CITY COUNCIL
DeQuincy, LA
August 10, 2020
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 (arrived at 6:15 due to being held up in traffic), 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 Mary Jo Bayles led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Denise Maddox to approve the July 13, 2020 regular session minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the July 23, 2020 special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer read the financial report. As of July 31, 2020, the overall total revenue, actual year to date is $4,047,408.90 with the FYE 9/30/2020 budget being $4,366,100.00 and a remaining budget of $318,691.10. The total expenses, as of July 31, 2020, actual year to date totals are $3,510,964.44, with the FYE 9/30/2019 budget total expenses being $5,380,920.00, and the remaining budget of $1,869,955.56.
FIRE REPORT
Fire Chief Johnny Copeland is on vacation this week but his report showed there were 7 calls for the month of July 2020.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Casey Whitehead gave the police report for July. There were 197 violations, 29 arrests, 300 complaints filed, and 13 warrants served. The fines and bonds collected for the month of July totaled $23,416.00. The number of calls for service in District 1 was 67, the number of calls in District 2 was 41, the number of calls for service in District 3 was 72, and the number of calls for District 4 was 71. The DeQuincy PD assisted or backed up the CPSO out of the city limits on 46 calls and the PD Officers patrolled 7014 miles during the month of July.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Eddy Dahlquist gave the public works report. The street department has hired three new employees which will help with the summer grass cutting. We have killed 5 gas services and filled pot holes around town bust mostly have been trying to catch up on the grass while the sun is shining.
SEWER PLANT REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the sewer plant report. The July quarterly composite test came back and they were all good. Repairs were made to the no. 2 pump in the Douglas Road Lift Station which turned out to be a two day project. We have started the rehab on the Hwy. 27 N. lift station and have requested estimates on roofing material to repair the roof. I have started a survey on the sewer mains and service lines to see what it would take to stop infiltrations to keep the manholes from overflowing. I have a couple of contractors working with me who will figure the price on everything, which will depend on the linear footage and depth of the lines.
Denise Maddox asked that Mr. Frazier give her reports of the cost in stages and he agreed to do so.
Mark Peloquin asked when he would start reporting and Mr. Frazier said he should be able to start reporting in a couple months.
Ronnie Carroll referred to his report, a copy of which was furnished to the council and welcomed any questions the council had. He also mentioned he had not found a wrecker company that was willing to pick up the junk vehicles.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
Closed on the sale of the city building and property at 211 N. Pine Street. O’Riley’s has started clearing the property for construction of their business on the West side of town.
The state is doing a study on Hwy. 27, from the intersection of Hwy. 12 and 27 to the outside of town on Hwy.27, trying to determine whether or not a turn lane will be added.
We received a report back from the architect on the Grand Avenue Gym and it will be presented to the Grand Avenue Gym Board later in the week.
We have gotten a report from our engineers regarding the drainage ditch in West Park and have been told the Drainage Board is actually responsible for repairing the damage to this ditch.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the August 10, 2020 agenda with one addition. Add, to be no. 10, adopt a Resolution allowing Mayor Smith to sign an Agreement between CLHG-DeQuincy, LLC d/b/a DeQuincy Memorial Hospital and the DeQuincy Police Department regarding transportation of mental health patients, and move council concerns to No. 11. 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:
Adoption of an ordinance regarding the proposed budget of Expenditures for the FYE 9/30/21. No comments. A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt an ordinance regarding the proposed budget of Expenditures for the FYE 9/30/21. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: Denise Maddox.
A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Daisy Cole to introduce an ordinance and set a public hearing for September 14, 2020, regarding providing for implementation of the Provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act 2020 regarding Emergency Paid Sick Leave.
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 proceed to the first step of condemnation regarding the property at 120 S. Pine Street. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
After a long discussion a motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs that the council authorize Mayor Smith to discuss leasing city property west of town at the rate of 7.5 cents a square foot.
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 authorize Mayor Smith to sign an Agreement between CLHG-DeQuincy, LLC d/b/a DeQuincy Memorial Hospital and the City of DeQuincy to allowing the DeQuincy Police Department to transport mental health patients on behalf of the hospital. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
Mary Jo advised the council that the Drainage Trust grant we apply for each year has been pushed back because of Covid 19 but Mark, with Meyer and Associates, said we will be able to file for repairs to the Grand Avenue Bridge. This bridge was temporarily fixed recently but we will need to go back and do major repairs so this grant will help. She also asked that the council turn in their list of streets to be over-laid.
Judy Landry thanked Mr. Carroll for his work on code enforcement.
Denise Maddox also thanked Mr. Carroll and also mentioned the council went out to the Grand Avenue Gym, after it was cleaned, and commended the workers on how much better the gym looked. She asked if we have a company that services our fire extinguishers. Mayor Smith will be getting with the gym Board Members later in the week to discuss repairs to the gym.
Daisy Cole mentioned the Grand Avenue Board has a new secretary is now on the board so the documentation for the Board will be more organized. Ms. Cole also thanked the Police Department for how they handled Lt. Colonel Beauregard Brown’s Funeral. She also thanked the council for going out and looking at the gym and it had been cleaned up. In regard to work orders, how are they handled? Ms. Cole also feels the south side of town needs more work done on their sewer problems.
Ronda Jacobs also thanked Mr. Carroll and also mentioned what a great job the road crew was doing in her district.
Mark Peloquin also mentioned Mr. Carroll and how well he was working with the citizens.
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
/s/ Mark Peloquin
COUNCIL CHAIRMAN:
Run: Oct 21, 2020 (O-16)
