Documenter name: Natalie McLendon

Agency holding meeting: Westlake City Council

Date: Monday, June 26, 2023, at 5:30 PM

The city approved bids for water chemicals and a drainage pipe installation, passed motions on budget amendments and millage rates, hired a new police officer, and agreed to sell the post office.

Notes:

The Scene | 

Council chambers were once again full of people for the evening meeting. Excited energy filled the room, and some attendees joked with the mayor about finishing the session early so they could all get to the baseball game. Mayor Hal McMillion called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

Policies | 

Consent calendar

The council approved minutes from the previous meeting.

Bid Items

The council issued notices to bidders, one for chemicals used in water and wastewater departments, and another for gasoline for city vehicles.

The city awarded a bid to Mcmanus Construction to install a drainage pipe on the golf course. McManus’s bid amount was approximately $369,000.

Discussion and action items

The city passed a motion to amend sections regarding removing dangerous structures and condemning buildings. For the full text of the amendments, refer to page 68 of the agenda packet.

There was an ordinance to sell the post office, which was built in 1998. At the time of its construction, a contract clause stated the U.S. Postal Service could buy it from the city. The selling price is $310,000. The motion passed unanimously. 

Motions that amended the 2022/2023 and adopted the 2023/2024 budgets were unanimously passed. There was no discussion on the items.

Next, the city accepted the new Fairhaven subdivision into the city limits.

There was a motion to approve the city’s 2023/2024 millage rates, which passed unanimously.

The council approved hiring Carmen Green as a full-time police officer.

The final resolution was a motion for the mayor to enter a cooperative endeavor agreement with the City of Sulphur for funding salaries for the marshal and the marshal’s personnel. Mr. Rogeou and Mr. Brown voted against the measure. The mayor broke the tie and voted to approve the resolution, so it passed.

City projects

Regarding Garfield drainage improvements, city engineer Vernon Meyer said they are revising plans to respond to Louisiana Department of Health comments at Jones Street water plants, where the rate study was conducted by Louisiana rural water. 

The metro planning division is reviewing Ponderosa Parkway.

Mayors comments

Mayor McMillin reminded the audience that utility bills are due on the 17th. 

Outcomes | 

The next city council meeting will be Monday, July 17, 2023, at 5:30 PM.

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