Documenter name: Tracy E. Antoine
Agency holding meeting: DeQuincy City Council
Date: May 8, 2023
Scene: The energy was good as citizens and city employees entered the council chambers. People were laughing and talking. There were 48 people in attendance, including city workers and council members.
Summary: The council voted to proceed with property condemnations, amending personnel policy ordinance, and pay homage to Mrs. Pat Brummett, Dequincy City Clerk, who will be retiring on May 31, 2023.
Notes: The DeQuincy City Council meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Council Chair, Eddy Dahlquist. Mayor Riley Smith gave the invocation, Eddy Dahlquist led the pledge of allegiance and Sherri Breaux called roll. All members of the council were present (Scott Wylie, Jim Smith, Eddy Dahlquist, Margaret Brown, and Cameron Smith), along with Mayor Riley Smith and Dequincy City Attorney Doug Cox.
The motion to approve the April 10, 2023, regular meeting minutes, was made by Mr. Wylie and seconded by Mrs. Brown. The council voted unanimously to approve.
Valencia Royer, City Accountant read the finance report, as follows: Year-to-date as of April 30, 2023, actual revenues are $3,736,848.00, with a budget of $6,527,710.00, budget remaining of $2,790,861.00. The total year-to date expenses are $3,242,128.00, with a budget of $8,672,570.00, and a budget remaining of $5,430,441.00.
Mayor Riley Smith was asked for his report by Mr. Eddy Dahlquist. Mayor Smith spoke about the FEMA funding that has been used on repairing the walking path. Mayor Smith said, “Also we had our engineer come out and assess all city property and he is working on doing the scope of work, especially for the railroad. That is [our] my priority and so he should be getting that scope of work, so we can go out for some bids.”
The mayor went on to speak about the success of the April 29th, 2023 car show. He also reminded citizens and the council of Suckaneck the upcoming City Council Fish Fry, for all first responders and their families, on May 12, 2023.
The motion to approve the May 8, 2023, agenda, was made by J. Smith and seconded by C. Smith. The council voted unanimously to approve.
Mayor Smith, along with Jerry Bell (retired chief of detectives for the DeQuincy Police Department, Mike Suchanek (former warden for Dequincy), and numerous others spoke in honor of Mrs. Patricia Brummett, City Clerk, who will be retiring on May 31, 2023.
Community perspective
Frank Blaine Russell, a DeQuincy resident, spoke to the council about assisting him with retrieving his property [Army book], from the Dequincy Railroad Museum.
Mr. Russell stated, “A couple years back, I brought to the [Railroad] museum up there, my grandfather’s army book from the 2nd Infantry Battalion. I went back two weeks ago to get it, but the lady that was in charge said she didn’t know anything about it. She made a phone call, but they didn’t seem to know anything about it.”
Mayor Riley replied, “We will try to find it for you, sir.”
The next items on the agenda were condemnations for properties listed at 1001 Richard Allen St., 304 E. Harrison St., and 1103 Richard Allen St. Mrs. Brown spoke on behalf of the property at 1001 Richard Allen St., stating that she has spoken to the individual that will be purchasing the property. The buyer requested that they be given 2 more weeks to complete the sale of the property. Mrs. Brown asked that the item be “tabled” until next month’s meeting. The motion was made by Mr. J. Smith and seconded by Mrs. Brown. All council members voted and agreed.
For the property listed at 304 Harrison St., Mrs. Brown made the motion to proceed with the next step of the condemnation process and was seconded by Mr. C. Smith. The council voted unanimously to approve.
The last property on the agenda was 1103 Richard Allen St. Mrs. Brown informed the council that the family had already completed the demolition of the aforementioned property. No motion or discussion was needed.
Item 8 was to introduce an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to sign all documents necessary to buy 2.00 acres, more or less, with all improvements, at the industrial airport from the Ward 6 Drainage Board for $30,000.
Mayor Smith explained it to be the property they originally had and sold it to the Drainage Board. While owned by the Ward 6 Drainage Board, “quite a few” improvements were made. The Ward 6 Drainage Board have decided that they no longer want or need it and will sell it back to the city of Dequincy for $30,000. He also stated that the property would be a good place for the City Barn to be moved.
The motion to approve was made by Mr. J. Smith and seconded by Mr. Wylie. The council unanimously voted to approve.
Goals: To find the property for Mr. Russell and to purchase the land from Ward 6 Drainage Board and place the city barn on it.
Policies
Last on the agenda was an amendment made to adopt a new ordinance in The Employee Handbook, Policies, and Procedures pertaining to the use of city vehicles by city personnel.
Ordinance No. 950
ADDENDUM B
- USE OF CITY VEHICLES
- As per IRS Publication 15 B, all city employee vehicles shall be used by city personnel only. No other passengers other than city employee vehicles shall be used by city employees or inmates shall be transported.
Exception: City employees using city vehicles for city functions, such as conferences or other city social functions, with approval from their supervisor, can transport a family member or another no city employee to the function.
- City vehicles cannot be used for personal use, nor can they be used to go to and from a secondary job. Failure to comply can result in forfeiting your right to drive a city vehicle.
- Any employee using a city vehicle to commute to and from work will be charged $1.50 each day ($3.00 daily), which will be deducted from their payroll check.
Exception: This will not apply to the police department or fire department.
Exception: City employees using city vehicles for city functions, such as conferences or other city social functions, with approval from their supervisor, can transport a family member or another no city employee to the function.
The Dequincy City Council meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m. Motion to adjourn was made by Mrs. Brown and seconded by Mr. C. Smith.
Hurricane Recovery: The completion of the walking path and continued work on the DeQuincy Railroad Museum with FEMA funding.
Goals: To find the property for Mr. Russell and to purchase the land from Ward 6 Drainage Board and place the city barn on it.
Questions: What happened to Mr. Russell’s family book? What will the Railroad Museum do if the book is not found?
The Southwest Louisiana Journal 