City Council

MINUTES OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM 112 W. ALABAMA AVE. VIVIAN, LOUISIANA MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2020 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Festavan called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. INVOCATION – Alderman James Martin opened the meeting in prayer. PLEDGE – Mayor Festavan led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance during the Posting of the Colors by North Caddo Magnet High School Color Guard. ROLL CALL - VERIFICATION OF QUORUM – Board of Aldermen present for Roll Call were James Martin, Denise Alexander, Michael Guthrie, Raymond Williams and Angela Channell. Following Roll Call the Town Clerk verified that a quorum was present. Also present were other elected officials and/or staff members: Ronnie Festavan - Mayor, Kellie Morris - Town Clerk, Ryan Nelson - Chief of Police, Perry Hart - Deputy Police Chief, Kevin Hartzo - Public Works Director, Annette Lewis - Environmental Services Coordinator and Douglas Dominick - Town Attorney. APPROVE AGENDA – Motion to approve Agenda as presented was made by James Martin, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. 1. SPECIAL PRESENTATION – Mr. Todd Hopkins, Caddo Parish Commissioner, District 1, was present to present Town Attorney and former Parish Commissioner Doug Dominick a Special Resolution from the Parish Commission for his years of service to the residents of this Parish. 2. SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS – Mr. Cunningham, North Caddo ELEMENTARY-MIDDLE School Principal was present to announce that it was Homecoming Week at the school which would include the big game Page 1 of 5 and the Homecoming Dance. He then introduced the February Students of the Month; 4th grade Elementary Student KaZorriyah Brown and 8th grade Middle Student Autumn Rodeheaver. Mrs. Cherry, North Caddo Magnet HIGH School Principal, was also present and made the following announcements; 1) the Unity Breakfast was held in the school cafeteria with the Culinary Arts students catered the meal, 2) Senior night would be held the next evening’s basketball game where they would be recognizing the seniors during pregame and a special tribute for Cat Dillard, 3) Keely Sanchez won 1st Place in the Poetry Out Loud competition and will be going to State, 4) they will be taking about 55 students to Northwestern to compete in academic tests in about a month, 5) they will be holding 8th grade Open House on February 25th, and 6) they will be having their Black History Program on February 28th. She also introduced the February Students of the Month; 9th grader Jaida Carver, 10th grader Paris Wall, 11th grader Trace Halphen and 12th grader Abisai Vidal. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS – The following individual made public comments: Joey Ryan, the new Caddo Parish Fire District 8 Fire Chief was present to introduce himself to the public. He encouraged everyone to contact him or the station for any reason and provided those present with his business card with contact information. 4. MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORT – Financial report including budget- to-actual comparisons was presented by Mayor Festavan. Following the report and discussion, motion to accept as presented was made by Raymond Williams, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Motion to accept and approve the minutes for the January 13, 2020 regular meeting as presented was made by Raymond Williams, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. 6. INTRODUCTION OF ORDNANCE # 731 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - AN ORDINANCE DECLARING CERTAIN ADJUDICATED PROPERTY TO BE SURPLUS AND TO AUTHORIZE THE TOWN TAX COLLECTOR, OR A DESIGNEE, TO SELL THE TOWN OF VIVIAN’S TAX INTEREST IN CERTAIN SURPLUS ADJUDICATED PROPERTY, AND TO OTHERWISE PROVIDE WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID PROPERTY BEING DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: LOT Page 2 of 5 G, PENROD ADDITION, TOWN OF VIVIAN, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA GEO# 221624-10-7, with a municipal address of 1016 N. Lillie St., Vivian, LA 71082. There will be a public hearing prior to the adoption of Ordinance # 731 at the Regular Council Meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9, 2020 at the Vivian Town Hall, located at 112 W. Alabama Ave. in Vivian, Louisiana. 7. PREFACE OF AGENDA ITEM - MR. KEN ANTEE, CREWS & ASSOCIATES, LITTLE ROCK, AR & MR. BILL BOLES, BOLES SHAFTO, MONROE, LA; to speak on the following Agenda Item # 8. These gentlemen, both Attorneys, were present to speak to the refinancing the of an existing loan between the Town and USDA and informed the Council that the interest rates are lower at this time. This refinancing will save the Town money over time and the matter must be approved by the State Bond Commission before it can proceed. A time for questions, answers, comments and discussion by the Council followed the presentation. 8. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 2 OF 2020 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE PRELIMINARY AUTHORIZATION FOR THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, STATE OF LOUISIANA TO INCUR DEBT AND TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED THREE MILLION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($3,250,000) AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, IN ONE OR MORE SERIES; Providing certain terms of said bonds; Making application to the state bond commission; Employing bond counsel and other professionals; and otherwise providing with respect thereto. Motion to adopt Resolution # 2 of 2020 was made by Raymond Williams, second by James Martin; all approved. 9. HIRING OF POLICE DISPATCHER - THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE CHIEF OF POLICE’S RECOMMENDATION TO HIRE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL FOR THE VIVIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: Talissa Johnson - Part-time Office Assistant / Dispatcher - $9.00 per hour Police Chief Ryan Nelson asked that this item be removed from the Agenda and that no action be taken. Motion to comply with request was made by Angela Channell, second by Michael Guthrie; all approved. Page 3 of 5 10. THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL HOLD A FINAL CONDEMNATION HEARING TO DETERMINE WHY ANY AND ALL BUILDINGS AND/OR STRUCTURES WHICH ARE LOCATED ON THE BELOW DESCRIBED PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED, TO WIT: 202 W. MISSISSIPPI AVE., VIVIAN, LOUISIANA 71082; LOTS 1 AND 2 BLK 6, VIVIAN, CADDO PARISH, LOUISIANA, TOGETHER WITH ALL BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON; GEO #221626-007- 0001& 0002. Hearing was conducted noting that the property owner, Mr. Paul B. Richner (sic?), was NOT present. Delivery of Curator Sam Goodwin’s report on this case was then presented by Town Attorney Doug Dominick. The report stated that the property owner was contacted and given notice via Face Book Messenger on January 29th and that the property owner received the message and responded to Mr. Goodwin via telephone informing him of his address in Benton, AR. Property owner then contacted the Curator again on Feb. 5th informing him that he was in the process of selling or alternatively making repairs to the property and asked that the proceedings be postponed for 45 to 60 days. Following discussion by the Council it was decided that granting the property owner’s request for postponement be denied. Motion for final condemnation of the property was made by Denise Alexander, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. The owner will be contacted and given notice that he has 15 (fifteen) days from the signing of the order to remove the structure/building on the property, otherwise the Town of Vivian would proceed with removal. ZONING/CONDEMNATION REPORT – No report given. CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT – Deputy Chief Hart was present to give report which included the following: 1) Code Enforcement Officer Adrian Hopkins was no longer with the department and all of the cases that he had been working have been cleared, 2) 3 cases have been issued 10 day notices, and 3) 414 W. Alabama Ave. has not received a notice to date. Other addresses discussed were 1) the Spruce St. apartments and the dumpster there, and 2) 124 Milner St. According to Hart Code Enforcement is on track. After further discussion it was determined that Code Enforcement Officials, Town Council members and Town Administration will work together to overhaul/re-do the Ordinances to make Code enforcement clearer. MAYOR’S REPORT – The Mayor’s report included the following topics: 1) the appraisal for the old Fire Station has been received and an Ordinance Page 4 of 5 to list it as surplus to sale will be introduced at the March Council Meeting, and 2) the surplus sale for other items will be held on April. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY BOARD OF ALDERMEN – 1) Alderman Raymond Williams reminded everyone about the Black History Festival and Parade which would be the following Saturday, February 15. ADJOURN – Motion to adjourn was made by Michael Guthrie, second by Raymond Williams; all approved. Meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. Ronnie Festavan, Mayor _________________________________________ February 17, 2020 Kellie Morris, Town Clerk Page 5 of 5