City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everybody.

Our December 8, 2025 meeting is called to order. We're going to begin with the invocation and then we will um have the pledge. Will we stand for the invocation and pledge? And I I got a couple pastors. I should have got one of them to do it tonight. Let us pray. Gracious and almighty God, we come before you tonight with grateful hearts. We thank you for the privilege of serving this community and for the opportunity to gather once again in the work of leadership. Lord, as we enter into this flu season, we lift up the physical health of every resident, every city employee, every family, and everyone gathered here. We ask for your covering of protection, your healing hand, and your strength for those who may already be feeling weak in their bodies. keep our schools and workplaces and our homes safe and well. Father, we also pause to say thank you for your continued provision. We are grateful for the financial health of our city, resources that allow us to serve, build, and improve the quality of life for all of our citizens. Help us to steward these blessings wisely with integrity, compassion, and vision. And Lord, as we look toward the coming tourism season, we ask for your favor upon it. Bless every business, every worker, every event, and every visitor who sets foot in Nacades. May this season be safe, prosperous, [music] joyful, and reflective of the hospitality our city is known for. Be with us now as we conduct the business before us. Grant us wisdom, unity, and clarity so that every decision we make honors you and serves the good of our people. We are we ask all this in your name. Amen.

Amen. Will you please join us in 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 right. At this time, we will have the reading and and approval of our minutes from uh November 24th.

Mayor, I would like to make a motion that we um dispense with the reading of the minutes of November 24th, 2025, and that the minutes be adopted as recorded. If there are no corrections, motion has been made. Do we have a second? Second. All right. Motion made and seconded uh to dispense with the reading of the minutes and to adopt them as they have been recorded. Any comments or questions about this particular motion? All right. Uh Mrs. Cy, seeing none, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Perkendall, yes. Carrington, yes. PT,

yes. All right, that motion carries. Um, just want to remind everybody, take a moment to silence your cell phones during this meeting. of the city council encourages public participation. Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. However, this time limit may be reduced if there are numerous speakers on a particular item. To ensure proficient proceedings, all persons addressing the city council shall state their name and shall speak in a civil and courteous manner. Speakers 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 and do not create noise or other disturbances so as to disrupt or disturb persons who are addressing the city council, council members who are speaking or otherwise impede the orderly conduct of the meeting and we appreciate everybody for adhering to those particular instructions. All right, I think Miss Pam we talked about do we talk about five minutes for you? Is that what we're saying? All right, Steve, can you give her five minutes on the clock? And she just wants to give us a 4 update. uh she's our neighbor um just just right over here. But uh certainly want to want to hear from you, Miss Pam. Just state your first and last name and you may presentation.

Good afternoon everyone. I'm Pam Pierce and I'm the Nacadish 4 agent and I just wanted to give y'all an update on Nacades uh 4 and what we've been doing and the positive things that we see every single day in our program. We are currently serving um 1134 youth. We are we have served already this school year 5,500 in school enrichment. We are the largest program in the Northwest region and we are the largest rural program in the state of Louisiana. So we're pretty proud of that. In addition, not only are we the largest rural, we are the fourth largest program in the entire state. We have over 100 active volunteers. We have a 12 member volunteer foundation that works tirelessly for us and they most recently purchased us a 15 passenger van to help alleviate transportation barriers for kids in our area. We serve um we have 30 school clubs and 13 schools. We're in every single school in the whole parish. In addition to our school clubs, we offer fishing clubs. We offer a livestock club. We have a junior leader club and we also have a sewing club. So, um, who was a 4er in the room? Anybody? I know the mayor was. Awesome. Awesome. So, we are still offering those traditional programs, but in addition to that, we are living um we are relevant because we're offering things like science and technology and leadership and citizenship. We if if you can imagine it, we are offering it to our youth. Um, we have lots of success with our programs. Uh, we are very serviceoriented for the last 5 years. We have established a free little pantry right outside of our office and we've

maintained that for 5 years through partnerships and donations and food drives in the schools. Uh, we are the Midsouth Food Pantry Champions and that's where we took a group of five students to Memphis, Tennessee. They were seventh graders and they competed against high school kids and they came out first in the nation. We are currently the second place forestry team. We won third place at the Louisiana State Fair Nutrition Quiz Bowl. We took 604ers to camp and we love taking kids to camp because we allow them to gain independence in a controlled environment. Uh 15 of those 60 kids went to 4 camp this summer on a scholarship. 36 4ers competed at 4 University which is our state contest. Those 36 kids produced 40 uh1 medals and 11 state wins. And those 11 state wins uh won trips to Washington DC, Atlanta, Georgia and various places that they may not have experienced [clears throat] without a 4 win. Uh we have two youth that serve on the state uh citizenship board. We have a national 4 youth and action finalist. And we've done a lot and that's just touching what we've done. I just wanted to show you the impact of our program and that if a a youth is interested in 4, we can certainly make it happen for them and we're equipped just to do that. We are um we to serve the citizens of Nacadesh. We ask for local support. Currently, the Nacadesh Parish School Board gives us 25,000 in local support. Parish government gives us 20,000 in local support and the city of Nacadesh is giving us 8,600 in local support. And that local support pays 20% of the

salaries of two 4 agents, a NCH agent, which is a nutrition and health agent, an A and Nut natural resource agent, as well as a secretary. So, we're a little short on our funding right now. We're about 4,400 uh short, but I have faith that we'll get that. So being short on funding hasn't, as you can see, has not stopped us from doing the things that we do and serving uh the citizens and the youth of Nacadesh. So uh does anyone have any questions about our program or anything that we do? We just like to give an update to our people because you are who we serve.

You do a wonderful job, I know, with the children and especially during the um we have the our auction and banquet. Yes, Miss Betty. Yes. Uh any money that we get, we raise. Of course, we're a nonprofit, so we like to um raise money to be in in addition to the local support that just runs our office. Uh any money that we have, you know, to give camp scholarships, to take kids on trips, to for programming supplies, we have to raise that. And Miss Betty is referring to our annual banquet in auction that's coming up in March. I enjoy it always. Thank you so much. I've heard some students tell me what a difference that program have made in their lives, especially as they've gotten older and you know,

absolutely. We have a ton of leaders. The mayor was a 4er. He's a product of 4. Um, lots of leaders in our community were former 4ers. Are you still in the green market?

Well, uh, we were not in the market this we didn't participate with the market this year. We had an opportunity to do some other things and we expanded and we were trying something different this year. But we we did love all of our time, all of our years that we spent at the farmers market. Yes. Any other questions? We have Victoria's Educational Garden which is on East Fit and we spent a lot of our time rather than being at the actual market, we spent a lot of our time working in that garden and um making that kind of a community hub for people to go and for teachers to be able to use our learning pavilion. Uh so we spent a lot of time there this summer.

Thank you so much u Mrs. Pierce for your commitment and dedication to the youth of Nakage Parish and uh I just concur that it's one of those groups every little kind of positive presentation we can make to our youth I think is going to go [clears throat] a long way in their lives. So again we appreciate your dedication. Thank y'all so much. We appreciate your support.

Yes ma'am. Yes ma'am. Thanks a lot. All right. Next we have a special recognition and this came by way of Councilman Wayne Holm. Um and I really appreciate that. He's certainly a a a big supporter of NSU women's soccer. And I feel like this happened not that long ago as well, but or maybe I'm mistaken, but this year, your NSU women's soccer team were the Southland Conference champions for the whole Southland Conference, the entire conference, which I imagine coach is coach. Is that coach? Hey, coach. Won't you come uh forward? Just say a few things. State your first and last name, please. and we just have something we want to present to you all just to say congratulations uh for the hard work and dedication and your accomplishment this year.

Yeah. Hi, my name is Ian Brophy. I'm the head women's soccer coach here at Northwestern State. Um again, yeah, we had a really good season. Uh 13 wins, scored 44 goals uh in 18 games. We were very, very good. We were unbeaten at home, so if you ever get a chance to come out to the games, you're probably going to watch us win, which is always a lot of fun. Um, so I think like I said, we didn't lose a game at home this year. Um, and and had a really good season, ended up as the regular season conference champions. Uh, and again, uh, the support from the community that we've received after winning the title has been unbelievable. Um, we've had the dinner at Sweeties put on at us. Raising Canes put on an event. Um, and and I think things like this are really means a lot to the team and to the players. Uh, they're all back there. Um, ladies, RAISE YOUR HAND. [applause]

[applause] AND THEY really were an extraordinary group of young women. Really easy to coach, really fun, really united um and together in in what they were trying to accomplish and really proud of them cuz they they went on and accomplished it. So, really great stuff. All righty. That's awesome. Did Did they Did y'all win recently, too? Not just this year. Did y'all win the South Conference another year? 2021 was the last time. 2021. Okay. I thought I was remembering something. Yes, Councilman Hol. Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. I know Dan is too excited to announce this, but I want to announce the Southland Conference Coach of the Year.

All right. [applause] Anybody at home who didn't hear that, because I know Councilman Home wasn't on the microphone, but he said our coach, say your last name again, coach. Brophie. Boby. Brophie. Brophie. Yep. Like trophy with a B. Okay. Coach Brophie. Coach Brophie was the South Conference coach of the year.

And we also had awesome. We also had the South and Conference Defender of the Year, midfielder of the year, player of the year. Um, we [applause] also have the freshman of the year who's sitting back there. Awesome. And we have this. We have five first team allconerence members and two second team all conference members as well. It's got to be a record for this year and one all tournament team member as well. [applause] Got to be a record. Wow. We just want to present this plaque to the team coach. It just says congratulations on behalf of the city of Nacades presented to NSU women's soccer team 2025 Southland Conference champions in acknowledgement of achievement on this day the 8th day of December in the year of 2025 and testimony whereof we have set our hand and affix the seal of the city of Nacadage and signed by yours truly Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. So we want to get the uh the organization to come forward and certainly get a picture uh with them. Uh, such great work this year.

That's wonderful. And and I just want to say, coach, my grandson is 4 years old, Carson, and he loves soccer. I mean, this is amazing. He loves soccer.

I want I would like to take a picture with you. Take a picture of you all for him. Okay, somebody should Look over here.

All right. Yeah, [clears throat]

one more time.

[applause]

Oh, it's pretty girls. But he's girls playing with him, too. Probably Co, right? Yes. Co. He's four years old. It's a good sport.

Really nice. We just want to say thank you to the city council and thank you to everyone. Thank you very much. Thank you. All righty. Thanks, Coach. [applause] All right. The next item on the agenda, we actually have two, well, actually a few that are open for introduction. Uh this first one, Alex, is there something you need to say? Is introduction? Yes, it's on for introduction. Item number 45. Um we ask that um administration asked that it be delayed for introduction. We bring it back if necessary. Okay. What is that? Is that a tableling or is that is that another motion? Well, just skip it. We can we can bring it back.

It's only on for introduction, right? Okay. Which one is it? Be item 45. So we can go ahead and do a motion to delay introduction of number 45 right now. Okay. I make a motion to microphone. Okay. Item number 45. We're going to delay introduction of that. Call for a vote on. I make a motion to delay ordinance number 45. Second. Motion made second. any comment about this particular officer. All right. Well, it's just premature I get right now or is that

um yes at this point we want to just return. I spoke to to Shantrell about it a little bit. So we just ask we delay it for right now. Welcome. Okay. All right, Mr. S. Roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. Peachy, yes. All right, that motion carries. Uh, next we've got an ordinance I think is a short-term rental. Um, and it's it's introduc introducing it and it's Councilman PT who's who's reading it.

Thank you, mayor. Ordinance number 046 of 2025 and ordinance amending ordinance number 64 of 2001 by changing zoning classification of the property described as follows. Whereas the planning commission of the city of Nagget, state of Louisiana has recommended at their meeting on December 2nd of 2025 that the application of Frank Griffin to reszone the property described above from R1 to R3 special exception for the operation of a short-term rental be approved. And this is for introduction only. All righty. Um, short-term rental buy you amulet.

Cute house. What? What street is it on? Is it on poet? It's on poet. Poet. Poet. Oh, it's on poet. Okay. All right. So, that's the look of the property. You see who owns uh the property. So, um you know, we've had these come through from time to time uh to be introduced to us. Not sure if there's any comment uh council that you have about this. It's got a B&B to the left of it and two well a B&B to the left B&B to the right. Yeah, it fits the surrounding area clearly because there's surrounding properties and the character of it.

There's no address. Okay. you see an address and I don't know if uh is anybody Frank Griffin anybody here with this property. Is there anything you She had a hand you you want to say about the property anything? Not at this time. I talked uh the other night and explained that it's already a split unit. Mayor Okay. What she said on the She said it's already a split unit. Yes. Okay. All right. All righty. Again, it's just being introduced council. So, if there are any questions, please reach out. I'm sure Shantrell has a way to get in contact and send questions over if there happen to be any. All right.

Yeah. Hey, Shantrell, what's the address? I'm sorry, ma'am. Yeah. Can you You would know. Yeah. 208 POE.

208 Poet. 208 POE is the address for this particular short-term rental application. All right. Thanks. We have two consecutive introductions that we're moving to now. And wow, look at it. Okay. All right. So, it's read by Councilman Harrington. And as you can see, it's dealing with the new fire station that's located on University Parkway. Here we go. This is um ordinance 43. This is ordinance authorizing the mayor of the city of Nacades to award the bid for the new fire station number three on University Parkway Nackis Louisiana bid number 0678. Um [clears throat] the bid was advertised in Nage Times on October 16th, October 23rd and October 30th in accordance with the law and six bid proposals were received and opened. Um the lowest bid was Pat Williams Construction LLC out of Leville for $3,253,000. And on November 26th, the appointed committee of Clarissa Smith, finance director, Ed Lee, director of [clears throat] purchasing, John Wyn, the fire chief, and Christopher PT, Councilman reviewed the bid proposals, and the above appointed committee members unanimously recommend the city award the bid to the lowest bidder, Pat Williams Construction LLC. Okay, look, I won't allow Chief Win. This is We've been talking about this for a long time. Probably when I was in little diapers and um [laughter] things like that, which really honestly wasn't that that long ago, right? But um but longheld desire of the city of the city to have this. It's on some property that's across from owned by Northwestern, but the agreement was to to only put a fire station there. So, um it's a really good project. We think

it's a long time coming, and I want uh Chief Win to kind of share some of the details that we have.

So, so this started, like I said, it was talked about when I came here in 96. Um the piece of property was donated to the city of Napers by Northwestern with a exception that it only could house a fire station. So, this has been a project we've been working on for a long time. I think Chief Abear actually probably started on this project and it's it's moved forward and uh through through combined efforts through many of us within the city including Nick Barrett uh Ed Lee and if I'm forgetting anybody please please forgive me but we we got together with city I mean the state and uh they 1.8 8 million towards the project which is a very good thing and it's helped us move it forward and it's a project that's needed. It's going to help response time in that district. It's also going to bring up the so if any of you have ever seen the fire station on MLK it's it's in much need of repair and uh this is going to upgrade. It's going to be safer for the citizens. It's going to be safer for our firefighters. But it will be a two- bay station which we will move truck one from downtown and put it in that station which will be better response for the overall city because you know we have highrises out at uh interstate plus the highrises on northwestern downtown plus plus the hospital and all across the across the river. It'll be a better response for that. So it's it's a much needed project. We really hope uh hope to get the support for it.

And I think you said we did get 1.8 from the state. I think I heard you say that. Yes, we did.

Yeah. So, we were able to get that. Uh, and I I say a lot about her. Obviously, it's the legislators that we have. Um, you know, one in particular, I know Representative Jack McFarland was really helpful. She has know some of the details. Um, Ashley does work for us on the state. Ashley Tyson, uh, she was really pivotal and helped helping to secure these funds. So, good project for the city. Um, like I said, longheld desire to have the fire station there. Um, and we'll have some plans to maybe repurpose the one that they'll be abandoning. It's just very small. Uh, and we've kind of outgrown uh that one on MLK Drive, but it'll still be able to respond. I think Chief May said in his remarks to residents in that particular area.

Yes, it's just relocated in that district. And uh we we feel the bids come in pretty they all come in pretty close. So, we feel like we got a good bid a good bid on the station if I'm speaking right. Is that right? Yep. Okay. Well, we have the council in. So, I don't know if y'all had question. I didn't really get to talk to Eddie or PT. Uh but maybe Chief, you you have Okay, good. So, like I said, a really good project as a way to fund the um the GAP, if you will, um which is through a tax that was passed uh years ago to support things like uh such as this. So,

yeah, we're making a few little sacrifices here and there to help get this project going. It's just rearranging a few things, but we've got it. I think with the help of Clarissa helping guide us, I think we've got it covered.

And you know, chief, we we talked about that value engineering, which is saving what you can. And so, I think that's been done on this project. It's just, you know, um that is a pretty good investment coming from the state to make this happen. It's just been introduced. So, council, if there happen to be any questions, certainly reach out to myself or or chief win um so that we can answer those questions for you. All right. Um, so it's going to be our first meeting in January where we deal with this again. Um, our last ordinance and then we have a few resolutions on the agenda. Um, our last ordinance tonight is read by Councilman Nielsson. Thank you, mayor. Ordinance number 44 of 2025, an ordinance approving a lease between the city of Anacades and Norwest Incorporated of a801 acre track, sometimes referred to as lot one of the Nacades Regional Airport, authorizing the mayor of the city of Nacades, Ronnie Williams, to ask ex execute a lease in favor of Norwest Incorporated and further providing for advertising of the lease and an effective date. And whereas the airport manager Justin Fosi has negotiated the terms of a lease with Norwest Incorporated of the lease premise and the terms of the proposed lease have been approved by the Naculadas Airport Commission. And whereas further the terms of the lease are for a 10-year period with consideration of 3,489 and dollars per year. all set forth in the attached lease agreement by and between the city of Nacadesh and Norwest incorporated. And whereas further the city desires to lease the lease premises under the terms set forth above and more particularly set forth in the lease attached thereto. Now therefore be it

ordained by the city council in legal session convened as follows. that one that after due proceedings and advertisement the said city does lease that property described as801 acres and being more particularly described as shown on a certificate of survey dated January 19, 2022 by Brandon C. Thornton to Norwest Incorporated for the term of 10 years with the additional consideration of $3,489 to the not that notice of this proposed ordinance be published three times in 15 days one week apart in the Nacades Times the legal journal of the city and that ordinance be posted in city hall three that any opposition to this ordinance shall be made in writing filed with the clerk for the city of Nacadish within 30 days after the first publication of this ordinance and that a public hearing be held after the advertisements have been completed. Number four, that the mayor Ronnie Williams being is hereby authorized after due proceedings and after the legal delays have run to execute a lease in favor of Norwest Incorporated leasing that property more fully described as 0.0801 acre tract and being more particularly described and shown on a certificate of survey dated January 19, 2022 prepared by Brandon C. Thornton to Norwest Incorporated for the term of 10 years with the annual consideration of 3,489. That and five that the city clerk be authorized to advertise this proposed lease in accordance with law three times in 15 days, one week apart, and to report to the city council if any

opposition is made in writing prior to the time of final adoption. And number six, that the city take cognizant of the fact that the property described above is not needed for public purposes by the city. And that's for introduction. Ed, is there any comment? I mean, we've seen these before. Uh they have the terms written in them. Councilman Nilson read through them. Um just anything you you want to say to kind of sum it up folks we have here tonight? This is just a standard land lease at the airport. Uh the building is owned by Norwest. And just like all the other private hangers on the airport, they have to have a land lease. The city does not sell the land to the owners of the hangers. Um that and that's a FAA requirement. So the city owns 100% of the airport and then uh people will build or businesses will build a hanger and get a long-term lease on the city property. And that's the case for this one. So, it's just renewing a lease of a hanger they own, they pay for, they maintain, but it's on city property. Okay. Any questions about this? Um, as I said with the other ordinances, there's time to get some questions in. You have a little bit more time with this one because of the way it has to be advertised uh in our um official journal journal, excuse me, which is the naggage time. So, uh, there's a little bit more time, uh, to to get some things, uh, answered about this, but I think it's pretty standard. Okay. All right. Next, we've got a few resolutions, and really Ed is going to, uh, be talking again for the next two. Uh, but this first resolution is read by Smith Kirk.

Thank you, mayor. This is resolution number 092 of 2025. A [clears throat] resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Midwest Employers Casualty Company for the workers compensation excess coverage policy for the city of Naples. Whereas the insurance committee has reviewed the proposal submitted by Midwest Employers Casualty Company for the handling of the workers compensation assess coverage policy for the city of Nacadesh. Whereas the premium for this contract is 1,8,700 per year for the 2-year period of January 1, 2026 through January 1, 2028. And whereas it is the recommendation of the committee that the contract be awarded to Midwest Employers Casualty Company. Now therefore be resolved that the honorable Ronnie Williams mayor Ronnie Williams mayor has mayor junior but the honorable Ronnie Williams Jr. Mayor is hereby authorized and empowered and directed to sign any and all documents necessary for the execution of this contract and I move for adoption of resolution number 092 of 2025. [clears throat] [snorts]

Uh motion made and seconded. Um Ed just kind of highlight for us any differences from this new policy agreement and and the previous one of just some some details.

Okay. Yeah. This is uh our excess coverage for uh policy. We're basically self-insured except for all of the largest claims and this [clears throat] is basically a stop-loss coverage. So a real big claim we do have some help should one get there. Otherwise, we are self-insured and we carefully manage our self-insured fund and um we've been ex you know been successful with it all these years. Uh trying to think what else that there is a small increase on this one but it's based on salary that uh the payroll for the city of Nageish the budgeted amount of the total payroll is what it's calculated off of. So we give two incre 2% increase every year. So, it bumps up and when it bumps up, it bumps up this policy. So, it's it's a good renewal and u I recommend that y'all vote and approve it. And we've been with with Midwest for many years. You know, they specialize in public uh insurance.

We just renew directly with them. There's no bid process. I could could remember. Yeah. No, you you see uh uh quotes. Okay. And a policy like this when you have when you've been longterm like this, there's very few players in the public excess workers comp coverage. Safety National is about the only other one and they never beat Midwest. What's the other one you say? Safety National. Safety National and it's for 108,000. I think I heard maybe

Yeah, it's $108,700. I want to make that correction. $108,700. I said 108 million, but it's 108,000. [laughter] So don't y'all It's $108,700 per year for the 2-year period. That's correct. Yeah, that's per year though. 108 per year. [snorts] Okay. C council, you got any questions about that? Uh any questions, comments uh from the audience? All right. Seeing none, Mrs. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Yes. Miss Kirkindoff, yes. Harington, yes. PT, yes.

All right, that motion carries. Look, y'all, the the lights have kind of have a mind of their own, so if there's a little bit of movement, uh they may uh pick up. So, I know they kind of put you in the dark. Uh right there. Um we did pay our utility [clears throat] bill, so we're fine. All right. Um next is a resolution dealing with airport insurance, and it's written by Councilman PT.

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution number 093 of 2025, a resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Risk Services of Louisiana for the airport liability insurance for the city of Nagadish. Whereas the insurance committee has reviewed the proposal submitted for the airport liability insurance for the city of [clears throat] Nagadish and recommend the contract be awarded to rich services of Louisiana with an annual premium of 14,547 per year for one year for the period of January 10th, 2026 through February 15, 2027. May I so move to adopt resolution number 093?

Second. Motion made and seconded. Uh Ed, just get you back again. This is the airport liability insurance policy and it's a fully insured policy. It has a $1,000 deductible. Um this one is primarily driven by value of aircraft on the airport as well as fuel sales and mostly fuel sales. So, there was a little bit of an increase in this one, but our fuel sales, our gross fuel sales went from about $475,000 a year to about $600,000 a year. So, that's why we saw roughly a $4,000 increase in the premium. What's the increase? About $4,000.

Okay. But the you know that's driven by the fuel sales which is Did you say Ed that this one works like the one with the workers comp in terms of getting quotes? Is that how it works as well? Yeah. And yes sir. And and again um policies like this when you're kind of established a lot of those places don't like to come in and give quotes. So we did seek other quotes but they denied they denied to make quotes. Okay. Any comments or questions, council? Any comments or questions from the audience? 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. Um, our next resolution is dealing with um the construction or reconstruction or pavement replacement I should say of twoine street concrete and is read by Councilman Harrington. This is resolution 94 of 2025. A resolution authorizing the mayor of the city of Nacadish to cover all construction cost including change orders over the remaining state funding of 2 million $7,000 $219 for the capital outlay grant from the state of Louisiana for second street and twoine street concrete pavement replacement planning and construction. And whereas the Louisiana Division of Administration, Office of Fat F facility planning and control has advised that following completion of the design and plan development work, a total of $2,7,219 in state funds remains for construction of this project. And whereas the legislature of the state of Louisiana requires that the city of Nacades cover all construction cost, including change orders over the ava available state funding. I move to adopt resolution 94, 2025. Second.

Motion made and seconded. This is another win that we were able to get using our um you know lobbyists on the state, Ashley Tyson who works with the Pecar group. Um one year previously we're able to get some money to design this street and then now we're able to get some money to construct it. And as you can see this is a $2 million um contribution uh $2 million coming our way from the state capital LA just working at it. So, this is a significant win. We think it is, especially when you consider that the state was kind of uh tight with purse rings uh this year. There were some who didn't get what they requested. So, um I think it is a really good win for us. And where this is going to go, y'all, is going to help us to reconstruct that concrete pavement from um right here where Church Street is uh in Second and then go over all the way to Two Line. So, you're going to repave all of that. second go through the fire station, pass the fire station, go all the way to First Baptist on Second Street, and then it's going to repave uh the concrete sec all of its concrete uh from which is two Line Street from Front Street all the way to Fifth Street. So, a significant amount of pavement uh that uh we got here and again a $2 million commitment from the state. Now, um the estimate is uh 2.6. So obviously we're going to have to be responsible uh to make the project work for the $600,000. Uh but again uh the overwhelming majority of the project is funded by the state and it's good and reason why we thought that this was really big and and Nick Veret who's not here tonight um you know wanted to put this in because the bridge is coming one day about

yeah the bridge is coming one day and so the plan has been to uh construct a temporary bridge at two line go all the way does that connect with Stevens I think it is is it going to connect is it going to uh intersect with Stevens from two line Stevens, I believe. Is that right? Ed the bridge. Yes.

Yeah. From Tuline to Stevens. And so just the thought that Nick had is so let's go ahead and repave this street now for the anticipated traffic that's coming whenever the bridge does come. And uh we're trying to um just get some clarity on when that's going to come. It's been kicked back so much, but um we still think that this project is is important. So Nick has talked to council before about some of the delays that with the bridge and I'm talking about really the church street bridge which I think everybody knows is very old and um not in the best it see it's seen better days right but um but this this project kind of goes with that as we get ready to build the temporary bridge two line when I say we I mean dod and then they're going to tear down church street bridge while the temporary bridge is up and then reconstruct church street bridge um so the last I heard they were supposed to at in 2027, I believe. Um, but like I said, it's been pushed back and I think um Dale and Eddie could kind of say more about that.

Our la our our last meeting on it, I think, with DOTD where they had the plans, they showed us the plans are ready to move forward was nine years ago. Yep. Nine years ago. Hey, do you remember when is it going to let When are they saying now? What are they saying? As of now, the target date is late summer of 27. Late summer of 27. Okay. H incredible. We'll see. [laughter]

Yeah. Nonetheless, this is a really good project for us. I mean, it's nothing sexy, but it's necessary. And so, you got to make sure you're uh repairing your infrastructure. In fact, the next few things um really going to deal with um our hard infrastructure that we we've got to make sure we're continuing to [clears throat] um to replace. Any other comment, council, about this? Any comment from the public on this particular resolution? All right. Uh, seeing Mr. Stacy, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Kirk Doll, yes. Harington, yes. PT,

yes. All right. That motion carries. All right. Next, we have uh a change order. And that is read by Councilman Nielson.

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution number 95 2025, a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number three to the contract between the city of Nacades and Le Moine Company LLC for water treatment facility improvements phase 1 and it's bid number 0667. Whereas the city of Nacadesh awarded the bid to Le Moine Company on May 28, 2024 by ordinance number 11 of 2024 in the amount of 9,217,000 for water treatment facility improvements phase 1. And whereas on December 9, 2024, the city council approved change order number one in the amount of $16,815 making the revised contract 9,233,815. And whereas on se September 8th 2020 2025, the city council approved change order number two in the amount of $55,614 making the revised contract total 9,289,429. And whereas on September 8, 2025, the city council approved change order number two to increase the contract time from 495 calendar days to 502 calendar days. And whereas on December 3rd, 2025, contractor issued change order number three fully described in attachment A. And whereas the contract time will be increased by this change order three from 495 calendar days to 564 calendar days. Whereas the project

engineer Andrew Verer has recommended this change order. Whereas the city is of the opinion that change order number three is in the best interest of the city. Whereas the approval of change order number three is contingent on approval [clears throat] by the office of community development water sector program. Now therefore be it resiled by this council of the city of Nacades in legal session convene that the honorable Ronnie Williams Jr. Mayor being as hereby authorized and power and directed to execute the reference change order number three to the agreement between the city of Nacades and the contractor Le Moine Company LLC. And I move that we adopt resolution number 95 of 2025.

A second. You know, sometimes change orders deal with additional funds. I was speaking with Tim the other day and this is not that. Tim, um I know Dale read it, but just kind of share with us what this change order is addressing.

It's just a it's a nocost change order. It's only adding 17 days to the U contract just to accommodate for equipment delays. And it does say that it is contingent upon the office of develop uh community development approving it. And I did receive this morning the change order does not change the project [clears throat] scope. No additional funds are being requested. We do not object to the change order. Please proceed. S Susan Bentley Smith, Community Development. Right. That is awesome. Yeah, I've seen her name on some stuff. So, look, this was set to be completed at the end of January. That changes this changes that, right?

Yes. It's it's looking about March. Okay. March. And y'all, this is a longheld project. again, not anything sexy, but the water is a very, very scarce, valuable resource. And uh what we're doing, we're able now, um if we were to this plant is going to give us, I think, two 2 and a2 million more 2.5

2.5 million more gallons per day that we're able to produce. So, um it's an absolutely great project. um it you know to serve our residents uh water we've taken on and we said this before but just those who haven't heard it we've taken on other communities over the years and um this certainly helps to kind of relieve that strain on our system as it currently is. So really really important project and once phase this phase is done which is plan number four we have to rehab plants number two and three. Is that correct? That's right.

We have to rehab plans two and three. So uh really important to do. And I will uh say just to remind us that uh a $5 million grant did go along with this uh with this one. So we were able to get a grant to this one. Um and that twoine street was a grant 1.8 coming for the fire station. So, these grants and these capital outlay requests and uh successes help us to do what we need to do. All right. Um council, I don't know if you have any comments or questions about this. They're just um lengthening the days. Eddie, you're missing your chance. Didn't cost us any money. This didn't cost us any money. This is from the federal government. Yeah.

Yep. Yep. And that's a good thing. Well, from the federal government. Well, you think about the airport. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It just doesn't cost. Yeah, it didn't cost us any money. This one didn't cost any money. Any comment from the audience on this one. We're really excited about this project. Um, yeah, we try to update you all on on social media and things like that. All right, seeing that there are no questions, comments, Mr. Station, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith Perkall, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, yes. All right, that motion carries. Um, next we've got um a resolution change order number two dealing with Breeda Town phase 2 project and that's read by Councilwoman at large Smith Kurt Kirkindall.

Thank you, mayor. This is resol resolution number 096 of 2025. A resolution authorizing the mayor to execute change order number two to the contract between the city of Nacades and CDE construction LLC for water distribution systems improvements which is the breed of town phase 2 project bid number 0672. Whereas the city of Nackage awarded the bid to CDE Construction LLC contractor on March 24th, 2025 by ordinance number 007 of 2025 in the amount of 601,55420 for water distribution system improvements. Whereas on July 14th, two, 2025, the city council approved change order number one to decrease the change order number one in the amount of 13,45350, making the revised total contract $588,100.70. Whereas on December the 3rd, 2025, the contractor issued change order number two fully described in attachment 8, attachment A. And whereas this contract will be increased by change order number two, in the amount of $46,940 and the revised contract total will be $635,40.70. and where the engineer James Hagen [clears throat] III has recommended this change order. Whereas the city is of the opinion that change order number two is in the best interest of the city. Now therefore be resolved by the council of the city of Nakage in legal session convene that the honorable Ronnie

Williams Jr. Mayor BN is hereby authorized, empowered and directed to execute the reference change order number two to the agreement between the city of Nakage and the contract to CDE construction LLC. And I move for approval and adoption of resolution number 0 96 of 2025. All right. Second. Motion made and seconded. Um I I believe Tim that uh there there is a cost increase on this one uh kind of related to various things. Is that correct?

Yes, there is an increase on this one. It's uh it's reconciliation. So, it's taking in every decrease and every increase from change order one till now, which this is the end of the project. [clears throat] So, it's everything now is taken care of and it's $46,000. [clears throat] You know it it says I mean some of this stuff I don't understand PVC main water man just all these little things kind of add up [snorts] tap and sleeve valve

everything that they ran into during this project we had we did not have accurate maps of that area we ran into 8 in water manes that we did not know was there uh we had to tap them to the new line that wasn't accounted for. We ran into a lot of other taps that we didn't know were there and uh we had to move fire hydrants around. That that all comes to a cost of the contractor which wasn't part of the original scope. So it had to be recouped. But even that being said, the original contract for this, the original budget was 640,000. If even with this increase, we came in at 635,000, which is 5,000 less than the original budget, so it didn't cost us anything.

It's within budget. Yeah. Yes. Okay. Good point. Good point. And I know we don't like change orders, but um sometimes it's necessary. I understand that, but I wish they would take a look at this when they first go in and see what all needs to be done. But at least we still under within the budget, put it that way. That's right. Yeah.

Look, and I'll say and I'll say about this is um I I'll say that I'm glad both of these on the agenda at the same time uh water treatment for and also breeder town. So this is our second phase as you can see uh with breeder town and really again water treatment four and even doing more improvements to three and two that's going to help us with capacity producing more water and that's important but with things like this breeder town waterline distribution system it helps us to address that discolored water that some of our residents get and y'all it's just a long hall we we're trying to look for funding to really do that's every year we're looking for funding to see if we could do more than what we we do. This one was 600,000. I know we got one happening in the South Williams that's going to happen eventually. Um that's going to be closer to 800,000 or 700 plus

very soon. They moved in the pipe Tuesday. I mean Thursday and Friday of last week because all the equipment is on site and they've already called in their locates. We've got so many projects in the utility department going on right now. sewer, the two water lines, the major water treatment plant. We're working on the clear well, which is to hold some a million a million gallons of water. So, there's so many projects that we're doing, but it's all necessary. And again, those waterline replacements help with that discolored water uh that we want to

this Brea town project. We spent so much time in Breida Town, especially in this area on this phase 2 project. We spent so much time repairing those water lines over the years. I mean, we we'd fix a line and then have to go right back and fix a line again. A lot of this we weren't able to kill. We had no valves to kill it. We always had to work it under extreme pressure. So, this now everything is on PVC lines. Cast iron is gone. This area we should not have to go into again and it's documented. That's right. We do have asbuilt [clears throat] drawings on this. It's great.

Okay. All right. Uh, any comments or questions, council? Any additional? Any public comments or questions about this? It's a really good project. CDE. Mhm. All right. The question was which which is the company that that did the project? CDE. Right. [clears throat] All right. Seeing now, Mr. Sty, roll call vote. Eli, yes. Nelson, yes. Smith [clears throat] Kirkindall, yes. Harington. Yes. PT.

Yes. All right, that motion carries. Now, y'all, these next next three resolutions are really uh the same uh except for the first one addresses has my name in it, Mayor Williams. And then resolution 098, Clarissa Brown Smith, financial director. And then resolution 099 is Nicole Gray, uh grants writer. So, uh everything else is the same. So, we won't be redundant, but won't uh is Councilman PT go ahead and read this particular resolution?

Thank you, Mayor. Resolution number 097 of 2025, a resolution to wave any potential conflict to allow the city attorney to represent Mayor Ronnie Williams Jr. in a proceeding initiated by the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Whereas, the city attorney, Alex Washington, has been appointed pursuant to section 4.02. 02 of the city of Negative's code of ordinance to serve at the pleasure of the mayor as chief legal advisor to the mayor and to represent the city in all legal proceedings and to perform to perform any other duties prescribed by the charter or ordinance. Whereas the Louisiana State Board of Ethics has requested that the city provide certain documents in an inquiry relating to the mayor and certain officials and staff members. Whereas the Louisiana Board of Ethics requires a conflict waiver resolution in order for the city attorney to represent the mayor in this inquiry. And mayor, at this time, I would like to allow discussion concerning resolution number 09.

Thank you, Councilman PT. Look, my first time being subpoenaed in life. Um um but I did share a letter with the council uh earlier via email just kind of explaining some of the things and why I think that this is um good to do, necessary to do. Um and I have some remarks here, but I'll be very careful and I'll say that again because since I have been subpoenaed along with Clarissa, along with Nicole, and along with Bukar actually, um you know, we have to be very careful. Um, so good evening council members and citizens of Nacatish. I want to take a moment to address the ongoing ethics inquiry and the resolution before the council tonight. Um, there's a line in the acclaimed play Hamilton. If you haven't watched that, I want to encourage you to watch it that I've been reflecting on over the last few days. And here is that line and I quote, "I have not committed treason nor sullied my good name." Hamilton was accused of misconduct in the 1780s. accusations used not because they were true but according to Hamilton because uh political forces believed tarnishing his name would weaken him. Centuries later the tactics may look different but the strategy remains the same. Uh when you cannot defeat someone on progress, leadership or results uh you attempt to damage their reputation. I want to be very clear that my administration uh has worked tirelessly to add to the city, not to take from the city. Uh what I've said a little bit earlier, we've secured millions of dollars to uh re well build water treatment number four uh millions for hundreds of thousands I should say for park renovations and improvements, public safety and infrastructure. We are experiencing one of the steepest drops in violent crime in our history. Um, and these things do not happen by accident.

They happen because people are working hard for this community. When you make progress, some people celebrate it and some people do not. As I said earlier, because of the subpoenas I have been issued, I am legally prohibited from discussing the specifics of the inquiry. That restriction is not my choice. it is the state law that I have to abide by buy that. Um, and I want to call on the record for a uh prompt and thorough investigation uh so our citizens can see for themselves the nature of these claims. And I am confident the public will be surprised at how minor and non-serious these matters truly are. Tonight's resolution has been characterized publicly or mischaracterized publicly. So, let me make this absolutely clear because certain publication that often um puts out things that are not true, but um no one is asking for taxpayer dollars to pay my legal bills. If I need private counsel, I will pay for my own attorney personally. This resolution does not authorize spending as has been suggested over the weekend by some online poll and it does not shift legal fees onto the public. The city attorney is part-time employee of the city. So this resolution merely ask the council to determine whether the city account the city attorney may advise me on city related matters that intersect with this inquiry as permitted by professional ethics rules. This is a matter of efficiency, a matter of consistent legal guidance, and a matter of good governance. And this is not a financial decision. Under established municipal ethics standards, a city council may approve such a waiver when three things happen. The conflict is dis disclosed. The attorney can competently represent both the city and

the individual. And I think Alice can do that. and the repres representation is limited and does not interfere with the city's interests. This is exactly what this resolution accomplishes. Recently, a poll published asking whether the city should pay the legal bills of those responding to the ethics inquiry. That framing is misleading. No such request has been made. Ethical governance requires clarity. It requires facts. It requires us not to inflame or confuse the public with suggestions that taxpayer money is being used in ways it is not. My administration and the professionals who serve this city have worked with honesty with transparency with accountability. We have brought in major grants and capital outlay fun outlay funding not seen by other administrations. We have made key, as is evident on the agenda tonight, we have made key infrastructure improvements. We have made public safety enhancements that, as I said, if things go well, I don't believe knocking on wood, public safety folks do, but if things go well through the end of the year, we're going to see record uh improvement in terms of how we're able to keep the people safe. And so many people um you know, we can uh thank for that. We've had real economic progress despite the national challenges. uh we saw in the semi report just on last week that is our record and that is why I stand before you tonight with full confidence not in myself but in the facts the law and the integrity of the work that we are doing here as mayor my responsibility is to remain steady focused and committed to serving every resident with fairness and integrity I trust the investigation will move swiftly and I trust the truth will be clear and I trust our community will

continue moving forward together. And anytime you have any questions for me, I certainly welcome those questions. Before I close, I want to say a word about the other city employees who are also uh issued subpoenas in this inquiry. These are individuals who have served the city of Nagatish with professionalism with integrity and with dedication. First, our finance director, Mrs. Clarissa Brown Smith. Karissa has overseen a department that has produced strong, clean audits year after year. She is meticulous. She's principled and she's committed to ensuring that every dollar is accounted for. Her reputation for integrity is well earned. And her work has strengthened the financial health of the city. You don't have to take my word for it or even her word. Year after year, the independent auditors have said such a great job that she and her team are doing. Next, Bukar Mamed. Bukar stepped in as interim utility director at a critical moment and he continued to serve as assistant utility director. He could have retired, but he instead chose to stay and provide steady experienced leadership to the essential part of our city. His service reflects loyalty, dedication, and a genuine desire to keep our utility operations running smoothly for the residents of Nacatish. And I think he's one of the highest uh levels that you can get in terms of water and sewer. And finally, Nicole Gray. Nicole Gray is our grant writer, and like many people who do big visible work, she can be a polarizing figure. I know that you either love her or you don't. But what cannot be disputed is that her work has been successful. The grants she has helped secure have brought real resources to our community. That $5 million grant that I mentioned earlier, she was the author. $400,000 for

Richardson Park to totally redesign that park. She wrote that. The $50,000 T-Mobile grant that we have additional parking right now at Ben Johnson Park. She was the one who put time and work into that. And so many others that she helped to play a part in the grant. and she has helped secure by real resources and every action she has taken in a row has been above board and in full compliance with the city and state requirements. These individuals have served this city honorably. They deserve to be seen for the work they do, not defined by speculation or misunderstanding. I stand by their professionalism and their character. I just want to uh real quickly because I want to share something that was stated in that particular publication that I don't find to be very reputable. But um anyhow, but in the second line on this November 10th, 2025 when this first came out, now mind you, this was supposed to be a confidential investigation. Um I think I received my letter maybe in September. Bukar got his a little bit uh before and then Clarissa and Nicole got theirs on the same day thereafter. But this is the second line from this November 10th uh article from the MPJ, you know. Um and here it is. They don't have a by line. They don't have an author. I noticed that when there's a political hit, often they don't have an author. That's not journalistic integrity. If you're going to say something, put your name on it. But here's what they say in the second line. The invest whoever wrote it, I don't know. The investigation stems from complaints filed with state authorities alleging improper actions, questionable behavior, and possible nefarious activity by the current administration, the sources said. And here's the second line. The complaints were initiated by city council members, former utility employees, and private

citizens. and I close quote. That's something I didn't say. It's from the MPJ. I can show you uh that it is. It's not something I wrote. We don't have the votes to pass these resolutions tonight. But I think one can reasonably conclude that the three individuals who have indicated they're going to vote against it, Eddie, Dale, and Betty, one can reasonably conclude that maybe they were a part of the initiation of this particular investigation. And so I yield my time and I'm actually interested as to what is going to be stated as to why a resolution can't be passed in which no city funds are being used. We're going to pay ourselves. This is going to be interesting. Let's get the popcorn ready.

Let me say this. First of all, mayor, what you said about mentioning my name, it doesn't bother me one way or the other. I'm going to tell you that first of all. Okay. So, and all of you out there looking at me, it's not intimidating me one way or the other. Okay? I am for the people. I am for what's right. Okay? You supposed to be a minister, a man of God. So, don't come here with this kind of stuff with me, Betty Smith Kirk. Please don't. Okay? So, don't shoot me down like that. I'm going to stand my ground for what I feel is right and not because you call my name out before these people out here. Okay, the ministers and everybody else that that does not intimidate me. Now, it may intimidate Eddie or the others, Chris Mberry, don't me. It's on you.

And I want you to understand that. Okay, keep my hand. So, this job that I have, it's not supporting me at all. So, thank you. Thank you out in the audience and those watching and hearing me.

And Eddie is typically the spokesperson forum. So, go ahead, Eddie. Well, you wanted a reason why why to vote it down. I will give you a very long and lengthy reason and so bear with me. Um, you're going to have a brief introduction to law school real quick. So, I want to take a moment to address why, in my opinion, the council could not legally or ethically authorize the city attorney to represent the mayor or any individual official in a matter that involves confidential investigations or potential personal capacity exposure. I'm making this statement as a concerned citizen, a member of this council. I'm no way giving legal advice to the city. Also, what I'm going to get get into is getting into a lot of minutia and I have many copies. I have 10 copies of this I'll give out to anyone because has a lot of case law in it that I'm I'm about to go through. Um the issue here is not personal friction or political disagreement, although the mayor just made it that. Um, the issue is that Louisiana ethics law, Louisiana case law, and the Louisiana rules of professional conduct by the bar association simply do not allow it. And bear with me as I go into detail. To begin with, the Louisiana rules um professional conduct require that before a conflict can be waved, there must be what called what the law calls an informed waiver. Rule 1.7B of the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct, which are adopted and enforced by the Supreme Court, allows a lawyer to proceed through a [clears throat] conflict only when each affected client gives informed consent confirmed in writing. The Louisiana Supreme Court has emphasized this requirement for decades. In Re Warner, the court held that a client cannot wave a conflict unless the lawyer provides full disclosure of the conflict and its potential consequences. A lawyer cannot make I mean a client cannot make a knowing decision about a risk the client has not been fully informed of. The problem here is that an informed waiver is legally impossible. The representation sought involve

matters that are governed by confidentiality under Louisiana Revised Statute 42141.4. before. Under that statute, ethics investigations and records are confidential. Because of this confidentiality, the city attorney would be legally unable to disclose to us as his clients the full facts, the risk, the theories, the potential liabilities, or the personal defenses of the individuals he's being asked to represent. Rule 1.4 requires an attorney to keep a client reasonably informed about matters materially affecting the representation. The city attorney cannot disclose the information to the to the city to us on the council because it's confidential. Then the city is incapable of receiving the information required for the informed waiver. The city cannot be informed. It cannot legally wave the conflict. Likewise, no individual official can wave the city's rights because the city is a separate client under rule 1.13. In addition to the informed waiver problem, Louisiana law requires that public entity conflicts of this type are nonwaveable. Rule 1.7B2 specifically states that a conflict cannot be waved when representation is prohibited by law and government lawyers are subject to rule 1.11, which restricts dual representation when public duties are involved. The Louisiana Supreme Court has consistently held that a public entity lawyer cannot represent individual officials or private parties in matters adverse to potential um or potentially adverse the governmental entity. The in Louisiana State Bar Association versus Perez, the court stressed the protection belongs to the public, not to the individual office holders. The same reasoning appears in state versus while. This is Louisiana Supreme Court case. The court emphasized that the government attorneys owe loyalty to the public entity and ultimately the public itself. Conflicts that compromise that loyalty cannot be

waved by private agreement. Likewise, attorney general opinion 2-0152 concludes that a municipal attorney cannot represent individual officials in matters involving the municipality because no official has authority to wave the conflict on behalf of the entire public body, which is all citizens of the city. The attorney general explained that a conflict that interferes with a government lawyer's independence and loyalty cannot be cured by consent. Louisiana revised statute 42263 adds another limitation. Municipal attorneys must serve the entity alone and the entity cannot authorize conflicting representation that would undermine that duty. The Louisiana Supreme Court reaffirmed this in Moral versus Smith and Wesson, explaining that government council's duty runs to the organization and the public, not the transient office holder. For that reason, a waiver that might be valid between two private parties is not legally possible when the client is a governmental entity. For these reasons, I believe we cannot lawfully or ethically approve the city attorney representing individuals officials in this matter. The city attorney cannot fully inform us of the risk, which makes an informed waiver impossible as required by law. The city cannot wave a conflict that it does not fully understand. And the law does not permit such a waiver in matters involving public duties. The Louisiana Supreme Court, the Attorney General, the Rules of Professional Conduct all say the same thing. A public lawyer cannot serve two clients whose interests may diverge, especially when confidentiality prevents one client from being informed. When the government lawyer cannot disclose information that would be required to obtain informed consent, the conflict is nonwaveable. For all those reasons, both legal and ethical, I believe this council must vote no. Our duty is to follow the law, protect the integrity of our legal representation, and act in the best interests of the public we serve. If you vote to allow this, then in your

official capacity, you're voting against the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Louisiana Board of Ethics, the Attorney General's Office, the Louisiana Code of Professionalism, and frankly, common sense. My only response to that would be I don't think the guy who deals with ethics issues all the time would say that this is an option that you have if it wasn't a real option uh that's before us today. He was the one who said you have to get this resolution to wave the conflict of interest. I'm just reading what the law says. Well, I think I'm not reading what a guy says. Well, this is a guy who does it all the time.

I like to say that any determination whether or not council can represent, you know, attorney, city attorney can represent a council. It's fact specific. The facts understand what you read. Um, but each case is different. This case is different. and I didn't participate substantially with any role in this situation that's being outlined in the inquiry. I didn't play any substantial role in so every case case is different and as you know the law is not 1 plus 1 equals two. Mhm.

So, the option for the council to decide um to allow me to represent Ronnie and the other employees is your choice and and whether or not there need to be more information provided at any time. You know, we can announce in executive session you have specific questions. Um but in this situation, the inquiry, I play no role in it at all. And I believe the council does have the right to make an informed by resolution to wave that. And if I see that there's some potential actual conflict as city attorney in any rout, I would tell my clients and and y'all are my client as one. You're the city council, not one lawyer or one individual as a group.

So I just want to make it clear. It's fact specific in making a determination. And and I mean Ed is right what he read in his position. If I was in the courtroom, I'll be reading something something a little different saying my facts are different than what he's saying. It's your

I like to uh say something and I like to thank the council board and everything and stuff and my personal opinion on all three resolutions and stuff. We don't know exactly what occurred, but I don't know my I really want to know because I as a council as a whole would like to help my constituents. I would like to help the mayor. I would like to help Caris and I have to like to help Nicole. You know, as a board, I like to table it, but I know I have to have more than one to table it to actually really sit down to find out some type of way to know exactly what happened to get them legal assistance and like Alex said, you know, he can either say yeah, no, and we can revisit on it if that's, you know, more okay with the board to actually really find out. I think that's the problem is I don't think we can ever be fully aware cuz it's

confidential by law. How can we wave the conflict when we don't even know what we're waving? We don't know anything what's going on. I don't know. Maybe you all know. Well, so the journal must be lying about the council members have to instigate this. You said you talked to the council. You talked to them. So you [laughter] journal hey that's our like ladies and gentlemen. Come on now. Let's hand.

Let's hand ourselves correct. Be quiet, please. Miss Betty, we need to know. Let me talk as adults now. Let's talk as adults now. Let's talk as adults. We don't need to be acting like we don't know how to act. Let's talk as adults. And let's table this and let's go. We shield this. We need to vote. Either you vote yes or you vote no because all it's going to do is just expand this. Carry it on. necessarily, but I think Dale wanted to say something. Okay, Dale. Well, I just Most of y'all know me and I've never been at a loss for words and I have to tell you my reaction when I saw this.

Uh, first gut feeling was disappointment and the second I was speechless. I'm going be honest with you. It ran to the core. Uh this is a little different than a normal everyday lawsuit. In my 16 and a half years, I I can only think of one ethics inquiry and we didn't do city attorney then and I truly honestly feel in this situation like it or not, friends or not, we need separation. And I would have very much appreciated the city attorney. I think his main duty is the city of Nacades and its citizens over and above this council and the mayor. That's my thoughts. That's where I stand.

I got a real quick uh question, Alex. As far as like um this situation, is this like common practice? And has has we have we ever seen this like in the city of Nagatis? Has it been done before? Can an attorney the city attorney represent the mayor? And I'm just kind of like wondering as it pertain to like the history like have we had a lawyer represent a mayor or another official like in that capacity like ever?

I don't know about ever. Um, since we've been here, there's been no ethical issues, uh, inquiries. Um, so I couldn't tell you that. I did I did speak to the board. The board said, "Hey, city attorneys have represented mayors and individuals. You have to get a waiver of the city council." You mean the ethics board? The ethics board. Ethics board. That's And so I brought it to the council and it's your it's your decision to make. Um, so that's what you're saying to y'all. It's our decision to wave or not is what you're saying up to the council. And it's it's just like let's say

let's [clears throat] say if we go against the law and this passes and allows you to represent and one of them admits wrongdoing to you. Okay? If you're they're you're they're your client and if if they admit some type of wrongdoing to you, then of course that would be privileged communication. Right. You see what I'm saying? I hear what you're saying. And which is which ethically you couldn't reveal yet you have an ethical obligation to the other client which is the city. So that puts you in this ethical conundrum that you can't get out of. No, I think you're missing what the legislation is asking. It's not that I'm in an ethical conundrum.

No, I'm saying it could put you in that position. That's what the po That's the point of the res the resolution. The resolution is saying that y'all waving any any type of, you know, potential conflict. So, at at that point, you're waving the conflict. If I feel I feel that

if I can represent one of my clients, most definitely I'm gonna inform the council that I can or even the board that I can at that state. So to a certain degree the the complaints the the inquiries came in and you know we can't get into the facts of it but I was no way related to the in the this this matter and it's it's not substantial where it's you know it's such a matter that I should be even concerned but what what I mean what I mean is

even if if it's allowed you to represent if an individual. You're representing the city on one hand in all the city's best interests. And if you're representing an individual in their individual capacity and they admit to you that they did some type of wrongdoing against the city, now you're having to also represent them, defend them, and you're representing the city, but they've admitted to you they did something wrong against the city. I I think that this is a discussion between the council this, you know, it's it's y'all decision to make.

Can I represent two clients and have I done it a lot over 20 years? I have and I've been successful at it and my clients trust me. Is it you or someone else no matter what the situation? Well, there's many times. I mean, I have, but there's times I [clears throat] I'm good at this. In this situation, that gets real tricky. Here's what I'm saying. It's It's y'all decision. I If you put me in it, tell me which way. I'm I'm I'm I know how to represent two clients. I'll say this, too.

I'm fine with whatever if I can't I'm fine. Like, I I'm I'm fine. Whatever y'all want to do, but again, [clears throat] this administration, I know them. I know you all and I know the city. So, I'm going to do the best job I can if y'all allow it. If y'all wanted to get separate counsel, I agree with that. However y'all want to answer. I think Mr. Winston had wanted to say something. We've been ignoring him. Uh Mr. Win, do you want to say something? Well, look, Councilman PT hold PT want to say something? Yeah, real quick.

You know, with this particular issue, we don't really know all the facts. So, what I can hang my head on is the character of these individuals. And I have seen nothing from them over the years to say that they are a bad representation of the city. No, they're not. And what I've seen since I've been in this position is the city is just going up and up. And so with that, I support we we have a number of individuals that got subpoena. BAR, Miss Stacy, the matter. I support all these individuals. And with that, I would move forward to adopt this argument.

I I completely agree with you there. I just I'm saying the legal argument is I don't think we can. That's my opinion. Um it has nothing to do with I'm saying they did something wrong. I'm just saying I don't think we can do this. Right. Okay. I would like to sit there and say that

all the you know the chaos and stuff and you know we as councils you know I understand what you know councilwoman at large deal and everybody's coming from. You know, I know that we say that we don't want to sit down, talk about it, and find out more details on it as a councilman as a whole to figure out how can we help the mayor, the city employee, and our finance director. I see that we, you know, more than [snorts] have made a decision. But as Chris would say and which I serve district 4 as a whole and I represent it very good and I will stand closely by each employees, everyone as a whole to make sure that this matter is taken care of. And as the attorney said, if he cannot do it, he would fully let us know. But I don't, you know, that's just my opinion and everybody else have their opinion. They hold the city as their own and it's no back and forth, you know, miscommunication as we are all adults

and we should care oursel as adults, you know, moving forward. And I appreciate you, Councilwoman Washington. You did offer to Mr. Winston. And what I'll do if if I can up to three people who may want to speak on this. Um, we'll offer that. Mr. Winston, you go first. Um, up to three. It Oh, she said you wanted up in the back. You didn't want to. M. Winston? No, I don't want to go first. Okay. You don't want to go first. All right. I see Mr. Below in the back. So, up to three. Steve, give us three minutes. And we could do up to three if that's because we have we have become accustomed to short meetings. Like by 6:30 we out of here. But uh it's going on seven. Uh state your first and last name and then your remarks.

My name is James Belo Jr. I know we have three minutes and I'm going to try to be clear with this. I think this is the purpose opportunity for me to get some things out in the air. I was a candidate for mayor and brother Mayor I listened to you. I was online watching the meeting. I had to come down here. I listened to you made statements in reference to the other council members and I have you on tape. Mr. Winston is sitting here. This is stuff that was on video that you shared where you said that I was put in under the table and others and you said that others told me that one of my members said in Walmart that you said that the high-ups had put me in. They said that the white folks had put me in for $15,000. And how do you think I felt? You came out of your mouth three times. You said I think that there's a trick that's been put in the race and all of these people I I'm a resident of Nagas. I don't

What does it have to do with this agenda? No. What it got to do with this? This is what it had to do with this. You ran and you said on transparency. Folks have been trying to get information from the city to where you haven't been given all of the information. You haven't been totally honest in your administration. I ran off of public trust. And I think that if you're going to be represented, then you need to represent yourself because this is coming for individuals, not coming at the city of Nagatis. And that's what need to happen. You need to get your own attorney. You stated earlier that you could pay for your own attorney. Get your own attorney. We're going to have to pay him either. I just let you know. And if you haven't did anything, we would have to do that.

Listen to me carefully. If you haven't did anything wrong, then let the record speak for themselves. Let the the city should it should be transparent. everything that you do, the invoices, everything should be transparent, you know, but I know for a fact that you put a lie out on me. And that's why I'm down here today. And I don't care how many people sitting in here, if it would have been them, how would you all would have felt if somebody lie on you? And I live with that. And I said, this is my perfect opportunity to come in and repeat what somebody told me. It's not a lie. No, no. I got you on tape. It came up. Hey, I said I heard. No, no, you called my name on the table. You said below and put under the

Yes. Let's stop this. Let's stop this right here. Pastor whoever below, this is not what we was talking about. You supposed to be here talking about one thing. Listen at the Rosemary, please don't go there. Hey, Mr. Don't go there. Come on now. Don't go there. All of you all down here, kin relative. You cannot run the city administration with family, friends, and classmates. And I don't mind saying that. Now, you can't go there because you put a bad video out on Civaro and that was bad elderly lady. She's dead and gone. And what you just look here. Hey, I got it. You call my name. If you want to call my name said yes.

Hey, officer. Let's go. You don't have to call. You don't have to call. You have to say earlier. the phone. Thank you. All you need to preach tonight. [laughter] Is that's one two more? All right. Now, we could Alex, we could table it. We could I make a motion to deny uh resolution 97. Second. Second. And so I made a motion to deny resolution 97. Second. So a yes vote would be to deny it. All right. Motion is made a second. Mr. Stacey roll vote.

Eli. Yes. Nelson. Whoop. Are we correct? A yes vote is to deny it. Oh. No. No. For the record. No. Rosemary. Yes. Nelson. Yes. Smith Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, no.

All right, that motion carries based on how he motioned it to deny it. All right, we've got two others and they're basically the same thing, just different names we've discussed already. So, just whatever motion y'all want to put forward. Um, Eli, do we want her to read a little bit at least? Go ahead, Eli. Still got she can read it. Yeah. Go ahead, Eli. She Eli's reading. Yeah. A resolution to away the potential conflict allowing the city attorney representing the financial director and the proceeding initial by the Louisiana board of ethic and I move to adop resolution number 098.

Second. All right. Uh so this is reversed motion made and seconded. Same thing we we debated just now the financial director. I don't think we have any other debate left. No. All right. Uh Mrs. Stacy, think it's okay with everybody? Roll call vote? Yes. Mayor Williams, hold a minute, please. I'm writing. And so voting motion I mean a vote of yes approves it. This is reversed. Second by who? PT. [clears throat] Motion to uh approve resolution 098. Correct. Yes. Eli, yes. Nelson, no.

Smith Kirkindoff. No. Harrington. No. PT. Yes. Okay. Thank you all. All right. So, that motion fails. All right. And the last one is Council Councilman Harrison. This is resolution 99 of 2025, a resolution to wave any potential conflict to allow the city attorney to represent Nicole Gray in a proceeding initiated by the Louisiana Board of Ethics. I move to deny resolution 99 of 2025. A second. And yet again, this one now is a yes is to deny it. All right, Mr. Stacy. Roll call vote. Eli,

yes. Nelson, yes. Smith, Kirkindall, yes. Harrington, yes. PT, no. All right, that motion carries. Okay. All righty. Yes, ma'am. What' you say? Read the Repeat the yeses on that one. Yes. Um, you had Yes on everybody's PT. Yeah.

Okay. Yes. On everybody's PPT. All right. We get a break for the rest of the month. Typically, we have two meetings uh in the month. Uh but this is our only meeting and so we'll meet again for January 2025. Those will give us a little bit more time to ask questions about some of those um things that were introduced. All right. We always encourage people to download the regroup app. We encourage also to download the Golden Agitish app. All right. For activities, Steve, are there a few more announcements?

All right. Um Oh, we we're technically still, so if you need to leave, just do it quietly for us. Uh we haven't got it out just yet. Um we have the Thrive Gayler coming up. That's going to be this week. Um this Thursday from 5:30 to 8:00, and you can get your tickets uh somewhere you can get tickets, but that's going to be at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. All right. It's usually a pretty good event.

All right. Uh the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, they're presenting the lunchtime land. They do these. I don't know if it's a monthly deal, quarterly deal, but every so often you'll see these. This one is called Scrambling for Ancestors with DNA and other tools. So that sounds very interesting. Um kind of like a you know uh 23 and me type situation. So uh that's going to take place this coming Friday from 12:15 to 12:45. So from time to time they have that lunchtime informational topics that they'll address. All right, Steve. 30th annual Make a Smile Happen Toy Drive. I think everybody has seen this particular entity in the parking lot of Walmart. All right. And so this is going to take place uh December 13th from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. That can't be right. Is that 8:00 p.m. one day to the next day? They normally go like all night, don't they? That's only 1 hour. showing only 1 hour but I think it's it's longer than that right okay so again participating in there a lot of people go in buy toys and bring them that's why they [clears throat] have it at Walmart so you could do that and I'm sure it goes to some some children who are you know um unfortunate disadvantage however you want to say it uh friends of library book sale this is going to be the 15th of December through January 3rd uh 9:00 a.m. clothes and so um you know it says all items are 50 cent each. So um opportunity to get some books to stock up your your children's library. So I definitely take that down so we can we can do that. So they're giving you a long time to to cover it. So so really good go pick up some books. All right. And um this is what is IHS leadership having it all. Who is putting this on? It's at the Nagish Event Center. Um [clears throat] but you've got different people. Some of those look very familiar. The Rottney guy does. Uh Orhan uh is another one. So, this is taking place on January 5th um of 2026 from

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Again, at the Nagash Event Center, reserve your spot and they've got their different links uh whether it's Facebook, Instagram, or uh LinkedIn. All right. Okay. Service League of Nagatas, King Cakes and Cocktails. as we're getting into already starting to think about the um the Marty GR season. I mean, we still got Christmas left, but um uh a carnival celebration benefited the Prudin Rukier Foundation, King Cake Competition, King Cake Tasting, signature cocktails, um shop exclusive Mart Styles from your uh local boutique. So, that's going to take place on Friday, January 16th from uh 6:00 p. p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 20 $20 a ticket.

All right. Look, obviously I think y'all we had a really great Christmas festival. The weather was favorable. I mean, it's hard to keep up with how many It's hard to really tell how many people actually come into town, but from what we know, Chief, I think everything was pretty much okay. You know, we didn't have anything horrible to happen. Um so, uh that's good. We always cross our fingers. We had so much going on, so many people in town. We should it should have gotten a boost economically. But we do have about um you know, I don't know, four more weekends or so. Miss Sandra, how many more how many more weekends? We have three more weekends to do it. So y'all, this this so far has been in from what I can tell a great Christmas festival number 99 next year of course 100. We want to make sure we make that big. Okay. All right. Um that's it. But every Saturday, three more Saturdays and the drone show is happening again when Miss Sandrath.

The 20th. Okay. You got the drone show. All right. That's those all of our announcements. This time we have a motion to adjurnn. So move second. All in favor? All right. Meeting is have a great night everybody. Right.