City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody. Our May 11th, 2026 meeting is now called to order. We're going to have invocation and then pledge of allegiance. Let us stand for both the prayer and the pledge. Let us pray. Dear God, we thank you for allowing us to be here tonight. We consider it an honor and it's our pleasure to serve the people of this city uh in the way that we do. We pray that you would guide our thoughts and our minds and our mouths tonight. That whatever we do is decently and in order as we advance the city of Natish even further. We thank you for guiding us. We thank you for strengthening our city where we're weak. We thank you for adding to us in terms of jobs and you know students and so many positive things. And God, we pray that you would touch all of those city employees, all of those department heads and everybody who do their job. They'll do it with an excellent spirit. We ask these and so many other blessings in your son Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. Please join us in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All righty. Now we have the reading and approval of the minutes from our meeting on April 27th. May I make a motion that we um dispense with the reading of the minutes of April 27 and that they be adopted uh as recorded. If no corrections second.

Okay. Motion is made and seconded to adopt the minutes as they have been recorded and to dispense with the reading. Any comments or questions about this motion? Okay, seeing none, Mrs. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. PG, yes. All right, that motion carries. We want to recognize at this particular meeting our employee of the month. I think Ed, I just missed a picture um with Mr. Brad Reigns. So, uh Ed, can you tell us a little bit about who we're recognizing this month?

Yeah, Brad Reigns is an employee at the airport. He's one of the linemen. He helps with moving uh aircraft in and out the hangers. uh refueling uh aircraft also things to such as mowing the grass, maintaining the airport. He always does it with a good attitude, always has a smile on his face, always friendly. And then for something that uh most people don't know, maybe Chief Collins will, but he was a city police officer in the 1980s. uh he was one of our motorcycle cops for for years and he left uh left law enforcement and then I guess think he came back to the city many years later and he's at the airport and he's been a great employee.

How long you been with us? Uh you're saying he was a uh how long has he been with How long he's been like in the airport role? Oh only a little over a year.

Okay, gotcha. Well, just wanted to I think we did the Facebook post already, but uh we certainly appreciate what all of our employees do here. It's really in service to the citizens of the city. So, also those who come in, tourists and things like that, especially in this role at the airport. So, again, I'll get a chance to actually see him and meet him, but uh uh happy to have recognized him for this month. We've got two proclamations that we're going to put before the council tonight. The first one is read by council woman Washington Eli.

Thank you mayor. Resolution number 30 of 2026. A resolution proclamation May the 15th 21st of 2026 as the national police week in the city of Nagish. Whereas the National Police Week of 2026 is a week of recognition and honor of the service or sacrifice of those law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty where protected in the community of safeguarding and democracy. And whereas the week of grown in Solomon remembers that also serve as the time to support surviving family members recognize service and current office educating the public about dangerous responsibility that comes with wearing the badge. And whereas the time is honored and remember the law enforcement officer who have died in the line of duty. Whereas there are more than 100,000 law enforcement officers serving in the community across United State including dedicated members of the negative Paris police department and where it served the first death 1786 where there are currently more 24,000 law enforcement officer in the United States have been ultimate sacrificing been killed in the line of duty including three members of the Nagas Paris police department and whereas they names dedic dedicating public servants engraved in the walls of the National Law Enforcement Office memorial in the Nage in the Washington DC. Whereas 345 new names of fallen honors heroes are being added to the National Law Enforcement more in the spring including 148 officer killed in 2024 and 197 officer killed in the previous year. And whereas the service sacrifice of all the officer cured in the line of duty would

be honored during the National Law Enforcement Office memorial funds 38th candle light vigil of the evening of May the 13th 2026. Whereas the candlelight vision is part of the national week which will be observed the the year May the 15th to 21st. And whereas the designated peace officer more honor of the fallen off felon office of their family and US flag should be flowing flowing halfway now there before I Ronnie Williams Jr. Mayor of the city of Nge hereby proclaimation May the 15th and the 21st of 2026 National Police Week and in the city of Nage's public service of law enforcement office in the community and the communities across the nation and I move to adopt resolution number 30 of 2026. Second

motion made and seconded uh National Police Week and it starts on Friday chief. Okay. Um, so they're starting on Friday going through the 21st. Look, all that said about recognizing, honor, honoring our police officers, we know that it's one of those professions where uh I think we need to do that uh as often as we can. Um it's it's a lot of risk involved with it. It's one of those thankless professions. Um you know, so uh but again, we do appreciate the force we have here. Chief, is there anything you'd like to say as in uh in reference to police week coming up?

I would just like to thank the you and the council for doing the proclamation. Often our officers, they're there. They respond to help and support our community members through the worst times that they experience. Uh they call us for help. We're coming. Um I I I just like to point out we've got some officers here. They do a phenomenal job given the resources they have and the experience. They they make sure that they do their job and it it goes often as you indicated unnoticed, but they are that that gap in between those bad people out there in our community that pray on those citizens. They are the one that's going to be that lifeline for you and put themselves at risk no matter who you are or where you come from. And so with that, I know that our men and women often don't hear this enough, but we thank you for your service. We appreciate the profession that you chose, and each and every day that you put that badge on, you make us proud, and I'm glad to be a part of it. So, thank you. We know Stevenson is working for his security, but you you actually have three who are here.

I would just like to point out we have uh we have uh for those of you who don't know when he in the past we we had an individual, our McGruff, the crime dog, uh he would win several awards and he was very energetic. The kids loved him. But we have Allen Holmes. He's he's been with us a while. He left, he came back. And uh we we commend him on that. He's a go-getter and he definitely uh appreciate it. We have one of our newer members. Uh yes, Frederick Nichols. He was a fireman.

Thanks. And we're glad to have him on our side. He is a he he does a phenomenal job having a short time and he he's he's been one of those dedicated people learning the role. Um he's the person that's not going to ask when someone needs him to do something. He volunteers. Look, he's here. When I said I needed some officers to show up, they showed up and they're here. Of course, we have Skyler Mouser. He's a new one of our new cadets. He is also he he he signed up. He's from another agency. He chose to come and work for the citizens of Nacades and he's dedicated his time and effort to learning the tricks of the trade and he's doing a great job learning and and soon to come he'll be in the academy. Um that's going to be an experience cuz a lot of people don't realize we don't just put a badge on. We have to go through rigorous training and 16 17 weeks of getting sprayed, tased, and running till you throw up and then learning every law that there is to know that you make sure you don't violate people's rights. Um, they have to do that. So, and they do it for what they get paid and it's because they enjoy it. So, once again, I thank you. And I don't I don't want to be remiss. He's sitting down. For those of you who don't know, Sergeant Devonte Stevenson, he's one of our investigators. he's filling in for a shift that's short. Um, that's the type of persons that we have that work for us. They will step up when needed to make sure that the citizens don't um have to deal with a lack or shortcoming. So, um, he's coming in pulling double duty, plus he's here to, uh, cover this meeting for security reasons until he's released. So, I just I commend them. They do a great job and I can't say that any more than I've said already. It's just thank you. It's appreciated and keep up the good work, GUYS.

All right. Thank you, chief, for that and introducing those um officers and I know that they're different ranks. Uh and and I'll say all of these are special individuals, but Alex, I need to say this that um Officer Frederick Nichols, he understands that achievement in every field of human endeavor. I just need to say that he understands that. Alex know I'm talking about All right. Any comments, questions about this particular um proclamation? Yeah, I have a question. It says on here that there will be a memorial fund 38 kind of like vigil on the 13th of May. Where would that be? Is that here or a national deal? That'll be in Washington. Oh, it's a national situation.

National. All right. All right. Any other comments or questions? All right. Seeing none, Mr. Syovo. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkind Doll, yes. Harrington, yes. Pachy, yes. All right, that motion carries. We just like to officers take a quick picture if y'all don't mind um real quick with the proclamation. All right, police. Come on, officers. Yeah, we getting in. Come on, officers. How we all want to say

what you appcate. Go ahead. Go ahead.

Take me with this android.

Okay. I said make Oh, let me I failed to say this before we move on to the next proclamation. Please take a moment and silence your cell phones during this meeting. The city council encourages public participation. Comments are limited to 3 minutes per speaker. However, this time limit may be reduced if there are numerous speakers on a particular item. To ensure efficient proceedings, all persons addressing the city council shall state their name and shall speak in a civil and courteous manner. Speaker shall address the agenda topic only to which they are speaking on and shall not be repetitive. Members of the audience, please respect the rights of others. Do not create noise other services so as to disrupt or disturb persons who are addressing city council. council members who are speaking otherwise impede the orderly conduct of the meeting. Again, as we always ask that you would adhere to those instructions. All right. Um, next we've got a proclamation that's uh one of the newer proclamations that we've done and it deals with mental health health awareness and it's read by Councilman PT.

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution number 031 of 2026, a proclamation declaring May 2026 as mental health awareness month in the city of Nagage. Whereas mental health is essential to everyone's overall health and well-being. Whereas all Americans experience times of difficulty and stress in their lives and one in four of all Americans require treatment at some point for mental health. Whereas prevention is an effective way to reduce the burden of mental health conditions. Whereas there are a strong body of research and support tools that our Americans can use to better handle challenges and protect their health and well-being. Whereas mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia and are real, common, and treatable illnesses. And with effective treatment, individuals can recover and lead full productive lives. Whereas real recovery from mental illness requires community action, understanding and teamwork and is possible due to improved science, increased community support and reduce stigma and stereotypes. But significant barriers still remain. Whereas each business, school, government agency, health care provider, organization, and citizen share the burden of mental health problems and have a responsibility to promote mental wellness and support prevention efforts. May I move to adopt resolution number 031.

Second.

All right. Motion made and seconded. Um, we all know that each month has different recognitions. Some months have more recognitions than others. Um, so wanted to bring this up, recognize and lift it up if for the only reason that mental health and taking care of our mental health and mental illness is that it's not a taboo subject. Uh, we don't want it to be taboo uh, at the very least. And if that's what we get out of it, um, then I think we've accomplished something. We'll do from the city standpoint, we'll do a post at some point this this month. But with all of the things that Councilman PT read, schizophrenia, uh depression, other forms of mental uh illness, it just has an impact on um our community, our society. Um it doesn't have to be negative, but it certainly uh can be. And just all the advances with AI and some of the things I know we're seeing as well with people in terms of suicide. So, just wanted to bring that awareness. I think it's important to do that. So, uh any comments or questions about this particular proclamation? One in four people is pretty impactful.

Yes, sir. Yeah. And we'll just, like I said, do a post and hopefully uh other people would um do what they can, use their platforms to bring some awareness to this um to these issues and these type of illnesses. All right. Okay. Um Mr. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. Yes. All right. That motion carries. So these are we got two different ordinances coming up. Mr. Stacy, I always get it mixed up. Do we do public comments and discussion first or do we go ahead and handle the ordinance? The state just rem requires me to put public comments and discussion before. Okay. I know.

So we could do it like we normally do it and just Okay. So this first one dealing with the adjusted millage rates is handled by Councilman Harrington. This is ordinance 13 of 2026, an ordinance adopting setting forth the adjusted millage rates. Um, and it says, "Be it ordained by the city of Nacades of the Parish of Nacadish, Louisiana in a public meeting held on May 11th, 2026, which meeting was conducted in accordance with the open meetings law and the additional requirements of article 7, section 23 C of the Louisiana Constitution, that the following adjusted millage rates be and they are hereby levied upon the dollar of the assessed valuation of all property subject to adarium taxation um within said Paris for the year 2026 for the purpose of raising revenue. This is millillage public safety uh with fire and police 9.350 mills and general alimony uh 6.570 mills. And um I move to adopt ordinance 13 of 2026.

Second. Motion made and seconded. I think well not that I think but during the public hearing Chief W kind of laid out some things. This affects our Nagage fire department. Yes, it is. All right. So, just kind of share with us some of the things you shared earlier, Chief. So, I believe this first one is just going to set our rate. Isn't that right? Yes. So, this one, Mayor, if you want him to hold his comments to the next um proclamation, but um this I'm sorry, not proclamation ordinance. This one is just to keep the rate at as it is. So, this is for us to hold it in place. And then the next one will be for the uh us to vote whether or not we want to roll forward. And that may be when you want him to make his comments.

Yeah, cuz they're kind of together. Any comment or question about this one? All right. Seeing no Mr. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, yes. All right, that motion carries the next part, which is to roll forward. I see what you're saying. Uh, Mrs. Brown Smith. Um, and that's handled by Councilman PT.

Thank you, Mayor. Ordinance number 014. This the ordinance adopting to roll forward to millage rates not exceeding the maximum authorized rate. Uh, public safety at 10.0 mills and general alimony at 7.03 mills. May I so move to adopt ordinance 014? Second. All right. Motion is made and seconded to adopt uh this ordinance. Now, Chief W.

So, again, this this is how we get this is how we get our funding at through the uh at the fire department. We use this funding to to respond to our calls with to uh maintain our fuel budget, to maintain our operations budget uh you know, every year personnel cost increase. So, it it takes this money to operate our department and that's what this money goes for for the operation of the department. Okay. Yeah. And like you said, costs have increased and everything like that. And uh costs on our side don't stay the same. Just for instance, if you just look at fuel cost this year, fuel cost is we're at $4 a gallon now. And and diesel. So we run diesel and all of our our trucks are. So our our fuel cost goes up. So this helps cover that cost.

Fire truck costs don't stay the same. Even employee costs I think you mentioned earlier. It it does that our fire trucks that we have today were about 313 3 somewhere in there. Today it's about $500,000 to replace that same fire truck. So okay, everything goes up. Thank you, Chief. Any comments or questions about this particular motion?

I just want to say, do we need to explain again like we went over earlier how this would affect um property owners or not? Well, it's an increase. Um, and it's based on your uh the value of your home and it's um it's calculated per thousand uh based on the the the um the uh value of your home. Um, so if you're looking at this particular one just with public safety, uh, it's going to 65 meals, which means that you would multiply that.65 times every $1,000 increment um, based on the value of your home. So if you are at $100,000 in value, uh, you would multiply that 65 by 100. Um, and then as we stated in the premeating, um, then you have to take into consideration the homestead exemption and things of that nature to kind of get So, it's kind of hard to say per person how this is going to affect you because every home is not valued at the same amount. And uh with the homestead exemption that's calculated in there as well, but it is an increase and the overall increase helps increase the

um the amount that we can collect for the operations for the fire station. But it's new operation the fire department. I I would like to add when she says increase it, it's not a new tax. This is sir it's not new. It's not new. The original intent was 10. We just want everyone to understand it's not new.

No, it's not new. And the assessment is done um from an outside entity. So it's not done by the city in regards to saying this is what we think we should be bringing in. The assessment is done by the tax assessor. They tell us what that amount should be, what that um ceiling is for the uh fouryear span and uh we just have the responsibility to um roll the board or not. Yeah. and and already stated I know during the public hearing but this this is not taken it in used at parks and wreck or used somewhere else. It's it's exclusively for the fire department.

Yes sir. So the u there is a special fund that was set up to take in these uh tax funds and everything that uh comes through that particular fund is only for the fire department. No other department uh is able to use those funds. And as stated, it's an existing millillage and it's to me is cost of living. Right. Right. Any other comments or questions there? All right. Seeing none, Mr. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. PT,

yes. All right, that motion carries. We have a couple ordinances that we introduced last week, both tied to Swift Fiber. Yeah, Swift fiber and uh Councilman Nielson is handling the first of those two. Are these final? Yes, sir. These are final.

I'll read it title only. Ordinance number 15 of 2026, an ordinance of the city of Nacus, Louisiana, approving a franchise agreement in favor of Swift Fiber, allowing Swift Fiber rights to lay, construct, lease, and/or operate a cable optics transmission cable within the municipal boundaries of the city and the right to use the present and future streets, roads, highways, alleys, bridges, and public ways in such city and owned and controlled by such city for such purposes. Prescribing terms and conditions to which such franchise and rights are subject. Prescribing the term of such franchise and rights and authorizing the mayor to execute same. And a move to adopt ordinance number 15 of 2026.

Second. All right. Motion made and seconded. Tim explained a couple weeks ago, we already have a few companies that we have this type of agreement with. That's right. We have Contra, Pelican, and Southern Light. We voted on Southern Light in September of 2025. Does this the more companies does it kind of help the residents or it it doesn't it's not even like that? Well, it it all it's doing is putting a 5% U fee, franchise fee on the annual gross receipts uh recurring systembased local telecommunications within the city of Nackage

specifically for Swift though. Yes, but it's all it's it it goes to all the franchise. It's the same franchise agreement across the board. Okay. I was just kind of thinking if it's, you know, the more competitors you have, maybe it could be better in terms of cost, but that's not necessarily what we see with this.

Well, now the more people you the more fiber companies that you have come in here, yes, that's increasing competition, increasing and bettering the price. So, that's what Swift is actually doing. They're coming in and uh Jason Williams, vice president of construction with fiber with Swift Fiber is in attendance tonight. Um he who who is the other guy? Glenn. He he told me that y'all do actually do not have u y'all were just going to be running the fiber to all the schools, the public buildings. You don't actually have a contract with them. You're just going to have it there for a

for competition purposes. Hey, we'll get you. What's your name? Jason. Hey, will you come and I'm gonna get you to say your name one more time in the microphone. All right. And just Good to have you here, sir.

Thank you. My name is Jason Williams, vice president of construction for Swift, we were awarded the uh -ate grant for all the schools in Nish Parish, and that's what spawned this uh this bill coming through. Uh me being from Wind Parish and I went to school here at Northwestern whenever they were talking about building underground through the historical district I about lost my mind and I told him we cannot go into ground through Nacades. So that's when we approached Mr. Tim with doing the pole attachments. It's a lot less evasive to the community and it's a lot faster processed and a lot cleaner. So that's that's the main reason that we were we were wanting to get this done. And you're just focused on the schools like Tim said

at the time. At the time we have some other grants that are coming up in the future so we may be able to offer that competition. Uh I actually work for Sudden Lane for years. So I know how they operate on the back end. But in the future we we're building all over Nagades Parish outside the city limits at the current time. I mean all over the parish. Uh but you're saying you don't do underground. Not inside the city limits. So that's why I was after the poll agreement trying to sign. Okay. And it's it's still a strong connection. It will be a strong connection. Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Okay. So, what area would they be connected to? Uh we're doing all the schools wherever the schools are. Yeah. All the schools native central St. Mary's the junior high uh one over Robin Provinol Marthaville.

So, you talking about pole wise and stuff. They would it be poles added in or be po on on on our pose? Yes, ma'am. It's going to be on only it's going to be existing poles where we'll be attaching. Oh, existing pose. Okay. Not adding poles. I thought you add Okay, cuz that's what I was thinking, too. I'm like, so do we have enough uh cuz I know some of the poles are very fragile. So, how will we uh maintain all that weight on that, Mr. Tim? With that with those poles being so fragile on some areas, we actually have it built into our upcoming budget that we're going we're changing out a whole bunch of the poles in Nacades. Okay.

Yeah. I mean, we actually we actually rode the pole route out and looked at it beforehand. We did a lot of visual rode the entire route, checked for spacing, poles, clearance issues, and that sort of thing. So, yeah, cuz some of them do look like they're cracking out kind of. So, they happen to happen. Who are we responsible for the heaviness on the pole? You're talking about fiberizers and stuff. How how much weight is that putting on the poles? I'd have to run the numbers on it exactly to give the weight test. Uh most time we'll do a loading test on the poles to see it. But, uh, hats off to the utility department here in active. Some of the best polls I've laid eyes on. I've been doing this for 28 years. Great. Somebody's been taking care of it.

All right. So, uh, Mr. Tim will be in contact with making sure nothing is broke, making sure that all our poles and stuff are not as, you know, damaged to Okay, then. Yes, ma'am. I was just making sure. All right. Thank you. Look. And so by you all going like you're going out underground, that means any issues with water pipes or anything like that. We won't have any problems with that. If if we're in the area, you won't you don't have any of that to worry about, right? Which is one of our main concerns. Uh being from central Louisiana, a lot of the infrastructure is older. A lot of people just not sure where all the mapping is. U so in the air for an area like this, definitely the way to go.

Definitely the way to go. Yeah. And then neatness. We need to make sure that it's neat, not run across people properties and all that cuz I know we had been dealing with something like that. So making sure they are neat, uh, good eye, presentable for the community and stuff. We don't want nothing running across people properties and stuff and then it end up on us. So we want to make sure that it's neat. Yes, ma'am. That's a good thing about doing it aerial, too. We we have obligation to actually follow the power lines. So we have to stay in within that corridor. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Jason Williams. Williams. Yes, sir. Jason Williams. Okay. Yes, sir. All right. Mr. Jason, any other comments, questions, y'all? Okay. Mr. Wayne Home. You got one for Mr. Williams?

I I think you can answer here. Sure. My name is Wayne Halm. And if if I heard you correctly, this is a franchise fee 5% applied to what? Just the schools. That's what you got the contract for the franchise fee, my understanding, covers if we hook up any other customers within off of this transmission line in addition to the schools. Mhm. And that'll be the 5% will actually be paid to the city. Okay. And and that applies to Swift. This agreement does. This agreement. If they want a franchise agreement with

Pelican, they have to have another agreement. We do. Well, they wouldn't do with Pelican. Oh, I'm sorry, Tim. We do. So, is So, we have the same agreement that we're doing with Swift. Like Tim said earlier, we also have with Pelican and Optimum and whoever it's already in place. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. They're we're already paying it. Okay. But what those companies are actually paying you guys for. So this is actually a financial benefit to the city. Whenever you have franchise agreements, that's that entity or that company paying us a fee to use our poles. Right?

So this is what this is doing, allowing them to use our poles, but them paying us um a small fee to do that based on their gross sales in the area. the the franchise fee is actually giving them right to operate within our right of way. That is what the franchise fee is doing. The pole use agreement that's coming up is allowing them to attach to our polls, right? Okay. Okay. Thank Thank you much. So, it's not going back to the customer. Well, yes, it is.

Well, through the city. It's it's a benefit. It's a financial benefit for the city. So any money we can bring in is definitely going to be invested back into the communities. But yeah, it's it's for those companies that want to come in and make money. They allow us to make a little money uh through their services in our area. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Holmes. Thank you so much. All right, we're good with Mr. Williams, y'all. I think the second part was the was the joint usage on the polls. I think we covered it also at the same time. Okay. You want to go ahead and tell us what the second one is about?

Yeah, I sure can. It's a It's a joint usage for poles. Just saying that we can attach and there's an annual pole fee for every pole that we have an attachment on. Uh initial count came up with 132 attachment locations. Now, that could waver a little small percentage uh once we get out there and start constructing. And then we'll do a an a final count. We'll ride through the utility department and do a poll count, see exactly what we're attached to, and if any new attachments are made, of course, that'll go through the utility office before any of that happens. So, what was your what was your poll count? Uh 132 I had mapped.

So, if you have 132 poles, the the pole attachment agreement is for $22.97 per attachment. So, do the math. It's a pretty good chunk of money. Yeah. For the city. And then that's an annual annual fee. That's an annual fee. and just for being on the polls. So, and then of course that'll go up. You know, if we attach to more polls, those are those are counted and then added to the total. So, is the school switching over to this fiber company? Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. They they they they do a reawward I think every three years. Mhm. And uh and we we happen to win at this time. We built uh all of us parish just recently and all of Vernon Parish also. So,

so who was they with first? Uh I'm not sure who they had before us. I'm not sure. Probably either CPT or Pelican or probably suddenly probably. So, a lot of them are wanting to take the avenue with us. We building a really really robust uh network. Yes, sir. It's a natural gas backup and propane backup both. So, if you have storms, it's uh very reliable. Okay. Okay.

Thank you, Mr. Williams. Appreciate it. As he said, the first one that Councilman Nielson read is about the franchise agreement and then the join you suppose is the second ordinance which councilwoman at large Smith Kirk will deal with in just a second. Any other questions about the franchise agreement? Yes, sir. We're going to need we're going to need you to state your first and last name, sir. Alex Washington. Tim, I had one quick question. I wasn't close to the microphone. What's the term on the other franchise agreement? Is it for the 20-year term or the Southern Light is a 20 year and this one is a 20 year also?

Okay, that's that's the only question I have. Okay, thanks. Anything else? All right, seeing none, Mr. Stacy, roll call vote on ordinance number 15 of 2026. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. PT,

yes. All right, that motion carries. Even though Mr. Williams has already given us a preview of what orders number 16 is, we it's it's under the council woman at large Smith Car is going to read a portion of it for Yeah, I'm just going to read the title on. This is ordinance number 016 of the city of Nacades, Louisiana, approving an agreement for joint use of poles between the city of Nacades and Swift Fiber providing for the connection of lines by either party by by either party on the pose of the other party. prescribing terms and conditions to which such agreement are subject prescribing the term of such franchise and rights and authorizing the mayor to execute same and I move for adoption of ordinance number uh 016 second. All right. Motion made and seconded. As we stated, it's about the joint you supposed. Tim, you have anything else to say about that or that's pretty much what it is?

That's pretty much it. Okay. And Tim told us the amount per pole. 22 bucks. 2297. 22.97 annually. Right. Tom one something. You said we're we escalate it annually by the Handy Whitman index. So whenever the H it's kind of like the CPI index. So it'll go up by whatever the Handy Whitman Yeah. uh index calls for annually. Didn't know that existed. So just for pose or it's posing some other a lot of other things.

Okay. Interesting. All right. Any comments or questions about this one? This particular ordinance with uh the joint you suppose. All right. Seeing no Mr. Stacy roll call vote. Eli. Yes. Nelson. Yes. Smith Kirkind Doll. Yes. Harrington. Yes. PT. Yes. All right. That motion carries. We've got two ordinances that are up for introduction tonight. Um the first one is read by Councilwoman Washington Eli.

Thank you, Mayor. And I'll read Todd is on and I'll let Miss um Director Contro explain a little bit more detail. of the ordinance ordinance number 17 to 2026 an ordinate pointing Dwight Davis as the code enforcement for this night city of a negative authorized enforcement for chapter 7 chapter 16 of nuent relating ordinance providing for duties powers authority contents and Louisiana law and otherwise provided for respect there too and mont

our chapter 16 is for health and sanitation for the city of Nagades. This is the ordinance that we use to do abatement uh to do cleaning of the different lots of maintaining lots cutting grass boarding up and securing buildings and things of that nature. With Mr. Dwight Davis, this is going to be his responsibility to enforce this ordinance. Um, there is a difference between what a CBO does and what Mr. Dwight does as a code enforcement officer. A CBO is basically over having the administration of being certified in all the elements of building official um, electric, plumbing, safety, and things of that nature. Mr. The white as the code enforcement officer will be purely on over blight and responsibility of making sure that structures are secured, maintaining high grass, making sure that lots are clean of any debris and things of that nature, helping to make sure that the city is staying nice. So, I have Mr. Dwight. He's been doing a great job so far. Um, I get we're getting calls in every day. He's sending out letters every day and people are calling in and making sure it's done before he comes back out.

So if he Okay, I'm trying to I know like in other areas like in shreport you send letters out to these people residents. We do the same thing we were doing before. It's just this time I actually have someone that I can put on the ground to go out in a in a number of time. You know, we give them 10 days. We'll send out letters. We give people 10 days to do what they need to do. Now I actually have someone who has the energy and the capability of actually going out to do followup work whereas before we were sending out letters but it wasn't being followed up as necessary. So he is following up doing it. Does he does?

Okay. I'll tell him to call Mr. Dwight. Okay. Thank you. Look, and Mr. Dwight, here's the thing about code enforcement. Maybe Chief can speak to this a little bit. Just officers, you're not always just going to I mean, code enforcement is a job where you're telling people they need to do certain things and it's not always people just going to love you all the time. But I can tell you he uh he takes his job seriously. I say that, you know, based on what he's doing for us now. Um just some of the information I've gathered. So,

and he has been doing a great job. I It's I can vouch for that cuz I haven't been having to ride around in my vehicle and look at things. He been, you know, maintaining a lot, you know, keeping some gas in my car and I think that you'll like it also, Councilwoman at large, cuz we did a lot. I hope so. I was stopped in Walmart the other day about Westside. Yeah. But he has been to get over on that side.

Yeah, we've been sending out letters and some of the west side and stuff they just, you know, maintaining. I know a lot of the areas and stuff, Martin Luther King, he cut that grass, which a lot of rain had came. He he cut it and I seen him today in the rain, you know, cutting a couple of and with this with code enforcement, with Mr. the wife being part of the team, my budget as far as hiring someone to contract to cut my grass, hiring someone to do the things that I need done. That eliminates a lot. It cuts half of my budget in half and I can use that amount for other stuff.

I can use it to secure property. We have our own zero turn. We have our own equipment. We have everything we need to do what we need to do as far as planning and zoning. And I know I know we probably everybody sitting up here probably get calls all the time people saying we're not doing this that and the other and I know it it takes time you know I know it does but there to me I just feel like a lot of stuff is just not being done and not putting the blame on anybody in a timely manner that that's how the people feel also it's not being done in a timely manner you like you know we we ride through these areas and we the um homes has been boarded up for years and years and years. Grass's grown up and neighbors living next door to it and they complaining about it and nothing's being done about it. It's been, you know,

Could you give me that information, Miss B? Which ones you're talking about? Mhm. Okay. Yeah, cuz that specifically wouldn't be on Mr. White. Yeah, I know. We not that particular part. No, not that, but the grass growing up next to these homes. That would be on Mr. Dwight. And a lot of those are fre what I would call frequent flyers. It's every single year. And I am not opposed to helping Mr. Dwight by setting fine schedules on these and getting a little bit more aggressive on some of these non-compliant, right,

people because it isn't fair to the adjacent homeowners or the neighborhoods. And a lot of there are probably several other categories that with code enforcement that the finding schedule could be implemented. I don't want to go crazy with it, but I think it's it's pertinent to certain situations.

A lot of the reincur people had been getting charged only $50 every time they got cut and so they were used to that. So this year when Mr. Dwight started cutting, we charged them, we charged them for cutting the grass and they came out and they were upset. Oh, the city had never charged me this before. That's why you relied on us to cut your grass every year. Mhm. So now you go cut it cuz the number is this. Now I get I get that. Okay. If they're not screaming, you're not charging them. Correct. And then um uh director of Miss um Centrell and stuff, a lot of the uh properties and stuff are sold for the parish or are we building them for cutting their grass?

We can build them, but that's all that's going to happen. Yeah, we need to look at that because a lot of the ones that's on the west side community are not judicated to the city. They are adjudicated to the, you know, the parish. So, it's a lot of those, you know, areas and stuff that we need to try to enforce for the parish to reimburse us for cutting their grass because, you know, it's right is right. And this is just introduction. So any other questions we can certainly reach out to uh Shantrell on um Mrs. Dwight has been with us how long so far? Full time almost a year, right? Yeah. Oh, it's almost Okay.

Mr. Dwight wants to come up and let us see you, Mr. Dwight. Introduce yourself. Some of us don't know you. Well, like I say, I know he's a stickler because I think he was in Shreport, I think. I've gotten people to call and but it's good. It's good. I mean, when you have somebody who is looking at the law and taking his instructions from Shantrell and say, "This is what our ordinance say." Yeah, you're going to get some calls. But that's that's what you that's that's good really. He's getting stuff straight. So, I think with him working in this role, which I think he's already been doing some, cutting the grass like he's been doing, I think we'll see to your point, Miss B, I think we'll see some improvement. Yes, sir. State your first and last name and just whatever you want.

How y'all doing? My name is Dwight Davis. Um, this position is is fairly new to me, but um, I take pride in the in what I do and some of the properties, like you were saying, all a bunch of them are overgrown and and and the houses are in diplomatic uh, states, but you also got to to look at a lot of properties here in Nagish. People have moved away and it is it's air property. So, yep. you sending the letters out to contact the people. Yeah.

You know, you're not getting a response back on the letter. So you you some of the problems you can't act on. And then a lot of stuff it is um for the parish. So when I see it's for the parish, I ask Miss Rock, you know, am I can I cut this? It needs cutting. But you know, it's for the parish. So we just leave it. You know, it she can't act on it because it's not for the city. So there there's really nothing I can do about it but leave it there, you know. We'll have to get maybe with Alex and Gary and the team of lawyers to see if there's anything I don't know adding something to y'all play Gary and Alex

see if there's something that we could do cuz like you said it just put us in the point where we're stuck. If that's the case what it is right now. There's got to be something we could do. and and and also um the structures that they're taking bids on um to tear down these properties. We got grants for them and things like that. um the same equipment that the companies that taking the bids to tear the houses down. I can operate the same equipment and the city has the equipment but it's in a different department. So there's an issue with that being able to use the city equipment that says the city of Nagish to tear down the house because I can do it just in a truck and pick it up and the funds can stay within the city. Yep.

Instead of and I think that's worth more conversation. I think we have more conversation. Discuss that further. We need discuss that further. Yeah. But again, thank you, Mrs. Dwight. This is just for introduction. Certainly, if y'all have any questions, we'll point them to Shantrell. I think she can handle anything. Okay. All right. Thank y'all. Alrighty. So, the next one for introduction is read by Councilman Harrington. This is ordinance 18 of 2026, an ordinance amending the 2025 2026 budget to reflect additional revenues and expenditures. And I'll turn this over to Clarissa for explanation.

Thank you, Councilman. Uh this is our standard uh budget amendment that we do annually to uh make sure that we rightsize our budget. What the auditors uh look at is to make sure that we we are within the 5% compliance rule. uh whether it be um over or under when we're looking at our budgeted line items. So, this is um it it's a quite a few line items that you'll see um on here, but for the majority of it is just um revenues that we didn't get in. We had a few grants that uh we won't get in until the following year that we may have budgeted for for the current year. So, we just have to remove them from our actual budget and the expenses that went along with those grants just because of the timing. Uh, no major issue or anything like that, just generally because of the timing. Um, we also have a few line items that are um like we have a few workers comp um and liability insurance. We of course we project what that expense is going to be. um if it comes in that it's uh lesser then we go in and we reduce it. So again we're within that 5% uh compliance rule. So pretty much the majority of these are very simple. Um if we didn't get the revenue in then we have to reduce our expenses and that's just something that we look at um to make sure that we are uh audit ready in that respect. Um another large one um that I can pull out of here is for the utility fund. uh the cost um of our utility uh electricity uh was a little bit more than we actually budgeted. So we had to go in but when you're looking at electricity if we have to buy more that mean we had to sell more. So that in turn increases the revenue as well. So it wasn't just such a bad thing. Um but we do have to go in and show that on our budgeted line

items that it was an additional um cost um and in turn it was additional revenue as well. So you'll see uh those two line items show up on the amendment as well. But again, this is our standard annual 5% budget amendment um that we have to uh bring before council just to make sure that we are uh in compliance uh with the 5% rule. Any questions for Clarissa, y'all? Like I said, this is a standard thing we do every year near the end of a budget a budget cycle just for introduction. So if there are any questions, you have an opportunity on um the 20th.

25th. Tuesday. Yeah. Oh, 26th. Tuesday. It's going to be the 26th. That's right. It's going to be there, too. All right. So, look, we've got three resolutions. Councilman PT is Wait, no, I'm sorry. We got to turn this other one into a ordinance. Um, do we need to say that now? Yeah. Um, so resolution 028 that's on the agenda needed to be titled ordinance 019. It's an ordinance to award. So, of course, we do a ordinance for to award our bids. So, we just need to change the title on it. So, if we get a motion in a second, we'll go ahead and do that.

Mayor, I'd like to make a motion that we amend amend resolution 028 to amend it to change order to change it to ordinance number 019. I second. Motion made and seconded to move this from a resolution, this particular item from resolution to to an ordinance to an ordinance. All right. Ordinance number 019. Ordinance number 019. Any comments or questions about this? All right. Uh, seeing none, Mr. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harington, yes. PT,

yes. So, the amendment is adopted. This is a this is an ordinance, so we're introducing it tonight and not taking any action on it. So, uh, Councilman PT, this is just for introduction. Yes, sir. Yes.

Okay. Ordinance 019 of 2026 of second street and two line street concrete pavement replacement bid whereas the Louisiana state legislature appropriated a total of 2.2 2 million to the city of Negatives for planning and construction of a project known as Second Street and Twoline Street concrete pavement replacement. Whereas bids for this project were received on April 30th of 2026 from the following contractors. We have Skyplex Trucking LLC of Nagish in the amount of 2,315,000. Regional Construction LLC of Nagades in the amount of 2,396,000 and APE Construction LLC of Anakoo, Louisiana in the amount of $3.5 million and this is for introduction. All right. Um, yeah. So, we got three bids on it. Can you get that picture up for us, Steve? So, we can just see what this project is going to cover. Um, I got Nick here. Nick, why don't you come and just kind of tell us what what this is about? I mean, y'all know Nick know these infrastructure projects really well. Um, and he's played, you know, key part of this project from cuz we got design money one year, then we came back, now we got construction dollars that are about to be realized this year. Of course, we use PCR group Ashley Tyson to help us secure these funding, working with some of our legislators to do it. But Mr. Nick Veret.

Nick Veret, city engineer. And uh basically just to kind of clarify that when we put this out for bids, we really didn't know how the bids would come in relative to the cost estimate. Um so we we did it as a base bid that included work on Second Street from Church Street to Twoline and then on Twine Street from Second Street to Fourth Street. That would that was the base bid. And then we set up two additive alternates not knowing again how the bids would come in. Additive alternate number one being work on two-line street between fourth street and fifth street and then on two line also as an alternate two from front street to second street. Fortunately the bids came in where the combination of all three the base bid plus both additive alternates are within the budgeted amount. So, we're recommending that we accept the low bid and we go ahead and and award the base bid as well as both additive alternates. So, um this would be a really good thing uh in the second street and twoine street part uh that were part of the base bid. Those will be total concrete pavement replacement which will also include total replacements of the water and sewer facilities there. Um because in the in the two additive alternates because those are just spot replacements uh we're not replacing utilities there but they'll they'll uh will be the provisions there to replace the sections of failing pavement there whereas in the other sections we have extensive failing pavements in in the base bid area. So that's why we went ahead and did the total replacement there. So again, just um trying to trying to piece things together so that we could uh award based on the budget that we have. So anyway, very pleased with how the the bids came in.

Yeah.

And I did get a chance to um walk through with Mr. Nick and then also we did do a discussion about I'm sure that the design is going to be towards mid what what was it Mr. Nick? But uh as far as time frame uh we're basically looking and and by the way the ordinance as it is written uh was pending the approval of the state office of facility planning and control. Uh they actually advised this afternoon that they concurred in the award. So so now we don't have to wait for for them. But uh basically we're looking probably around July 1 to start construction. By the time we u take action again and uh on the 26th of May to to give the final uh approval of the award by the time we execute a contract and do all that. Probably another month afterwards. So around July 1, I would think we'll be uh starting construction.

And what how many days do you anticipate? Uh I don't have that number in front of me right now, but I think it's about 9 month construction period. And so what we want to try to do is um is is try to do the parts of the project that will be less impactful to the Christmas festival. I know we talked about that also too. Then do the parts of the project that are away from uh the area that'll be impacted. Do it later. So I think I think we'll be able to do that. So can we stop start on it? Uh well again

I think we'll do what we have to do. I mean that's the bottom line and I think Skyplex Skyplex will be very willing to work with us however that we need to do and in fact I mean we in a six-month period we may finish the whole project you know so it just depends depends on weather depends on all those things. So, but yes sir, we we're very cognizant of that and we will u coordinate with Skyplex to the extent that we can. Yes, sir. Mr. Nick, you said also this include waterline replacement as well. That's correct. Correct. In the base bid part of the project, the complete water line replacement and the complete sewer line replacement. And of course, we'll looks like two areas under the opaces of our city utility department.

Looks like two areas. The base bit is two two areas. The base bid is is second street from church to two line and on two line from second street to 4th. Yes sir. So in those areas there will be the water and sewer replacement. Yeah. Yeah. We actually did some camera inspection work uh during the design process to kind of tell us you know what we had to work with there. And so when we saw the uh the deficiencies that we did we decided that would be the the thing to do. go ahead and replace the uh the entire utility. Y'all got questions for Nick? Questions for Nick? Eddie, y'all? No. Y'all good? No questions for Nick. Okay. All right. All right. Thank you.

Thanks, Nick. I appreciate it, man. All right. Look, again, this is really an ordinance, so we'll we'll vote on on 26. Okay. But a good good project for us. All right. Um, two more resolutions that we have. Councilman Nielson is dealing with the first one.

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution number 29 of 2026, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number one for request number one and request number two to the contract between the city of Nacades and Pat Williams Construction LLC for the new fire station number three University Parkway Nacades, Louisiana. Bid number 0678. Whereas the city of Nacades awarded the bid to Pat Williams Construction on January 12, 2026 by ordinance number 43 of 2026 in the amount of 3,253,000 for the new fire station number three, University Parkway, Naculadus, Louisiana. and on April 5th, 2026 issued change order request number one and request number two fully described in attachment A. And whereas the contract sum will be increased by change order request number one in the amount of 45,246.76 and change order request number two in the amount of $5,89710. The total amount of this change order is $51,14386 and the revised contract total will be $3,34,143.86 whereas the project architect Carol Blooster has recommended this change order. Whereas the city is of the opinion that change order number one is in the best interest of the city. Now therefore be resiled by the city council of na na city of nacadus in legal session convened that the honorable Ronnie Williams Jr. mayor be and is

hereby authorized empowered and directed to execute the reference change order number one to the agreement between the city of Nacades and the contractor Pat Williams Construction LLC. And I move to adopt resolution number 29 of 2026. Second. Motion made and seconded. Chief, you got something you want to say? I know there's a graph as well, a different graph that I think Nick sent over, but Chief something you want to say? I'm I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Nick Barrett. Nick's got something put together for us on this. Okay. You need this image or you need need the other image? Okay. Get the other one. I think we all know where this

So, I know y'all love change orders. So, uh, that's I offered to assist Chief Wyn in trying to explain the the changes, uh, so that you'd have a better understanding of of what's going on. So, basically, uh, the first part of this, which was called change order request number one, has to do with issues with the grading plan for the project. And basically, what you're seeing there is two things. Uh in the bottom right corner, you'll see that this is the driveway connection from the new fire station building to University Parkway. Uh there was actually based on the grades there and especially uh the elevation where the driveway connects to University Parkway, uh there would have been some trapped water area in there when we have rains, you would have some some runoff trapped there. And so uh the change order number one request includes additions of pipes there as well as actually I don't don't have it noted because it would be kind of made the drawing too busy but same same thing is true on the back side of the new building uh where the driveway connects to College Avenue. You'd also have some trap water there. So we're um we we agree with the need for adding drain pipes on both of those areas. The other part of the uh grading plan that actually had some issues and and this is something that um on on architectural type projects, you usually get a grading plan that has the the contours of the existing land and then you lay on top of that your uh your new building elevations, your slab elevations and all that. uh a little different than on highway plans where I'm used to seeing actually plotted cross-sections that actually show the the existing ground and the uh the new the designed uh uh elevations in a in a cross-section view

that that really helps you in my mind that helps with uh knowing what you have at each area. So, and and just looking at the grading plan, the original plan here, if you'll notice the little inset to the to the right there, the fill for the storage building actually originally was designed to have a very steep slope, which would be be very unstable and could actually lead to failure of the slab for the storage building. So uh part of the change order is to also increase the amount of fill there by building a flatter slope at the end of that uh fill section. Uh so both of those we uh they were pointed out to us by the contractor but we felt it was very necessary to do both of those and that that part of it is the 45,000 that shows up as change order request number one the request from the contractor. Uh if you go to the next uh slide please. So change order uh request number two is actually something that was initiated by Chief Wyn. Uh once the uh work started at the site, it became very apparent that the turning movement of the new especially the new the ladder truck into the new building was going to cause an issue. Uh you might be able to uh to note the uh the dashed uh red line there. Yeah, that's good. Thank you. uh coming off of College Avenue, the trucks will enter uh the the the bay uh there uh off of College Avenue. They'll exit onto University Parkway, but they can't really back into the the bays uh from University Parkway because of the amount of traffic on on that street. So, uh, in making that turn, we're actually going to have to come in and widen out the intersection at Alaska Street, uh, in order to try to help guide the, uh, the truck into the bay. But, uh, Chief,

correct me if I'm wrong. Is it like 2 feet wider, 1 ft wider on each side? It's 2 ft from 14 to 16.

Yeah. So act but but so we're asking for wider doors on the uh the back side of the building there in order to give a little more play in the turning movement especially again of the ladder truck because it's it's longer and and there's less uh you know it's it's a tighter move for it. So that's that's the 5,000 plus whatever and and for the change order request number two. So that the total change order amount is the the 51,000 that shows. So any questions about that? I was trying to explain it there. I know we uh had a

I had a concern about the drainage and I know we spoke with that on there too and I know um we've been having a lot of issues with the building of the foundation for the new fire station Mo in is causing um clogged up heights that's um running into one of the resident yard. We've been having to drain that out. Um Mr. Tim can um verify on that. And then also too when that water is coming from off the fire station where you know we we have that downs slope that's connected to nothing that's on that that opposite side with the quads. So the only thing that's going to be pushing that water out is going to be into the quads. So I think that was something that I know we're probably getting with that. So we don't know if is it a pipe.

I'm not an engineer or nothing like that, but I know that what I visualize over there and stuff. It's nothing. So when the water do come, it's going to just sit there and then when it just we already dealing with collapse and all that and stuff. So I don't know we going to look at that anymore. I know that.

Yes. Uh yeah, the the runoff from the fire station site actually goes into a natural drain that starts on city property that actually winds up going onto the adjacent property for where the quad apartments are. And so uh since they did some clearing there, we were able to actually see better what the drainage situation is there. And so I'm in the process of of of obtaining a right of entry from that property owner so that we can get public works over there to clean out that ditch further. And actually the water would just go through a part of their property and it goes back onto the uh state highway property on University Parkway and goes into a drainage uh a storm drain that goes underneath the uh University Parkway.

So it's not going to go towards old Robeling Road. No. No. Well, it it'll go toward Robeline Road to the point that where the drainage ditch exists now because I know on the existing side of old Roboline Road and stuff, we still have excess water that's there that's not pushing out to go to somewhere. So, we need to actually really look at that so we not flooding out the resident cuz I know that when it rains, it's a big river back there. So we need to make sure that we not just pushing water into the residence and stuff is just staying there. So that's

no that's the reason we're trying to get a right of entry from the quad apartment property so that we can uh do what we need to do to clean out that ditch and restore that ditch capacity to be able to move that water through where it won't be standing on the on city property and on the adjacent property. So, I was trying to figure out too, instead of the DOT pushing water into the residents, why couldn't they push the water across from the old uh ninth grade center out towards City Lake? Well, actually the drainage scheme uh looking at the old drainage plans, it goes from the College Avenue and Oroene area and it goes toward University Parkway under University Parkway and to the low area and it actually winds up uh going through the uh NSU campus and it actually comes back out uh underneath the Highway One bypass at um what is it? Oh, it's not old river. It's uh I can't remember the name of the channel there, but Young's Bayou, Young's Bayou, and it winds up in that area. So, that's the direction of that flow more so than going straight towards Sibly Lake. Oh,

so we have a lot of detours that go to the left instead. Well, it but again, by doing the clean out of the channels, it'll help flow the water in in the direction that it actually has has been historically and and in the direction it was designed to go. Yeah. As long as we making sure that the residents are not being overpowered with all this water from that hillway and stuff, you know, um, okay with the

We had understood that. In fact, uh, I mean, early on when the project started, I mean, that's one of the things Ed had identified the need for improving the drainage uh, through that channel that goes onto the quad apartments. So, uh, like I said there, the quad apartments recently did the clearing there and it really showed, you know, where we needed to confine our work. So, I I think it's very very doable and it'll it'll improve the drainage of all that area. And then I got one more question and then I'm going uh Yes, ma'am.

Go. with the existing size of the door. Are we making sure that when the fire station um truck is not being like is it going to turn on to the properties of the church like any of we don't know cuz I know they want and it's kind of hard to see there but uh again one of the things we're going to do is to enlarge the turnout uh the turning radius the turnout at Alaska Street. we can't we can't move it very far because there's a power pole right there where the uh church parking lot is. So, we we don't have a lot of room to to expand it there. So, that's one of the reasons why we're we're we're doing that to help the situation and we're also widening the the opening by putting the the wider doors there. So, the combination of both of those we think will will help us uh get the fire trucks into the the the bay. It it it's also a preventive maintenance kind of deal. So, it it gets us a little more access into the station without without the chance of hitting the fire truck against the station. It's a $5,000 change order. So, if if we turn the truck into the fire station, you're going to spend $5,000 on a repair potentially on that anyway. So, why not widen the doors and give us a little more room? It should help. It should help the

Okay. It should help. Real quick, Nick, before we move on. Yes, sir. So you had mentioned that like we we were in the process of communicating to get the right away. Is that something that can happen fairly quickly or is kind of down the line? Uh actually I would have been in phone uh phone conversation this afternoon with the the the the folks that manage the quad apartment property is actually out of New York City. But I was on the phone with them this afternoon and I expect to have our right of entry signed tomorrow. So hopefully we can move on it very quickly. Gotcha.

And I know we getting environmental science and stuff. Can we see if we can get with Chief to get a camera there so we don't have the environment of science coming back doing you know is there well and and one of the Yeah. And I mentioned to you I think earlier and and chief I'll follow up with you on this too. U the management company thinks they may have some camera footage that they can share with us that might help us in our investigation of who did the oil spill right there. So, whatever I get from them, I'll certainly pass on to you. But I think uh Miss Eliza is requesting some additional cameras there. So, you'll have to comment on that.

Okay. So, we Well, we got two change orders. One of them deal with widening the door. The other one dealing with soil elevation. It's it's additional uh embankment material that had to be put in place as well as some uh new storm drain pipes that have to be added to the project. Okay. And all of that is incorporated into actually change order number one. There were two different requests from the contractor, but they're incorporated into the one change order. Sorry. Okay. Any questions from the audience about this? All right. Seeing none, Mr. Station roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkind Doll, yes. Harrington,

yes. PG, yes. All right, that motion carries. All right, last resolution is read by Councilwoman at large Smith Kirkindall.

Thank you, Mayor. This is uh resolution number 032 of 2026, a resolution reappointing Claude Benjamin Jr. as a member of the board of directors of the industrial and development board of the city of Nacadesh. Whereas the city of Nacadage is whereas the city of Nacadesh in its endeavors to promote and attract industry organized the IDB board which is the industrial development board of the city of Nacades, Louisiana. Whereas the term of Claude Benjamin as director for the IDB of the city of Nakage will expire on April the 23rd, 2026. And whereas the Nak City Council wishes to reappoint Claude Benjamin for a term commencing on April 24th, 2026 and ending on April 24, 2030. Now therefore be it resolved that the city council of the city of Nagish thus in thus in legal session convene hereby reappoint Claude Benjamin Jr. as a member of the board of directors of the industrial development board of the city of Nagas for a term commencing on April 24th 2026 and ending on April 24th 2032 and I move for adoption of resolution number 032 of 2026.

I second. All right. Motion made and seconded. Claude has been on IDB. They kind of meet just if there's something we So they'll have standing meetings like HDC or planning and zoning, but if there's something that relates to industrial development, like when the hotel was built, I think they meant to make some decisions there. Last year, they may have met once. So, they're not meeting the whole life. As you can see, the term has expired about 18 days. So, um, so this is just a reappointment. You got any questions or comments about this?

Right. Any general comments, questions? All right. See you know, Mrs. Styo. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkind Doll, yes. Harington, yes. PG, yes. All right, that motion carries. As we've already stated, offices are going to be closed for the city of Nakadish on Memorial Day, which is May 25th. That's why we're moving a meeting one day back. We have to do that maybe once a year. Seems like once a year, right?

Um, and so it's going to be Tuesday the 26th instead of the 25th, Memorial Day. But I think everybody can understand that. Public hearing on the budget. Remember the budget was tabled the last meeting. So that's going to take place on the 26 at 4:30. All right. So, the next scheduled meeting, of course, is at 5:30 uh 26. Okay. I think we got a few announcements. The 14th annual Run Baby Run put on by the Women's Resource Center is going to that's this Saturday. All right. Onemile fun run walk 8:00 a.m. 5K run begins at 8:30. Enjoy the sights and sounds of downtown during the Jazz and RV festival. Okay. So, obviously that's for the cause of the women's resource center. Women who are barren child, you know, there so many ways that they provide resources for them. Leadership through athletics is going to be this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Really good concept just recognizing local high school students, Lake View, St. Aries Nagget Central um you know again those high school uh levels so I think it's pretty good pretty good event all right you got the 29th annual almost 30 years

of the jazz and R&B festival John Foster is that Joe Nichols and Tiffany Rashelle now you were telling me one of these were on the uh American Idol I think so John Foster is American Idol or America's Got Talent Americal. Oh, John Fos is American. Okay. All right. So, be right here in Natish actually starts on Friday. Uh I know everybody knows the big day Saturday, but actually starts on Friday. Um Friday nights that who they do a lot of impersonators.

Friday nights a Led Zeppelin tribute and a ABBA tribute. Friday night. Okay. Who else? You said Led Zeppelin. Zeppin and Aba. So there'll be somebody basically impersonating Liz Zeppelin. There's a whole band here. Okay. They had Taylor Swift last year. Was that last year? Taylor the Taylor Swift I think so.

Person somebody says did a really good job. So 15 and 16. Big deal. You see the signs out. Um you know I mean it's always great to support something local like that. All right. Okay. NSU cornhole club. uh big blind draw tournament, $5,000 minimum payout. It's going to be the 16th as well at pray the coliseum and um they say the boards open at 11:00 a.m. and the start time is at 12:00 p.m. So, uh the entries they have there to to play. So, several several things happening this weekend with the Jazz Fest and with the big NSU cornhole tournament. All right, this is from the Nacades Historic Foundation. Gather in the gardens for cocktails. Uh, join us for an evening of flowers and friends. So, I'm trying to read all of that. It's kind of small. What it say? Uh, uh, Steve, what they got? It look like the home of Bill and Nancy Rutled. All right. Uh, 244 Kayla. So, tickets are $25. They got oddur frozen lemonade. So they just giving you some of the menu. Okay. So put on by the Nagish Historic Foundation. And when is this one? It's on the 21st. Is that 21st or RSGP? By the 21st.

What it say? I see it. I can see it. Oh, the 21st. From 3:30 to 21st. Is that 3:30 or 5:30? 5. I think that's 5:30 to 7:30, isn't it? 5:30. 7:30. Okay. All right. Sports Hall of Fame is the next one. All right. Opening reception going to be Oh, it's going to be Thursday, May the 28th. Oh, no. It's a Billy. It's a Billy Cannon. Uh, they called him a legend. So, Billy Cannon, of course, the legendary quarterback, right? Was a quarterback. Running back. He was running back at LSU. Running back. First Heisman LSU. 1958, I think. Mhm. And then Jaden. Jaden was the second one.

Joe Burl didn't win. Joe Burrow. Yeah, he won Heisman. Okay. And then Jay.

And then Jayen. All right. So, for a long time, Billy was the only LSU player to have that Heisman. All right. So, that's taking place on the 28th. So, again, great resource in the Len Sports Hall of Fame. We need to go to whatever they have and it's usually some really, really interesting and cool things that's happening over there. All right. Mental Health Day in the Park. Okay. Put on by NCLA. This is Friday the 29th, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Naga City Park, music, food, portable park, door prizes, you know, and I guess there'll be some times that they kind of talk about. So, bring the kids to play at the park and discuss while the adults get to learn more about mental health resources. Okay, I think that's good. So, event in the park again, Friday, May 29th. All right. Another event at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Another program restoring our languages. Mobilian trade jargon and Sabine River Spanish. Okay. All right. Interesting. This is the May 22nd 12:15 kind of that lunchtime land they do. Um and they'll do some some again like I say really interesting topics. So this is an interest topic as well. All right. That's what you got. We don't have the Junth flyer up there but we are doing Junth on June 20th. So we'll get that. uh we'll get that to you and then June 19th of course is going to be that Friday. Um yeah and then we don't have and we'll we'll get that for the next meeting too. Uh but this is 250 years of America. So we're planning some things. We got some entertainment. We'll try to step it up a bit with the fireworks entertainment stuff like that. So there'll probably be some other activities centered around that. So that's on July 24th. July 24th is a Saturday this year. Okay. All right. So make that a fun day. So several weekends back to back to back. We got some things going on.

All right. Any other announcements? We're good. Oh, yeah. Farmers market. Farmers market's been rolling. Things been rolling pretty good. And I think the fair board has That's this weekend. Crawfish crawfish ball competition. Crawfish competition and the proceeds support St. Vincent Depal. Is that I think so. St. Vincent Depal. They do a lot of outreach work in the community. Family assistance. Yeah, that's the way you say it. People need furniture, people need budgeting, people need utilities paying. Yeah, they do a lot of a lot of great things like that.

Um, so this fundraiser is for them on Saturday. Farmers market 8:00 a.m. to 12. Who's our special guest this week? Of course, it was the Glam Dolls of Nagish. Yeah, y'all were Saturday. That's right. That's right. Yes, we were. And they've had bands and they've had But what about this Saturday? who's going to you don't know who but they pretty much got like a special guest you know local like they've done it's music from NSU um uh Clarissa's the glam dolls and so others so again like I said I think it's been pretty positive and of course this is Jazz Fest weekend as well so um so where will farmers market be this Saturday it's going to be on the bricks yeah cuz they'll be setting up or

Yes they'll be setting up or getting ready to to do that Okie do all Okay. All right. Thank you all. At this time, we have a motion to adjourn. May I make a motion that we adjourn? Second. All right. Got a motion in second. All in favor? I. Meeting is journ. Have a great night, everybody. All right.