. What was that? What answer you looking for? What answer? About 38. Okay. U piggybacking on uh off of what you said about the uh business round table.

Yes.

And shopping local. Um there was some uh there was a lot of banter about uh under the shopping locals there was some talk about uh local businesses potentially building a website or their advertising technique. Um we know that local business uh pretty much in any city uh we can't compete with e-commerce now because it's it's it's taken over and but the only thing about that is uh some of the businesses here locally uh we're not advertising and u I think that would be a way of of you know letting people know what you have because again if you see a pair of shoes on a e-commerce site for $35 and you go to your local store and see that same shoe or perhaps can order it out of a book, but it's maybe $15 or $20 higher, then again, uh that is going that is going to make a difference. So, but anyway, the biggest part of it is about advertising and none of the businesses uh well some of the businesses weren't um advertising as as media.

Well, that example came up that you you brought that up about the shoes. Very good point. and they do need to advertise and something I think it said someone said that how do they expect for people to to uh be a patron of their businesses if they're not advertising themselves right

and so those are the type things that we communicate obviously we can't make them advertise but they need to do that in addition to expressing the concern that people are not shopping but from a u municipality standpoint uh it obviously helps in revenue for the city of Bastra when we just keep the attention on the fact that we need to uh we need them to shop Bastion as much as can now I come from Monro is my hometown as you know as much as I can spend as I do so and we'll continue to thank you okay

and everybody else stop cost a little more think about your gas money you don't spend just don't ride on Thank you Mr. Le, we got environmental court on next Wednesday. Next Wednesday. What time is it?

It's 9:00. Yeah, that's 9:00. Do you know how many cases we have? Uh, question. Do we have a um uh I know you're out doing citations and doing all that all that type work. Do we have a uh do you have a list broken down maybe by district so we can see how many uh get a picture of how many we have in each district so far? No, not at the moment but I can work on it. Yes. Like

I can work on breaking it down. I kind of have I kind I'm just give you my list. I have most of mine written down because you know I pretty much ride mine. He needs like you can we can help as well like for the ones you know you riding around to your district you can jot down just help them because he got to do five districts. Great idea.

Just ide members. I'm going be brief. Uh little good news. A little bad news. Good news is uh council acts once see to take no action on that because of bad news wasn't able to put together a quality media budget a gentle um mir agreed to work with me probably little hiccups uh putting together the budget uh one of the the resolutions that I'm going to start running the numbers at the end each month instead of wait for the end of the quarter uh so that way we can eliminate the issues that arose during this. It was just a little ownorous. Uh again, there's no blueprint because this has never been done. Uh so instead of putting something together that's low quality, I decided not to be able to put it together and come back um you know doing the third quarter adjustment to where uh the clerk and I will make sure that we have uh correct those entries and make sure that we are putting everything in with a timed amount so that we can be able to get accurate numbers uh respect to that. So, I apologize council. I wasn't able to put that together. Um, again, it's work in process something new and um I think we got a fix to it and u we should have a third quarter uh budget revision uh put together uh which you know I give you tidbits to that as we go through the budget development process which I'm going to get with uh chairman green to set the first uh budget development

meeting for uh sewer budget. We're going to start with uh anticipate either uh seeing if we call meeting that first that last week of uh February or the first week of March. Um and again um we'll go uh with smaller budgets first start a sewer then go street and tackle general fund at that point and uh I'm going try a week before we have those meet and give you that those what I call support documents for that long along with the mayor's uh outline as far as budget but u I'll get with chairman green we'll set that meeting uh and hope that it's a It's a time and date that everybody at least a majority of the council can meet. Uh they will do that tentatively every regular finance meeting schedule budget development meet uh as needed.

So that's all right. 10A approve ordinance 26-4284 orders to amend and reinette the alcohol license procedure and section 4-4 and 4-13 right No, this is

it's not in our package. Yeah, this one is not packet and the next one is coming up is not packet also down somewhere. table. But I'm very curious about 10. I would like to Yes. You want to?

Oh, yes. Okay. Yeah, that's the more important one. That's the occupation. Yes. As far as it goes with TNA, that that's picking alcohol, the fees of alcohol licenses, and then the procedure where America do the renewals, but and there's a provisional issuance of it as it relates to So, can we can we talk can we talk about 10 right now because I have a

question is the 264284 ordinance reenact procedure and fees in section 4410 and 413.

So that that license Whenever we get the copies of it, I'm going to ask tonight to table it. The key points to note there is to look when we get the copies. There was copies of the previous packet when we introduced it. This is adoption. Uh as you know, they're introduced and then they're advertised and then they're adopted. If just the key points to note there when you're looking that over is the fees have been amended to the statuto the state statuto uh allowable limit which is $500 for each class of license and then the other provision allow for the mayor to approve renewals renewals would then come to the council for the council to ultimately say yes we agree with that we don't approve that but keep consistency of license people who forget apply late and they don't have to wait for the next meeting call special And then I would get final approval. You can get an approve a provisional approval and then give a final approval on any new license. You might not be able to get a provisional approval. The new license would still come through the council. There'd be no ability to transact business before the council actually met the person who is applied for the license. So just kind of put that in. I would ask that we table the number 10. Second.

All in favor? Any question regarding 10Bards 10B this is approved 264285 an ordinance to amend the occupational license and procedures in section 139.

So quick question um for point information what's the process of obtaining uh occupation license and who sign up on the Occupational licenses are are issued administratively through the uh I believe they're issued through the member of the administration. The mayor would have to the chair person could could supply the actual member who issued an occupational license. Go ahead. I'm sorry.

I believe is one who is But our case had to go to different departments, right? Different department had to sign up on. I'm just for for the ones that don't know, which department did you have to go to in order to receive your occupational license?

So in order to receive your occupational license, there is I know fire department one if I'm not mistaken. So the occupational license form that is used has that for signing off the fire department for the code department to sign off of by by state law which is where our occupational license laws come from. Okay. We just state law provides what they want. We then we adopt it's like traffic laws. A lot of we have municipal traffic laws. The state law doesn't require that. I inquired about why that was there on the form. They said, "Well, at one time the the fire chief uh said that there was too many people in a building and so he was upset." So, he wanted to sign off on it because people are upset because there's too many people out of a gathering place. Then there was there was another one about the code as the code has nothing to do with occupational license,

but it it kind of suited. It does. And that's and I maybe I want to guess where you're going, but can I throw this out there? I'm not I'm just going with clarity now. All right. Okay. So, it's rather over you though.

I think we were in the same boat because my question is is like let's say it's a it's a it's a retail restaurant. Okay. And but that's not a retail restaurant district, right? Like say that district's maybe a warehouse district and you're going to apply for retail restaurant district occupational license. Occupational license is only there so that you can log in a business and you can regulate that business. Like let's say it's a plumber, you make sure they have their license, they have whatever they have, correct? It's code enforcement deals with if you actually get an occupational license on you and you're in the wrong district, that doesn't mean that that you're you can go around planning a zoning code, okay, and go operate that business. Now you make the mistake and you apply for an occupational license in a district that does not allow that and you don't conduct that business and then you violate the zoning planning and zoning code. Well, well, well, but also too though if if if it's a business operating inside the city limit, they do fall under the code enforcement. Correct. But that doesn't fall under the occupation that's code enforcement. That's a that goes to our environmental court that goes. So are we removing the code enforcement signature or the fire department? So in order to amen something have they have to take a train somewhere. So the form is never prescribed by our code or state law. It's just something that they had done because and that this is where I inquired about why it was there and why this was the hold up. It was only there because as I was delayed as I was delayed that in years past there was some place that was allowing more people than most to get into a building past the occupation past the limit that's allowed by the state fire marshal. And the fire chief at that time was upset about why did y'all give an occupational license to somebody who allows people to go in there? he wanted to sign off on. So, so but the reality is that complaint should be dealt with

through the fire code, not through occupational. Occupational's only purpose is to log the business in regulate that if you're going to do massage polar stuff or you're going to do gaming that you have your appropriate licenses to do that, not that you're doing Councilman D. Green still. Okay. So, so with this item being on the agenda, where are what are y'all trying the administration trying to amen?

So, what what so what's taking place on the new process of obtaining you guys want to obtain and so we're kind of we're kind of getting out of the scope of what this is and that's why I was kind but I understand the here's the imperative this only this ordinance is only amending that very small piece of it where we can revoke an occupational license. This is dealing with what we have is where we have problem properties where they're violating uh planning and zoning code, the bubrication orders or form Kodak. All those we have those properties that are occupied businesses that have an occupational license. Currently, the only way we could revoke that occupational license that's held by let's say for instance company that has lunch properties, maybe a couple dozen of them. They don't keep up.

The only way we can revoke it is if they violate a criminal ordinance. So you saying we only being able to revoke the occupational license. So obtaining occupation license going to be the same. Yeah. So and so ultimately we'll have a last signature on an occupational license. The only person that signs off an occupational license is the process for an occupational license is that you come here, you fill out all the information that's required. You go to the sales tax place. She signs off that you've received your sales tax account. Okay. tax account and then you come back here and your occupational license is signed off. As long as we don't have any ordinance regulating that you have to have certain requirements of that business.

So any any issue regarding if you put that business in the wrong district that goes through code that's on you. You just simply ask for an occupational license. It does not we don't approve here would be we code signing off on that and fire signing off of that was unnecessary and here's why I think it's very necessary it's actually not by state law but but I don't I don't want to I don't want I don't want to if we going to go to

well here's your problem so here's your problem the standard issue license is this okay your standard issuing occupational licenses. Are they a business? Did they go get their sales tax account? Okay. If they're putting that in the wrong the wrong zone, there's no standard deny an occupational license for that. You're you're the where you address that at is they go before environmental, they go for planning and zoning. We get injunctions for operating something wrong in the wrong history. That does not stand in the way of getting occupational Yeah.

So, so quick question. I heard the gentleman from we open the gentleman from the solar company said he out his license. Correct. So right now how we currently sit then don't fire and code enforcement got sign off on all. Now let me take you further down. take down.

So here's how if you want me to take it down, I'll take it down. So here's the deal. When you fill out an occupational license, okay, it doesn't if code to sign off on that, then here's the problem. If it's activity is violating that, there's there's no way to deny somebody because you say that's the wrong district. Where you go to on that is just you go through your planning and zoning code that they're operating a style of business in the wrong area. Occupational license doesn't sanction your ability to perform activity in the wrong area and you can you can you can by your own mistake. Let's say,

so here's here's here's here's another example. Let's say let's say you had I'm trying to think of something. Let's say let's say you had a business and only a residential district. Okay. The reason the reason I'm asking because I had when you speak about because I asked you right now because we had a young lady coming here wanted to get transition and she had to go before the fire department to get signed off on. So at the time it wasn't it wasn't to the specs. So what I'm asking you now because he just received license he did Tim was able to sign off on occasion and try to get the transition bill Tim said he wasn't signed off on it. So what I'm saying then how at that moment Tim was able to sign off on him before she was able to get her occupation license. So you telling me now he don't have to. That's that's because that's because look what I tell you is exactly what you just said. The occupational license wasn't what standing in that young lady's wife was

correct because at that time they thought that the fire had to sign off. Fire was going to sign off on it because here's why. Can I talk to you then? Yes. But it's a mix of I asked you I asked you I said hey this we trying to help this young lady two young ladies came mixing two things no jail is the same thing I mean different situation different people we both here's but here's here's we're going to move on to the next

so here's the issue with that when they ask him to sign off that's when he starts the inquiry and I start looking occupational license. Here's the issue with that. Tim can't sign off on it because technically I think the building code is violating. So if you're asking Tim to sign off on Yeah, she's violating building code. So he's not he's not going to sign anything that violates the building code. The building code has nothing to do with the occupational license. It's a mix up from years ago.

Mr. John, could you give Councilman Jay Green? We got Jay Green. You got the floor. Take a deep breath. I'm ask Let me finish. I know we know but I'm go cuz we sitt here and we get a bunch of patient license. You was the attorney during the last administration. I'm saying what changed between the other people and this mysterious occupation license that was issued this week. What changed? What criteria change? I see what you saying and I'm I'm I'm I'm going say what Donald John Kennedy said. My mom raised some boys and if you raise a fool I ain't want to. So back to what I'm saying is something transpired between us denying other people occupational license and now what what changed in the process? I see what you saying. It didn't have to by law, but it's been through two administrations and we've been doing it like that. So, what changed this week? These people were willing to sue you over. Well, hey, that's what we got attorneys for. Yes. And your attorney made a ball call, which is that the law.

So, with the other people that didn't we didn't give occupation rights, they can sue us, too, because you turn them down. I didn't turn them down. I'll make that decision. But yes, they can sue you. We can sue you. Yeah, we had somewhere down the road years ago they mix the two things.

We need to be fair, firm, and consistent. What we do for one, we have to do for all. When we start looking at loopholes to help certain people and don't help everybody, the city is sure in line for lawsuits because of that. You have to be fair. Whatever you do, be fair. And I will say for the record again, when I voted last year, my vote was no. No more movement on the solar farms. That was my vote. So, I don't understand why we still haven't movement. I'm confused.

I'm confused. They also understand that the the occational license that is issued for that thing is simply the one that they they've had previously before they should work. That's that's not the occupational license. That is the social. So we gave him occupational license and the paperwork's not right. But he knew that he talked about

that's not you're mixing two things. The paperwork that's not right is the the zoning the occupational license is separate from that. The zoning request the special use permit is the one that lacks everything. The occupational license is the one that had everything. They have occupational license just business in your county. If you want to make a mistake and put a business in the wrong district, occupational license, the only standard there is have they met the regulations for that industry, not for that particular occupational code. There is no regulations for their occupation for that industry. Now, if you want to talk about the property and the use of it and how they use it, yeah, you go out and apply and you get the you get an occupational license and that piece of property is not zoned for that.

What is it zoned for? That that is I believe it's industrial. If if it's zoned for industrial and you go out and get a restaurant license for it, you just wasted your money on So, it is bad, right? I heard something about that. I I always find that that's not industrial. But uh that's I'm hearing something about that.

But that but what I'm trying to tell you is that occupational use of land if you have they're all separate standards. The occupational is is do we have any regulation or elements of this occupation? If you get the wrong if you get an occupational license and you try to transact that occupational license on the wrong piece of property that goes to your that goes to planning zoning where your injunctions and all that stuff is to prohibit people from doing that. So if somebody can have an occupational license where they're plan on doing business at a piece of property that they that's not allowed but doesn't come back before the council

on the on the property side of it. Yes. On the occupation side, it's just logging for sale purposes and regulation of the occupational industry, not of the use of land. Use of the land ultimately, if you use that property in the wrong way, that goes through through plan, which now all that stuff comes through you that uses and things like that. This is just they're logging their business. Do we have any regulations regarding that? We don't have any regulations regarding that occupation. I I say that before. We don't have anything regulated stuff other than our moratorium or special use which to the land not to the occupation. That's it. It doesn't give them any special right to do anything with the land they couldn't do.

So they're industrial they have to say good industrial activity unless they have a special use.

Thank you. Thank you Mr. Jones. Um let me let me back. I'm going to try to be as brief as I possibly can and I'll ask you to do the same. Uh I keep hearing something about businesses in the uh wrong district as far as occupational licenses. Listen uh that if there is a business operating in a district that is known for something else then some somebody has made a mistake somewhere off from the very beginning. Uh there that should that should never happen because if somebody or a business person or somebody comes up for occupational license and they're asking to be zoned over here, but what they're really supposed to be doing is over here on the other side and they get a license, that means something somebody in the administration made an error because if that business person comes up here for that license, then it it's our job to let them know that no, they can't do this at this certain spot right here. So there is no way to proceed on that. So I'm I'm not I'm not understanding how that can happen. So where that's I I think we're in the same boat.

So there's there's nothing by state law which is where you get your occupational codes. Okay. There's nothing state law that prevents somebody from doing that. Yeah. Ideally you would say, hey, look, you know, I understand you get an occupational license here to perform business. Okay. Sales tax. do understand that if you transact business at that piece of property, you're going to be in violation of the zoning, right? And that's where you go to zoning. The use of the specific property for that purpose goes to zoning, not to occupational.

So, are we in the habit of giving people an occupational license or permit to operate in a district or area where we know there's going to be a zoning conflict? Not that I'm aware of. Right. But I I'm aware of very few occupational because it doesn't pass through. That should be the answer every time.

And and ideally and ideally you would say, "Hey, you do understand I can't stop you from applying for this, but you're going to get the wrong understanding the code for it may show up on day one and say, "Hey, you need to get special use permit before you do anything here." So, but we need to be more proactive in letting people know, hey, this is this this is not right. We have a problem with this. Correct. But if you have but if you have your code enforcement signing off on an occupational license and the standard is did they follow the occupational code and ideal then the argument could be made that you you also approved it for possibly

zoning. That's why you don't want your plan your code enforcement planning to sign off on the zoning aspect of it because the standard to issue an occupational license is different than the standard say the business fits the land. Okay, gotcha. I got I got another one real quick. Listen, uh part of the u and this is the first part of the uh discussion about zone. Um there is also a change to the ordinance uh that I didn't hear but I saw on paper and we discussed it. Part of the change is going to be uh in the replication part of it. Yes.

Uh if it falls outside of a certain beautifification uh certain uh uh environmental uh thing or they were just doing things that they weren't supposed to be doing at that property. That's in the that's in the new uh revision. That's the only thing this covers not to this covers only the ability to now have a revocation procedure for properties who violate health and sanitation and your beautifification ordinance. Right. Yeah. The other stuff is is ancillary.

And who who would be the who would be the decision maker on whether a company or business falls outside of that? So this that comes so we can that comes to the council for a hearing.

That person is issued a notice to appear and show cause why their license shouldn't be revoked. They're giving specific reasons and instances and then they show at the hearing. The the hearing would be presented before this council and then the governing authority would by majority vote uh take a vote as to whether they wish to revoke it, whether they wish to revoke it for a time period it for uh for forever or and it also limits them from just transferring it to a related family member if they wish. Okay. I just got one question.

And when we look at this or that we're about to pass, I think we need to look at it closely because we get them things mixed up. We talk about two different things. This ordinance right here, you better read read read because

when I read is dealing with the criminal versus you almost just got to be convicted of a reco in order to revoke somebody license when he finished. And I'm going back to I'm going back to the other part of now when Chief Reed comes up here every month and they ask for liquor license and all that stuff and occupational license and stuff. When they did the liquor license over on North Washington, South Washington somewhere and they wanted we had they had to be approved to get certain things. Did they have occupation license before they came up here? the liquor store north south Washington.

I'm just asking a question. So

I'm glad you answered that question. So somebody gave them occupational license before they got per. So this administration have given those persons right there an occupation license. They yes they made an application for an occupational license. There is nothing in our code regulating the occupation they have. They meet the standard. The denial of which would be simply arbitrary. There's no basis to deny it all. I I'm glad you said that. So you're telling me now because we turn people down. So people come up for occupational license, they that don't turn them down. Do you have to give it to them and then they fall out of the scope of the code enforcement and that's when you take action. That really don't make sense to me. But that's basically what you're saying. Somebody don't apply for occupational license. You have to give it to them based on your assessment.

Unless unless you have no based on your assessment. This is that's based on your ordinances. position since the 60s. Well, you've been attorney ever since I've been here and we didn't we didn't go by that. We just we just switched up something. We just This is the This is the first time that we apprec If I may haven't come before you. Yeah. So you ask that question before you is the zoning of the problem. I'm guessing I don't understand why you ask that question. We got a vote in the occupational

because he told me that it's that how many have we approved that weren't something like they

No, he asked me he asked you how many have this administration approved because now we are how many have they approved occasion the question is why now why are we changing something we've been doing but come on because you have being an attorney for two administrations because I've never had the issue come up about this. It's never came up. It's never come to me. I don't personally go through every file and review for so there's been there's been 10 attorneys before me. Right. But so when we asking we see on the agenda like so

but that's not what's on the on the agenda. If I if I may if I may just from a policy standpoint I think we can kind of come back and understand what's going on because this based on the state law or there's very simple requirements to get artificial. Now, from a policy standpoint, I I can understand why they merged with two because anybody can get occupational license. But if you're not zoned properly, you can't use it because you can't operate business. So, it makes sense.

Why are we issuing all this occupational license when they turn around and can't get zoned to do business, but we're collecting this money. So it makes sense to merge the two when you don't have to because if it's incumbent on the person applying for the occation license to do their own due diligence

but from a policy standpoint if we include the two which I'm assuming that's probably what happened and remember all good don't go unpunished it's like okay we have code enforcement and fire sign off on occupational license which is not required but it's going to prevent somebody spending money on an occupational license that they can't transact business because if they just that the young lady example that you got, she could have got an occupational license. It would have been worthless because once she got to where she want to open this, oh, zoning won't sign off on it. So you have to merge the two from a policy standpoint because you can issue occup I'm alluding to the fact that you know you're aware

right so I'm I'm going to go somewhere with this because I'm not I'm telling you what we used to do and Miss Holmes know I ain't saying this was a law I'm saying when I was a code enforcement You came to code enforcement, Miss Hol said, "Hey, did you go to code enforcement? I can't give you our special license." So you go to code enforcement. Then you got to go to fire and then you come back to me. And if you didn't meet those, she said, "I cannot give you license. Am I wrong?" Right? And then think about it. She should have used the wrong language. She said, "I I shouldn't issue one because you couldn't do your business that you want to do. It's well, it's probably To me, it should have been denied. Why would you pay for occupation?

Well, that's been going on for 50 years because it makes sense to merge the two because why would I issue you something you can't use? But I clarity because I don't think that I know what I'm talking about. We we that's the process that's been going on should have been different.

The Latin should have been like I wouldn't adise some people like Mr. language that y'all use when denying it should have been denied. Look, we can issue this. So, you ain't going to be able to transact business because you can't get approved and by code force with our fire department when you see it on the first time. We got to ask those questions.

Correct. But you can see if if you issue a license that they can't be used is kind of which one less risk averse denying somebody occupational license which you shouldn't have denied. You should have thought you can get it but you won't pass code enforcement. You won't pass inspection. What's the purpose until you can get that other piece and then in a particular instance

if that was a prerequisite and you have your code enforcement signed off on but it's just hey I'm the thing said it's approved by code I believe every person up here contends that it's not approved by code so saying when somebody's pushing and says hey I want this license and Our contention is is that or maybe it could be our contention that it doesn't meet our zoning code or our fire code, but they're still pushing to get it. As the legal advisor, it was best advised remove the fire chief signature rather than explain to the court that yes, the fire chief and code signed it even though we told them, hey, you probably can't have it. Why would your code be signing off on something that you're telling them it's not? It can be both ways. So if you move it, it's just simply code didn't sign off on it. Fire didn't sign off on it. It's just simply you met the simple standard of you got a license for a place that can't transact. I can't use against.

So So in other words, you you guys wasn't aware of the matter of how the procedure Mr. Smith, if you will, um, if you can tell me verbatim or maybe look it up in the next two seconds, can you tell me exactly what state law says about the uh, zoning application and zoning application? Occupational occupational license versus what's

I'm sorry. And that always clears up a lot of stuff when you when you have exactly what the state says about it. If you can give me two seconds, please. And it's been asked that you please recite the statute uh when you when you say

so your pass section 132 adoption of state law the amount of license tax levy in case determined ordained to be the same lect by the governor under shall be granted in accordance with the business by statute title 45 section 341 through 363 can you slow it down just a bit Mr. Mr. Jones please enter.

All right. And how you can search it in Google la space 45 colon 341 continuing through 363. I think

this is just all invoking a license issuing a license. And so what we added there, if I could just bring it back, we added to the B provision the only conduct preuses that you could revoke for was prohibited criminal conduct cited in the code ordinance or other local, state laws. We added the provision said or any local ordinance, state or federal law regulating beautifification, environmental or standards required of property owners to maintain their property for public health and safety. We had an issue about some of my I'll

say it'll be 60 properties. He violates the ordinances. He gets occupational every year gets run off those and never falls a single loan doesn't pay tax on it. So we can revoke the occupational license. So you can't transect that landlord business while we can transfer to this is this is the kind of book end to our reform. Thank you for clarification. Much appreciated.

It's just very small. We don't want We don't want have to prove that he went in violated the Louisiana criminal code. We want to prove that he violated our health and san22. We don't have

I make I'll make a motion that we take this till next year. All in favor?

So the main agenda item is agenda modification which is golden beam which 14A item C. Well, I'd actually take item C. If you go 11 C that's the last one that has anything before we go there. 11 C is resolution 262124 which is resolution Mr. Smith was going to promote by the budget that be removed from action.

So I just ask be tabled until we get we tabled until Mr. Okay. Well, I'll make a motion that we take um resolutions 26 21 26 2122. We've done those already. 26. Okay. We want a motion at the table resolution 26 2124. I discussion none. All in favor? Any opposed? Thank you.

Okay, that brings us down to there's no the other items not when there's items on the agenda that don't have anything underneath them. Just say to move through move through quickly. So item 14 a golden beams and sunbeam solar projects. Uh this matter was added to the agenda afterwards. That's why agenda modifications as always said I'll put the date that was added. this matter. Uh as regards to A1 executive session, as I previously stated, we do not have any uh written demand for prospective litigation or any litigation file in that matter on our side or their side or anybody's side with regards to that. So I would ask to pass that we pass that matter to item two 14 A2 which is the item approval of the request to engage outside law firm provide an opinion on solar projects and special use

if I could put ahead so or turn over to the mayor.

Yeah. Um yeah, I asked I asked Mr. Jones, well actually I told Mr. Jones that I would like to offer you all the right or let me get a chance to get another attorney uh uh the legal side of the solo panel. So if me and Mr. Jones uh I don't want nobody thinking Mr. Jones doing something wrong or myself since we are the administration. So, a general or counseling, if y'all give me the right to get go outside and get legal advice from another attorney, it might be wasting money, might not because we have a legal attorney right here telling us he got all kind of people he can ask. But but my

first mayor, I don't think this has this has never ever been about that. We don't trust Mr. Jones legal opinion. That has never been the case. Not only Mr. Jones, myself as administration.

Yeah. I'm just I'm just putting it out there. The thing is we we did a vote roll call. We do a roll call. Our wish was no. I think it was 3 to two. So why would we even move any further on this when we have already voted? For the record, it should not even be a discussion. We should not have to even think about outside counsel because this council has expressed their wishes already with it. It should be the end of it. I hear something. Sorry. Go ahead. M

mayor. Uh M if I can you can you or somebody uh on council the administration uh that vote was taken before I came in on the council. And what I'm asking for is more clarity on what was actually voted on. uh that way you know uh ourselves and the public can have a better understanding of what we're talking about because we say a lot of things and maybe only we understand but I would like for everybody to have a clear picture about exactly what was voted on because again you have the moratorum you have um uh what else is what else is at play with this with this project uh there there are several different areas concerning this And when it came down to the council voting on an issue, uh, that's not that's not clear. So, if somebody can kind of clear it up exactly what was voted on to hold this project up or or whatever. Uh, can can somebody clarify?

And I understand that you want to know that, Mr. Dodie. I can understand that. But at the time, Mr. Bracker was in your seat voted for district B at that time. So, that vote stands. No, no, no. I'm not I'm not talking about

one more thing and also also the reason for to seek uh another attorney uh legal advice because this was done under the last administration and some of y'all up there understand that I'm new in it. I've been since July. I'm tired of kicking can down the road. So, we feel like that's the way to go. I'm just tired of kicking it. So, whatever it is, come to a meeting last three and a half hours every time for no reason at all.

So, we y'all are people, so am I. I'm trying to come up with some kind of some kind of answer. If if we can't move on with this this attorney we have and myself, reach out to another legal attorney. If they tell you the same stuff, then I don't know. That's all that's all over.

Well, I think um first of all, thank you for even um giving us the option to seek another attorney. But what I guess what's crazy to me is that our same legal attorney that we have now, everything we did is supposed to be legal. So what what are we questioning legal for? And and I don't mind I don't mind indulging to kind to kind of explain the process because I I agree with every person sat up here. I agree with Miss Fner sat up here and said that they voted the morator which was no. I agree with that there are a lot of moving parts in also agree with Mr. We agree and probably the other members that yes, I gave a lot of legal advice about this and how to get here and even drafted the moratorum. Now I would if I could have two seconds to say the parts that is hard to describe to go back to Mr. Dobby is this as I'm advising you we've all discussed before and then not so much in this administration we've had previous issues with administration. It would always feel like you know there I I advise everyone and it's an odd spot to sit in because I represent the city as a whole represent all the officials represent employees uh hold a lot of people self a lot of people call that said the parts that I was advising on were what I knew uh the things I didn't know the postures that had happened through the administration that I I'm not the administration the previous administration had their own administration. They had their own person which we now don't have that title encoded in the planning which is the administrator for the thing that could sign off on things. So my legal advice is based on and the moves we made were based on sound law on the facts I held at the time. Now as we've gone

through this I don't think anybody here is going to debate that we've all over the last six months uncovered facts that were maybe different than the facts we had six months ago. And so the question is is to keep this house together as we are. I had a belief at that time and I have a belief now and I have a belief then based on the facts known at the time and the law as it's applied. But I think as a cleansing mechanism for so much of what was we probably now know different parts moving in different ways.

Things that we all thought that were being done and effectuated were occurring by the boats that had happened here to only maybe find out that there is documentation and paperwork that at least it's minimum appear to cir circumvent those efforts prior to the to those adoptions of things. and we've discussed that with applications visit. So at this point in order for us to be able to say hey let's take a look at cuz when we came in this room we all looked and thought we saw one thing I gave an opinion based on what I had seen to this council and the betterment of what the interest of the city of Bashorn is voice through all through the vote that night and We've all learned facts afterwards. So what we're trying to do with an outside opinion is I don't want to appear to be giving shifting opinions. Opinions that you as officials allow that you should rely on because I owe a duty to you as officials to advise you properly. But as the as the cookie crumbles and we start going through these things as we've discovered things that we had not previously known or seen maybe that basis that cookie might crumble a different way. It does appear that I give a shifting opinion but that's only because the facts start to shift more that you dig through stuff. So this is a highly procialized area of law. This is a place where there is for soundness of keeping us all and not having anybody feel as if anybody is going back on what they said or changing or I gave a different opinion.

It's kind of one of these situations where let's have somebody outside look at the totality of it and tell us where we stand with everything based on what we have. Well, I have a crazy suggestion. We have a whole new set of eyes right there. It wouldn't cost us any money. He worked for us. Why he can't look at it? He's been in the room with this. He wasn't here the last administration, but he's been in the room the last six months looking through this. I think to look into it and just do that and be a part of it.

Everybody We had this whole thing over and over. I think the only thing that you all are asking is that we have someone else to look at the whole s and present correct only and just give us That's only

cuz I I have a question cuz ultimately outside after that opinion is stated then who do then who do they rely on? We if because at some point you got to come back and for the citiz at that point we have somebody who's looked at the circumstances and evaluate it from a neutral standpoint say hey this this that this. Yes. Because when we were making opinions on things, the facts were what we knew at the time. We've all since then seen different facts pop up.

And as this changes, it could change the perspective of how everything's viewed, the steps taken before, and the idea where we're at. We just want a place to say, can you triage this? look at where it was and do it in a way that people feel like there's not an investment anywhere else but just trying to get an outside independent opinion of what the totality of everything is. me. So outside of our the facts that we know, are there other things that we not aware of? Because the reason Yeah. Cuz cuz when you you say facts have unfold like those facts that we haven't been presented with

because a lot because a lot of our decision has been based off the facts that we have been receiving and also you know follow legal for sure.

So is it anything outside of that we already know of some more things that may have been unvolved? I think the night we made the decision on the moratorum, we were very much unaware with if any letters or anything had been sent prior to that uh we were unaware of the we later discovered that the contents of the applications and the things like that for special use things like that. So I mean there there were procedure I know we talked a lot so it kind of feels like I'm like the mayor like you know and we've had discussion with we've had discussion with those people who who were there at the time in those positions uh which they would offer an opinion that was contrary what paper document says.

So that that would help with all this. Thank you again for all that. I know this this topic is probably going on longer than it should. But let me let me let me say this. If if we are going to ask for outside counsel to look at this, then my suggestion is that we get somebody outside of the administration. Because if you get somebody inside the administration, then basically they're going to be looking at the same thing that some of them already have have had privilege for information to if you're going to get a totally unbiased opinion, then it should come from somebody that that we uh that has not participated in this process at all.

Participated again. This is just a suggestion. But again, when the you talk about the administration, the administration is as a whole. It is as a whole. One represents the other inside the administration. Again, that's just my opinion.

Yeah. Yeah. Second, uh there there's again there's to me there's just been too much banter about about this about this subject. U now are we going to uh are we going to table this or are we going to have somebody else to speak after you? Okay. You got your question? Yes, sir. Counselor Law, do you have anything? Yeah.

Jay Green. So I I think we get sidetracked. Talk about outside counseling. When you go back, I want to go all the way back to the beginning. We're not talking about operational dealing over there. We talking about a process, a flawed process that done improper. It don't take a genius of the rocket scientist. Have anybody on council actually seen the papers besides myself? I looked at it and I'm telling you

and I'm just telling you m based on my assistant and the attorneys we looked at together that it's not adding up. So I was under the impression cuz I'm not against sold for what's going right and I don't want to be come here and just like some force down just like like somebody pulling something over me. I looked at the paperwork and the goalpost keep moving because first of all when you look at the signature a signature is somebody signature am I not right? So if a signature is on something and the person said they didn't sign it.

So I'm confused. I want some clarity and and when you do a process and then I look at the person that initiated the project which is Mr. King and then I look at the person that approved the project which is she say she didn't approve it Miss Rogers because they said code enforcement approved it and then Zer look she's on the board

so she's on that board that initiated contact looked like if you was on that board look like you would rescue yourself you wouldn't even have code enforcement doing it because you would say hey I think it's a conflict conflict of interest I go back and I look at the other table It said no. I said approve it. She stood right there. You stand. Code enforcement approved it. Then the next no code. We approve it. So as a as an as a counselor, you see the conflict that I see and then when I look at the papers, they don't match. Do I supposed to just say I see what I see and don't believe what I see?

If it's nothing with you, I know you just come on, Miss Marks. I like I think you're a great attorney, but I'm telling you when you start looking into your client's application, you probably going to find some discrepancies. And that's all I ask them to do and even I ask them if you just come correctly. I'm just going to vote, but I'm not going to be forcing them to vote for something that we said we didn't do. It's a process that you have to go through in a legislative body. You have to follow protocol and you have to do it properly or you going to do it improperly. So only thing that I asked him when he was standing there, hey, I said, hey, maybe we can come back and do it right,

maybe it's all right. But then when I get here, it's like, yeah, he did it right. We did this. Then when I'm looking at the paperwork, I'm like, no, it was not done right. From my not attorney, but I just talked to the attorney and if you want to come to court, bring the documents so we can do discovery. We see who contacted who who was doing what improperly because you know if you have taken money from a particular party you cannot participate in any discussion

that goes from the mayor anybody I'm on Mr. I'm just telling you just I'm telling you where I'm from. I'm not at a place where I don't want it, but I'm at a place of being fair, being honest, and not being just told anything, and then we just fall for anything. We're a legislative body. Nobody's up here just going to say, "Hey, okay, just because you said it, then I'm looking at some papers and it don't match." Let me ask you really looked at the application just because I apologize.

Let's just go back off of it. Council Green is 100% right. Um and I the old administration wanted the code for my guys in my office and they said it was his signature. I talked so personal personally here. He said that's not my sign. I did not sign that. So he he's telling you 100% right on understand just and I don't want to take any more time

but I understand that with the issue before the council of retaining outside counsel certainly y'all it's obviously your project to do that you got great lawyers speaking on behalf of that no problem in fact great get outside counsel I think I know what the legal opinion any good lawyer is probably going to be on this. And I'm not mean that challenging, y'all. I And I'm not saying everybody did everything right, but they went through the process permit was issued. You can't just change the rules later. But but what I was going to y'all, this thing has been drugg out now for more than a year from the time that the special use permit was issued by planning and zoning commission. Please, you know, if you're requesting special counsel, please ask them to get you that opinion post hasty in real quick because because the project is close to being a loss. That's not a good thing for anybody. That's not a good thing for that piece of property. It's definitely not a good thing for them or their investors. Um, and again, don't want to be a lawyer, but things like that start rolling. It's

we need we need to get before we do reach out or if we reach out, we need to get him signed the code enforcement because that going to come up in court, too, cuz we have the code enforcer that was here said he did not. They said he did. He said he did not. So, that's something we going to come up also. in court. Yes, I can y'all. Like I said at the beginning, litigation is not good for anyone except the lawyers. I can promise you I ain't afraid to go there. Okay? And it'll be long and it'll be expensive.

And I think I know the result. And if I was afraid of the result, I wouldn't be standing here so confidently telling you I'm ready to go. So y'all this in other words I understand your concern with moratoriums. Uh, I recognize you're more toward I drive, but it can happen. M J, Mr. Mark, I've got you one question. Okay. We don't we don't have a blueprint of anything that's going on over there. And when it came up before this, before you became the council, Yeah. the other day, like you say, everything is moving. First it was going to be solar panels.

Correct. I went back and looked at the tape of the meeting. Then it said it's going to be six different solar panels and then a data center. What did the data center come from? Yes. Because Maurice also told me it was going to be two data center. No, no, no, no, no. Excuse. Let me finish. Let me finish. This not coming from hearsay. This coming from this coming from this this coming No. This coming from u the gentleman he said right there. He says that the other thing it's going to be a data center and I was perplexed. I was puzzled because I'm like I thought it was just going to be solar panels. But now you add another mechanism to it. You saying it's going to be okay. We got this for solar panel but we going to put a

database. It's going to be a data processing center on there also. So I'm kind of confused. Well, if I understand correctly, first phase is solar panels. And yes, sir, it is possible that in the future, the energy from those solar panels could go into small compact data center module that because again, this being a brown field, you can't go out and build something there. You can't get in the dirt. So, it would be modules of computers to to crank data. That's potential phase two. All this y'all again If I didn't think this was good stuff, I wouldn't fight for it. I know the problem. This is good stuff.

There's no shovel in the round. That's right. Correct. No. No. Sh in the hand barely getting something. So, you can't take a machine and just throw a foot and a half or a foot in the ground and shave the top of it off. I don't know how far you can go. Mayor, I I'll tell you the brownfields I've dealt with have been closed out landfills and you absolutely cannot what they call pierce the cap, right? When they closed it out, and I and I can't tell you that that's a foot. I can't tell you that if I

you know, if I if I if I cleaned out the culvert that I was violating the law. But I do know because I I've dealt with this before is you cannot go in and dig footings and build a building and build a foundation. You cannot go and you can't shovel dig in a brown field. There's a machine though that digging is it moving dirt on top of the ground or is it digging? It's like a shovel. If you get a They said no shovel dig, right? You get a shovel and scoop it. That's on top of the ground still. Who said I don't I don't know how much do you know yourself

there's a certain that you are allowed to share one

yeah brownfield side firstly secondly my dear gentleman's honorable council and I apologize if there's anything missing we're ready to work with you guys we're ready we are presenting ourselves before you if there's anything needed by the council or the city, we are at your mercy. If the documentation that we have is documentation that we've gotten. Now, please, my request is do not penalize us for something that happened wrong with the previous administration. If it did, I'm not accusing anyone. I'm not saying that any administration has done anything wrong. We got a occupational license, I think about a week ago. which which which we got and it was given to us during this administration's time. So my my only thing is this that my request to you humbly is that it is hurting us if we don't pro proceed further. Our financing, our investors, our project is all in jeopardy and that's all we're trying to make you understand. Otherwise, we have the utmost respect for you guys. And we want you to tell me whatever you need. And if there's anything missing,

you're our council. You're our mayor. You're our councilman. Tell us. We will help you get there. Get whatever you need. Who signed the form? Who signed the code for? Ma'am, I did not sign the first. The first one we got was blank. And all of a sudden you came from that's falsifying documents. If you're accusing me that have falsified documents. I said if you had a form with nothing on it and then a form with something on it and the code enforcement officer did not sign it.

Ma'am, we have registered mail from the city of Bassro. I have the under with me which was sent by the city of Basau on that day. Well, ma'am, I can't speak for him. You you can speak for him. I can't, but I let Mr. J.

Yes. And I mean again all those things and I can understand where you're coming from with that. But the fact of the matter is the permit, special use permit was applied for, went through planning and zoning, publicly noticed meetings, publicly noticed public hearing, and and the planning and zoning approved by unanimous vote, special use permit.

Was this Is this meeting everized right in the first place? As I understand the public hearing aspect of it was advertised. The question if if you're headed in that direction after the January 14th meeting for for clarity and I'm just asking Mr. Mitchell they're proceeding under the January 14th special use permit. Is that correct? I thought the permit was issued on January 27th 27th. Correct. So the January. Sorry. Yeah. January.

Okay. January. That's that was advertised and it was on the agenda as as it should be. The issue being that the public hearing was slated to start at a time. There is no record that they actually they actually there is no there is no record that they called to order the p the public hearing. They as I understand the procedure has been that they show up and that they just are in here but the members are not here for the public hearing

and that's always been the procedure when they're the meetings are early. So the question then if that is the license they're sitting underneath not the name change the label sitting underneath first the issue is the public hearing aspect of it who does that detriment run to can the city of Bastro sue itself for approving a permit that doesn't do it underneath the statute there are an x amount of days for which somebody could contest that for failure to have a public hearing. There's been nothing in those I think it's 14 days contesting that without the public hearing. So at this point it would be the city of Bastro suing itself or the planning and zoning board conducting business not in the courts.

You can't sue yourself. And all you can Can I ask a question? It was prior administration. So So Mr. So you saying that you guys are are going from the first meeting which was in January of what was the name? What was the name of the company? That is Sunbeam. So Sunbeam Solar it it owns Golden Bean Har wasn't like

it was it was registered in the state of Louisiana and the doc Yes sir. I'm sorry I I thought the when we was talking the first name wasn't a good standard or was it something with the state right the initial my understanding and I can look that up in a minute is that that application is subject to that January meeting that company was not registered with state or me the uh secretary of state that falls to deficiency in the application that falls to that falls That falls to us, not to them.

We're not going to get a resolution tonight. Yes, sir. Yes. All I'm going to ask is is council uh exercises your right to retain outside counsel. Please, and being council, I know things can drag, y'all. This one, this one has dragged for quite a while, and we're not going to be able to. It's not I want to work. I want to work this out. You've got great lawyers, good advice. Get some more. I think I and I and I I understand. Oh, technically this that I think I know where the law goes in this. I really do. Mhm.

I'm not wor in other words, I don't fear y'all getting another opinion. What I fear is that opinion coming too late and these folks have already lost that and these cats who've invested their money with these folks to build this thing who applied for tax credits with the federal government.

Then they sue them and then you know what happens and it becomes a terrible terrible mess. And look y'all, if it was something bad, a terrible mess to some to stop something bad, you know, sometimes it happens. But these solar panels on the old mill site, not a bad thing. And unlike the solar panels that have been built at Oakidge and the ones going in up by Beman, several other ones, these folks hadn't asked for any property taxes.

So when they're there, they will be Today, I just want to challenge you on something because we got our constituents. You may I if we don't push back on this, especially my district, I'm going to get crucified. You said it's not a bad thing. I represent my district and people in my constituent and they say it's a bad thing. So, that's your opinion. Everybody got an opinion. I serve district C. Yes. So, I mean, this may be a good thing from your point of view. I'm not trying to get into nothing legal about what it call birth defects, none of that. I'm talking about a flaw process. You talking about beautifification. If you just want to talk about beautifification, them ugliest things you ever put up, right? Mr. Green, I understand. I agree.

But I'm just saying I just want clarity because you said it's not a bad thing. Nobody says anything up here. It's going to be like we agree like with my constituents, they gonna say, "Well, you didn't even say nothing. You you didn't you didn't push back when he said it's a good thing." Yeah, I'm pushing back because they said it's a bad thing, but I just want some clarity. And if you do it right, I'm just one vote. I think and I think your moratorum speaks towards your concerns and all but when you do a moratorum like that it's prospective in other words like oh wait a minute just like you stated in there hey we need to look these things get some regulations be good and that'll address your constituent concerns but you can't

you're a great lobbyist so I'm not going to tell you you're a good me on so I'm not going to say nothing but going to say no I'm not going to say nothing else. You're a real great attorney, but I'm speaking what I said. I'm not saying you sound real good. Yes. Yes. Opinion. That's the issue right now. Your opinion of council because I think we waste our money. I think we look at the process

because when we get outside counsel be dealing with litigation. That's what I'm thinking. I'm thinking if we can just work look work through something and see about the process and see what we can come up with. Yeah. Because my thing is my thing is this. We we u and I just want to give y'all the opportunity. I think it'll be a waste of money. Also, I need $65,000 for our kids and so I mean we can My thing is to bring that up. Let's go kill it out and whatever it's going to be, it's going to be and stop kicking the can down the road. That's the only reason I said other advice. But at Park, we need addition 65,000 for our kids to have something to do. So

a little more vote on it. Sorry, M. Don't just I just want the administration to know I'm I'm appalled because I usually be in the loop and this is my first time hearing about a occupation license. I'm really really disappointed and I I I really can't overstate that. My feelings are hurt because when you work together as a group and then something like this is sprung on you, it's disheartening.

I'd like to make this this my point. for every information he comes up with, I'd like to make sure it's in a report

and it's business time that all this done time so we can go. Yeah. No. Yeah. We don't need to keep this down. I agree, counselor. So, if we're going to use Pierre, maybe we need to ask him to do it so we go and get this thing done.

Yes, sir. We will. We will. Okay.

That's it. This mean a joint.