An issue first discussed in January was again brought up at Tuesday’s meeting of the Ville Platte City Council with the result being the same after both meetings.
The issue is Todd Morein installing equipment on a city water tower to provide a third option for Internet service within the corporate limits of Ville Platte. He told the council the equipment was given the green light after the meeting in January.
“It’s been 10 months now, and we haven’t heard anything on it,” said Morein. “You have CenturyTel and the cable company that are local providers, but neither one of them have a local office.”
He continued, “I’m asking the city council and the mayor to provide our people in the City of Ville Platte a third option as an Internet provider and to deal with a local company.”
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine responded the city received Morein’s proposal but is still waiting to hear back from the legal department regarding the “legal ramifications and cost for using the city’s tower.”
Morein, as in January, stated the cost could be a trade off with his company providing Internet for the police department or could be a cash amount.
“We would still have to get with legal,” said Mayor Vidrine. “Then, we can sit down and talk about the cost per month or the cost involved.”
Morein retorted, “Also, during that 10 month period, there’s another outside company that’s wanting to do the same thing. So, it’s really key to be able to get the ball moving on this and keep it local.”
Chiming in on the issue was Councilman Mike Perron who said, “We need to get something going as soon as possible because (Morein’s) been waiting 10 months.”
Councilman Perron, earlier in the meeting, brought up possible work projects inside the Old Ville Platte Cemetery on Chataignier Street. He reported to the council he has gotten several complaints about mud holes, dead grass, and other conditions inside the cemetery. “We need to put something in the plans for next year,” he said.
He also asked about hiring someone part time or using some inmates to keep up the cemetery.
The mayor replied, “We’re going to take a look at that for next spring whether it be the inmates or put someone on a permanent schedule.”
Mayor Vidrine also pointed out the cemetery located behind the police department is the privately owned M.B. Fontenot cemetery. “That one needs tending too as well,” she commented.
Councilman Bryant Riggs used the issue of using inmate labor to clean up the cemetery as an opportunity to again bring up his idea of using inmate labor in other areas of the city. He reported he has been meeting with other municipalities about how they do similar programs. He said, “Somewhere in the future, we can talk about it and come up with something about getting these inmates out there.”
“It’s possible to use them,” replied Mayor Vidrine. “We are already looking at utilizing them for litter.”
The council also heard from George Morgan about police training and abandoned properties.
Defending the city’s actions in tearing down abandoned homes was Councilman Riggs who said he is unwilling to “sit back and let those abandoned houses stay up.” He added, “It’s a nuisance to the city, and it’s what it’s doing to my constituents. We’re going to keep tearing them down.”
Arthur Sampson piggybacked on the issue of abandoned properties and addressed the council about programs through the state to renovate the homes instead of tearing them down.
Mayor Vidrine congratulated Councilman Bryant Riggs and Donald Sam on their reelections, and Councilman Freddie Jack congratulated the mayor on her own reelection.
In other business, the council:
• confirmed the mayor’s appointment of Donald Jones to replace the late Edward Arvie on the municipal fire and civil service board.
• hired two full-time patrolmen and one part-time jailor and discussed ways to enforce the agreement between the city and officers that the city pays to become post-certified for the officers to stay with the police department for two years.
• adopted a resolution to apply for a grant from the Community Water Enrichment Fund.
• granted a liquor permit for Louisiana Mart located at the old K&B across from the old Cary’s Sporting Goods.
• heard from Executive Director of the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce Renee Brown about the city’s Christmas Parade set for Sunday, December 2, at 5:30 p.m.
• tabled a request from AT&T to construct a 265-foot self supporting lattice telecommunications tower at the corner of LaSalle Street and Tate Cove Road.
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TONY MARKS Associate Editor