The Ville Platte City Council met Tuesday to discuss what to do with an unexpected dividend check, named a new Mayor Pro-Temp, and discussed an inmate work project.
The city recently received a worker’s compensation dividend check in the amount of $224,174. At previous council meetings there was discussion about what to do with this money. Tuesday, the council heard from Theo Sanders, a representative from LAMP (Louisiana Asset Management Pool), a cash management tool for local governments. LAMP is a nonprofit corporation used by municipalities, assessors, clerks of courts, school boards, etc. The board of directors are made up of mayors, school board members, council members, as well as others who participate in LAMP. Sanders said there is no minimum deposit the city would have to maintain in the fund. They could take out the funds any time with no transaction fees on LAMP’s end, and the city would get the interest accrued. LAMP is an investment firm, not a bank. Sanders said the city would be getting the best rate of return on investments.
The council decided the dividend check, which is for $224,174, will be put into an investment account in LAMP, minus $15,000 to be used for the purchase of small equipment such as weed eaters and lawn mowers to help keep the city clean. The cleaning will be done by city workers and inmates for an inmate work project.
In other business, Ville Platte Chief of Police Neil Lartigue took councilman Bryant Riggs’ suggestion to not replace a retired captain and, instead, use that salary to distribute more money to officers. Lartigue said he is short one patrol officer and short one detective. He has nine patrol officers and two detectives.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said the app with Tip411, a way for people to anonymously tip the police about crime, is being custom designed and will be called TipVillePlatte. She said there will be a reveal party when the app is ready.
As for the fire department, the council approved a 2% pay raise for firemen, and approved the hiring of Trojan Harrison as a new fireman. Fire Chief Chris Harrison said, during the month of November, the fire department responded to 24 calls, including six structure fires, with no fatalities.
Vidrine announced the expenditures for October are $185,959.67, and for November are $220,357.17. She said the added expenses were due to a new pump for the main lift station, costing $51,819, an annual fire department premium costing $7,734, and repairs at well number eight, which cost over $2,000.
One Ville Platte resident asked the council to add signage to the intersection of Jefferson and Northwest Railroad where a new fence is somewhat of an obstruction. The council agreed to look at the intersection to see if they need a stop sign or four-way stop sign.
The council approved Coach Lionel Anderson as Mayor Pro-Temp, replacing councilman Jerry Joseph who held the position.
At the end of the meeting, councilwoman Faye Lemoine said in regards to the agreement on the dividend check, “I’m so happy we’re finishing the year on a high note. We’re all on the same page. We all want to see the city grow and prosper.”
Vidrine added, “The budgets are looking good in every department.” She also reminded property owners notices of property taxes have gone out, and the deadline is January 31, 2020. Delinquent fees start February 1.
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Nancy Duplechain
Associate Editor