BOGALUSA CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2014
PRESIDING:
CHARLES E. MIZELL, MAYOR
JERRY BAILEY, DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
DALE BRANCH, CITY ATTORNEY
PRESENT:
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND
COUNCILMAN O’REE
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS
ABSENT:
COUNCILMAN HODGES
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Bogalusa City Council meeting will come to order.
Invocation by Reverend R. L. Palmer, St. Paul AME Church, followed by the Pledge of
Allegiance.
BY REVEREND R. L. PALMER: Led the Invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE:
Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……………..HERE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND……………...HERE
COUNCILMAN O’REE……………………...HERE
COUNCILMAN HODGES…………………..ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE…………….HERE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………………HERE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS…………...HERE
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next we have the approval of the minutes held on February 18,
2014.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I make a motion they be accepted.
BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM…….AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND……..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE……………..AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES…………..ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE……AYE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS…...AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES HELD
ON FEBRUARY 18, 2014).
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next we have Introduction of Resolutions, Vice-President Perrette.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE:
A RESOLUTION authorizing the City Attorney to make any required non-substitive changes in
Ordinance No. 2392 as may be required by the State Bond Commission or Secretary of State.
This is pertaining to the election staying until January because of the way the election falls to fix
tweet the word for the Bond Commission.
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BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this resolution
please step forward. Being none council discussion.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I make a motion we accept it as written.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM……………….AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES…………………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE……………...AYE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………………...AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS……………..AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT AUTHORIZING THE CITY ATTORNEY
TO MAKE ANY REQUIRED NON-SUBSTITIVE CHANGES IN ORDINANCE NO. _2392
AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE STATE BOND COMMISSION OR SECRETARY OF
STATE).
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: We have no Introduction of Ordinances so we will move on to
public hearing, Councilman Drummond.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to acquire by purchase or
expropriation the ownership of parcels of property needed for construction and maintenance of
the south runway overrun.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance
please step forward and state your name and address. Being none Council discussion.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: There being none I make a motion we accept it.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE……………………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………………………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE………………………….AYE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE……………………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS………………………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
BOGALUSA TO ACQUIORE BY PURCHASE OR EXPROPRIATION THE OWNERSHIP OF PARCELS OF
PROPERTY NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SOUTH RUNWAY
OVERRUN).
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to seek approval from Louisiana
State Bond Commission to borrow funds from the City’s Fiscal Agent, The First, to defray it’s
operating expense and meet its obligation both bonded and unbounded; and repealing all
ordinances and/or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith.
This is introduced by the Finance Committee.
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BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone from the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance
please step forward. There being none Council discussion.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I make a motion we accept it.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE……………………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………………………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE………………………….AYE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE…………………………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS………………………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
BOGALUSA TO SEEK APPROVAL FROM LOUISIANA STATE BOND COMMISSION TO BORROW
FUNDS FROM THE CITY’S FISCAL AGENT, THE FIRST, TO DEFRAY IT’S OPERATING EXPENSE AND
MEET ITS OBLIGATION BOTH BONDED AND UNBONDED; AND REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES
AND/OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH).
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE:
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to borrow from its Fiscal Agent,
up to the amount of One Million Nine Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars and 00/100
($1,990,000.00) at the interest rate provided for by the Fiscal Agent, The First, and authorizing
the Mayor and Office Manager acting for and on behalf of the City, to issue certificates of
indebtedness evidencing the debts and execute pledge agreements as security for payment of
said indebtedness.
This is introduced by the Finance Committee. This is something we do yearly for financial services
to operate the city.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance
please step forward. Being none council discussion.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I make a motion to accept it.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM…………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND…………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE………………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES………………………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE…………………….AYE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE………………………………..AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS………………….AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
BOGALUSA TO BORROW FROM ITS FISCAL AGENT, UP TO THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION NINE
HUNDRED NINETY THOUSAND DOLLARS AND 00/100 ($1,990,000.00) ATH THE INTERSEST
RATE PROVIDED FOR BY THE FISCAL AGENT, THE FIRST, AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND
OFFICE MANAGER ACTING FOR AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES OF
INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCING THE DEBTS AND EXECUTE PLEDGE AGREEMENTS AS SECURITY
FOR PAYMENT OF SAID INDEBTEDNESS).
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BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND:
AN ORDINANCE to authorize the Mayor of the City of Bogalusa to acquire by purchase or
expropriation the ownership of certain parcels of property in the 400 Block of Columbia Street.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Anyone in the public wishing to speak for or against this ordinance
please step forward and state your name and address.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: I am a member of Plummer and Associates, my address is 1404 Hickory
Ave. Of course I object to we would like to put something on that property ourselves. We were
forced in tearing it down which we should never have been made into tearing it down. Because it
is torn down it is a commercial piece of property I would like to put a business there.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Dale has this piece of property been adjudicated to the city?
BY DALE BRANCH: It has not been adjudicated to the City. Plummer and Associates has a tax
right to it. It is actually the title is in someone else’s name.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Chatman Real Estate, LLC.
BY DALE BRANCH: Yes, maybe that is it. (Inaudible no microphone).I think there were plans
made for a park.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Oh, a pocket park. Is the tax paid on this property by her?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: We’ve been paying taxes on this property since 2002.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: Can she do anything with it or she is not the owner?
BY DALE BRANCH: (Inaudible).
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: No clear ownership.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: Ms. Plummer was ya’ll going to buy the property from the owners?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: We don’t know who the owners are. We are in the process of trying to
track down yes of course I am.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: How big is twenty five feet? Because I need to see it, I’m just
saying.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: Big enough to put something to eat there.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: You was saying you were forced to tear it down did you foot the
cost of tearing it down? Did ya’ll put the cost of tearing it down?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: They put a tax lien on it. We wanted to fix it up. But according to Judge
Black…..
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: It was condemned?
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Yes the property was condemned.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: Ya’ll paid to get it torn down?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: The City tore it down. They put a lien on it.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: So you had to come back and pay that?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: Yes.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: You have paid the lien against it?
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BY DEBRA PLUMMER: No. I thought you said we need to come back and pay it. Yes we do.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Can I ask why it hasn’t up to this point? Why haven’t you pursued that
up until today as far as paying that lien?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: I don’t think we have a time frame to pay the lien on it.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I mean if we are fixing to expropriate it you most probably do.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: If that is the case then now is the time we never had a time frame before.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I don’t understand why you haven’t been concerned about it before now
other than just paying the taxes.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: We have always been concerned about it. We wanted to fix it, we wanted
to repair it and we didn’t want it torn down.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: When?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: About two or three years ago after Hurricane Katrina.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: That is when it was torn down?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: That is when it was condemned. It was damaged during the hurricane.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I remember it was the roof.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: It was an easy fix. But according to the city’s advisors they wouldn’t
reimburse us for repairing it which is totally against what the constitution says.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Why should we be responsible for you to repair it and pay the taxes on
it?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: That is not what I said.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I totally misunderstood.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: I did too.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: When we inquired about repairing the property of course we were always
referred to Judge Black. This is the only place where we don’t have to follow the constitution. The
constitution says when we purchase this property at a tax sale the same requirements that the
owners have you have. We were required to repair it but according to Judge Black the only thing
that the City is going to insist is that we get paid for is the taxes and that is not the way the
constitution is set up. So you end up tearing it down.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: I have a question if I might. What year did you purchase it?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: 2002.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: Alright in three years did you get it put over in your name then?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: You don’t have to according to the constitution.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I don’t think the constitution broke down where it says to that
extent with the amendments and so forth.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: Yes it does. It says we are not required to do.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: When it was condemned you were given how many days to get
it back up to code?
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BY DEBRA PLUMMER: We were never given the opportunity.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: But you were given an amount of time.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: Yes you were given at least ten days because every property that
is condemned in the City of Bogalusa is given ten days and they have been given more than ten
days as long as you are working along with the city in acquiring your permit. So it wouldn’t be
condemned. You know what I’m saying they wouldn’t had to tear it down if you would have went
and put a roof on it because people keep theirs off of the street like that.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: If I go to get a work permit Mr. Hall I believe is his name is referred me to
Judge Black.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: You would refer her to Chess wouldn’t you?
BY JAMES HALL: (Inaudible).
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: So in other words ya’ll still don’t own it. You own the tax lien.
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: Right.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: You don’t know who own that?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: Yes Chatman Real Estate.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: They don’t want to sell it to you?
BY DEBRA PLUMMER: We are in the process of locating them.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: I don’t know I don’t feel comfortable on voting on this tonight. I move
that we table it and put it off until our next council meeting.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: We will go look at the property and if you haven’t gotten in
touch with Chatman Real Estate since 2002 I suggest getting in touch with them prior to the next
council meeting as in March 18th because it will be taken off of the table.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: We have a motion need a seconded to table it.
BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS: Seconded.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Roll call.
COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND………………..AYE
COUNCILMAN O’REE……………………………AYE
COUNCILMAN HODGES……………………….ABSENT
VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE………………….AYE
PRESIDENT RITCHIE…………………………….AYE
COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS………………AYE
(MOTION CARRIED 6-0 WITH ONE ABSENT TO TABLE THIS ORDINANCE TO AUTHORIZE THE
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BOGALUSA TO ACQUIRE BY PURCHASE OR EXPROPRIATION THE
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN PARCELS OF PROPERTY IN THE 400 BLOCK OF COLUMBIA STREET).
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next on the agenda is public participation Mrs. Gloria Kates.
BY GLORIA KATES: 1012 Poplas Street. Good afternoon everyone.
BY COUNCIL MEMBERS: Good afternoon.
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BY GLORIA KATES: Mayor Mizell, Bogalusa City Council members and all officials.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Ms. Kates let me say before you get too far you have a three minute
period okay so we are not going to be able to read this whole thing okay?
BY GLORIA KATES: Okay. You do have in front of you a packet that I presented for your review
and it is thick and Councilwoman Williams knows I am long winded but I am going to attend to
do an overview for you today. I come before you of the council in order to gain clarification of
Ordinance 2294. That was adopted by the City of Bogalusa August 21, 2012. According to the
City of Bogalusa website the IMPC Code was also adapted by our code enforcement officials on
that same date. The city ordinance became a concern when we received a notification to motor
vehicle house at 1012 Poplas Street which was unoccupied or unlicensed and you do have an
actual code there. As respect to the Mayor and to the City Council members and the code
enforcement officials I understand the city’s goal in order to for maintain property owners to
maintain their property in a plain and safe manor but these model codes are of a broader scope
and possibly non applicable for example definitions except for providing in other regulations and
inoperable vehicles and also the final one which is they are not specified and as I said I am trying
to get all this said. They are not addressed in Ordinance 2294 and I guess the bottom line is I
would like for the members to consider especially the office of code which is Councilman O’Ree
and Councilman Hodges. You guys adopted the Louisiana…..
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: The Louisiana Statue of Codes so probably that is our most thing
it’s the states.
BY GLORIA KATES: Right the Louisiana Codes number four includes the international material
property code. It only addresses construction within the codes so I’m asking if you would please
to dissect and reexamine Ordinance 2294 where it would more or less include the codes for the
immaterial property codes. I also had a chance to talk with a Mr. David Bowman, he is the code
manager for the code of international code council. I asked him about clarification if a town or
city had adapted the ordinance if they had the opportunity to amend it and I have his statement
that is listed on page two started on page two stating there is nothing in the provision that
address the model case for jurisdiction of the code so you do have the opportunity if a city
chooses to amend these codes.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: So you want us not to say junk wrecked abandoned or what?
Because I have five abandoned and I need clarification because I’m like getting the clip note
version what I am getting right now. I haven’t looked at this in depth or what ever so you are
wanting us to change the state, what we adopted was the state code and then amend the state
code to conform to …..
BY GLORIA KATES: To conform to a specific definition. As I said the international ordinance code
member was the guy that writes the policies more or less indicated they can be amended
according to your particular township or jurisdiction.
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: We do have a problem with abandoned cars across the street
from me I know of five and they were actually abandoned and non working order and not being
used in a long time and it is an eye sore.
BY GLORIA KATES: Well look I didn’t want to get….
BY VICE-PRESIDENT PERRETTE: I’m just saying.
BY GLORIA KATES: I didn’t want to get into the arena of violations that was written to us but it’s
very it’s not specific it just says unlicensed cars are not permitted on any premises. I’m kind of
paraphrasing because I’ve got to talk fast you know but if you would please to put that
ordinance change the specific of the code into the ordinance in 2294. If you could just look into
that and consider doing that I did put samples of the cities that have done this already. They
adapt their ordinance their city code ordinance to the international y maintenance property
code.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: We are way past three minutes thank you for your time. Anyone else?
Next we go to administrative remarks.
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BY MAYOR MIZELL: Thanks Mr. President. First of the month in keeping with our tradition we
will have our supervisors give reports of their past months and what is going on in the future. We
will start with Director of Public Works Mr. James Hall who has been quite busy.
BY JAMES HALL: Good evening. As you can see on the way to the meeting tonight we do have
the streets clean not as much as we need them but we got a good start on them this morning. So
we got caught up with the Mardi Gras we did work on it Saturday and we got back up Sunday
morning and worked on it some more we will finish it up today. We are still working on street
repairs and we will be doing that for a while and I hope to get to lay some asphalt here in about
another two months. Hope to get part of it anyway. We have been replacing some culverts
around Bogalusa. I’m working on two of the buildings out at the Industrial Park for one who is a
new tenant and one tenant that is fixing to move to a different location. We got some
notification the other day to begin working on some of our bridges. I’ve got to work on Van
Buren Street Bridge, Hudson and Jefferson. There is some pilings and stuff that needs to be
replaced to keep in the programs that we are in to repair until they put a new bridge in.
Hopefully Jefferson will be our next one which is still eight years away. But the repairs will have
to last for eight years. We are getting ready for grass cutting and mosquitoes will be here before
long even though it is kind of un-expecting weather this morning is different than what I thought
we would have. Daily working on water meters and water repairs, working on fire hydrants
getting those brought up to code so we can use everything. It is a steady on going process when
we get the fire hydrants a lot of us here are doing maintenance on them every day and we will
keep them up to the best of our ability. Like I said water and sewage is an on going battle but we
are there and like the Mayor said as long as they throw trash down we will pick it up. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you James.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: I think some times they challenge us with that but one thing I do want to ask
James and that is our plans in the near future is to create a walk a pedestrian crossing is it at the
Van Buren Bridge? The Jefferson Street Bridge we are actually having some plans drawn right
now we will be working on that. We have a lot of foot traffic in that area now that we have
Wal-Mart and retails there so we are trying to accommodate and this will also help us get some
of the trash that is thrown down in one place so we can make a pathway coming down through
there, anyway enough of that. Sandy Bloom, Director of Personnel.
BY SANDY BLOOM: February is a short month but it sure was full of activity. One of the things
that we worked on this month is our Safe Routes to School and you know we originally applied to
have that at Superior Avenue site so now we have moved that to Central Elementary and I think
we have a really good plan and we kind of tweaked it the last couple of weeks so we could finish
one side of it and have phase one of our project finished. So we have all of the people that are
needed to be involved in one place and walk the site. So I think that we are really going to have a
good result from that. They do the best they can managing that traffic over there on North
Avenue and the intersection of Columbia Street but they really don’t have a lot of room to work
with. So what we are going to do is try to change some traffic routing and make it easier for the
car traffic as well as quick traffic to come to that school. Next week we will begin the
Compensation Study so we have been busy trying to get all the information together before they
even get here but one of the first things they will do is meet with all the employees to explain to
them what they are going to be doing. I think that is a good way to start because anything you
do in a vacuum seems like we are keeping secrets and so I think this will be a benefit to
everybody so we can see how we are market wide it is not only in municipalities but with the
skills that are necessary. So I believe this study will give us a lot of good information to go
forward with. Our Comprehensive Plan is going well we had a terrific meeting last week with
business leaders. We have a group that is working with Mr. Bailey and myself and the people
that work with occupational licenses. We are trying to make the process more user friendly and
more documented before they come in a person will know what they need to do. Then we are
also developing packets to give them and that information will be on our website. Jerry has been
working to make sure we can coordinate with the parish for sales tax and do a lot of things just
to make the system easier for people. Today we got a challenge from the Mayor to view our
Bogalusa City Codes and look at our ordinances because sometimes our ordinances are kind of
squirrely because it has been patch worked through the years. So we are going to be looking at
our Bogalusa City Codes to see what makes sense and what we need to change. The last thing is
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we did get the Historic Building Survey started they started on Columbia Street, made it from
Willis Avenue to I think Fourth Street and so that will be continuing for the next couple of
months.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you Sandy.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: Thank you Sandy. Of course that is one of our challenges here if you find
anything that is not out of law and against it I want to know what it is. Then on the other page
there is a law in favor of it so I’m not a guy that wants a lot of rules but we need some tolerance
in there but also we need to understand just do the right thing and quit arguing over split hairs.
You know, what’s the difference in garbage and litter first one thing and another. It is ludacris
we are all adults and most of us know the right thing to do those that don’t we will teach.
Landon Tims is our Parks and Recreation Culture Director but he is ill tonight. Louis Busby,
Airport Manager.
BY LOUIS BUSBY: Last month we had about twenty five visiting aircraft along with the other
guys flying that are stationed at the airport. This month we also submitted our FFA funding
paper work much like the state their forms are a little different than we normally work on and
send it in hopefully next month we will know a little more about what we got awarded and
things like that. The drainage rehab has been submitted to the state and has been advertised for
the consultant on the Drainage Rehab Project that we got a grant from the state for those will be
due on March 20th. With the weather improving other than today flying should be picking up a
lot. This should start big time in the flying season and looking forward to showing off some of the
good things we have out there.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: Thank you. Project Manager and Code Enforcement Officer, Melvin Keith.
BY MELVIN KEITH: Good evening. I am still spending a portion of my time working with the
housing and different developers but I have spent the majority of my time the last month since
we met primarily working with code enforcement. During the month of February we had eight
citations issued, we had four citations issued resulting in drop charges due to compliance with
code before the court date, we had thirty three code violations brought into compliance, and
three vehicles towed or removed from city right of way. Since we met last council meeting we
have selected some one to do our computer program and our code enforcement and we are
working with them now to try and get all this computerized and hopefully we will have
something in the next few months. We will have all of our codes up here on the Bogalusa website
and hopefully made available to the general public if we need to make some changes we will be
able to do so. The code enforcement is a lot more involved than me and the Mayor anticipated
so I can say this, the work is continuous but I am enjoying it. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: I told Melvin it is a right place to start if you want to win friends and
influence people. Robin Day our Downtown Development Manager she is off from work this
week but she is certainly not off from work Down Town and doing a lot of great things planned
for this spring. Lauren Ritchie, our Community Relations is at a meeting which was actually
planned until this council meeting changed. So that is the reason she is not here tonight. Chief
Joe Culpepper, Bogalusa Police.
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: It looks like according to this cheat sheet complaints was down for this
February I don’t know if it was because of two days shorter or what.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: Valentines Day.
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: Valentines Day everyone spent their money on flowers.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: You arrested domestic violence all over.
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BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: We only had 101 arrest, we had 978 complaints down a little from usual
11 -1300, we had 117 bags of garbage picked up, community service workers we had a total of
21 show up. Mardi Gras is on every ones mind right now since it was just Saturday. I know since I
became Chief we always had an issue of rain on Mardi Gras Day I don’t know maybe there was a
rain dance but we had a beautiful day Saturday. People certainly took advantage of it and
enjoyed their drinking and the parade. We arrested about 12 or 14 people during the course of
the parade. It was fairly uneventful that is kind of normal we were down because of regular
correctional could not afford to send their officers to assist us we used the ones we had. Every
year we have an Officer of the Year. This year Officer James Cockrell was chosen based on the
nominations from the individual shift captains. We hope he is going to be recognized by the
American Legion and his name being submitted through the American Legion this is a new
process they are going through of getting a Police Officer of the Year I guess at a state level. He
is already recognized through Rotary as Police Officer of the Year and the Louisiana Public
Highway Safety Commission they recognized him for the number of DWI arrest he made here in
the City of Bogalusa. So it is based on population so it is not competing against New Orleans,
Baton Rouge or wherever it is for cities our size. So it is exciting other than the DWI’s that is not
that great.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: He is not real popular because of that is he?
BY CHIEF CULPEPPER: No he is not but he works hard enforcing those laws it is kind of a passion
of his. Thank you.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you Chief.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: I will comment on that Cockrell is dedicated and if they ever did away with
DWI’s he will find something else to be just that dedicated to. He loves his job and works hard at
it and we appreciate him for doing the right thing to do. Okay, Fire Chief Richard Moody.
BY CHIEF MOODY: Good afternoon. We had five structure fires which ya’ll know about one of
them, nine grass fires, no vehicle fires, nine motor vehicle accidents, forty one medical calls, eight
service calls, fourteen false alarms, and three hazardous conditions a total of 89. I would like to
say that we are working close with public works and we have a good working relationship to get
all this stuff straightened out and get a plan and continue through with it. Even though the
hydrant patrol they are doing a great job keeping up with them and keeping them in our prayers
so we won’t have any problem with them.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Thank you Chief.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: Thank you Richard. Jerry Bailey, Director of Administration.
BY JERRY BAILEY: I apologize for not having my graphs tonight it has been one of those days. I
have been having some computer problems this that and the other. I will tell you this to tell you
we have collected $56,000.00 more in January than we did last year which is 11.5% increase in
sales taxes. So we are starting out on a good foot. We are still continuing to push on our
Occupational license delinquencies, our sales tax returns and we have been working hard with
the cooperation with the Sheriff Department. We are still working on trying to close the books at
the same time putting in a new computer system. So really things haven’t changed much down
on my end down there so we are just working hard to get it over with. You know how it ends you
save the best for last.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: That is the Mayor then.
BY MAYOR MIZELL: Thank you. Thank you Jerry I appreciate that. I don’t get a lot of
compliments from Jerry Bailey. I want to comment on a couple of things certainly February is a
short month and a lot of activity in it. Mostly what we get done in that period of time is planning
for the spring and of course we just completed a successful Mardi Gras season and I felt every
one on the floats liked some of the elements of course how it is when you are having fun and
your partying and your estimates sometimes are embellished but we’ve heard some great stories
about lots of people. The great thing is I always get some new stories about new people in our
city. The visitors that come here comment very positive to me and say wait until I get back home
I am going to tell everybody what a great little city this is and it is a great little city I tell you I am
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glad to be your Mayor. We just continue to have that family atmosphere with the community
spirit coming back into our city and I am so happy. I will tell you that we have since the notice
that was given to us by General Dynamics a couple of weeks ago about the possibilities of
closure. Sometimes bad news prompts a lot of good intention. So I am proud to report to you
tonight that we had at least two other businesses two other companies that are very interested
in taking on this call center in fact if General Dynamics gets ready to go one of them is wanting
to push them out early. I said hold it time out we are going to stay with the one we got right now
but if it gives us the opportunity and they both stay well we will find some more people want we
because we always have more people here that could use a good job. So there is some good
things going on in our city and we are working hand in hand right now with our parish and start
a road program here that will be a planned project we will be working together with the parish
and we will be doing the pouring of the asphalt and they will be doing some overlaying so I think
this is one of the times we’ve actually come together and going to work on projects together to
see if it is good for both of those. I’m real proud to have Richard Thomas as our Parish President I
think he is doing an outstanding job there and the more he helps us the more I am going to boast
about him too I’m going to tell you that. I don’t want to keep you long just wanted to say to you
that we are getting ready for spring and I know our public works we bid out a lot of projects and
works so forth and there will be a lot of changes in the near future here in the city. So thank you
for coming tonight, council appreciate your endeavors and hard work and we bid you a good
evening.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Next is council discussion, Councilwoman Graham.
BY COUNCILWOMAN GRAHAM: I thank everyone for coming tonight even though it is not our
regular meeting. Thank you for showing interest in our city. I do want to thank each and
everyone for your prayers for me when I was sick thank you so much God does answer prayers.
That is all I really have tonight.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Councilman Drummond.
BY COUNCILMAN DRUMMOND: Yes, first off Ms. Oneita it is good to have you back. I would just
like to say everybody here knew MCCA Parade was a big hit here Saturday the weather was
great, the crowd pretty much behaved themselves except them 12 knuckleheads Joe talked
about. It was an economic shot in the arm because if you went anywhere you couldn’t be in a
hurry if you went to the store. The public works with the help of corrections got the city back
clean and in pretty good timing. But coming up events we have the Bar-B-Que Cook-Off on
March the 15th and the St. Josephs Altor you don’t have to be Catholic or Italian to come enjoy
yourself and that is on the same day. Annunciation’s Auction is that night so we are going to be
pretty busy those of us that are Catholic and Italian. Robin is still working real hard down town.
The Coffee Mill is open I stopped by and got some today and it is pretty good coffee. I like what
she is doing she’s got other things so be watching for it she has other plans in the works. Glad
ya’ll are here and keep plugging away. That is all I have.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Councilman O’Ree.
BY COUNCILMAN O’REE: I don’t have nothing.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: Councilwoman Williams.
BY COUNCILWOMAN WILLIAMS: I have none.
BY PRESIDENT RITCHIE: I guess that leaves me. Vice-President Perrette had to leave early for a
meeting. She is sorry that she had to skip out but she had something she had to tend to. I first
would like to welcome Ms. Oneita back, it is good to have you back I missed having you here and
I miss your guidance and I miss your help. It is good to see your smiling face back. Next I want to
thank Reverend Palmer for being here today for doing our invocation. I’m going to ask if any of
ya’ll here that is at our meeting if you would like to ask your minister if they would be interested
in doing the same I sent letters to all of them but only heard from very few. So if you think they
would be interested ask him we would love to have him to do an invocation for us. They can just
call the Council office and set it up with Ms. Brenda and she will be happy to let them know what
the dates are that is available. The Wild Game Cook-Off again and it is on the 15th. The new
coffee shop that is opened up I will try to make there tomorrow since I do love coffee. A new
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restaurant the name of it is La Shish and it is open now is that correct? Okay. My wife would
swish my legs if I didn’t say thanks to public works the float she was on Saturday had a flat and
your guys jumped in and got them going. Thank ya’ll for your hard work and cleaning up the city
always do after the parade. I actually rode in the parade I saw a lot of faces and a lot of people I
seen estimates of about 50 to 70,000 people in town. I’m going to say it was close to that and
I’m going to say it is pretty amazing we only had twelve arrests with that many people that
showed up. We had a full day to have a beverage or two and act sensible at the end. With that
being said thank you for coming and again I am going to ask you to invite someone bring
someone with you to the next meeting. Meeting adjourned.
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