CITY COUNCIL
March 8, 2021
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 Denise Maddox called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Mark Peloquin led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the January 26, 2021 special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Daisy Cole to approve the February 8, 2021 regular meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the February 18, 2021 special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
Motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the February 23, 2021 special meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer read the financial report. As of February 28, 2021, the overall total revenue, actual year to date is $2,387,087.63 with the FYE 9/30/2021 budget being $4,471,100.00 and a remaining budget of $2,084,012.37. The total expenses, as of February 28, 2021, actual year to date totals are $2,195,759.87, with the FYE 9/30/2021 budget total expenses being $5,604,970.00, and the remaining budget of $3,409,210.13.
FIRE REPORT
Chief Johnny Copeland read the fire report. There were 8 calls for February 2021.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Casey Whitehead gave the police report for February 2021. There were 121 violations, 14 arrests, 224 complaints filed, and 75 warnings given. The fines and bonds collected for the month of February totaled approximately $12,912.00. The PD Officers patrolled approx. 5501 miles during the month of February 2021.
CODE ENFORCEMENT
REPORT
Mr. Carroll gave the council a brief run down on all of the violations issued in February 2021.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Eddy Dahlquist gave the public works report. The past two weeks he has mostly been working with the constructional engineer who is preparing paperwork to submit to FEMA regarding damages from the hurricanes to all city property.
SEWER PLANT REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the sewer plant report. They replaced a sewer tap on Beech Street and Third Street and put in a new sewer tap on Boise Street. Mr. Frazier had to pull all three pumps on the Douglas Street lift station twice to pull rags out of them which was partially due to the excessive flow from everyone running their water during the ice storm. They had to replace one of the pumps and also replaced the float system at the Wilcox Pump Station. The crew cleaned the transducer system and also cleaned the sewer system on Hayes Street.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
Just a reminder to everyone, the debris removal will be ending soon. The last day to put out your debris is March 12th.
The sewer plant overhaul is coming along well and they will be pouring cement this week.
We are very proud of this project and we encourage the council to go out and look at the plant once the work is done.
We are still working with FEMA on the hurricane restoration but this is a very, very slow process. We have had to pay out quite a bit of money but so far have been reimbursed less than $10,000.00 from FEMA. We hope to be reimbursed much more but again, it is a very slow process.
We are in the process of starting the Chavis Square project. Should be going out for bids soon.
We would like to send out a huge Thank You to LAWCO for keeping our water up and running during the ice storm. We were the only city in the Parish to stay up and we are very proud of our water company for their diligence in keeping us up.
We have received word that the Louisiana Railroad Days Festival will be held this year but I do not have all of the details yet. We will be meeting with the Festival Representatives to get all of the particulars and will try to keep you informed. I do know it will be scaled way back this year.
Mark Peloquin asked for a clarification on debris pickup. If residents are not able to get their debris to the street before the deadline, will it be their responsibility to have their debris hauled off? He was told yes, it would be their responsibility.
A motion was made by Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to approve the March 8, 2021 agenda. Without objection, the motion carried.
PUBLIC INPUT:
Items on Agenda:
None
Items not on Agenda:
Greg Marcantel addressed the council about the patent he has gotten on a cart washing machine used to clean out and disinfect garbage cans.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to adopt a resolution approving the Airport Operations and Emergency Program 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 Mark Peloquin and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt a resolution approving the task order no. 1 for ICE (Consulting and Representation Services) for disaster recovery for the City of DeQuincy. 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 Ronda Jacobs and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt a resolution approving change order no. 1 by ICE for Engineering and Architectural Services for revisions to the subject contract for language specific to Hurricane Laura permitting ICE to perform public assistance management services for Hurricane Delta. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
After a brief discussion regarding the abandonment of the two alleyways in Hereford Addition No. 2, a motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to table this matter again until such time as the city removes and/or disconnects its gas lines from the alleyways. 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 Daisy Cole and seconded by Judy Landry to authorize Mayor Smith to accept the bid of $901.00 for the 2011 Ford Crown Vic., VIN# 2434. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Daisy Cole, Mark Peloquin, Denise Maddox and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: None. Abstain: None.
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
Mark Peloquin asked if the city could schedule a trash bash sometime in the near future.
Daisy Cole voiced a complaint about Waste Management. She also asked about what could be done about a leaning tree on the corner of Coward Street. Lastly, Ms. Cole voiced her concern about kids staying late, playing basketball, at the Grand Avenue School yard. She asked is if the city could possible close the park and/or school yard at a certain time in the evening to help keep the noise down for the people living around the school yard and park.
Ronda Jacobs again thanked the city workers for all of their hard work during the recent disasters and asked if anything would be done with the tennis courts on the west side of town.
Judy Landry asked if we could do something about the house at the corner of Yoakum and Hall Street.
Denise Maddox had no council concerns.
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: April 14, 2021 (A-2)
