CITY COUNCIL
July 13, 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, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: None.
Council Chairman Mark Peloquin called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Casey Whitehead led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the July 13, 2020 regular session minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer read the financial report. As of June 30, 2020, the overall total revenue, actual year to date is $3,654,614.96 with the FYE 9/30/2020 budget being $4,366,100.00 and a remaining budget of $711,485.04. The total expenses, as of June 30, 2020, actual year to date totals are $3,317,451.83, with the FYE 9/30/2019 budget total expenses being $5,380,920.00, and the remaining budget of $2,063,468.17.
FIRE REPORT
Fire Chief Johnny Copeland was on a structure fire call but his report showed there were 7 calls for the month of June 2020.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Casey Whitehead gave the police report. There were 136 violations in June 2020, 10 arrests, 246 complaints filed, and 4 warrants served. The fines and bonds collected for the month of June totaled $24,700.00. The number of calls for service in District 1 was 53, the number of calls in District 2 was 40, the number of calls for service in District 3 was 62, and the number of calls for District 4 was 46. The DeQuincy PD assisted or backed up the CPSO out of the city limits on 43 calls and assisted the BSPO on 2 calls. The PD Officers patrolled 6022 miles during the month of June.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Eddy Dahlquist was absent and no public works report was read.
SEWER PLANT REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the sewer plant report. The sewer main on Hwy. 12, by the trailer park, was cleaned out, they replaced a sewer tap on Herford Street, replaced the sump pump at the Douglas Road lift station and started the repairs that the city will need to have done prior to the big rehab at the plant. They have also been doing general maintenance at the sewer plant and the lift stations.
Daisy Cole asked if these repairs will help with the sewer problems in her District and Mr. Frazier said it probably would not.
Ronnie Carroll gave the code enforcement report for June. From May 19th, the date he started, through the end of June, there have been 24 compliance notices issued. As of this date, 17 of those have been completed and closed out. Mr. Peloquin asked if the property on 111 Boise Street, which was mentioned in the report, has been mowed. He was told it has not and the city would have to mow or contract to have mowed.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
The DeQuincy Farmer’s Market, sponsored by the DeQuincy Police Department and the DeQuincy Rotary Club, on July 10th and 11th had a very good turnout.
We also had our Juneteenth Celebration this month. The weather was beautiful and it was well attended.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Daisy Cole to approve the July 13, 2020 agenda with one amendment. Item no. 13 was added authorizing Mayor Smith to request direct payment from the State from the allocation of funds to the State of Louisiana from the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act. Council concerns will be moved to no. 14. 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 have been set up outside the building for anyone present, to speak into for public input.
Items on the Agenda:
None
Items not on the Agenda:
Seymour Pullam invited the council to go out to the Grand Avenue Gym and see what it looks like now that it has been cleaned. They set a time on Thursday go out.
Crystal Nix asked that the Code Enforcer look at the house at the corner of Harrison and Pine Street. It has several broken windows and appears to be an unsafe structure.
James Chacherie asked what could be done with the sewer problems on West Street as well as Richard Allen and William Still. Hank said he may be able to change the levels at the lift station and see if that helps.
A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to move to the final step of condemnation of the structure located at 208 Kelly Street. The final step is approval to go forward with demolition. 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 Judy Landry to approve the bid of $255.00 to Hali Manuel for the 1999 Chevrolet Truck w/ utility bed. 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 approve the bid of $502.99 from David Henagan for the 2002 Blue Ford Ranger. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of the ordinance amending the current Junk ordinance. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Daisy Cole to adopt the ordinance amending the current Junk ordinance. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of the ordinance amending the current Weed and Offensive Accumulations ordinance. There were no public comments.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Daisy Cole to adopt the ordinance amending the current Weed and Offensive Accumulations ordinance. 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 Judy Landry to adopt a resolution informing the LA DEQ that the city will continue maintaining our wastewater treatment plant and continue required testing in accordance with the LA DEQ permit. 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 that the variance application, filed by Norman Goffney, be denied with the understanding he can go by the DeQuincy Police Station and talk with Chief Whitehead about relocating. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: Daisy Cole. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Daisy Cole to adopt a resolution authorizing Mayor Smith to sign any and all documents necessary for the purchase of radios for the DeQuincy Police Department through a lease purchase agreement with Motorola through US Bank. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None
After a short discussion on the water park at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum Park, the Mayor suggested that the matter be tabled. A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs that the discussion of the water park at the DeQuincy Railroad Museum Park be tabled until the January 2021 council meeting. 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 Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs that a resolution be adopted authorizing Mayor Smith, on behalf of the City of DeQuincy, to request direct payments from the State of Louisiana from the allocation of funds to the State of Louisiana from the Coronavirus Relief Fund created by the CARES Act. 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 voiced her complaints on allowing fireworks in the city limits. She received numerous complaints from her constituents. She would like to see a committee put together and a decision made about fireworks in the city limits. Also, at the corner of Yoakum Street and Frazier, the owners of the mobile home are putting debris in the ditches for the trash men to pick up and it should be put in trash containers. She asked that the Code Enforcement Officer go talk to them.
Denise Maddox mentioned her concerns about the drainage from Smith to Overton Street on the side of Buxton Creek. Mayor Smith advised her we have brought our engineers out to look at the site and they are working on a solution to the erosion. Denise also asked the Mayor if he received a list, from a local business owner that complained, of private property he thought the city employees were mowing. The Mayor said he had not.
Daisy Cole received a citizen complaint about the condition of our city streets. He showed her a picture of a deep hole at the corner of Martin Luther King and Jefferson Street that needs attention. She was also asked about when the city would be mowing the grass on the Union Pacific property, next to the tracks. It was explained the city was not allowed to mow the UP ride of ways without their permission, which we do not have. She asked that Mr. Carroll look in to the matter further. Ms. Cole also received a complaint from a citizen that some of the citizens on the west side of town did not pay water bills and wanted to know why. Mayor Smith explained the city does not own the water company so we have no control over that utility. Ms. Cole asked what kind of insurance the city has on the gym and again mentioned the money that was paid for insurance and a summer program did not add up to the $7,000 budgeted. The corner of Booker and East Street the grass needs to be cut. Lastly, she complemented Eddy for cutting the entire property by himself in preparation for the Juneteenth celebration. Dwayne Tarver’s crew cut the trees back and the police department furnished snow cones and drinks for the celebration. Ms. Cole thanked all of them for their help. Mentioned Grand Avenue Gym services everyone and they would like to get the substance abuse program started back again.
Ronda Jacobs asked if the street crew was still digging and cleaning out the ditches.
Mayor Smith asked the council members to call in work orders to City Hall so we will have a record of the work needing to be done.
Mark Peloquin asked the council to give a name of a constituent in each district to work on the fireworks ordinance with the two council members.
Denise Maddox made a motion to adjourn and Ronda Jacobs seconded the motion.
ATTEST:
/s/Pat Brummett
City Council Clerk
APPROVED:
/s/Riley Smith
Mayor
Run: 08/12/2020 (AU-4)
