CITY COUNCIL
May 18, 2020
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, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: Daisy Cole.
Council Chairman Mark Peloquin called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Police Chief Casey Whitehead led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Denise Maddox to approve the March 13, 2020 regular session minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the March 13, 2020 special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer read the financial report. As of April 31, 2020, the overall total revenue, the actual year to date is $3,031,998.82 with the FYE 9/30/2020 budget being $4,366,100.00 and a remaining budget of $1,334,101.18. The total expenses, as of April 31, 2020, actual year to date totals are $2,772,826.87, with the FYE 9/30/2019 budget total expenses being $5,380,920.00, and the remaining budget of $2,608,093.13.
FIRE REPORT
Fire Chief Johnny Copeland read the fire report for April. The Fire Department had one (1) call for April 2020.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Casey Whitehead gave the police report. There were 24 tickets issued in April 2020, 11 arrests, 178 complaints filed, and 45 warnings issued. The fines and bonds collected for the month of April totaled $7,130.00. The number of calls for service in District 1 was 36, the number of calls in District 2 was 28, the number of calls for service in District 3 was 31, and the number of calls for District 4 was 42. The DeQuincy PD assisted or backed up the CPSO out of the city limits on 40 calls and the BPSO on 1 calls.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Eddy Dahlquist gave the public works report. The crew installed twenty-two (22) culverts and mowed one side of the creek. The mower broke down so as soon as it is fixed the other side will be mowed. Eddy advised the council that Dixie Youth is going to play ball for one month in order to use up the food previously purchased for the concession stand. They will not open the players in the dug outs in order to practice social distancing and will also require the visitors watching practice social distancing. Council Member Denise Maddox asked Chief Whitehead if this would be permitted and he said he had checked with the State and it will be permitted if social distancing is practiced.
SEWER PLANT REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the sewer plant report. They have started rebuilding the Hwy. 27 lift station and will be doing one phase at a time. They have painted it and ordered some pump parts. It will gradually all be repaired. Part of the sewer main behind Heritage Inn and Tigerland has been repaired and replaced. They have replaced 2 driveways on Velmer Street, cleaned the sewer on Smith Street, the alley behind Seymour Pullam Road, and replaced the wet well in the Douglas sewer station. Council member Denise Maddox asked Hank to explain what the indicator lights mean on the pumps. Council Member Daisy Cole asked about the drainage on Coward Street. She wanted to know if slow drainage was from the lack of pump capacity or was it drainage. Hank explained it is from drainage and has nothing to do with the wastewater pumps or plant. Infiltration is one of the biggest problems with the wastewater plant. When we get a huge rain or people open up their clean out caps in their yards, all of that water goes to the ditches and if there are broken lines in the ditches, all of the water goes to the sewer plant.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
City Hall was painted and some rotten boards replaced which was funded by our 2020 LGAP grant.
We are close to the completion of our new park at the Railroad Museum and hopefully will be able to open it back up during Phase II. We will also be opening City Hall, full time with full staff, when the State moves to Phase II. Right now we are open but have shorter hours and a limited office staff.
Ronnie Carroll, our new Code Enforcement Officer, was introduced to the council.
Thank you to Buddy Windham for helping up set up City Hall with speakers on the outside of the building together with a radio channel so we could broadcast our meeting to the public outside the building.
A special thanks to all of the city department heads and city personnel for working during this pandemic.
Ronda Jacobs asked who would be policing the ball fields to make sure they will be practicing the social distancing.
Judy Landry made a motion to approve the May 18, 2020 agenda and Denise Maddox seconded the motion. Without objection, the motion carried.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Items Not on Agenda: Because, with the social distancing rules, our Council Chamber is not big enough to allow the public in the building, speakers and a microphone was set up outside the building for anyone that was present, to speak into for public input.
Daisy Cole spoke on behalf of Seymour Pullam. Mr. Pullam’s concern was regarding the light on the Grand Avenue Gym property as well as a gate being put on the back of the property. Mayor Smith said Cleco was contacted about the light.
Items on the Agenda:
None
A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to adopt a resolution authorizing Mayor Smith to sign the Cares Act Airport Grant Agreement for the DeQuincy Industrial Airport. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Daisy Cole to set a condemnation hearing for June 8, 2020 on the structure at 208 Kelly Street. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to put the following vehicles back up for bid: 2003 Blue Ford Pickup (6701), 1999 Chevrolet ? ton truck w/utility bed (2086) and a 2006 Dodge Durango (6266).
A public hearing was held regarding amending the mobile home ordinance. There was no public comment.
A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to amend the mobile home ordinance. It was noted that the ordinance presented for signature needed a change in 6(a)(1) to read or rather than and, and add the word feet in Section 6(b)(3). Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None Abstain: None.
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
Judy Landry asked that the street sign be put up at the corner of Harrison Street and Lake Charles Avenue and that the Philan building property be cleaned up.
Denise Maddox thanked Mr. Buddy Windham again for helping with our speaker system in the council chambers and asked Eddy if the problem with the ditch on Boise Street could be fixed. The ditch in front of the second and third house is constantly standing in water. She also asked Chief Whitehead to make sure the neighborhoods are being patrolled.
Judy Landry had no concerns this month.
Daisy Cole thanked the police department for patrolling in her district and thanked the city crew for the work they have done. She also mentioned that the Grand Avenue Gym had been broken into two times and the PD is working the case. Lastly, she mentioned she had brought gloves to the police department.
Ronda Jacobs welcomed Ronnie Carroll to the city and asked about the house that burned on Overton Street. She has been getting complaints and wondered when the lot would be cleaned up. She also asked that the travel trailer on Groves Street be checked out.
Mark Peloquin appreciated the work being done on the lift station on Hwy. 27. It has been painted but he does still have some concerns about the building, such as the windows and roof. Also, Dixie youth will have games for the month of June only.
Daisy Cole also mentioned the windows in the old gym. They need to be replaced. Seymour Pullam is trying to replace the windows with boards.
Mayor Smith mentioned a parade for the High School Seniors on Friday at 7 pm.
Mary Jo Bayles mentioned our engineer, Byron Racca, with Myer’s & Associates was in a serious accident and asked that everyone please keep him in their prayers. Also, Myer’s & Associates is staying on top of the Care’s Act and will prepare whatever paperwork necessary for the city.
Ronda Jacobs made a motion to adjourn and Judy Landry seconded the motion.
ATTEST:
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:
/s/Mark Peloquin
RUN: June 10, 2020(Ju-3)
