BOGALUSA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
TUESDAY, JUNE 2, 2015, 5:30 P.M.
POSTED: FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015, 12:00 NOON
PRESIDING:
WENDY O’QUIN PERRETTE, MAYOR
STACY SMITH, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
DALE BRANCH, CITY ATTORNEY
PRESENT:
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH
COUNCILMAN McCREE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES
ABSENT:
NONE
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Bogalusa City Council Meeting will come to order. Invocation by
Councilwoman Smith.
BY COUNCILWOMAN SMITH: Led the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH…………………..HERE
COUNCILMAN McCREE……………………….HERE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE……………………..HERE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY……….HERE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………HERE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE……………………….HERE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………HERE
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next is the approval of the Minutes for the last regular scheduled
meeting of May 19th.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: I make a motion that we approve those meeting minutes
BY COUNCILWOMAN SMITH: I seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH…………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE……………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY…………AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 7-0 APPROVING THE MINUTES HELD ON MAY 19, 2015).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next is Introduction of Resolutions, Councilwoman Smith.
BY COUNCILWOMAN SMITH:
A RESOLUTION to amend resolution number 2117 authorizing the hiring of Stacy Smith as
Director of Administration for the City of Bogalusa.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I do have discussion.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: We open to the public first.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Anyone in the public wishing to speak at this time?
BY FATE FERRELL: 1931 Dewitt. I’d like to know how we can be into our fourth month of this
new group of being on this stage and we just now putting this on the agenda for Ms. Stacy
Smith.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: It was an oversight in the Charter her salary was supposed to be
summited at the time of her hiring and it was left off so we are trying to correct it so we are not
in violation of the Charter.
BY FATE FERRELL: That is what I have been speaking about all along. You all need to learn how
to handle the city business correctly. That is what I’ve been saying and I’m still saying it.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Well it was an oversight.
BY FATE FERRELL: And it was oversight if she wasn’t hired. How could she be writing a letter to
Mr. Stewart?
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: She was hired and game fully employed by the City of Bogalusa.
BY FATE FERRELL: But not completely correct?
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: That is what we are doing now. Crossing the t’s and dotting the I’s.
We all make mistakes. We are just correcting an oversight. Anyone else for hiring Ms. Smith.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: 2682 South Columbia Road. I understand you saying there was an
oversight, is there anything changed with this resolution?
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: No it was coming to the part where we bring up the salary. That
was left off in the original hiring.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Is there any concerns that we should have about any city business
that has gone therefore since she started in January?
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: No she was hired then and is game fully employee of the city.
Everything she did legal and binding.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay so what we have here is as you said a correction or so--BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Correcting an oversight.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: That is not good.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: It’s better than not correcting it and getting called on it later.
Anyone else? Council discussion.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Yes I have council discussion. In particular about the salary amount
that is listed for Ms. Smith and I have requested a freedom of information on former employees
that were in the position, Mr. Bailey and Ms. Bloom their start salary and end salary benefit
package and particular job description as well as the current job description that Ms. Smith has.
In addition to any other additional CPA’s or firms or Companies that we’ve contracted with the
City of Bogalusa actually since January up to current date. I would like to explore more on what
would be the average salary for such position and also if it warrens x number of years of
experience for that salary.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: It is set by the charter. You would have to change the charter.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: $60,000 is set by the charter?
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: No, the job description is. I’m sorry I was going to object and say that the
job description and her duties are all outlined along with all Department Heads within your city
charter. That is not anything that you would need to do with freedom of information act. That is
assessable to you to anyone it is in your charter.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I understand that but I want to do a comparison.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Okay comparison study was done last year and I believe everyone
received it in your box.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay well I wasn’t here last year.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: It’s in your box right now and it was put in your box as of Monday though
Ms. Kates. Everyone else on the Council I believe received that same thing of the comparison
story study. Did anyone not receive that besides Ms. Kates?
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I did receive that sheet of paper.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Okay.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: But as far as a comparison per year-BY MAYOR PERRETTE: That comes from the governmental, that is from our LMA, Louisiana
Municipality Association those are governmental study that was done the past City Council did
and it also does other staff too and that is also assessable to you.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay well my comparison I would like to see more of different
areas that are around us say for instance Covington or Mandeville or for that matter a
municipality that is the size of Bogalusa to compare their salary for the same position.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright anymore discussion? No discussion, do I hear a motion?
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I make a motion we accept.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: I seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH……………..AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY….AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND………………ABSTAIN
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES………………ABSTAIN
(MOTION CARRIED 5-0 WITH 2 ABSTAIN TO AMEND RESOLUTION NUMBER 2117
AUTHORIZING THE HIRING OF STACY SMITH AS DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CITY
OF BOGALUSA).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next is Introduction of Ordinances, Councilwoman Fortenberry.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY:
AN ORDINANCE to authorize the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to enter into a Supplemental
Agreement No. 3 with ARE Consultants, for Partial Parallel Taxiway at the George R. Carr
memorial Airport.
I went up with Mr. Louis Busby about this and this is just where it is going to be totally 100%
funded by grants. It is to acquire some property at the north end of the one parallel that we
already have, the one way runway that we already have up there. For the engineers to come in
and do the, I guess the work on it and the drainage system to the airport which they are working
on now. Louis am I right? It’s almost completed the drainage system at the airport. The property
they are going to buy is there is a trailer if you go down the airport road there is a mobile home
place back there and that is the place that they are going to purchase.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: This will be up at our next regular scheduled meeting on June 16th.
Next we move down to public hearing, Malinda.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE:
AN ORDINANCE to amend and re-enact the Comprehensive Building Regulations for the City of
Bogalusa, State of Louisiana, relative to the building code; and to provide for related matters.
If I may ask Mr. James Hall to speak to us.
BY JAMES HALL: What we need to do we have an International Building Code and it is good until
2012 and each state, some states has their separate plumbing code. Louisiana is one of them
that has a plumbing code. The last version of the building code was 2000 they just updated 2013
and we are asking the council to accept and go ahead with the International Building Code.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Thank you for clarifying that for us.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Anyone in the public wishing to speak on this? Being none council
discussion.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I make a motion to accept it.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH……………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY…………AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE………………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………..I have one question Mr. Hall. Those codes are
they also adaptable with our Code Enforcement are these sustained codes that will be put in
place with the Code Enforcement?
BY JAMES HALL: (Inaudible).
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay so they would not use any part of the eight codes listed. AYE.
Thank you.
(MOTION CARRIED 7-0 TO AMEND AND RE-ENACT THE COMPREHENSIVE BUILDING
REGULATIONS FOR THE CITY OF BOGALUSA, STATE OF LOUISIANA, RELATIVE TO THE BUILDING
CODE; AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Councilwoman Kates:
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor to lease the building located at 411 Industrial Park to
General Dynamics Information Technology Center.
Last week I did speak a bit on this particular ordinance. Is Mr. Ryan Seal here tonight? If you will
come forth please sir.
BY RYAN SEAL: 1314 Military Road. I’m representing the City and manage the Bogalusa
Industrial Park Washington Economic Development Foundation and this lease tonight involving
411 Industrial Parkway General Dynamics is a great deal for our city. If you remember they came
in a couple of years ago and began hiring people and they wrapped that up on several occasions
and when we did the lease we did a three year lease with one year options on that. When
General Dynamics wanted to do is to keep from doing that and going forward and having to
renew it every year to have a three year lease with options on their including six months ahead
of time to vacate the building. Like I said I think it is a good thing. They hired a lot of people to
do work out at the Industrial Park on time and keep up good shape of the building and it has a
ways to go forward to kind of solidify their business and their presents in Bogalusa for the years
to come. I certainly recommend the Council to approve the amendments to the lease actually.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Okay thank you Ryan. Anymore public discussion? Council
discussion? Can I get a motion?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: I make a motion to approve it.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH……………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE…………………………..AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE………………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY…………..AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND……………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES……………………….AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 7-0 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO LEASE THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 411
INDUSTRIAL PARK TO GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Councilwoman Kates.
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to enter into a lease agreement
with The New Dimension Fellowship Center; and repealing any and all ordinances in conflict
herewith.
Is Reverend Williams here tonight from New Dimension? This particular ordinance pertains to
the Poplas Recreational Center and in renewing it actual should have been renewed in 2013 but
we are renewing it at this point. I have spoken with Reverend Williams and in the lease itself
Article 6 indicates there are in the lease should be 50% for the recreation for youth. Reverend
Williams indicated they will be developing a plan along with volunteers and myself to adhere to
that. I think it will be a really good opportunity for our children not only for recreation but any
type of academics that they may have any mentoring programs as well.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Council discussion. Public discussion on this lease New Dimension
Fellowship Center?
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: 2682 South Columbia Road. What do you mean it should have
been renewed?
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Well actually the lease ended in June of 2013 and was actually
renewed in November of 2013 but it was not signed for whatever reason. It was not signed so at
this point we are going to get it signed. They for what I understand my attorney going on a day
to day lease at that point.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: You guys really have a really big job in running this city and trying
to keep up with what is going on. Of course I don’t know your operations but it just seems to me
that things like this, things like the issue talked about Stacy whatever, it has to be some kind of
checking balance somebody monitoring what is going on so we don’t come up with we didn’t do
it, of course I know you guys were not here that we didn’t do it we trying to go back and do it.
Somebody has to be on top of this and that is the point I was making before. It just doesn’t look
good that you have to back track because something was not done. Maybe that is what Stacy’s
job is, I don’t know. Make sure everything is done correctly on time so we don’t have to do this
over and over.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: It was on time as far as the Council is concerned. We passed an
ordinance renewing his lease for some reason it wasn’t signed after that was done by particular
parties. I’m not sure why that goes to the Administration after that and it is out of our hands.
We did do our part.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: When you say administration---
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: The Mayor’s office to the Administration to get those signatures on
the lease. So it was passed by the Council.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: The last comment is borrow none, the Mayor or the Council you
have to be as I see it you have to be on top of so you don’t have to come back and anybody who
looking at the proceeding they say what are they doing they are not on top of stuff. What is
going on in the city? Thank you.
BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS: Thank you.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I make a motion that this ordinance is accepted as read.
BY COUNCILMAN McCREE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE……………………………AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE…………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY……………AYE.
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES…………………………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 7-0 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOGALUSA TO ENTER INTO
A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE NEW DIMWNSION FELLOWSHIP CENTER; AND REPEALING
ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH).
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE:
AN ORDINANCE setting Ad Valorem Tax Rates and levying such taxes for 2015, as required by
Law.
This is something that is done every year. This year our tax millages are the same as it was last
year it is not going up, it is not going down. It is going to remain 47.89 mills.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Public discussion, anyone from the public wishing to speak on
this? Council discussion.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I did recall last meeting that it was indicated it was going toward
property tax and reading in our budget it is looking like 20% of our total revenue there are
certain funds that goes toward general funds, special fund enterprise, service fund is there a
possibility that a portion could be allocated to neighborhood streets?
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: This is set by law and I don’t think we can change where it goes.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: The funds.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Yes because it is set to go to certain funding and we would have to
change that I’m sure through--BY MAYOR PERRETTE: That is correct. You would have to change that. The State of Louisiana
authority already have it set for what it is dedicated too. We would have to change it and it
would have to be then it would instead have to be a renewal something new on the books and it
would not be this. That is correct it is already set by the State of Louisiana not by the City of
Bogalusa.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Thank you.
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I make a motion we accept it.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH…………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE………………………..AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE……………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY………..AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND…………………….AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES…………………….AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 7-0 SETTING AD VALOREM TAX RATES AND LEVYING SUCH TAXES FOR
2015, AS REQUIRED BY LAW).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next is Councilwoman Fortenberry.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY:
AN ORDINANCE to authorize the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to enter into a contract with ARE
Consultants, for Partial Parallel Taxiway at the George R. Carr Memorial Airport.
This is different from the ordinance I made earlier. There is a , this comes off the main it is 5,000
feet that comes off the main runway so if a plane is taxing down the runway and another one
wants to land it can get off the runway out of the way of the other one. They have done a
thousand feet already Mr. Busby. It is completed and needs 4,000 feet to do before it is finished
before it can be totally completed. That is totally 100% funded by a grant, 90% from the FAA and
10% from the DOTD. See I done my homework. Let Mr. Busby do his job.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: I make a motion to be accepted:
BY COUNCILMAN McREE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Anybody from the public wish to speak?
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: 2682 South Columbia Rd. I have a question, This ARE are they
already in place?
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: Do you want to answer that?
BY LOUIS BUSBY: They are already in place.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay, is there or was there a bidding process that goes on, is this
federal money or state money?
BY JAMES HALL: These people are on a five year contract. We sent out for a request for both we
had six applicant consultants and had a process of elimination with a member of five people two
from the airport and three from the city reviewed each applicant and hired ARE Consultants out
of Shreveport with a five year lease. Now in 2016 days his lease will be up and we will go out for
consultants. The FAA requires every contract that goes out he has to put his name on it and
approved by the Council. They have a five year contract and the FAA has to have a name on
every loan that they give them.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay. This is what we are asking for approval for now to get his
name?
BY JAMES HALL: Partial Parallel Taxiway a new grant and every grant that we get they have to
have a name on it.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay let me ask you a quickie, so the grant the funds that are
coming in right now these are new funds and so they are pretty much grandfathered into
whoever is working?
BY JAMES HALL: No. They have to go to Fort Worth for regulations and get every grant that goes
out.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Ok if that is the case why are we voting on this consultant to do if
it is new money and they have to come in---
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: In a five year contract.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: We are voting on giving the Mayor the authority to enter into a
contract with them.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: You have to do it with each individual grant that they get for the five
years. Their contract is up in five years which is 2016.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay so whatever has not--- okay I don’t want to take any more of
your time. It doesn’t it seems to me that if you have new money’s coming in even though the
consultants have a five year contract but you have new money’s coming in so it appears that
you guys are going to do is approve that so that person will grandfather a clause into the rest of
it that is not allowing another contractor consultant to come in if you do it that way. So tell me
where I’m incorrect?
BY JAMES HALL: That way is about four more processes to hire a consultant. These grants are
come and gone before we get another consultant for every new application comes out. Now
when we hire a five year term the FAA requires that we (inaudible).
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Yes. The federal--BY LOUIS BUSBY: The contractor that actually does the work will be bid out. The engineer that
does the engineering for the project with the five year contract also because the FAA and the
DOTD we submit a five year plan for the airport and that introduces a five year plan.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay I’m not going to take any more of your time. It just appears
to me again that if you hire these people on a five year term then their five year term will cover
what—
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: It’s the Federal Government.
BY JAMES HALL: That is the federal that it is not us. We hire a five year a consultant for
everything that comes to us.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: That is there rules.
BY BARBARA HICKS COLLINS: Okay, okay I have a lot to learn.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: We all do.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: I think we all do Ms. Barbara.
BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS: We do.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Good questions.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Any more discussions?
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: I make a motion we accept.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: I seconded.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN SMITH………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN McCREE………………………….AYE
VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE…………………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY………….AYE
PRESIDENT DRUMMOND………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN RITCHIE…………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN KATES ………………………AYE
I have a comment to Ms. Barbara, I to have a question about that and in fact I went out to the
airport Mr. Busby he gave me a tour of the airport. We do have quite a bit that is going on out at
the airport. Also as he has indicated particular contractors that would do the work they will go
out for bid. He also explained that this taxiway will allow growth for larger client to come into
Bogalusa. Again the grant is 100% paid so I don’t have a problem with it.
(MOTION CARRIED 7-0 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOGALUSA TO ENTER INTO
A CONTRACT WITH ARE CONSULTANTS, FOR PARTIAL PARALLEL TAXIWAY AT THE GEORGE R.
CARR MEMORIAL AIRPORT).
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Next is Public Participation. Ms. Theresa Keller.
BY THERESA KELLER: 1620 Jackie Robinson Street. We are here tonight to express our grave
concern about the Bogalusa Comprehensive Resiliency Plan and to make it be known that we
are totally dissatisfied and disappointed in Dana Brown and Associates. That on no
circumstances do we want this plan, we do not want it now, tomorrow, the next day, the next
month or the next year or ever. This plan starts off with a false hood. It says and I quote that the
vision for Bogalusa must be specific to its resident and their need and it’s told their ideas and
input. Somehow in the development of this plan this statement was forgotten because this plan
is not specific to our needs and our ideas and our input have been totally ignored. On April 18,
2015 the residents of Poplas and Richardson Town neighborhoods met with Dana Brown and
her Associates and requested that all references to these neighbors that include
unsubstantiated statistic, derogatory references true or untrue be removed from this plan. Dana
Brown and her Associate promised that this would be done. It was not done. In addition the
residents were assured not only would these objectionable statements be taken off of the plan
but they would be replaced with the ideas and input from the residents of Poplas and
Richardson Town. She did not do one thing that she promised that she would do. We ask you
why were we betrayed and lied to. Was this done intentionally? Was the voices of the people
forgotten? The negative offensive and unnecessary references they were used to describe
Richardson Town and Poplas are applicable to 90% of the 20 neighborhoods in Bogalusa. So why
out of 20 neighborhoods was only two neighborhoods picked out to be belittled, degraded,
criticized and attacked and the residents just happened to be African American. Instead of
deleting these negative offensive discriminative unnecessary references that would herald at
just two neighborhood these negative discriminative were left in the plan or were reworded or
removed from one paragraph or page to another or camouflaged in unfamiliar terms. Sentences
were turned around or changed but retained the original meaning. This plan is saying that the
city should reduce the residential land or Poplas because the areas is unsustainable but Pleasant
Hill and Terrace should remain in residential use and instead of taking there vacant and blighted
land the city plans to rededicate their land for new construction, put people from Poplas and
Richardson Town in it, improve the fiscal appearance, raise the property value and increase
safety. They will implement family oriented facilities, make Pleasant Hill and Terrace neighbor’s
safe, convenient and attractive option for young Bogalusa family. They would repair the roads
fix their lights and provide all improvement. These goals are in the plan camouflaged with tricky
words. It says in this so called revised plan that the Bogalusa Housing Authority has already
received grants to tear down and rebuild Oak Hill and Richmond Heights Project. Now if you
think they are planning to re-build or rehabilitate these projects I have a golden great bridge is
for sale to you for one dollar. The only reason the words rebuild and rehabilitation used in these
terms will help the VHA get authority to demolish those two projects and as soon as they
receive this authorization down goes Oak Hill and Richmond Heights Projects. Now you ask me
why you are saying that Mrs. Keller because I saw it in the revised plans. These are the exact
words the housing policy and city should focus on efficiency and existing public housing
including removal of units for which rehabilitation is not a feasible alternative. It says the value
of an African American household of the (inaudible) and the City and public housing should
remove units for which rehabilitation is not a feasible alternative. In plain English they are saying
that the only thing that can be done with these projects is to tear them down. The only thing
that is wrong with these projects is that they have become victim of neglect, no maintenance,
no monitoring and no police patrol. Nobody is concerned about the fact that if they tear down
Oak Hill and Richmond Heights Projects that these people can no longer walk to the church’s
that they love. Nobody cares that these people are deprived of the comradeship and friendship
of individuals they have been privilege to live in close proximity for years. Nobody cares the
children will have to enroll in different schools and lose their favorite teacher. This plan is saying
that Bogalusa is too large and it doesn’t have the resources to upkeep vacant land. Also it says
the city is looking for a way to shrink land uses. The plan is to make Bogalusa smaller by
eliminating the Poplas and Richmond Heights town neighborhoods by any and every means
possible. It is not just or fair to decide to shrink Bogalusa by eliminating the most vibrant
neighborhoods just because the resident is African American. The African American residents
and Poplas and Richardson Town neighbors pay taxes just like the residents in the other
neighborhoods. This plan gives the city the authority control our ability to rent property to
whomever we want, how we want and when we want. Thomas Jefferson said in the Declaration
of Independents that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable certain rights. It is
our inalienable right and our civil rights to continue to rent our property without interference
from the city. This plan is saying that an ordinance is currently being written that will require
inspection or rented houses before the city will issue the owner an occupancy license. In
searching an ordinance is being written it needs to be rescinded. An ordinance such as this is
just another plot to control and manipulate the lives of African American residents. If this
ordinance prevails African American renters will not be able to rent from whom they want,
where they want and when they want. This plan is to make it next to impossible for African
American to rent their property. Thereby giving up the opportunity to rent and raise prices to
the point the poor people will have to make a choice buying their medicine or paying their rent.
Now if you are not born or raised in Poplas it is understandable that you do not understand the
heart felt love and concern that we have for our neighborhood. It is possible that some do not
understand that we do not want our neighborhood uprooted and destroyed by the medaling
and discriminatory action that is advocated by this plan. You do not understand why we so
discouraged over the fact that the only neighborhood in all of Bogalusa that search in little
terms as un-kept land and destitute housing and bare infrastructure, blighted property,
unsustainable, vandalism and drugs were used. No other neighborhood in this plan was
described or referred to in this manner. So do not understand, you don’t not understand why
we are upset because out of all the projects, the only project that are belittled, degraded,
scandalized and face demolition are the two in the Poplas neighborhood who residents just
happen to be African Americans. We don’t understand why we have been picked out to be
picked on. We don’t want this plan. It is just another mechanism to destroy and eliminate two
African American neighborhoods because they want to use our taxes but take our land. No
means no. We say no to the Bogalusa Comprehensive Plan. (Applause).
BY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS: Thank you Ms. Keller.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Ms. Linda Magee.
BY LINDA MAGEE: I let Ms. Keller have my three minutes.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Okay that’s great. Ms. Theresa Ross.
BY THERESA ROSS: I gave Ms. Keller my three minutes.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Well it was three minutes well spent I’m going to telling you.
Reverend Magee.
BY REVEREND MAGEE: She said everything I wanted.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright. Dr. Patricia Keller. Please state your name and address.
BY DR. PATRICIA KELLER: 1622 Jackie Robinson Street. It has already been stated that many of
our citizens do not want the Comprehensive Plan. I would ask the Councilmembers who pledged
on February 17th not to destroy our neighborhoods to remain committed to that pledge and I
would also ask all the Councilmembers to go sentence by sentence, page by page and look at
this plan because it does not reflect the needs of our City. Since February 17th I have attended
many of the City Council meetings. Many things have been brought to my attention that I was
not aware of. In this plan there is no mention of Bogalusa’s crime rates. This plan says that the
Bogalusa Police Department is currently adequately staffed to maintain the City. My question is
that it is not reflected in our crime rate so with these researches really look at the crime rate in
Bogalusa. Another statement in this plan says that our Fire Department is fully functioning. I was
here when the Fire Chief stated that Bogalusa received discorded equipment in order to
maintain its fire rating. I was also here when they said that the Police Department was receiving
hand me down cars so when you look at this plan you don’t see it addressing the needs of
Bogalusa. The major portion of this plan other than the destruction of Richardson Town and
Poplas deals with the transportation element and someone has purposed over thirty two million
dollars funding for bicycle paths, sidewalks things like that when I think decorated street lights
or something. When we the citizens of Bogalusa see active drugs being sold on the street but
they say we have adequate police protection. So I would just ask like I said before the majority
of this Council said that they would not vote for a plan that would destroy our neighborhoods. I
hope that they remain committed to that. Also look at this plan and see that this is not a plan for
Bogalusa, maybe Disney Land but this is not a plan for Bogalusa. Thank you. (Applause).
BY ALL COUNCILMEMBERS: Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright Ms. Lorraine Bourn.
BY LORRAINE BOURN: 59537 Mt. Pleasant Road. Ladies I’m proud of you. Good job I’m so
pleased to see these people. First issue I have is last council meeting John McNabb made some
wonderful suggestions. You know how we are saying get the public involved just like you saw
there. He suggested that besides checking into the water and there was an article on that about
putting a blog on our internet computer services at City Hall for two reasons one to stop the
employees for using, going on facebook and shopping for things and that allows a good threat to
our system. Now my question is anything happen? When somebody comes in and makes a
positive suggestion for it improvement we don’t know if it just goes out the window or if
somebody and I don’t know who to question. Do someone take it to heart and see if yes we are
going to do something about that. The second issue someone brought this to me and I promised
that I would try to figure it out, this is regarding the sunshine law and that is where we get
public feedback to get the information stuff that goes on here in this council room. Alright now
it says tapes recordings, memorandum regardless of fiscal form, electronic data processing
equipment, anything having to do with conducting transaction or performance of any business.
Okay we have witnessed the Council and Administration on the cell phone or writing notes
sending messages to one another. This should actually be open that we could have a record of
this. Sometimes it is even a bit comical when we watch the video. Now I was trying to see if you
all had a code of conduct, I couldn’t find anything. I found them for other places and I have
example of one here from a California Council. It says in the spirit of the open meeting act in
furtherance of the City Council’s commitment in conducting government business with much
transparency as possible. To make it short they prohibit the use of cells phones from in the
meeting from beginning and end. Do you have a code of conduct that we can see that this is not
allowed or it is going to be a pain in the neck to go through the sunshine law to do it.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: I can respond to that according to what we were told from the LMA
it is illegal to use your cell phones during these meetings. I don’t know who is but I am not it is in
my purse. I do take notes but it is just so that I can capture things that are happening in the city
district or whatever.
BY LORRAINE BOURN: It’s the passing of notes that we, that I was concerned with. But is that a
law that you all cannot text each other during the process of the meeting?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: That is correct.
BY LORRAINE BOURN: Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright Fate Ferrell.
BY FATE FERRELL: 1931 Dewitt Place. We are, we would like for you to start respecting us as
citizens of this community. I see in this Comprehensive Plan you all do not have respect for the
citizens of this city. This plan don’t only just effect Northside and Richardson Town. This plan
effects the whole city. See it is stuff in this plan that not put out there for everybody to see but it
don’t take an expert to see what is going on and another thing I sit here all night hearing you all
talk about the airport, airport. Every month we got something going on about the airport but I
never hear you all talk about what we got going on good for these streets and cleaning up this
city. I don’t see it, I don’t hear it. I’d like to know one thing why I sit here all night and didn’t
hear anybody mention about the redevelopment grant that ya’ll got from Brownsville. Over four
hundred thousand it was signed on the 19th of December by Mizell and you all received it on the
28th of this past month. Why ya’ll didn’t mention that? Four hundred thousand dollars would
clean up this city as much as we been talking about needs to be cleaned. What is the problem?
Ya’ll don’t want us to know about something? I’d like to get an answer on that. But you talked
about the airplane all night.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: I can answer that too and so can Mr. Hall because this is the first meeting
of June and it was received on May 28th that we were awarded this and we were going to
announce it during Administrative Remarks but it is not my turn yet Mr. Ferrell.
BY FATE FERRELL: I wonder if it was really going to be announced. I really do.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Well there is no reason for it not to be. But we will talk about that at
Administrative Remarks.
BY FATE FERRELL: But ya’ll talked about the airport all night.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: We are not voting on this at this point in time sir. Mr. Hall is going to give
you an update on it.
BY FATE FERRELL: We are tired of the game playing around here.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Let him get to it when he gets to it. Foots Quinn.
BY TERRY “FOOTS” QUINN: 220 Beall Street. Little Buffalo. I guess just get right to the point I
would like to ask the City Attorney is not here, is there a law against litter and if so what is the
fines throwing trash on our streets and our park?
BY JASON MICKENHEIM, ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY: I don’t know the law right off the top of
my head but I’m sure there is a law in the city but I would have to research it to know for sure
what it says.
BY TERRY”FOOTS” QUINN: I’ve been living in Bogalusa for sixty nine years. Not a world traveler
but I’ve never been to another similar community all the way from Florida to New Mexico that
didn’t have signs posted. If you litter our town you are going to pay two hundred fifty dollars, a
hundred dollars, a nickel or something. There is no anti-litter signs in this city unless they are
hidden very well. There is one little bitty one in the park that is all out of date and no horses, no
motorcycles, no music, no dogs and all that stuff and please don’t litter. We got that nice Splash
Pad in the Park. I went down there the Friday before Memorial Day I got so upset it was just a
trash out of town people were coming. I did call the city and that afternoon they got somebody
over there and cleaned up some of that mess. I mean there is enough signs up around the
Splash Pad telling you not to run and what kind of shoes to wear in several languages nothing
about litter on the blame thing. I would just like to ask Mr. Culpepper one thing if there is a law
would you enforce it?
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: Well sure.
BY TERRY “FOOTS” QUINN: How many arrest have you made say this year for litter?
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: I couldn’t say.
BY TERRY “FOOTS” QUINN: Last time I asked under Mayor Mizell you answered this and said
well we hadn’t made any, any. I was told by some other officers in the Police Department it is
too hard to do. Well maybe you could give that little bonus to some of the officers, hard working
officers to make some litter arrest that is on that subject but please, please find out what the
fine is and Wendy see if we are going to enforce it or not, I’m sorry Mayor could we get some
signs at least? Pertinent to what is going on. The last thing I’m broken hearted for a young lady
of course her child was beaten to death but we were so I know ya’ll all saw it in the news. I’m
not sure the exact charges she did a terrible thing I hear. I think she had some marijuana with
her and they took her child away which happens all the time but this particular case she got
visitation and told the authorities the child had bruises and was being beat how you would feel
if your child was taken away and knowing it was being beat then you come in and find out it was
beaten to death because she used the evil marijuana. Okay last thing I am going to say about is
please can the only thing of demonization of marijuana happened over fifty years ago is to
support a family in France promoting rayon, nylon so they would have no competition from
making clothes out of him. That is the God’s truth the Dupont Family got rich over it and I’m
sure a lot of American Politian’s did too. We could be making some fine paper too. I have no
more time to carry on tonight. That is true.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Okay Foots you covered all the topics. Benjamin Lewis. I’m not
sure about this last name.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: 1913 Riverside Drive. I don’t know how true this is but I want to ask
maybe ya’ll can fill me in, I was driving from Franklinton Monday and the gentleman that I was
riding with I can’t remember the street but it is over there by the Chevron gas station and it has
something to do with Comprehensive a thing about Poplas and Richardson Town. There is going
to be a highway that is coming, a road going to be coming from that area where the Chevron on
Highway ten and it is going all the way over to Highway I think to Interstate 59.
BY COUNCILMEMBERS: Zackery Taylor Parkway.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: Right now if it goes through from that point to there it is going through
Poplas behind--BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: No they are going to use Superior and Ontario.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: Superior and what is that street?
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Ontario. One will be going west and one will be going east.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: Is that going have any problem with what is going on with the Poplas
area?
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Most of It is undeveloped property that they are cutting through.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: Okay that was the question I wanted. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: That is going to be long term with the Louisiana Department of
Transportation.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: Okay right. They are not connected?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: No sir.
BY BENJAMIN LEWIS: Thank you so much.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you sir. Yolanda Washington.
BY YOLANDA WASHINGTON: 1807 Rosa Pearl Lane. Good evening. I’m concerned about my
community because we had some property wooded area on the corner of Sullivan Drive and
Rosa Pearl. The wooded area was there for many years and many people tried to buy it but they
wouldn’t allow it. Mr. Creel bought it and since he bought it I say it is a dumping area. He just
stock piles wood and dirt and he also, it is wet there and it keeps mosquitoes. It is in the district
so it’s inside a residential area. I heard he was supposed to put a produce stand in it. That is a
residential area and we don’t want a produce stand there. All of the neighbors are concerned
because on the other end of Rosa Pearl he has already started a junk pile down there. When you
get to the corner of I think it is Plum before you get there you can smell it where he has his little
dump. That is right in front of my sister’s house. It says out of city limits but it is behind the city
limits, how is it districted? It looks kind of weird all of a sudden that little plot right there is out
of the city limits. These people’s houses right here ends and on this end of the property he has
vacant and all messed up it still inside city limits. I see he’s out there walking it off trying to do
something with it but we don’t want anything there but other residents. That is a residential
area.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: On Plum one side is outside city limits and the other is inside.
BY YOLANDA WASHINGTON: I know that but I am not talking about Plum I’m talking about Rosa
Pearl. You can smell I’m talking about where he got the dump on the other end. I mean he got
his property back there with that grill and everything but he is destroying our community with
this new stuff he is doing. We don’t like it and we need something done about it. Thank you.
BY COUNCILMAN McCREE: I’m turning that in the morning. All your concerns will be turned in,
in the morning. As soon as they get done with it I’ll get back with you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: That is one of those issues between the Parish and the City to
work together because part of it is in and part of it is out. Christopher Matthews.
BY CHRISTOPHER MATTHEWS: Ms. Keller took care of me.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright. Anybody else? Ms. Oneita Graham.
BY ONEITA GRAHAM: 110 Graham Drive. I’d just like to offer a little bit of information
concerning a couple of things that ya’ll took up tonight. I didn’t get here in time to sign up or get
recognized. In talking about the Millages, when the millages are set by the citizens anytime you
have a millage you vote on it and you vote it will be designated to this area. To change that the
Council will have to bring it back up and the citizens would have to vote on it again. Another
point is on the recreation in Poplas last year or year before last we went out and some of the
people on the council at that time we were concerned maybe the recreational clause in that
contract was not being fulfilled. We went out and toured the facilities, they had spent so much
money fixing this building up and buying equipment, buying the chairs. They had done so much
and there were some youth activity going on at that time and I think it picks up during the
summer with some programs they have and maybe odd times during the year but they are
having some children involvement, there are some recreation. The City has no purpose what we
are using it for in the City. It was going to pot the building was really in bad shape. This group
took it and they have really fixed it. It is a good thing for the City and I am glad that ya’ll did
approve it. I just wanted to pass those little bits of information to you. Thank you.
BY ALL COUNCILMEMBERS: Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you ma’am. Anyone else from the public wish to speak?
BY MARVIN AUSTIN: 736 Florence Avenue. I was born on South Dauphin Street in Richardson
Town. There is an old oak tree that is still standing on the property that I still own and it is still
my property. I don’t want to be a farmer, I’m too old to be a farmer. I would like to thank Ms.
Keller for her representation of our communities. I know this Councilwoman she got up and
spoke about the recreational center in Poplas Quarters. The City of Bogalusa bares the
responsibility for a lot of our problems that exist in Poplas Quarters. I sit on that council when I
saw that recreation center basically given away where our kids would have nowhere else to go.
Nowhere to play. If they don’t have anything positive to do. I fought against it at that time but
the City was trying to get the responsibility off them so they won’t have to worry about the
upkeep. If that center is to open up for our kids that needs some supervision now. Some adult
supervision there. I’m back again our kids needs some jobs for the summer. We don’t live in
Bogalusa. I heard a lady say about the lower ninth ward after Katrina, she said long as they are
roaches in New Orleans we will exits there also. That is the way it is going to be in Bogalusa.
Now you have some very intelligent people coming here tonight speaking but I talked to some of
the people living down there now that might not be very intelligent and they said before they
give their land up it is going to be found on a mountain. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Anyone else? State your name and address.
BY SHELTON JOHNSON: 1012 Monroe Street. I have some concerns concerning like I see new
businesses like in the Wal-Mart are that is like pouring driveways out to the streets and I was
just wondering you know what I’m saying like even you know like even in those areas it seems
like the peoples you know the new businesses they beginning to put the culverts down to make
their driveways coming out all the way to the streets you know what I’m saying on both sides
like Dollar Tree and all up in there. It seem like they got ditches in places where when I worked
for the city back in the seventies whereby we use to clean the ditches out but now you know I’m
seeing where the ditches is out lived their usefulness it seems like some point the leadership
needs to have some visions and like just as the new businesses fills the ditches in look like they
need to continue in coverage and like close the ditches in like fill them in and like begin to make
shoulders like four feet on the side it like they could just like the businesses take and pour their
driveways all the way into the street whereby taking the four feet of city property they could
take where the ditches were they don’t have any employees to clean them anymore. They could
just put culverts and it wouldn’t take the City a whole lot of money you know what I am saying
I’m looking all over the city where you know you see you know to see where all these ditches
you know what I’m saying where roads would be widening out and it would be much nicer you
know what I’m saying like even going just looking at the advancements at Wal-Mart and all the
places done made like you see ditches like nothing is going to drain because like they are all
stopped up and it just seems like the city could very easily you know just take and you know I
don’t think it wouldn’t take a millionaires budget just take and put culverts in it and close it up
and then they could you know where the street was generated probably in the twenty century
like horse and wagons you see what I’m saying. Now they got it where you know they still look
like everybody want to be you know like Mayors and City Councilmen and I don’t see nobody
with no reasons to close those ditches in and everything like Austin Street and it should be a
yield sign right there coming up Austin Street right by the Lafloridan Inn and everything just to
kind of warn peoples to slow down before they get up to like Dominoes. I look at just like over
there by the black YMC why we should go back there they have four stop signs where the stop
signs they was probably useful when I was a kid you know what I’m saying by the Box Plant they
got four stop signs and it seems like it would take an act of Congress or a big thing for whoever
in charge of the thing to just take and take the same just take the stop sign down and put a yield
sign in those places right there. That concerns me and I cut hair right over here by the Winn
Dixie you know what I’m saying right over here and I’ve been looking you know what I’m saying.
I don’t see a bunch of administrations and office but I’m hoping to see and wondering if this is
going to be an administration at one time Bogalusa had gotten a name you know what I’m
saying the Magic City. Well my parents told me well the way that Bogalusa had gotten that
name the Magic City said Bogalusa was the second fastest growing city in the State of Louisiana
but I’m wondering you know what I’m saying I saw some Councilmen campaigning he was
talking about bringing back the Magic to Bogalusa. I’m wondering you know what I’m saying are
you guys going to be the ones to in vision and bring the magic back to the city. I want to see like
just like the city you know what I’m saying they took the Fire Department and they burned all
my building down on Third Street I want to see you know what I’m saying in the winter comes to
take –I’m going to say this and then I’m going to be done, I mean I want to see them just where
right by behind I clean where I work at I want to see them where at one time I use to be able to
see right behind the Winn Dixie all the way back over to Sullivan Drive. I want to see the
Administration take the Sheriff Department or somebody and clean that out back there where
we can see some of that because I mean even in Cassidy Park I see where they made a water
device over there and I thought that was awesome. How would you make a water thing good
enough for the children and not even fence it up right behind there? I mean it is some things
that I got a lot of concerns.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright. Thank you. Hold on we have got to change the tape.
Alright let’s come back to order ya’ll. Please state your name and address.
BY EMMA DIXON: 717 St. Mary’s Place. Well good afternoon. I didn’t sign up but one of the
concerns that I have I’d just like to take a quick moment to discuss that. We have just completed
our fourth Earth Day event here in Bogalusa. We think it was quite a success. Interestingly
enough we only get a very small grant to do Earth Day in Bogalusa. I like others heard about the
$400,000 Brownfields Grant and the first thing I said was gosh that is environmental you know
and that is when the greatest concerns we have in this community as to relate to our health, the
air, the water for all of that. I just wanted to say that I think it would be a great value to this
community if we had a policy and procedure method in place as it applies to grants. I was here
before about the gentleman who wanted to build the houses on Superior Avenue and it was
brought before the Council to write a letter of support so we all knew about that but something
as big as a Brownfields Grant in this community that has so many environmental issues and we
knew nothing about it. The other key part of that is when I talked to the funder I said to her for a
grant from Ben and Jerry’s Ice-Cream that is for environmental. Semen’s has grants for
environmental. One of the things that I have learned as a grant writer is the grant maker the
foundations want to see you to pull money together instead of $400,000 we may have gotten
$900,000 if someone would have known about it. So my simple request to the Council and the
Mayor is maybe we should have a policy and procedure in place where people would be made
aware the City decides to apply for grant money whether it is for the airport, whether it is for
the streets because there may be other pools of money out there that we can match together
and help make Bogalusa a better City. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. She was first. Please state your name and address.
BY GLADYS LAMPLY: 1915 Rosa Pearl Lane. The first question I have for you all is Rosa Pearl
Lane out of the City Limits? I was told by someone in City Hall that Rosa Pearl Lane was out of
the City Limits.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: I don’t think it is.
BY COUNCILMAN McCREE: Ms. Gladys it is inside.
BY GLADYS LAMPLY: Another thing that I have there was a garbage dumpster place in front of
my house right across the street and it belongs to Bogalusa Grill. I asked him several times to
move it and he told me he was leaving it there for the garbage truck to come in and get. He
moved it further down on the other end of the corner even though it is out of the city limits you
can still smell the garbage. Also he has a trailer with boxes that he brings from his business and
it is as far as from here to there in front of my house even though it is across the ditch and I
asked him several times to remove it. He keeps telling me that I can drag that away but he still
hasn’t moved it yet. When you put empty boxes that has grease on them and has fish food on it,
it begins to stink and the flies is coming. It is a health hazard what I say but he seems not to be
concerned about removing the trailer with the empty boxes in it. I’ve been taking pictures and
I’ve phoned down there and asked him and he has not done anything as of yet and that has
been going on for the last two and a half months.
BY COUNCILMAN McCREE: I’m coming up here in the morning and talk with some people about
it and I will let you know Ms. Gladys.
BY GLADYS LAMPLY: Okay thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Anyone else?
BY JOE BAILEY: 406 Church Street. I would like to congratulate the new Councilmembers and
also the new Mayor, first white female Mayor of Bogalusa. My next point is to state my
opposition to the plan to change District A and District B. I think it is a racist plan. I think it is very
racist. I think the only reason we have the plan is to try to harass and intimidate and remove
blacks from District A and B. Because blacks are becoming the majority voted in Bogalusa. The
persons that created this plan are aware that Bogalusa is going to be majority black will be the
power of ace in Bogalusa and I think that is the purpose that is the reason why this plan was
introduced to intimidate and remove blacks from a power position in Bogalusa. I think it is
discriminate, I think it is racist and we don’t want that. So I oppose it, I agree with Ms. Keller and
everything she said and I don’t see why the Council is even considering something like that. So
thank you.
BY ALL COUNCILMEMBERS: Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Now we move on to Administrative Remarks.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Thank you President Drummond. This is the first meeting of the month
and at this time I would like for the Director of Administration, Stacy Smith.
BY STACY SMITH: Thank ya’ll for voting for me again tonight I really appreciate it. I really don’t
have too much. The sales taxes from January through May are actually up 397,000 from last
year. We reported 3.5 million this year 3.2 in 2014. We had a special sales tax commission
meeting last week when we found out there were some incorrect sales tax returns filed and
based on all of that the Washington Parish Government owes Bogalusa about $19,000 and the
School Board owes about $59,000. They are both going to like they say just cut a check. Angie
owes about $58,000. We worked out a deal where they will pay that every thirty six months
because to dish that out right now will basically bankrupt them. So they are going to pay that
every three years. The Food Depot owes another $45,000. I think Bogalusa receives about 60%
of that because they were filing in Angie which is why they owe us. Okay we are still working
with the Legislative Auditor and that is an ongoing thing and we will be doing that every month.
We submit our reports and have various phone calls with them an ongoing thing. We are
working with our new accounting system, we are hoping to get all the kinks and all worked out
soon so we can have final good numbers and everything, cash has been the issue I think because
of the transfer came over some things were posted to the General Fund it should have been in
other funds so we are working on reconciling all of that. That is basically all I have.
BY ALL COUNCILMEMBERS: Thank you Stacy.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Excuse me I have a question Ms. Smith. In reference to the City of
Bogalusa our corrective action plan and LA monitoring document there are some timelines I
think one passed May 1st in establish are we pretty much caught up with our time?
BY STACY SMITH: Yes we have established that. I think they already had an account that was
dormant so we can start using that.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Secondly will we be having a pacific meeting in going through the
entire, this entire plan?
BY STACY SMITH: The one with the Legislative Auditors?
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Yes.
BY STACY SMITH: We have to submit a new one this month I would kind of prefer to work off
that one because I am hoping our financial situation---BY MAYOR PERRETTE: We go before the Bond Commission also July 16th and it will be after
that. Mike, Mike and Eric Sloan who are the Legislative Advisory Board will probably be coming
to Bogalusa and we will do the wrong because we have been submitting on a timely bases and
not only updating monthly. It is also being in followed what we have been doing.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay you said we go before what date was that?
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: July 16th.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I thought we were scheduled like this month sometime.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: No but we are in preparation for it.
BY STACY SMITH: We report to the Legislative Auditors monthly but the Bond Commission is in
July.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: We are the first Administration to report to the Bond Louisiana Auditors
on a monthly basis. We are at an advisory stage and we are going to follow and do what they
ask us to do and take their recommendations.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: I just thought I read where we were scheduled to go in March and
we had withdrawn so I guess---BY MAYOR PERRETTE: No ma’am. That was a bill between your Senator and Representative that
was put on there that was withdrawn but that had nothing to do with the City of Bogalusa as us
doing it. It wasn’t us it was applying for something. It wasn’t us.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: It wasn’t us.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: We go Stacy and myself will go Ms. Smith and I will go and represent the
City of Bogalusa again with the Bond Commission on July 16th.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay thank you.
BY TERRY “FOOTS” QUINN: (Inaudible).
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: After the meeting.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Ya’ll can meet after the meeting?
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Put in a request Foots she has a job to do and she is doing it right now
come and sit down. She did great being able to stand up there and talk before she couldn’t even
get up. So I’m proud of her. She is not going to know that number off the top of her head. That
is all she does is numbers all day. Alright, Fire Chief Richard Moody.
BY CHIEF MOODY: How are ya’ll doing? Actually I have two months of reports we didn’t report
last month. So I have April we had 146 calls, 4 structure fires, our biggest calls are medical calls
we had 89 of those, 19 false alarms that is the month of April. For May we had 0 structure fires
but we had 135 calls so our calls is still staying up there just to assist citizens, 17 motor vehicle
accident, 1 vehicle fire and 2 grass fires. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Thank you Chief. Police Chief Joe Culpepper.
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: Good evening. I have some good and some bad news. Let’s just start with
the bad news and get it over with. We had a major computer malfunction and lost some
software and it’s not really the money it’s the data that was lost. Unfortunately our backup quit
about the time Ben Mohon got laid off last year but we had a plan in place with our software
company working through replacing most of it. They are trying to fix it anyway which is going to
I don’t know it was just a loss of data. The things that matters like the case files from Franklinton
and stuff printed in City Court so we are okay there.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: So we have hard copies?
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: We have a lot of stuff that actually matters for prosecution yes but like
peoples reports and stuff and they hadn’t gotten we might have a problem with it. For the
month of May since it has been two weeks and just try to hit and miss we have about the same
it is 1139 complaints, over 200 arrest, 50 traffic accidents, 7 DWI arrest, 38 hours of Community
Service, 253 bags of garbage picked up on the Saturday Program. As part of trying to be involved
with the Community the Police and City Court and the Fire Department use to play with us but
now they are on their own they don’t play well with others. The Cancer Relay we raised like a
thousand bucks during the Cancer Relay. We were able to turn over to them. My softball
tournament that was just held a little bit over four thousand dollars for Sergeant Tyson who is
fixing to be forced into retirement due to kidney failure.
BY COUNCILMEMBERS: Thank you.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Parks and Recreation Landon Tims.
BY LANDON TIMS: Good evening. This past month has been a busy month. We have had a lot of
good events going on in the Park for the community to enjoy. Like Joe said we had the Relay for
Life, weekend after that we had Festival in the Park. Joe had his Bogalusa Police Department
Softball Tournament. Southeastern Louisiana came in and did a production the live production
of Peter and Tink which is a retailing of the original story of Peter Pan. Now that this play has
been performed one time the author of the play which is from Southeastern Alumina she can
now publish the work. In the first addition it will always say first performed at Cassidy Park in
Bogalusa. So it is always good to come and bring these new shows that has never been
performed before because when they get published it gives Bogalusa a little bit of publicity. The
Fire Department I don’t want to still Chief Moody’s thunder but the Fire Department are also
having a Softball Tournament coming up I think next weekend and I’m sure he will speak more
on that. Sport Association Baseball is coming to an end and this week we will be selecting All
Star Teams and we will have three All Star Teams and they will be traveling around the state
representing Bogalusa with the sport of baseball. We will be taking sponsorship for the kids to
get them to and from places so if anybody would like to sponsor please call me and let me
know. There are lots of summer camps that is coming up. There is actually a baseball camp
coming this week held at Bogalusa High School Gym. It is supporting the YMCA swimming
program once again I think free swimming on Friday’s. We also have Legends All Pro Football
Camp that is next week. That is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There is still time to sign up.
I can get registration forms so if anybody needs any forms come see me at the office.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: It is free. Stress that word Free!
BY LANDON TIMS: It is free. Free camp. For three days from morning until lunch. Professional
players, college players, from the Bogalusa area some are not but it is definitely free. We also
have a summer camp coming up in July and we also have the Believe Camp at the High School
Auditorium which is next week as well. Believe Camp is more of theater acting, song and dance
and it is also in the air conditioning. So if you have a child that would be more interested in that
it would be a good option for them as well. One quick last little note is this Friday there is a
summer fest it is on Louisiana Avenue all the businesses there including the restaurants will be
setting up outside, they will have a band, they will have venders with snowballs, jump and bump
for the kids, you can go to the local restaurants there and grab some food, let the kids hang out
and play and listen to some good music. Thank you.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Thank you Mr. Tims. Airport Manager Mr. Louis Busby.
BY LOUIS BUSBY: Good evening. Even with all the rain that we’ve had this past month we’ve had
about 43 visiting aircrafts plus our pilots flying around. That would be a much bigger number if
the rain would give us a little bit of a break. We are getting into heavy flying season pretty much
summer into fall and usually less rain. I’m still hard at work getting more grants from FAA and
DOTD. Kind of like James grass cutting it is an ongoing process pretty much all throughout the
summer and fall. That is my grass cutting. Every day I am working on something to do with the
grants whether it is applying for it or dealing with the FAA or something. It is looking really good
this year for the grants for Bogalusa. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you Louis.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Thank you. Director of Public Works Mr. James Hall.
BY JAMES HALL: Good evening. I guess I will start off by answering some of the questions. Rosa
Pearl is inside the City Limits. 130 foot to the fence as you said by Trade School is the City Limit
line. Now as it goes down toward Ruby it becomes outside city limits which we had no control
over. Any time you want to come, come look at the map and I will show you crazy dog legs it
does. Part of Plum Street by the Event Center is out and a little bit further down it is in. You got
some crazy boundaries and I agree with you.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Who is the Parish Council person over that area? Is that Ken
Wheat?
BY JAMES HALL: Yes.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: Okay then we can contact him on that.
BY JAMES HALL: Yes. We are trying on our part when you get outside the city limits and they
don’t have our water and sewer we can’t do a lot with it. Mr. Doyle has come and asked me a
few questions about the fruit stand, I told him it has to go through Planning and Zoning, what he
would have to do to have one there. We would have a public hearing on it and I have gave him
my opinion that I didn’t think it would fly but he still has a right to come to public hearing at the
Planning and Zoning if he decides to do it and if he does it will be in the paper and there will be a
sign put up out there if he wants to rezone it. Therefore you can ask your neighbors to come and
give your opinion but he would have to go through many of hoops because it is A-1 Residential
which is very strict and I told him so I’ve been working on that with him. Mr. Shelton, if I put
culverts in all my ditches we would be a boat we would float. We are working off of a gravity
system. Pleasant Hill to the river is 27 foot difference in a fall. We have no pumps, we have to
have open ditches for water to drain. When I close a ditch for a culvert and put a two foot by
two foot catch basin on it that is the only place water can get in. That is what causes a lot of our
problems right now it is so many ditches that are full of culverts now because every forty foot
put two by two square rating for water to run in. It can’t run all the way up and down the ditch. I
understand your concern that would make the shoulders wider but our gravity system you have
to have ditches that is the only way it will work. The Brownfield Grant, it just came in we talked
to the Department Heads about it and we are still debating. I got people coming in here to help
me with it because this Brownfield Grant is to clean up ten properties for $400,000.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Specify properties by the prior administration.
BY JAMES HALL: From the previous administration ten properties and we were awarded
$400,000. Now that is just for the assessments on the properties. Once the assessments are
done and no contamination found supposing I haven’t gotten all the information yet the EPA will
contact the people who owns it and offer them help in cleaning it up and tearing it down or do
what they need to. Some of these are reliable businesses some are empty lots. It was ten chosen
by the previous administration and we did get the grant and I’ve got to learn more about before
I can say yes or no. I don’t want to say yes or no, I know it sounds great, it is supposed to be no
money out of the city’s pocket that is what I’m working on and make sure of that before we say
yes.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Mr. Hall, excuse me I just have one question about the Brownfield,
what was Bogalusa’s criteria when we submitted the grant for the Brownfield.
BY JAMES HALL: I can’t answer that I wasn’t involved in that.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Usually I know that it involves a lot of abandoned and vacant
property for clarifications.
BY JAMES HALL: Well not homes what is on my list is like old businesses like old gas stations, the
old Coca-Cola bottling plant, the old Iron Foundry, Iris Spenser’s old junk yard if anybody
remembers where that was right off Ontario that is the different places that they had picked out
for the grant. That is why we are still going over them and studying what we are going to do.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: The submission of it what I understand might been around
December we did not have a Comprehensive Resiliency Plan in place and I know we been
proposing a Comprehensive Resiliency Plan does that mean we can apply for grants and not
necessary have the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan?
BY JAMES HALL: Yes ma’am this is totally two different things. Totally two different things.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay for grants. Thank you.
BY JAMES HALL: July 7th is the day that is going to make Ms. Wendy very happy and a lot of
people. We are going to open bids for the overlay of Austin Street. Now don’t get too excited
because once I open them I have to send it to the State to get it Okayed for thirty to forty five
days but we are getting close. July 7th we will open bids and hopefully get it to the State and
within two months the State will tell us to go and have Austin Street overlaid from the Austin
Street Bridge all the way down to Okechobee right at the red light on Cumberland Street. The
rain ya’ll can imagine what the rain has been doing to me. We have found problems we didn’t
know we had drainage problems with all the rain we’ve had in different spots at different times.
Water leaks I went to one today and it was interesting up on West 9th at along West 8th a spot
was raising up two foot and had picked itself up with water leak under it and by the time we got
a valve and got it cut off and got it settled back down we got the leak fixed. It just shows even
though it is wet the ground don’t give way the asphalt was still two foot higher. The grass
cutting, litter, Foots I could use all the help I could for litter write someone up call the Police
station or do something to help me. Grass cutting and spraying we doing. Ongoing drainage
problems. On the, I got a couple here for Mr. Fate too. Code enforcement for April and May 16
citations issued, 8 citations issued and was dropped charges due to compliance before court
date, 74 code violations brought into compliance, 63 violations complaints received, 11 vehicle
towed or removed from the city right of way. 1402 Sullivan Drive the deceased his son is living in
Gulfport or Pascagoula, the man across the street has his phone number and he is looking it up
to give to me so we can finally get something done there. We contacted them once before and
we are going to try again. But the Code Enforcement is going on a regular basis. The grants that
the city applies for we don’t realize how much it takes to do a grant. It’s just work after work,
after work and they make you jump through so many hoops not saying it is not good but our
problem has been in the past accepting a lot of grants for the match. I’m talking about one we
recently had was 1.4 million dollars for a walk bridge beside Avenue B and our part was going to
be $400,000. We do not have $400,000. That is why we are looking hard at the Brownfield Grant
it is supposed to be in play and nobody has given me any proof of that yet. It said nothing will
come out of pocket but the trip you have to take to Dallas you will be reimburse for. Well they
done told me I’m paying to go to Dallas yes they will reimburse me when? I don’t know. I hear a
lot of complaints but we work really hard up here every day I promise you. There is just a lot of
problems in Bogalusa but we are going to keep working until they ain’t no Bogalusa left. Thank
you.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Thank you James. I would also like to stress that these men and women
that work for the City they work countless hours with all the rain. When you get four inches of
rain within an hours’ time, no city or drainage system can handle that. I commend you all and
everybody here works over than what they have too. I’d like to address a couple of things. One
being I’d like to thank you as Council for voting to fix the resolution to hire Ms. Stacy Smith and
that was left off and it was also left off in 1987 to the prior Administration. In the past in 1987 it
wasn’t done so at least we had that much done of it where we asked the Council and we did not
know that we needed to include the price or how much the person was. Also with Ms. Smith’s
credentials Ms. Smith seemed like a lot. Ms. Smith I will say this much took a twenty thousand
dollar pay cut to come to the City of Bogalusa and spoke with Bob Neilson today we are working
on some solutions and things on our retirement system and he highly recommended a CPA to be
in this position. In fact Mr. Jerry Bailey himself stated that whomever was put in this place and
there were no one would come to this place as a CPA to make what we had to offer. That is why
we had to hey you have to pay for someone that is educated and has the credentials to do the
job rather than someone who is just good at math no fun intended, no insult to anyone in the
past but you got to have somebody that has that knowledge and you got to have someone that
you trust. I also like to thank you all for coming out and showing your concerns for your city. It’s
important for you to come to these meetings. I also like to stress that Camp Believe is next week
and Bruce Sampson puts it on and it is for all ages. It is a $60.00 fee and it is at Bogalusa High
School. Breakfast program it is free at 7:30 and they have lunch too it is provided free and it last
until 4:30. So it is an all-day event. Friday night if you don’t have a child or grandchild to go
watch the play it will be going on Friday night of that week you can go and watch the play. We
don’t have the arts here and Mr. Tims is bringing Southeastern here to have that play because
we don’t have theater here in the City of Bogalusa like we did at one time. Not even available at
Bogalusa High School for that matter any High School I don’t believe the Parish don’t even put
on plays any more. Also the Legends Football Pass the City teamed up with the Legends Camp
and it is a great program. We have Mr. Bruce Plummer who was a person part of NFL and there
are several others who are local athletes that are coming. One of the- Josh Williams is coming
and he is going to be here helping out with the camp also. With the citations right now we are
working on the main throughways of town and the town is divided up. They are going in Section
A, Section B just like the Police Station and Public Works has it divided up like Monday they
might be in Section A in citations, Section B and so forth. So if you have a complaint they don’t
fall deft on you the ears of us and we are working diligently in fact that property at the end of
Superior Avenue coming into town, same property that I believe Mr. Ferrell has been
complaining about I’m working hard I know that the owner of that property is now from Texas
and we are working on having a letter certified to be sent to them because that property I think
it use to be a store before my time. Yes we are not perfect here but we are going back and
finding things that weren’t done before us so we are trying to fix them and do it right. Also
pertaining to our computer issues the Louisiana Legislative Auditors asked us to hire a person of
personnel meaning one person for IT and that is currently being advertised on the Bogalusa City
Website. They have asked us to hire someone because we need someone who is here on a
consistent basis and what we contracted out in years past we could pay someone’s salary to
keep up with this system and so forth. Right now there are some things that will come about
where we will hire an IT person. You can put a resume in right now Ms. Graves is interviewing
and so forth. Also another agency had asked for that too. Also I am very pleased to say that I
think with this administration and the last administration for that matter as shown transparency
and I actually have to say Ms. Smith for example the Freedom of Information Act gives her
seventy two hours to get something done. She maybe in the middle of working on something
that is due to the State of Louisiana, she has to stop what she is doing and pull what you asked
for but that is the law and she is doing that so be considerate as in the sense for instant we had
a news station that wanted things that would take two months to get together. Come in and
look we don’t have a problem with you coming in and look we are open for you to see. When
she has to go and pulling her from her job she has duties too. You know give her the seventy
two hours. None of us here you got other things sometimes you have to prioritize. We don’t get
things as quickly as we like but as long as it is given to you within that seventy two hours. I think
that this administration and everyone here has worked very hard at trying to get those things
done for you all. I think we have obliged and we accommodated every single one of you who
have come in here and you don’t think we have just let me know because I think that they have.
I’ve in fact gone and pulled things on behalf so she can do what she needs to do for the State. So
we don’t have a problem, it is here for you all to look at but sometimes we have to prioritize
that comes to the third day. I’m sorry for that but at least it is given. I don’t think It has always
been given in the past administration was very good at doing so and I think that this
administration and I take pride in saying has continued doing so. I hope that this summer that
you all that have children and grandchildren get out and participate in the Y Camps that are
available. We have teamed up with the Y and working with them they got several camps that
are going on and to help them which will keep our kids off the street. The program you all are
doing the Church it’s a great program. I ask you as parents to get your children involved or
grandchildren involved. We can put things in place but you actually have to make another step
to take them to it. Some of these camps over have of them are free and they are free to you all.
A lot of them the Bogalusa City School system free lunch program provides breakfast and lunch.
I mean it is like taking them to school like next week 7:30 you can take them to Camp Believe at
High School and this week they have a basketball camp going on over there. I just ask ya’ll to
keep them in mind and be safe spring and summer. The Brownfield Grant came to our attention
Friday and we discussed it at our staff meeting. We have lawyers looking at it to make sure
because it is Federal money and when the Federal Government gives you something you have to
follow the Federal Government rules. Wendy don’t get to make up the rules as she goes. She
don’t make up the rules and she has to follow the rules. Orange may be a fabulous color on me
and everybody I have to admit. I’m not going to wear it in a onesie I’m past that phase so we are
going to do it right the first time. If we don’t do it right we are going to come back and fix it. At
least we are woman and man enough to say we didn’t do it right. And that is all. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Now we come to Council discussion, Councilwoman
Kates.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Thank everyone for coming out and I appreciate your support and
continued prayers that the right decision are actually made for our city. I appreciate everyone’s
comments and concerns. I would like to say that a couple of comments I had an inquiry about
what EE laws what EE laws that the City of Bogalusa had pertaining to hiring and I’m not human
resources or personnel but for the purpose of the inquiry I’m noted that the City does have an
equal opportunity statement. We are equal opportunity employee which is sited on the city’s
website. Also pertaining to the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan, Bogalusa Comprehensive
Resiliency plan Ms. Keller I really commend you and she is correct the residents of Poplas voted
unanimously not wanting the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan the original plan and no other
revised plan. I was somewhat appalled myself when I received a call indicating that the plan
needed to be put on the table. I did relay that was not the original agreement that we were to
review the plan then go forth from there. We did have at a District A Association function that
was conducted on May 25th on May 30th and June 1st and it was to initiate the review of the
Bogalusa Comprehensive Resiliency Plan as it relates to Poplas Quarter neighborhood. It was
discovered during this time there were minimum changes in the plan. I myself went line for line
old plan new plan. There was a deletion of the land bank element for Poplas and the Richardson
Town agriculture farming. That was deleted out of the plan page 19 through 113 however the
meetings that we had in the past on April 11th at Ebenezer and Second Baptist and we had a
meeting on April 18th the citizens took time and came together and they listed their solutions
that what to go into the plan and those solutions say they may have put 10% in the plan so as
for now when I last met on June 1st this past Monday it was noted that the suggestions and
solutions was not reflected and it was understood from the beginning the plan was tabled until
such plans were reviewed by the residents as agreed. Dana Brown has been contacted and she
has been ordered a twelve page vision. She did e-mail and be apologetic that she did not put the
solutions in but as Ms. Keller indicated that was stated during our meeting that it was going to
be put in so a lot of disappointed residents. After meeting with the Ministers Reverend Magee
was kind enough to host our meeting on Saturday. The solutions are submitted to Dana Brown
and this time we have a review to come back and if it is not in the plan as listed the solutions as
listed then we have to look at other options. The residents will look at other options. Also in the
plan was noted like Mr. Fate indicated this plan really affects the entire city. In reviewing those
that the Public Housing Authority as well as the Bogalusa School System they will both be
submitting comments if they choose to update in the plan as well as North shore not North
shore but the Charter School. The Charter School the Reverend Palmer indicated he will be
submitting updates. Also Planning and Zoning they did hold a meeting on January 28, 2015 so
the changes in the plan has to be reflected with Planning and Zoning as well so they can be
caught up if the plan is accepted. There was a question polled maybe someone here can answer,
what is the Bogalusa Redevelopment Authority is anyone familiar with that the term that was in
the plan? They are to be partnering with several entities but we could not. Does anyone know
who they are? Bogalusa Authority?
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: That would be Vonda Wascom. She said she spoke with you pertaining to
this last week when I met with her. The RAD Program with the Housing Authority.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: No. I’m not speaking of the RAD Program.
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: That is what she had told me that she was in contact with you and that
you had made contact with her and it had something to do with her.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Oh she said the Bogalusa Redevelopment Authority has something
to do with her?
BY MAYOR PERRETTE: Yes ma’am.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: Okay the Commissioner. I know I have two minutes or a half a
minute left.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: We do need to keep going.
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: That is all I have for now. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Alright Councilman Ritchie:
BY COUNCILMAN RITCHIE: I would like to thank everyone for coming tonight. I appreciate your
comments and concerns. We do take these things serious. It is very difficult to pave streets, fix
drainage and things like that when you are broke. I know ya’ll been talking about all this money
we are supposed to be getting but I haven’t seen any of it yet. So I’m not going to spend it yet. I
think that our Administration is doing their best to take us in the right direction. We have got to
get rid of the deficit that has got to be the first priority in our City. Once we do that then we will
have money that we can spend on other things but until we pay back the one point nine million
and start over again then we are just peddling backwards for the times being I hate it but there
is not much you can do when you don’t have the money and you don’t have the income tax to
support it. Again thank you for being here.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Councilman McCree.
BY COUNCILMAN McCREE: Also I would like you know thank everyone for coming out and keep
coming and bring your concerns. I’m pretty sure in time we will get to a lot of things just bear
with us and give us some time please. So thank ya’ll and God Bless you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Councilwoman Smith.
BY COUNCILWOMAN SMITH: I would like to thank you for coming out this evening and voicing
your concerns and opinions. Also I would like to thank everyone that came out this past
Saturday to the Car Show in Cassidy Park. Mr. McCree and I myself have enjoyed putting a smile
on kids’ faces donating along with Mr. Drakecus and Mr. Peters bicycles for the kids to be
raffled off and we enjoyed ourselves. Also I would like to thank Ms. Dana Walker who hosted
the end of school party on Avenue B for the kids of our community. It was well organized and
she did a nice job along with volunteers from the community. It was something real nice and
positive for the kids. Then I would like to speak on the Comprehensive Resiliency Plan it is a
vision and as ya’ll know we have to put a plan in place in order to get the grants and get things
that we need for our city. I just would like to say to the citizens of Bogalusa including myself who
represents District B everything that is given to me I read and I make sure I go through and I try
to follow up and plan along with what is going on and keep my district as well as the community
knowledgeable of what is going on but I say this once and I will say it again when this plan first
started I want to say back in 2014 if we would have –
BY COUNCILWOMAN KATES: 2011 correction.
BY COUNCILWOMAN SMITH: Thank you. 2011 if we as citizens black, white no matter the race
we have joined together and came out we wouldn’t be here today to go through to revise the
plan and go over and over. So I say speaking of myself because I did attend some of the
meetings. I didn’t agree on everything that went on but I must say we must continue to come
out fight for our community, fight for our district in all as a team stand for Bogalusa. For those
who maybe or possible that we are not reading or working together just like in biology class this
plan and we dissect it and we go through and that is why we are here today we didn’t agree on
the first plan. So we will continue to strive to make Bogalusa a better place. Thank ya’ll once
again.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Councilwoman Fortenberry.
BY COUNCILWOMAN FORTENBERRY: Good evening. I don’t normally have very much to say in
the closing but I am going to respond to a few of the remarks tonight. First of all “Foots” I need
to apologize, if I can say this, for leaving. Two weeks ago tomorrow we buried my twenty two
year old great niece that was murdered. Ya’ll probably heard it on the news. If my brother would
be alive that would have been his grandbaby. Murdered at the home at the hands of a foster
parent. They took her from a good home and put her in foster care. I can’t say a lot we buried
her two weeks ago tomorrow. I got emotional I didn’t know the child you were talking about I
don’t think but my blue ribbon is against child abuse. So I need to apologize to you. Ms. Bourn I
do set up here and write these are my notes. Any time you want to see them you are more than
welcome to read them. I do not text, I do not pass notes. I make myself notes so I can bring up
things like this. As far as Richardson Town, I was born and raised at 1641 Warren Street. My
grandparents lived at 1332 New Orleans Street. The grandbaby I just talked about the
grandmother lives at 1021 Cora Williams Road. Every one of those addresses is in Richardson
Town. Yes I’m partial to that. I still have relatives in Richardson Town. I’m not going to see it
destroyed I’m telling you I am going to sit here, it is not going to be destroyed if I can help it. At
the corner of Mr. Johnson you talked about a yield sign at certain places behind Dominoes you
notice this when you go home I know where you live there is a stop sign and it is way back off
Austin Street. If you stop at that stop sign you are not going to see traffic going down Austin
Street I’m here to tell you, you are not. I’ve said a hundred times I would be the first one to get a
ticket for running that stop sign because I’m going to be up where I can see traffic passing on
Austin Street. But there is a stop sign back by the railroad tracks. I think that is on city property
maybe they can get it moved up closer to Austin Street but there is a stop sign at that
intersection. As far as littering in our community it is almost going to be impossible to give them
a ticket unless you see them put the litter there. I get out, I pick up litter, I pick up bags of litter.
Is that my three minutes? I’m sorry there is a sign it is probably laying down now where they are
doing this water work at the corner of Sabine Street and Lucerne Street it says don’t litter our
community. I put it there. I know it was there. It is on a pole laying on the ground at this time,
hopefully they will put it back up. Mr. Ferrell I want to say to you i sat on this Council since
January and I hear you. I hear you every meeting. I rode down Dewitt Avenue from the 1700
block to the 1900 block this past week. I made it my business to go down Plum Street. There is a
blue house behind a chain link fence with weeds growing up and it must be in the 1800 block of
Dewitt that I think is blighted property, I would call it blighted property, I don’t know what can
be done about that but I’m not your Councilman. Get with your Councilman about it. I saw some
guy at the corner house of Plum I guess where Dewitt goes this way he has white oriental stuff
out in his yard. He had a rag out there wiping it off. I stopped and thanked him and told him how
nice his yard looked. If we could get people doing that cleaning your own property up, clean
your neighbor’s property up. You would hear more positive things at this council meeting. We’re
new and we are learning and I’m telling you I’m one you ask James if I call over there. I’m sure if
he has caller ID sometimes he hates to answer his phone because he is going to say yes Ms.
Sherry. I call him and I am very nice when I talk to him. I think I am and I tell him my concerns
and so I’ve done my job. I’ll follow up on that to see if any results are done but the city
employees you can only do so much and I’m sure it is going to get done but probably not when
you or I think it is going to get done but it will get done. I’m telling you. Oh one more thing,
today do ya’ll know what happened fifty years ago June 2, 1965? We went several of us went to
a thing at the Sheriff Department Mr. O’Neal Moore and Mr. Creed Rogers Washington Parish
Deputies Mr. O’Neal Moore was shot and killed. Mr. Creed Rogers lost eye site so tonight when
you say your prayer say a prayer for their family. That happened fifty years ago today. So I just
wanted to say that. Have a good day.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: Thank you. Vice-President White.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT WHITE: I would like to thank Ms. Keller for coming out and voicing her
concern for your community. We too lived in Richardson Town when Danny and I first married.
That is a special place for us in our hearts too. It’s good I have the utmost respect for people
that has looked at things that are affecting your community and speaking about them and
educating yourself on them and helping the community find ways to better itself. I think that
Resiliency Plan is not over. I think it is affecting citizens that are out right angry and confused
and not in what is the word I’m trying to say? It’s got to be a Comprehensive Plan for the
community as a whole. We all have to come together for that and so to you I thank you for
voicing your concerns for your area and those are things that we will and can work through
before it is an accepted plan. There is no one here is trying to hurt or belittle anyone. I hate to
even hear the words of division and racism called up to me. I do know that they have existed for
a long time. The last minute of my time I would like to spend you said it today a moment of
silence for Mr. O’Neal Moore family I was there today as well. I grew up in Varnado with his
children and I know that family and the sacrifices he made and in closing for mine I would like a
moment of silence for him and his family and Mr. Creed as well. Amen. By the way his
granddaughter will be performing on the Heritage Stage at the Blues and Heritage Festival so I
would like to say that she is coming in from Houston. We are excited about it and I hope you all
plan to come out and support that event as well. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT DRUMMOND: For me I just like to say Ms. Keller I agree with you. I wouldn’t
want anybody to tear apart my neighborhood and I’ve only been in it twenty years. I know you
have been there a lot longer than I have. I do have to disagree with you on the ordinance to
protect the renters. I was in on that when we passed it when we started it. That is there to
protect people. I’ve seen water-- little old lady’s come pay their water bill and it will be $120.00.
Their landlord knew there was a water leak and they didn’t fix it because they didn’t pay the
water bill. This is set up to protect people it is not set up to hurt anybody. Maybe make a
landlord or two pretty mad but we already crossed that bridge. Ms. Hicks is gone but I would
just like to tell her I never knew there was so much t’s to cross and I’s to dot until I served on
this council. I just like to say Louis you are doing a good job up at the airport. People might not
realize it but there is a man named Terry Skilar that comes to Bogalusa on business and he is
from Natchez he is a mover and a shaker and he was highly impressed with this airport and that
has been a couple of years ago. He still comes back and forth so he has to be even more
impressed now so keep up the good work Louis. Ms. Bourn you will see me make notes and you
will see me check my phone. I got a wife on the highway and I got a son a hundred miles away. If
I get a text from them I’m giving Malinda the gavel and I’m going to see what is wrong. I’ll do it
today if I need to I’ll do it tomorrow if I need to. I will not have family away in this day and age
communications when we might not be able to communicate with them so I’m sorry. You are
welcome to look at my text, you are welcome to look at my notes. I’d just like to say or tell you
up front if you do see me you will know what I’m doing. I think a better plan than tearing down
the projects let’s use rent to own so these people can have pride and home ownership. They
don’t need a government agency telling them how they got to live their life. If they are paying
rent anyway let them buy it and then they will have pride ownership they have something they
can leave their kids and that is just something we need to think about. Push the envelope for
them. I’d also like to commend somebody who is not here tonight our Jailer Scott Adams. If ya’ll
hadn’t noticed the green space between the railroad tracks and the jail you see more and more
people going out there to take their pictures. It is really a pretty spot. He has trustees that keep
it up. I stopped by here to commend him about it and he was talking to a young trustee and who
is getting out of jail done his time and Scott talked to him like a big brother almost instead of a
jailer. That tells you the man has compassion and is doing a good job and I just like to commend
him for doing a good job. With that said meeting adjourned.