?CITY COUNCIL
June 14, 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, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Absent: Daisy Cole.
Council Chairman Denise Maddox called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Smith gave the invocation and Doug Cox led the pledge of allegiance.
Motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to approve the May 10, 2021 regular meeting minutes. Without objection, the motion carried.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Valecia Royer read the financial report. As of May 31, 2021, the overall total revenue, actual year to date is $3,967,489.66 with the FYE 9/30/2021 budget being $4,471,100.00 and a remaining budget of $503,610.34. The total expenses, as of May 31, 2021, actual year to date totals are $3,440,059.47, with the FYE 9/30/2021 budget total expenses being $5,604,970.000000, and the remaining budget of $2,164,910.53.
FIRE REPORT
Chief Johnny Copeland read the fire report. There were six (6) calls for May 2021.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Casey Whitehead gave the police report for May 2021. There were 73 violations, 11 arrests, 263 complaints filed, and 36 warnings given. The fines and bonds collected for the month of May totaled approximately $13,192.70. The PD Officers patrolled approx. 4567 miles during the month of May 2021.
CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT
Mr. Carroll gave the council a brief run down on all of the violations issued in May 2021. Mr. Carroll mentioned he had talked to the owner of the Market Basket property again and he is still working with the insurance company. Mr. Carroll was also asked about several other structures that need attention in town.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Eddy Dahlquist, our Public Works Director, was absent.
SEWER PLANT REPORT
Hank Frazier gave the sewer report. He mentioned the street crew had been cleaning ditches and mowing grass around town as the weather permitted. They also serviced all of the zero turn mowers, repaired the big bush hog and got the old dump truck running. Mr. Frazier then moved on to his sewer report. The work on the Wilcox Lift Station has been completed and he and his crew repaired the Tigerland Sewer line crossing that was damaged in the last big rain we had that flooded Buxton Creek. They also repaired a sewer tap behind Nichols and repaired a sewer main on Hwy. 389, under the Buxton Bridge which was also caused by the last big rain. The sludge rake at the Wastewater Pant was worked on and the bioassay test at the Wastewater Plant was completed. Mr. Frazier is also working closely with Meyer and Associates on future projects for the sewer system.
CITY REPORT GIVEN BY MAYOR SMITH
? An update on councilman Daisy Cole; she is still having serious health issues as a result of her recent fall and is in a Houston Hospital. Please keep her in your prayers.
? The Chavis Square Project will begin on June 21.
? The Town Hall Meeting with Waste Management will be rescheduled and a notice will be put in the DeQuincy News and on our Face Book page.
? We will be looking for a new part-time City Planner to replace Mary Jo, who is making a move over to the airport. She will be staying on with the city for a while longer but, after the new planner is trained, will only be working on airport projects.
? The LMA Convention will be July 29-31 in Baton Rouge. If you plan to attend, please get with Pat.
? Mayor Kenny Stinson, his City Clerk Mary Vice, and Police Chief Ricky Fox will have a retirement reception tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. and all of the council has been invited.
? Mary Jo shared information on a meeting today with the Sheriff’s Dept., Gohsep and City Officials regarding emergency preparedness that will be set up at our airport.
? Ronda Jacobs asked the Mayor and Mary Jo about having a trash bash. They will try to schedule it for August.
A motion was made Judy Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs approve the June 14, 2021 agenda. Without objection, the motion carried.
Public Input
Items Not on the Agenda:
Mr. Rollo asked when the ditches would be maintained again. Mrs. Maddox explained that was an agenda item and would be discussed more fully when they came to that item.
Scott Wylie asked about the Waste Management Contract and whether or not it had a Force Majeure clause in the contract.
Mr. Joey Gilland asked who is responsible for repairing the roads after the utility lines in the road have been repaired. In this case a water line. He was told the utility company should go back and repair the road.
Mr. Joey Gilland also asked about the gas leak on Perkins Street that had been brought to the attention of the gas company.
Items on the Agenda:
None
A condemnation hearing was held on the structure located at 331 Hall Street. There were no public comments and the hearing was closed.
A motion was made by July Landry and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to move forward with the condemnation of the structure at 331 Hall Street. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin, and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Judy Landry and seconded by Mark Peloquin to appoint the DeQuincy News as the official journal for the City of DeQuincy. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of an ordinance amending the FYE 9/30/20 budget. There were no public comments and the hearing was closed.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Judy Landry to adopt an ordinance amending the FYE 9/30/20 budget. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Ronda Jacobs to introduce an ordinance and set a public hearing regarding the proposed budget of expenditures for the FYE 9/30/22. Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
A public hearing was held regarding the adoption of an ordinance abandoning the front sidewalk in front of the DeQuincy Iron Horse Pub. Ronda Jacobs asked that the ordinance we checked because she saw what she thought was an error or typo in describing the location of the sidewalk. The hearing was closed.
A motion was made by Mark Peloquin and seconded by Judy Landry that they adopt an ordinance abandoning the north sidewalk in front of the DeQuincy Iron Horse Pub and that the ordinance presented be amended, correcting the second paragraph to read, “the abandonment of the sidewalk adjoining its property on the North side” rather than on the West and South sides. . Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
There was a discussion about the code enforcer’s duties post hurricane. It was made clear that the city will not be enforcing the hurricane damaged roofs be repaired immediately but he was asked to look for any loose debris that could be a problem if another hurricane were to come through and to advise the homeowners that it could be a problem. Having a trash bash scheduled will help tremendously. It was also brought to the council’s attention that a business by the railroad tracks on Hwy. 27 still had debris all over their property that has not been picked up.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding the city weed eating and maintaining the ditches in DeQuincy. Mary Jo has done some research on this matter and has stated the city only has the right of way on the ditches, giving us the right to dig ditches to maintain proper drainage. Other municipalities do not mow or weed eat ditches. The city does not have the manpower to mow the ditches and it was suggested the city be allowed to spray the ditches rather than mow them. A citizen mentioned a program that is funded by the state, the CETA Program, and Mrs. Maddox asked that this matter be researched. A motion was made by Denise Maddox and seconded by Ronda Jacobs that, for the time being and until further discussion, the citizens are responsible for maintaining their own ditches. However, if you are unable to maintain your ditch because of health reasons, please call and advise City Hall. . Motion carried as follows: Yeas: Judy Landry, Denise Maddox, Mark Peloquin and Ronda Jacobs. Nays: None. Absent: Daisy Cole. Abstain: None.
There was a discussion on animal control in the City of DeQuincy. Denise Maddox has scheduled a meeting with the Calcasieu Parish Animal Control to discuss some of the issues DeQuincy residents are having with animals in the city limits. One of the topics of discussion will be who a citizen needs to call if they have an animal problem. Do they call the Parish or the City? Ms. Maddox asked that the council members give her any questions they may have for the Parish Animal Control and she will ask them in tomorrow’s meeting.
There was a discussion on advertising for and hiring department heads for the City of DeQuincy. It was confirmed that the Mayor appoints the department head and the council confirms them and if not confirmed by council, it can be brought up again at the following council meeting. Mr. Peloquin just asked that there be more consistency on who is present at the interviews, if any, for the different department heads. Sometimes it is just the Mayor and sometimes the Mayor will include two council members in on the decision. Mr. Peloquin feels it should be one or the other.
Mr. Peloquin brought up the medical marijuana issue now effecting several municipalities around the country. He suggested we should possible put something in our drug policy concerning the medical marijuana to protect the city as well as the employee.
COUNCIL CONCERNS:
Judy Landry asked that the Code Enforcement Officer look at 313 Coffee Street. The lot needs mowing.Mark Peloquin asked who a citizen needs to call if they want a gas line killed. Mr. Frazier said they need to call City Hall and put in a work order. Mr. Peloquin also asked if the dump trucks were picking up limbs yet and it was explained they had been digging ditches but would start on the limb pickup soon. Ronda Jacobs asked if Georgia Pacific was still dumping water into our wastewater system. The mayor advised they had dumped two loads recently but DEQ had done a study on this when it first started and gave us the ok to continue accepting the loads. Ms. Jacobs also asked Mary Jo about Meyer and Associates looking at the ditch on Pugh Street. Denise Maddox asked if one of the places in town to dump was our city barn property. Hank Frazier advised it was not. She also asked about the tin on the old shop building, whether or not it was still loose. 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/Denise Maddox
Run: July 13, 2021 (Jy-2)
