CITY COUNCIL
June 10, 2019
DeQuincy, LA
The city council of the city of DeQuincy met in regular session on the above date in the city hall council chambers located at 300 Holly Street, DeQuincy, Louisiana, with the following members present: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: None.
Council Chairman Denise Maddox called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Daisy Cole led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Mark Peloquin to approve the May 13, 2019 regular session minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer, CPA, gave the financial report. As of May 31, 2019, the overall total revenue, the actual year to date is $3,630,043.37 with the budget being $4,161,100.00, with a remaining budget of $531,056.63. The total expenses, as of May 31, 2019, are $3,113,159.51, with the budget being $5,409,770.00, with a remaining budget of $2,296,610.49.
FIRE REPORT
Fire Chief Johnny Copeland gave the fire report for the month of May 2019. They had eleven (11) calls for the month.
POLICE REPORT
Interim Police Chief, Roy Williams gave the police report. The bonds and fines totaled $26,104.00. To date, a total of $32,267.00 has been paid for the fines in the new Amnesty Program.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Eddy Dahlquist gave the public works report. They had five (five) sewer service lines repairs and had to go into the street to repair three of them. Two (2) gas services were killed and we got the ball complex mowed for the tournament starting this weekend. The crew has been digging ditches and patching pot holes and are getting ready to dig a lot more ditches once our machine is in.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
We will be closing on the sewer bond loan in a couple of weeks.
The Yoakum Street project is still moving forward.
Mayor Smith said he would like to meet in the next couple of weeks with the Committee working on ordinance changes.
The LMA Conference will be on August 1-4 in Monroe this year. Any council member planning to attend needs to get their information to our City Clerk.
Our street crew will start working in the various districts to coordinate the week number in the month. We will start in District 3, the third week of this month, and will work on ditches primarily but will also be picking up limbs, etc.
Ronda Jacobs made a motion to approve the June 10, 2019 agenda and Judy Landry seconded the motion. Without objection, the motion carried.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs to amend the agenda by changing number 8 to read: Introduce an ordinance and set a public hearing for July 8, 2019 regarding the contract for solid waste collection with Waste Management. The motion was seconded by Judy Landry. Without objection, motion carried.
Public Input:
Not on Agenda:
Alice Faye Danclair presented Mayor Smith with a plaque on behalf of the Love Community Mission for the work he has done for the Love Community Mission.
David Brawner asked that the council take action on the house on Hwy. 12 that has been in the process of being demolished for several months. He feels the process has gone on too long and the owner should be given a time limit in which to have the house down. Council Chairman Maddox said she would contact the homeowner.
Scott Wylie asked the council for help with the ditch situation on LeBlanc Street. He said he has actually lost yard in the last few months and about $1,500 of rock that he had put on his driveway has been washed down. Now there is a telephone pole close to his driveway that is leaning. Eddy explained they just got their new machine in for digging ditches and would go to LeBlanc Street and see what could be done.
Dennis Bell asked the council to think about taking council action on a house, across the street from him, which is in bad need to repairs and one on College Street that needs to be condemned. The council asked that a letter be sent to the homeowner.
Items on the agenda.
None
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Mark Peloquin to sell the city building and property situated at 211 N. Pine Street for the appraised value of $60,000.00. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Valecia Royer, CPA, explained to the council some of the changes made in the proposed 9/30/2020 budget. A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Daisy Cole to introduce and ordinance and set a public hearing for August 13, 2019 regarding he proposed budget of expenditures for the FYE 9/30/20. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy cole, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to appoint the DeQuincy News as the official journal of the City of DeQuincy. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Judy Landry to introduce an ordinance and set a public hearing for July 8, 2019 regarding the solid waste contract with Waste Management. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the appointment of the new Police Chief, Casey Whitehead. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
Denise Maddox recognized former Police Chief Michael Suchanek for his 25 years of service to the DeQuincy Police Department.
COUNCIL CONCERNS
Judy Landry asked who owned the property the Phelan Building is situated on. She was told the KCS Railroad owned the land. Ms. Landry asked that a letter be written. She also asked that a letter be sent to the CenturyLink Telephone Company for their high grass.
Daisy Cole apologized for her absence at the City Council Meeting in May. She explained her nephew had passed away on Mother’s Day and therefore she was not able to attend. Although her message was passed on the Council and Mayor, who mentioned her in our May meeting, she felt she needed to personally apologize. She also mentioned hearing from a railroad person a couple months ago regarding cleaning train cars. She was told he contacted the city and made an appointment to see the Mayor regarding bringing his business to DeQuincy. She was disappointed that Mayor Smith was not available for the appointment. It was explained to her Mayor Smith did let the gentleman know he would not be available to meet with him that day and that Mayor Smith has made several attempts, to no avail, to contact the gentleman since that date. Ms. Cole also mentioned the housing board term of Amos Jones is nearing an end and she would like to suggest that Christine Phillips be appointed in his place.
Mark Peloquin said he reached out to the Parish regarding the mowing of Buxton Creek, which they should be doing at least twice a year. They are sending someone to DeQuincy to discuss this matter. He also mentioned the drainage on LeBlanc Street and the gravel that is being washed away.
Ronda Jacobs mentioned the dead tree on Hwy. 389 again. She asked that Cleco be contacted to cut the tree down since their electrical lines are in the tree. Also, on Hwy 389 and Groves Street, the big drain culvert need to be cleaned.
Denise Maddox asked if the big hole on N. Frazier Street been filled.
Judy Landry made a motion to adjourn and Ronda Jacobs seconded the motion.
ATTEST
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:
/s/Denise Maddox
Run: July 10, 2019 (Jy-3)
