After two-and-a-half hours of comments from the members of the public who filled the council meeting room, the Ville Platte City Council voted to table the issue of raising the city’s utility rates.
A public hearing preceded the meeting and began with Mayor Jennifer Vidrine expressing changes have been made to the original plans since the last meeting.
“We have since amended that ordinance and will phase in the increases over a two-year period,” she said.
City financial advisor John Mayeaux then went over the amended proposals. During his slide presentation, he said, “The city has gotten into this position over a long period of time. The utility system itself is in need of a rate increase as been seen in recent years with the city’s budget. The city’s budget is in need of support as well.”
“We believe and recommend these rate increases are the best course financially speaking for the city,” he continued.
Also defending the need for the proposed chanhes to the rates was City Attorney Eric LaFleur. “There have been charges made to certain entities that were different from others,” he stated. “There were commercial owners who through the years were treated different from others and charged at different rates. It was illegal, and I can only believe it was done intentionally.”
He continued, “Part of this painful process is fixing those inequities and making sure one commercial client is paying the same as the next commercial client. We also have about 28 different classes of customers. That tells me some customers were being treated better than other customers.”
Once the public comments began, Debbie Fontenot voiced her opinion on the alleged inequities.
“I was born in Louisiana and was raised that young or old, rich or poor, black or white, we were equal,” she said. “To find that kind of stuff went on and may still be going on is a horror to me as a citizen.”
Also addressing the proposed changes introduced previously by Mayeaux was Evangeline Chamber of Commerce Director Renee Brown.
“We are very happy to hear about how there have been some changes and how there’s going to be a gradual scale where things are changing from 28 different rates to possibly five different rates.”
Brown along with business owner Jay Guillot called for more transparency in the process of raising the rates along with the possibility of being a part of the process.
“We are coming to ask the council when you make decisions that are going to affect our businesses we want to be at the table with you to figure out how we can figure out and come up with solutions to help with the city’s issues and issues that especially affect the businesses,” Brown said. “We are asking that we work together as a team and be united in this parish and this city.”
Guillot said, “I completely and whole heartedly support the rate increases that need to happen for this system to stay viable, but the issues is there is a complete lack of transparency regarding this whole process.”
“A public hearing is fine allowing everybody to raise their opinions,” he continued, “but you city council members owe it to every single constituent to ensure this is properly discussed. This vote must be delayed until everything is ironed out. I have to be able to communicate with my city council member. Giving me 15 minutes to review the numbers and whisper in his ear to tell him to vote doesn’t work.”
As well Brown, along with Arthur Sampson, raised the issue of the property tax millage which was passed in 2009.
“We are still collecting that property tax until 2028,” Brown said. “That is in effect, and that money is being utilized to help with the improvements and renovations for the city works water facility.”
She continued, “We’re just sitting here saying you’re asking for an increase, but yet we still have this tax in place. There are still many years to collect on it.”
Evangeline Parish School Board member Wanda Skinner urged the council to “remember the hard times” before making its vote. However, she stated she is “not opposed to hiking the rates but at a little bit at a time.”
Making the suggestion to table the issue of raising the rates was city resident and business owner Andy Poché. He also suggested putting “together a committee of stake holders in these five proposed categories to sit down with the city officials and try to come up with a solution that would be amiable to everyone here because obviously this is not working out.”
He continued, “If you get input and keep things open and get some help from people, in turn, I think, it would be a great idea.”
Several other concerned residents and business owners voiced their opinions and concerns on the issue.
Once the public hearing was closed, the meeting began. Once the meeting began, council members gave their comments on what was heard during the public hearing.
“We all realize we have to do something,” said Councilman Mike Perron.
“It’s not easy for us, but if we don’t do something then we are going to lose our city. The state will then take over. We plan to do something. We’re going to work with it.”
“I’d like to put a group together from different citizens and try to work something out and all agree on one solution,” he continued. “When we achieve something in the city, we should all be proud.”
Councilman Bryant Riggs stated he plans on voting for the increases but said “it’s how we apply the increases.”
He went on to say, “If we don’t do the increase, then we’d be looking like Basile where the state took over. If the state decides to raise the rates, then nobody is going to have a say-so. They’re going to raise it to whatever they want to get their bond money back.”
“We are going to table this tonight because I don’t think two years is long enough,” he continued. “We have to be at a certain number in four years. If we’re not at that number in four years, then there will be some consequences to pay.”
The other councilmembers followed suit in agreeing with holding off on the vote including Councilwoman Faye Lemoine. She stated, “We’re all agreeing after hearing you tonight and the great suggestions you have. This is going to back to the table, but we’re going to phase it in gradually and do what needs to be done so that nobody suffers.”
Once the vote took place to table the issue, Mayor Vidrine advised “there will be another special meeting after John reworks the numbers.” She added, “Then, we will call a special meeting again to adopt the ordinance that will hopefully please and work for everyone.”
Upon request of several members of the public in attendance, the mayor explained the public hearing to follow will be held at the Northside Civic Center.
In other business the city council voted to adopt an ordinance to assess a collection fee on debts referred to a collection agency, voted to adopt certain millage rates for tax year 2019, and voted to move the June meeting date to Monday, June 17.
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TONY MARKS Editor