City Council

July 13, 2026 The City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, met in regular session at its temporary location located at 501 Willow Avenue in the Council Chambers, Sulphur, Louisiana, on July 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., after full compliance with the convening of said meeting with the following members present: JAMES LEDOUX, Council Representative of District 1 TROY DARBY, Council Representative of District 2 DANIELLE MONCEAUX, Council Representative of District 3 JOSH BADEN, Council Representative of District 4 DANNY DIPETTA, Council Representative of District 5 At this time the City Council Clerk, Arlene Blanchard, called the meeting to order and did roll call. She then asked if there were any nominations for Chairman. Mr. LeDoux nominated Mr. DiPetta and Mrs. Monceaux nominated Mr. Baden. At this time Billy Loftin, City Attorney, stated that the voting will be done in the order that the nominations were made and everybody gets 1 vote. A vote was then taken for Mr. DiPetta to act as Chairman YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden ABSENT: None And Mr. DiPetta was declared Chairman of the Council on this 13th day of July, 2026. Mr. DiPetta then proceeded with the invocation led by Mr. Darby and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. DiPetta. Motion was then made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. LeDoux that the minutes of the previous meeting stand as written. Motion carried unanimously. At this time Charlie Atherton addressed the Council and asked if they could add a discussion to the agenda concerning the Mossville laydown yard on Prater Road. Mr. DiPetta stated that it may be on an upcoming agenda. The Chairman then asked if there were any nominations for Vice-Chairman. Mr. LeDoux nominated Mr. Darby and Mrs. Monceaux nominated Mr. Baden. Mr. DiPetta then did roll call for Mr. Darby to act as Vice- Chairman.  YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden ABSENT: None And Mr. Darby was declared Vice-Chairman of the Council, on this 13th day of July, 2026 and the below resolution was adopted: RESOLUTION NO. 3697, M-C SERIES Resolution electing a Chairman and Vice-Chairman for City Council. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, the governing authority thereof, that they do hereby elect Danny DiPetta as Chairman and Troy Darby as Vice-Chairman for City Council. The next item on the agenda is public hearing on ordinance setting forth the property tax millage rates for tax year 2026. Jennifer Thorn, Director of Finance, stated that nothing has changed and the millage rates are the same as last year. Motion was made by Mr. Baden seconded by Mr. LeDoux that the following ordinance be adopted to-wit: ORDINANCE NO. 2026, M-C SERIES ORDINANCE WHICH SETS FORTH THE GENERAL ALIMONY, STREET MAINTENANCE, AND FIRE MAINTENANCE AUTHORIZED MILLAGE RATES IN THE CITY OF SULPHUR FOR THE 2026 TAX YEAR. SECTION 1: BE IT ORDAINED by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, in regular and legal session convened, that the City of Sulphur of the Parish of Calcasieu, Louisiana, in a public meeting held on July 13, 2026, which meeting was conducted in accordance with the Open Meetings Law and the additional requirements of Article XII, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution and R.S. 42:11 – 28 [R.S. 42:11, et seq.] that the following millage rate(s) be and they are hereby levied upon the dollar of each assessed valuation of all property which is subject to ad valorem taxation within said City for the year 2026 for the purpose of raising revenue: Tax Description: Millage Rate(s): General Alimony (5096 001): 5.84 mills Street Maintenance (5096 002): 5.00 mills Fire Maintenance (5096 003): 5.00 mills SECTION 2. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that the proper administrative officials of the Parish of Calcasieu, State of Louisiana, be and they are hereby empowered, authorized, and directed to spread said taxes, as hereinabove set forth, upon the assessment roll of said Parish for the year 2026, and to make the collection of the taxes imposed for and on behalf of the taxing authority, according to law, and that the taxes herein levied shall become a permanent lien and privilege on all property subject to taxation as herein set forth, and collection thereof shall be enforceable in the manner provided by law. The foregoing ordinance was read in full; the roll was called on the adoption thereof, and the ordinance was adopted by the following votes: A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said ordinance was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman The next item on the agenda is a public hearing on ordinance amending Ordinance No. 1949, M-C Series, to correct the property description for annexed property for DV Property Holdings, LLC for property located at 2211 Patton Street. Mrs. Monceaux stated that this will correct things that were not done right before. Billy Loftin, City Attorney, stated that this will correct the boundaries of the annexation and the boundaries will go to the centerline of the Patton Street and South Post Oak Road. Motion was then made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. Baden that the following ordinance be adopted to-wit: ORDINANCE NO. 2027, M-C SERIES ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1949, M-C SERIES, TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY DESCRIPTION FOR ANNEXED PROPERTY FOR DV PROPERTY HOLDINGS, LLC FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2211 PATTON STREET. WHEREAS, on February 10, 2025, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1949, M-C Series, which annexed property for DV Property Holdings, LLC for property located at 2211 Patton Street, and WHEREAS, after Emergency 911 reviewed the property description, it was determined that the description of the annexed area did not go to the centerline of Patton and Post Oak Streets therefore leaving a gap between the centerline said streets and right-of-way’s; and WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:224 reads in full as follows: Whenever any municipality annexes territory by any of the methods provided for in this Chapter it shall also annex and maintain any parish road which is within the territory proposed to be annexed, but only insofar as the road is within the municipality. Where the road is adjacent to but not within the annexed territory the municipality and the parish shall equally share the  maintenance of the road. Any annexation contrary to the provisions of this Section shall be invalid. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any parish in which there is a city- parish form of government. It is appropriate for the description to be amended to include the area to the centerline of Patton and Post Oak Streets adjacent to the property being annexed. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, that they do hereby amend the geographic boundary for the City of Sulphur as follows: SULPHUR CITY LIMITS DESCRIPTION: ORIGINAL REVISION JANUARY 13, 2025, TO ANNEX 2211 PATTON STREET PROPERTY OF DV PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC (PAGE 4) REVISED MAY 19, 2026, TO INCLUDE CENTERLINE OF PATTON STREET AND SOUTH POST OAK ROAD ****(TO SEE FULL CORPORATE BOUNDARIES, SEE ORIGINAL ORDINANCE NO. 2027)**** TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE CENTERLINE OF BAYOU DINDE; THENCE MEADERANDERING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION, ALONG SAID CENTERLINE OF SAID BAYOU DINDE TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE CENTERLINE OF PATTON STREET; THENCE EASTERLY, ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF SAID PATTON STREET TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE CENTERLINE OF SOUTH POST OAK ROAD; THENCE NORTHERLY, ALONG THE CENTERLINE OF SAID POST OAK ROAD TO THE INTERSECTION WITH THE SOUTH RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF U.S. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY #10, SAID POINT BEING 150 FEET SOUTH OF THE CENTERLINE OF U.S. INTERSTATE HIGHWAY #10, STATE PROJECT NO. 450-91-36; HEREIN DESCRIBED TRACT CONTAINING 2,356,296.22 SQUARE FEET OR 54,093 ACRES, MORE OR LESS, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR BEGLIS PARKWAY (LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 3077) ACROSS THE EAST SIDE THEREOF, SUBJECT TO A DRAINAGE SERVITUDE ACROSS THE NORTH AND WEST SIDES THEREOF AND SUBJECT TO ANY EASEMENTS, SERVITUDES OR RIGHT OF WAYS OF RECORD OR BY USE. A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said ordinance was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman  The next item on the agenda is an introduction of ordinance setting forth Septage Hauler Rates for the City of Sulphur. Jennifer Thorn, Director of Public Works, stated that this will be a soft launch. Since Hurricane Laura, septage haulers have stopped and they are using offsite receiving stations. By starting up this site this will be a huge generating revenue for the city. Mr. DiPetta stated that some haulers go as far as Duson, Louisiana to dump and some even go across the state line which is illegal. Mrs. Thorn stated that this will generate between $2.2-$2.6 million. Mr. Baden asked what was the load capacity? Mr. Abrahams, Director of Public Works, stated dry capacity is 9 million gallons/day but the city operates between 5-6 million gallons/day. Charlie Atherton asked the capacity during rainy weather. Mr. Abrahams stated about 27 million gallons/day. Motion was then made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. Baden that the following ordinance be introduced: ORDINANCE SETTING FORTH SEPTAGE HAULER RATES FOR THE CITY OF SULPHUR. Motion was then made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. Baden that the said ordinance be filed and remain on file with the Clerk of the Council, in final form, for public inspection and that the Mayor is hereby authorized and instructed to publish the Public Notice of Introduction of the above proposed ordinance in the “American Press”, the official journal of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, and that the said Notice of Introduction of the above ordinance is substantially in the following form: PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given, in accordance with Section 2-12B of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Sulphur, the following ordinance: ORDINANCE SETTING FORTH SEPTAGE HAULER RATES FOR THE CITY OF SULPHUR. A public hearing on said ordinance will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the 10th day of August, 2026, in the Council Chambers at their temporary location, 501 Willow Avenue, Sulphur, Louisiana. CITY OF SULPHUR, LOUISIANA BY:________________________________ DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman Motion carried.  The next item on the agenda is a Rule to Show Cause RULE TO SHOW CAUSE for the condition of the following addresses: To condemn building or structure located at 1608 Weekly Road, in accordance with Article IX, Section 5-286 through 5-296 of the Code of Ordinances. Randy McKee, owner, stated that the shed and the FEMA mobile home are the only things on the property. Austin Abrahams, Director of Public Works, stated that the FEMA mobile home is on the PPDR program and it’ll be moved later. Motion was made by Mr. Baden seconded by Mr. Darby that the above address be condemned. Motion carried unanimously. The next item on the agenda is a resolution appointing members to the Land Use Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment. Motion was made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. LeDoux that the following resolution be adopted to-wit: RESOLUTION NO. 3698, M-C SERIES Resolution appointing members to the Land Use Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, that they do hereby appoint members to the Land Use Commission and Board of Zoning Adjustment as follows: District 1 – Bill LeBlanc District 2 – Miles Desselle District 3 – Johnny Thomas District 4 – Randy Favre District 5 – Jonathan Brazzell A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said resolution was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman  The next item on the agenda is a appointing members to the Sulphur Armed Forces Commission. Motion was made by Mr. Baden seconded by Mr. LeDoux that the following resolution be adopted to-wit: RESOLUTION NO. 3699, M-C SERIES Resolution appointing members to the Sulphur Armed Forces Commission. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, that they do hereby each appoint a member from their district to serve on the Sulphur Armed Forces Commission as follows: District 1 – Tonya Leis District 2 – Sam Mesuch District 3 – Baileigh Broussard District 4 – Ray Vidrine District 5 – Ethan Miller BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appointed members serve for a period of four (4) years to run concurrent with Sulphur City Council election and may be reappointed by the Sulphur City Council. A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said resolution was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman The next item on the agenda is resolution a appointing the American Press as the Official Journal for the City of Sulphur. Motion was made by Mr. LeDoux seconded by Mr. Darby that the following resolution be adopted to-wit: RESOLUTION NO. 3700, M-C SERIES Resolution appointing the Official Journal for the City of Sulphur. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, the governing authority thereof, that they do hereby appoint the following as the Official Journal for the City of Sulphur: American Press P.O. Box 2893 Lake Charles, LA 70602  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the effective date of selection shall be Tuesday, July 14, 2026, through Monday, June 14, 2027. A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said resolution was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman The next item on the agenda is a resolution authorizing Mayor Stutes to sign Emergency Shelter and Staging Agreement with Beauregard Parish School Board for temporary shelter and emergency equipment staging area at Singer High School for Hurricane 2026 Season for the City of Sulphur. Motion was made by Mrs. Monceaux seconded by Mr. Baden that the following resolution be adopted to-wit: RESOLUTION NO. 3701, M-C SERIES Resolution authorizing Mayor Stutes to sign Emergency Shelter and Staging Agreement with Beauregard Parish School Board for temporary shelter and emergency equipment staging area at Singer High School for Hurricane 2026 Season for the City of Sulphur. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, the governing authority thereof, that they do hereby authorize Mayor Stutes to sign Emergency Shelter and Staging Agreement with Beauregard Parish School Board for temporary shelter and emergency equipment staging area at Singer High School for Hurricane 2026 Season for the City of Sulphur. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that this Ordinance shall become effective upon the Mayor's approval, or upon proper re-adoption by the Council pursuant to Section 2-13(C) of the Home Rule Charter of the City of Sulphur. A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said resolution was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman  The next item on the agenda is a resolution authorizing the advertisement of bids for 2026 Fire Hydrant Replacement Project. Mr. Abrahams, Director of Public Works, stated that there are 25 hydrants that need to be replaced. The states portion will be $225,000 for a total of $725,000. Motion was made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mrs. Monceaux that the following resolution be adopted to-wit: RESOLUTION NO. 3702, M-C SERIES RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDS FOR 2026 FIRE HYDRANT REPLACEMENT PROJECT. BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Sulphur, Louisiana, the governing authority thereof, that they do hereby authorize the advertisement of bids for 2026 Fire Hydrant Replacement Project, said bid to be in accordance with the quantities and specifications on file with Meyer & Associates located at 600 600 North Cities Service Hwy., Sulphur, LA 70663 . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the advertisement of bids will be in “The American Press, the official journal of the City of Sulphur, in three separate publications, giving notice as follows: ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS General Notice Separate sealed Bids for 2026 Fire Hydrant Replacement Project, City of Sulphur; M.A. Project No. A8-25081- DA will be received by the Mayor and City Council, at the City Hall, 101 N. Huntington Street, Sulphur, LA 70663 until 9:00 AM, on Monday, August 10, 2026, and shall at that time and place be publicly opened and read aloud. Work consists of removal and replacement of fire hydrants. Work Classification Work Classification: Municipal and Public Works Construction Obtaining the Bidding Documents Electronic copies of the Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Issuing Office of Meyer & Associates, Inc. (337) 625-8353, located at 600 N. Cities Service Hwy., Sulphur, LA 70663. A Bidding Document deposit is not required. In order to submit a bid, Bidders must obtain an original set of electronic Bidding Documents from Meyer & Associates, Inc. or the approved electronic bid website defined herein said advertisement. Access to electronic bidding is available through the Bidding Documents Website https://www.centralauctionhouse.com. A vote was then called with the results as follows: YEAS: Mr. LeDoux, Mr. Darby, Mrs. Monceaux, Mr. Baden, Mr. DiPetta NAYS: None ABSENT: None And the said resolution was declared duly adopted on this 13th day of July, 2026. ATTEST: ______________________________________ __________________________________ ARLENE BLANCHAR, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman The next item on the agenda is public comment. Mrs. Clark, Garth Drive, stated there are 2 mattresses on South Scott that need to be picked up. Tiffany Ruckstuhl, South Huntington Street, stated that Sulphur needs public transportation. Lake Charles has it and so should Sulphur. It would help people that need transportation to Dr. appts., grocery store, etc. Their biggest barrier is transportation. Charlie Atherton, Vine Street, read a letter of concerns he had for the city, from suggested changes to the Home Rule Charter to the Personnel Policy. Motion was made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. Baden to give Mr. Atherton 3 additional minutes to speak. Motion carried unanimously. He then continued to read his letter. Carolyn Peters, Prater Road, addressed the Council and stated that a company now wants to put a laydown yard where they had once wanted to put borrow pits on North Prater Road. They’re calling the pits retention ponds now. The ponds will be 40 feet deep on 13 acres. This isn’t a pond this is a lake. Motion was then made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mrs. Monceaux to give Mrs. Peters an additional 3 minutes. Motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Peters then went on to say that Westlake water is contaminated, and no one speaks of the eco system. Their community needs help. Ronald Carrier stated that he has lived on East Burton all his life and they found a loophole in the ordinance for the laydown yard. They want the laydown yard for the I-10 bridge project, but they already have a laydown yard for that. He asked that the city pull their permit and make them stop. Roishetta Ozane, Haygood Drive, stated that Mossville is alive and thriving and she also asked the city to make this company stop their project. Motion was made by Mr. Darby seconded by Mr. LeDoux to give Ms. Ozane an additional 3 minutes. Motion carried unanimously. Ms. Ozane then continued to say that the smell from the industries in this community is horrible. The roads can tear up your car. There are fish eating advisories in Bayou D’Inde on Wright Road.  Sheila Broussard asked what the law was on the room occupancy for the Council Chambers and how many people were allowed in this room. Mr. Baden stated that if the city makes everyone comply with this law, then the city should also comply. He then went on to speak of the laydown yard in Mossville. Tommy Bourgeois, Sherry Drive, asked why items #9 and #10 were removed from the agenda. Mr. Loftin, City Attorney, stated that these 2 appointments come from McNeese and they were waiting on McNeese for 2 qualified people. There being no further business to come before the Council, the Chairman declared the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: ______________________________ ______________________________ ARLENE BLANCHARD, Clerk DANNY DIPETTA, Chairman 7/13/26 7:05 P.M.