Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Meeting 7/05/2023

On By swlajournalcarlIn Meeting Notes

Thursday, July 5, 2023, 5:30 pm Police Jury Chambers

Carl M. Ambrose, Jr.

Summary

The meeting addressed ad valorem tax millages and a general purposes tax, as well as presentations and appearances, including the annual finance report and FEMA mitigation. Measures approved by the jury were a cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA), engineering and construction servitude agreements, an election in a fire district, a grant agreement, proposals for parish work, and several board appointments.

The Scene

Attendance was good, considering the heavy rain that started before the start of the meeting. The chambers were filled with conversation as the staff, jurors, and guests greeted each other. Sheriff Tony Mancuso and attorney Brad Guillory, a candidate for the office of 14th Judicial District Court Judge, were the jury’s guests. Guillory is running for the family court seat previously held by Judge Guy Bradberry, who is now at the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. 

The meeting was called to order by jury President Chris Landry. Police Juror Tony Tramonte led the invocation and the pledge. Clerk Cathy Smith called the roll. Vice President Guy Brame and Police Juror Roger Marcantel were absent. Police Juror Judd Bares was assigned the vice president’s duties in Brame’s absence. Landry moved an item up to the beginning of the meeting, noting that the public hearings would start at 5:45 p.m.

The first item was a resolution approving a CEA with Mancuso to purchase an emergency response and rescue vehicle for disaster events and emergencies. The motion by Bares was seconded by Randy Burleigh and passed with a brief statement from Mancuso.

Mancuso thanked the jury for their continued support during his terms as sheriff, saying, ‘I am on the way out, and I want to thank you for everything. We’ve had some tough times as a jury and a police agency, but y’all have always been there for me. I know we’ve had some squabbles and closed-door arguments, but we’ve always done what’s best for the parish and best for the citizens of this parish, and this is another example of that. So I appreciate that working relationship and want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.” 

Police Juror Joe Andrepont thanked the sheriff for his years of service to the community.

Ad Valorem Millage Tax

The jury adopted an ordinance to levy the listed ad valorem maintenance tax millages for this year, which was submitted by the parish tax assessor. Police Juror Eddie Lewis Jr.’s motion was seconded by Tramonte and passed without objection. 

The following areas fall under the ad valorem tax:

  • Criminal justice system maintenance: 2.98 mills
  • Courthouse complex and correctional center maintenance: 3.27 mills
  • Mosquito Control maintenance: 1.97 mills
  • Airport District No. 1 maintenance: 0.59 mills
  • Burton Coliseum and agricultural services maintenance: 1.50 mills
  • Health unit maintenance: 2.34 mills
  • Juvenile detention maintenance: 3.29 mills
  • Road and drainage maintenance: 3.83 mills
  • Ward 3 Fire Protection District No. 2 maintenance: 11.38 mills
  • Library maintenance: 5.99 mills
  • Sewage District No. 11 of wards 3 and 8 maintenance: 9.09 mills
  • Waterworks District No. 5 of wards 3 and 8 maintenance: 5.24 mills
  • Waterworks District No. 12 of Ward 3 maintenance: 11.63 mills
  • Waterworks District No. 2 of Ward 4 maintenance: 6.57 mills

The jury also adopted an ordinance that listed an ad valorem general purpose tax millage for this year. The parish tax assessor submitted this tax. Jury member Anthony Bartie’s motion, seconded by Andrepont, passed without objection.

Calcasieu Parish, except the city of Lake Charles, the own of Vinton, the city of DeQuincy, the city of Sulphur, and the city of Westlake: 4.12 mills

Calcasieu Parish, within the corporate limits of Lake Charles, Vinton, DeQuincy, Sulphur, and Westlake: 2.06 mills

Presentation And Appearances

Guillory addressed the jury, drawing chuckles as he mentioned Skate City as the place many know him from. Skate City is closed but was owned by his family. Guillory spoke about the flaws in the system, saying, “At the most troubling time in your life, it’s taking two years to get through the system.” He ended by thanking the jury for their service and their time.

Engineering And Public Works

The jury considered several items from the department.

The jury adopted a resolution approving a professional engineering services contract with Meyer and Associates Inc. for the South Ward 4 gravity sewer trunk main corridor study project. The motion by Bares, seconded by Bartie, passed without objection.

The jury adopted a resolution approving a temporary construction servitude agreement

with GCPC LLC for the Gum Cove Road bridge project. Bares’s motion was seconded by Bartie and passed without objection.   

The jury adopted a resolution approving a servitude agreement with Global CP Express for future pipeline improvements along the intercoastal waterway.  The motion by Bares was seconded by Bartie and passed without objection.

Ordinances were adopted approving the purchases of two properties through funding from the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to mitigate future flood losses of these repetitive loss structures. The buyout will be 100% funded with FEMA HMGP funds. The motion by Police Juror Mike Smith was seconded by Police Juror Ashton Richard and passed without objection.

  • 1380 Pin Oak Dr., Lake Charles
  • 7120 Boisclair Dr., Lake Charles

Administration

The jury approved the minutes of the June 1, 2023, regular meeting. The motion by Bartie was seconded by Police Juror Ron Hayes and passed without objection.

The jury adopted a resolution approving a call by Ward 5 Fire Protection District No. 1 for an election to be held on Saturday, November 18, 2023, to renew, levy and collect a special tax of 6 mills for ten years starting in 2025. The motion by Tramonte was seconded by Burleigh and passed without objection.

Planning And Development

The jury approved one renewal application for a liquor and beer license. Andrepont’s motion was seconded by Richard and passed without objection.

Finance

The jury adopted a resolution approving the assignment of Iberiabank to First Horizon Bank in accordance with the parish’s fiscal agent (banking services) contract through April 2024. Stelly’s motion was seconded by Burleigh and passed without objection.

Human Services

The jury adopted a resolution approving a grant agreement between the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Office of Workforce Development for the Workforce Innovations and Opportunity Act Title 1 Funding Allocation of $2,498,472.00. The grant is for services for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vernon Parishes. The funds allocated are from April 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025. Police Juror Tony Guillory’s motion was seconded by Lewis and passed without objection.

Procurement

The motion to approve the payment of all invoices was made by Andrepont, seconded by Burleigh, and passed without objection.

The jury accepted the bid of NCMC LLC for the Clearfield Ranch subdivision waterline installation project. Stelly’s motion was seconded by Tramonte and passed without objection.

A resolution accepting the Mosquito Control Hurricane Repairs project as substantially complete passed without object by Hayes and was seconded by Lewis.

The jury also approved the advertisement for bids for the Calcasieu Parish Moss Gully improvements project – Task II. Richard’s motion was seconded by Burleigh and passed without objection.

There was final approval by the jury to advertise requests for proposals for community partners in education, employment, income management, senior services, mental health services, health and fitness services, and other services. Smith’s motion was seconded by Lewis and passed without objection.

Board Appointments

  • Joshua Neal was reappointed to the Community Center and Playground District No.1 of Ward 6. Richard’s motion passed without objection and was seconded by Burleigh.
  • Don Martin was appointed to the Community Center and Playground District No. 2 of Ward 4. Tramonte’s motion was seconded by Andrepont and passed without objection.
  • Kristal Eastwood was reappointed to the Community Center and Playground District No. 3 of Ward 7. Bares’s motion passed with a second from Burleigh without discussion.
  • Connie Hoffpauir was reappointed to the Community Center and Playground District No. 4 of Ward 1. Richard’s motion, seconded by Tramonte, passed without objection.
  • Catherine Barks was reappointed to the Community Center and Playground District No. 5 of Ward 5. Burleigh’s motion, seconded by Bartie, passed without objection.
  • Jason Leonards was reappointed to the Community Center and Playground District No. 7 of Ward 2. Stelly’s motion, seconded by Tramonte, passed without objection.
  • Darby Quinn, T.A. Jones and Donny Greene were appointed to the Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No.2. The following appointments to the Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 2 were deferred for six months: James Gobert, Mike Wittler, Craig Schultz, and John Reon. Hayes’ motion was seconded by Guillory and passed without objection.
  • The appointment of Brandon James Perkins to the Recreation District No.1 of Ward 8 was deferred for 60 days on a motion by Stelly, seconded by Bartie. There was no objection.

Public Hearings

The jury authorized the Planning and Development Department to notify property owners to show cause as to why structures should not be condemned. They discussed the following structures:

District 1, Richard

  • 1268½ East Leichty Rd. Richard’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Burleigh, passed without objection.
  • 1456 Joe Miller Rd. Richard’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Burleigh, passed without objection.
  • 1037 San Juan St. Richard’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Burleigh, passed without objection.
  • 1027 Clark Rd. Richard’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Tramonte, passed without objection.

District 2, Smith

  • North of 322 Goodman Rd. Smith’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Stelly, passed without objection.
  • 124 Balboa St. Smith’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Guillory, passed without objection.

District 4, Guillory

  • 430 Scheufens Rd. Guillory’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Bartie, passed without objection.

District 5, Abshire

  • 3528 Heard Rd. Abshire’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Bartie, passed without objection.

District 6, Hayes

  • 218 West Hebert Rd. Hayes’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Richard, passed without objection.

District 7, Landry

  • 9242 Gulf Highway Burleigh’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Bartie, passed without objection.

District 10, Stelly

  • 105 Hereford Dr. Stelly’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Richard, passed without objection.

District 11, Marcantel

  • 1150 Douglas Rd. Burleigh’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Andrepont, passed without objection.
  • 137 Big Woods Starks Rd. Burleigh’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Bartie, passed without objection.

District 12, Bares

  • 1961 Burkholder Rd. Bares’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Tramonte, passed without objection.
  • 5168 L.A. Little Rd. Bares’s motion to defer for 30 days, seconded by Tramonte, passed without objection.
  • 4116 Sherry St. Bares’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Tramonte, passed without objection.

District 13, Andrepont

  • 202 East Jim Pickens Rd. Andrepont’s motion to condemn and remove within 30 days, seconded by Abshire, passed without objection.

The final item on the agenda was the Annual Comprehensive Finance Report (ACFR) presentation. Finance Director Kelly Fontenot acknowledged the four months of hard work and overtime the team put in to get “quality reports” ready, thanking and recognizing her team before bringing up Audit Director Jason Guillory of the accounting firm McElroy, Quirk and Burch, who gave the report. 

He stated that the net position of the parish is $1.2 billion and that the net increase of $74 million was due to the $120.7 million from FEMA and an anticipated $36.8 million in reimbursements in the future. He also stated that the parish had received the highest honor, a certificate of achievement, for 32 consecutive years. He closed by thanking Fontenot and her team for their help.

The meeting was adjourned.

The agenda for the July 6 meeting of the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury can be found here.

The video of the meeting can be found here.