Town of Iota

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Town of Iota, Louisiana met in a regular session at 5:30 p.m. on June 14, 2022 at the regular meeting place of said Mayor and Board of Aldermen, City Hall, 116 Duson Avenue, Iota, Louisiana. Present were Mayor Cody Leckelt and Aldermen Brandon Hebert, Warren Pousson and Seth Manuel. Absent was Alderman Jude Sittig and James Bertrand.

Mayor Leckelt called the meeting to order and led the Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was offered by Alderman Pousson, seconded by Alderman Hebert and carried to dispense with the reading of the minutes of the May 10th council meeting and approve them as written and distributed to each Alderman.

A motion was offered by Alderman Manuel, seconded by Alderman Pousson and carried to approve all invoices presented for payment and appropriate $18,499.58 from Sales Tax to Combined Utilities.

Mr. Jonas Harrington with Mader Engineering was unable to attend the meeting but sent an update on the following projects:

Water Sector Program - The State of Louisiana has announced funding Round 2 of the Water Sector Program. The Water Sector Program funds water and sewer infrastructure projects. Applications for Round 2 of the Water Sector Program can be submitted to the State from July 15, 2022 to August 31, 2022.

Water Main Extension for St. Peters Ave. and S. First St. - The preliminary plans for the project have been completed and we are in the process of finalizing plans and specifications. We are also preparing a LADOTD Right of Way permit for the project. We anticipate presenting final plans to the Mayor and Council for approval at the July 2022 Council Meeting.

FY’ 2021 – 2022 LGAP and CWEF Applications - The FY’ 2021 – 2022 LGAP and CWEF applications were submitted to the Office of Community Development by the June 3, 2022 deadline. The Town should hear from OCD regarding the award of the grants in a few months.

FY’ 2022 – 2023 Capital Outlay Request – Street Improvements - The Town of Iota’ Street Improvements project was included in House Bill No. 2 and signed by the Governor as Act No. 117 in the amount of $200,000 of “State General Fund (Direct) Non-Recurring Revenues”.

A motion was offered by Alderman Hebert, seconded by Alderman Manuel and carried to accept Kirke Beall’s resignation effective June 5, 2022. The paperwork was signed by Mr. Beall on reimbursing for not adhering to Ordinance #177, which states that you must remain with the town for two years after the academy or pay back all expenses incurred with the schooling.

A motion was offered by Alderman Pousson, seconded by Alderman Hebert and carried to close the public hearing on Street Weight Limit ordinance.

After being offered by Alderman Hebert, duly seconded by Alderman Manuel this ordinance was discussed, approve, passed and adopted.

ORDINANCE NO. 208

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF IOTA, ACADIA PARISH, LOUISIANA, TO FIX THE WEIGHT LIMIT OF VEHICLES ON TOWN STREETS AND PROHIBIT CERTAIN VEHICLES ON TOWN STREETS; AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS AND REGULATIONS THEREFOR; TO PROHIBIT THE PARKING OF CERTAIN VEHICLES ON TOWN STREETS AND PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS AND REGULATIONS THEREFOR; TO PROVIDE PENALITIES FOR VIOLATION AND ENHANCED PENALITIES FOR REPETITIVE VIOLATIONS THEREOF; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROVISIONS HEREOF TO BE SEVERABLE; TO REPEAL ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES CONTRARY THERETO OR IN CONFLICT THEREWITH, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ORDINANCE NO. 106; AND TO PROVIDE FOR ALL MATTERS RELATIVE THERETO.

WHEREAS, in view of the limitations of weightbearing capacities of many Town streets and the result of wear and damage caused by heavy vehicular traffic, the Board of Aldermen find it necessary to place additional restrictions and penalties on the operation of freight bearing vehicles in excess of said weight; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide for exceptions for freight bearing vehicles and recreational vehicles making pickups or deliveries to or from any building, structure or residence in the Town and to prohibit the parking of said vehicles on Town streets or rights of way where sufficient property exists to park certain overweight vehicles on the owner’s property; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to provide the owner/operator, motor carrier and any person responsible for the property, building, structure or residence shall be jointly and severally liable for any penalties for such violations; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Aldermen find that in the case of multiple repeated violations of the weight limitations and parking prohibitions, enhanced penalties for the second and subsequent violations are appropriate and required; and

WHEREAS, this ordinance was duly introduced and notice of this ordinance and of the public hearing having been published in accordance with law; and

WHEREAS, a public hearing having been held in accordance with law in regular session on the 14th day of June, 2022, at 5:30 o’clock p.m. at Council Chambers in Town Hall, Iota, Louisiana;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE TOWN OF IOTA, ACADIA PARISH, LOUISIANA, IN REGULAR SESSION DULY CONVENED THAT:

SECTION 1: Weight Limits of Vehicles on Town Streets and Prohibition of Certain Vehicles on Town Streets.

(A) Over 10,000 pounds. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or to permit the driving of any vehicle weighing more than ten thousand (10,000) pounds on any of the streets of the Town, save and except, as provided for herein, that it shall be lawful for any such vehicle, including 18-wheelers, to travel on or over any such street in the event that there is no designated alternate route to and from any business establishment for the purpose of delivering goods, merchandise or services to residences located on such streets to or from state or federal highways situated in the Town; in which event, such vehicle shall travel the most direct route to and from such business established so long as such vehicles are travelling on or over any such street or streets.

(B) Driving 18-wheelers. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive or to permit the driving of a vehicle commonly known or identified as an eighteen-wheeler on any streets situated within the corporate limits of the Town, save and except for state or federal highways or those streets specifically marked as a truck route; save and except that it shall be lawful for any such vehicle to drive on any street within the Town solely for the purpose of pickup and delivery from any business establishment situated in the Town on streets specifically designated therefor as provided for herein and if said business/establishment is not located on a designated route, in which event, such vehicle shall travel the most direct route to and from such business establishment from any federal or state highway or designated truck route; save and except that it shall be lawful to drive the tractor portion only (meaning that the trailer portion has been completely disconnected) on any street solely for the purpose of going to or returning from the driver’s place of residence; in which event, such vehicles shall travel the most direct route from the driver’s place of residence or from the aforesaid state or federal highway or truck route. The most direct route is hereby defined as the shortest route directly to and from the business establishment and requiring the vehicle return by the same route if possible.

(C) Designated routes. The following streets or avenues are hereby designated as specific routes which vehicles exceeding the weight limits in Section (A), those vehicles known as 18-wheelers in Section (B) and vehicles having three or more axels for the purpose of commercial deliveries to any business establishment situated in the Town to and from Louisiana Highway 91/98. Such vehicles shall travel to and from such businesses only on the following routes, to-wit:

(1) LA Highway 91/98 (Duson Avenue) (5th Street) to School Street to 3rd Street and return on same route (Iota High School)

(2) 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street and 4th Street to Oak Street

(3) 2nd Street, 3rd Street and 4th Street to the alleyway on the southside of LA Highway 91/98 (Duson Avenue) (5th Street) and return directly to highway

(4) 1st Street southerly directly to and from the business

(5) Andrepont Street to Frey Street

(D) Parking 18-wheelers. It shall be unlawful to park vehicles commonly known or identified as eighteen-wheelers whether it is the tractor portion, trailer portion or both on any streets or other public places situated within the corporate limits of the Town or on any portion not designated as a commercial or business parking area providing for the parking of eighteen-wheelers; save and except that the driver of such vehicle shall be permitted to park the tractor portion only (meaning that the trailer portion has been completely disconnected) at his official residence provided it is situated completely upon the property occupied by his residence and not upon any property belonging to the Town.

(E) This Section shall not apply to any school bus, fire, police or emergency vehicles engaged in official duties or responsibilities or personally owned motor homes, recreation vehicles and camper trailers which may travel to and from residences. Motor homes, recreation vehicles and camper trailers shall travel the most direct route to and from the federal or state highway.

(F) Penalties. Violations of this section shall be deemed a criminal trespass in violation of Louisiana Revised Statute 14:63 and the following penalties shall be imposed:

(1) First offense: Not less than one hundred & no/100 ($100.00) dollars but no more than five hundred & no/100 ($500.00) dollars or imprisonment of not more than thirty (30) days or both

(2) Second offense: Not less than three hundred & no/100 ($300.00) dollars but no more than seven hundred & 50/100 ($750.00) dollars or imprisonment of not more than ninety (90) days or both

(3) Third offense and all subsequent offenses: Not less than five hundred & no/100 ($500.00) dollars but not more than one thousand & no/100 ($1,000.00) dollars or imprisonment of not less than sixty (60) days but not more than six (6) months or both.

(4) A person shall be convicted of a second offense and a subsequent offense regardless of any prior conviction involving the same facts and circumstanced as the earlier violation and regardless of the time and sequence of the occurrences.

(G) Damages. In addition to the fines and penalties above, nothing herein shall prohibit or limit the ability of the Town from seeking compensation and/or reimbursement for any damages sustained by the Town to its property as a resulting from said violation, including the right to indemnity from any claim by a third-party.

(H) Three or more axles prohibited. Driving a truck, semi-truck, tractor and/or trailer with three or more axles on Town streets except for state and federal highways and designated truck routes, except as provided for above.

SECTION 2: If any provision, part, word, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance should be held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance and do hereby declare the provisions hereof to be severable, then in that event, only that particular provision, part, word, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase shall be deemed unconstitutional or invalid and the remaining provisions, parts, words, sections, subsections, sentences, clauses or phrases will not be affected and shall continue in full force and effect; and

SECTION 3: All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with or in conflict herewith be and the same are hereby repealed; and

THUS DONE, SIGNED AND ADOPTED in regular session at Iota, Acadia Parish, Louisiana, on this the 14th day of June, 2022, at which a quorum was present and acting throughout.

YEAS: Brandon Hebert, Warren Pousson, Seth Manuel

NAYS: None

ABSENT: Jude Sittig, James Bertrand

______________________________

CODY LECKELT, MAYOR

ATTEST:

_______________________________

DOLORES POUSSON, TOWN CLERK

CERTIFICATE

I, DOLORES POUSSON, Clerk of the Town of Iota, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing ordinance is a true and correct copy of the ordinance of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the Town of Iota adopted in regular session on the 14th day of June, 2022, at which a quorum was present and acting throughout.

___________________________________

DOLORES POUSSON, TOWN CLERK

A motion was offered by Alderman Manuel, seconded by Alderman Pousson and carried to approve the repairs from Suire’s Alignment on the 2015 Ford Explorer for $1,044.00.

The Police Department received 25 complaints, issued 20 tickets and made 4 arrests during the month of May.

A motion was offered by Alderman Pousson, seconded by Alderman Hebert and carried to adjourn the meeting.

________________________________ ____________________________

DOLORES G. POUSSON, CITY CLERK CODY S. LECKELT, MAYOR

Published in The Crowley Post Signal on Wednesday, July 20, 2022.