Legal Notice
CITY OF VILLE PLATTE
REGULAR MEETING
JUNE 11, 2024
Mayor Ryan Williams called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. After an opening prayer and the pledge of Allegiance, roll was called. In attendance was Councilwoman Lemoine, Councilwoman Sam, Councilwoman Frank, Councilman Roy, Councilman Jagneaux, Councilman Riggs City Clerk and Tax Collector Bergeron, City Attorney Ludeau, Police Chief Thomas and Fire Chief Soileau.
Before taking on the business items on the agenda Mayor Williams turned the meeting over to Councilman Jagneaux, assistant power lifting coach, to introduce the Sacred Heart High School Power lifting team and their Head Coach Duane Urbina. Coach Urbina describe the successes the team has accomplished this year. The boys’ and girls’ team were introduced. Mayor Williams presented awards on behalf of the city to the two teams as well as individual awards to state champions Jesse Johnson, Madeline Fusilier and Adeline Launey. Adeline Launey also earned a National Championship.
First item of business was approval of the May 10th Public Hearing minutes. A motion by Councilwoman Frank was 2nd by Councilwoman Sam and unanimously approved. Second item was approval of the May 14th Public Hearing minutes. Motion by Councilman Jagneaux and 2nd by Councilwoman Frank, unanimously approved. Third item was approval of May 17th Special meeting minutes. Motion by Councilman Jagneaux, 2nd by Councilwoman Frank, unanimously approved. May financial reports were presented to the council and comments were called for. There being no comments, a motion to approve the financial statements as presented was offered by Councilwoman Frank, 2nd by Councilman Roy and unanimously approved.
First agenda item was to set a date and time for a public hearing and a special meeting to review amendments to the 2023-2024 budget and to review and adopt the proposed 2024-2025 budget. A motion to set the public hearing for June 27th at 5:00 PM and the budget meeting immediately following the public hearing was offered by Councilman Roy and 2nd by Councilwoman Frank. The motion was unanimously approved.
Second agenda item was a review of two damage claims against the city. The first claim was for a windshield on a van owned by Evangeline ARC that was damaged by our grass cutting crew. The low estimate by Global Windshield of $365.00 was approved with a motion from Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilwoman Sam. Motion approved unanimously. Second damage claim was for damages to a vehicle that drove over an uncovered manhole that occurred during a high rain event. The repair estimate from Service Chevrolet for $2,260.33 was approved unanimously after a motion from Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilman Roy.
Third agenda item was to award the Love Louisiana Outdoors Project to the low bidder, Clause Construction Co. Inc. for the base bid of $415,275. Less deductive alternates 1, 2, and 3 for the amount of $390,275. This award is contingent on a Change Order being executed after the signing of the contracts, said Change Order reducing the contract amount to $367,000. This change order is a result of a Value Engineering of the project, which will change the material of the pavilion from cedar to treated pine; all other contract conditions would remain less and except the 3 deductive alternates. A motion to approve awarding the contract as presented was offered by Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilman Jagneaux. Motion unanimously approved.
Engineer Landreneau reported he will be a meeting in July on the 3 large park projects to get those parks moving forward. The contracts have been signed for the lift station project and equipment has been ordered. There will be a kickoff meeting in mid-July for the new fire station.
Fire Chief Soileau reported in the month of May, the fire department was dispatched to 18 incidents in the city, and 10 in the surrounding fire district, for a total of 28 incidents.
• NONE of the incidents in the city was structure fires.
• Crews have completed our annual fire hose testing and have begun inspecting and flow-testing fire hydrants, which will continue for the remainder of the month during weekday mornings
• We request the approval to hire 2 provisional firefighter/operator recruits:
Oxzabein Serie ($10.70 hr.)
Cole Fontenot ($10.70 hr.)
Motion to hire was made by Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilwoman Sam. Motion unanimously approved.
Chief Thomas reported in May his department responded to 668 calls for assistance. 24 citations and 26 arrest, which includes 11 felony arrest. They also responded to 26 accidents. Chief Thomas requested the hiring of 3 new police officers, Terrel Johnson, Jarrad Mouton, and Carla Thibodeaux. Mayor Williams noted as long as all paper work is in order he had no objections. Motion made by Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilman Roy. Motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Williams asked to add an agenda item. Motion by Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilman Roy. Motion passed unanimously.
The added item was to declare 3 police department vehicles as surplus, a 2009 Ford Expedition, and two 2014 Dodge Chargers and authorize the vehicles be sold per state law. Motion to declare surplus and sell by Councilwoman Frank and 2nd by Councilman Roy. Motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Williams gave the following report to the council:
Update from the meeting at the State Capitol back on May 16. Our meeting went very well with the State Bond Commission. Chris Ludeau, Eric Lafleur, and myself testified at this particular meeting and we presenting all of the facts and information justifying the city’s request. After the State Bond Commission meeting was over the commission approved the city’s request for up to $20 million, to pay off the concessional agreements that the previous mayor entered into with Sustainability Partners LLC back in mid-2022. I’m very thankful to be able to get out of this agreement with SP, which will still cost the city money but not as much as it, would if we were to stay in this agreement. The structure of this agreement would have crippled the city long term and would have cost the city millions of dollars if we couldn’t get out of this deal. Coming into office in January of ‘23 this was by far the biggest issue along with a few others that myself and the council members inherited.
Update on the wastewater plant, the bypass has been installed and the contractors have completed the decanting & dewatering phase. They are currently removing sludge from out of the south basin. So far, approximately 350,000 gallons of sludge has been removed. The plan will be to combine multiple sources of grant funding to have an economical approach to getting our wastewater treatment plant up to date and back into compliance.
I will be getting with our Evangeline Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness along with our other local officials to coordinate the emergency response plan just in case any type of disaster occurs. Hurricane season has begun.
The city will be attempting to apply for federal grant funding through the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant Program. The deadline to address a lot of our issues with our gas system such as the old steel and PVC pipes. We are trying to get this application done by the 20th of this month.
The city will be applying for funding for our water treatment plant, water main lines, ground water storage tank, water meters, etc. LITACOR will be applying for funding through the state’s water revolving loan program, which covers 51% of the loan, and LITACOR will pick up the other 49% to make this a fully funded project, once we put together the full scope of the project.
I will be reappointing Mrs. Wanda Skinner to the Ville Platte Housing Authority Board.
The city of Ville Platte has partnered with the Daisie Mae Foundation Summer Camp Program. There are over 250 kids all throughout our community participating in the program. This program is doing really well and offers our youth different things to do while on summer break. Equipping our youth with the necessary tools to succeed in all aspects of life is the main goal of this program. The program began on June 3rd and ends August 9th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., Monday - Friday.
I will be appointing Mr. Jorie Randle to the Evangeline Parish Solid Waste Commission Board.
The city’s basketball court project has started. All of the old goals are being removed, new foundations are being poured, and eight new Mega Slam hoop goals, which should be installed within the coming week for phase 1 of the project. Once materials come in, we will give all three basketball courts a face lift for phase two of the project.
Canals project should be wrapped up by early next week and the addressing of all of the adjudicated and dilapidated structures will begin.
The city of Ville Platte with be hosting its 1st Celebration of Independence on Thursday the 4th of July. This event will bring our community together for some good clean entertainment, kid’s events and a firework show to conclude the event. I want to personally thank all sponsors that are partnering with the city of Ville Platte to make this possible.
There being no other business, a motion to adjourn was offered by Councilwoman Lemoine seconded by Councilwoman Sam and was approved unanimously.
The June 11th special meeting was adjourned at 6:37 PM.
Attested By:
Mayor Ryan LeDay Williams
City Clerk & Tax Collector Donald Bergeron
062724