City Council

MINUTES REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING VIVIAN TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM 112 W. ALABAMA AVE. VIVIAN, LOUISIANA MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022 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. 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, Ryan Nelson - Chief of Police, Kellie Morris - Town Clerk, and Douglas Dominick - Town Attorney. APPROVE AGENDA - Mayor Festavan stated that he needed an amendment to the Agenda to add a Resolution for consideration. Motion to amend the Agenda to include the Resolution as Agenda item # 6A was made by Angela Channell and seconded by Denise Alexander. Following the motion and second, Mayor Festavan called for a public hearing on the matter with no comments for or against the amendment. The vote was then taken to amend the Agenda with all approving. Motion was then made to approve the Agenda as amended by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all approved. 1. SPECIAL RECOGNITION - North Caddo All-stars softball team - Manager/Coach Brandon Garner came forward to speak on behalf of the North Caddo All-Stars 11–12-year-old Girls’ softball team and their performance & accomplishments during the softball season as the Little League District 5 Champions and 1st Runner-Up in State. Certificates of Recognition were then presented to all players and coaching staff. 2. SPECIAL PRESENTATION - Vivian Farmers Market Week Proclamation - Dr. Marby Barker - Town of Vivian Grant Administrator, along with Heather Allen and Jessica Spurlin - Vivian Farmers Market Managers were present during the reading of the proclamation declaring August 7th - 13th, 2022 as ‘Vivian Farmers Market Week’. Following the reading the proclamation was presented to the Farmers Market ladies. 3. SPECIAL PRESENTATION - James David ‘Bebo’ Herring Proclamation - Marie Herring and Mary Herring, mother and sister of ‘Bebo’ Herring were present for the reading of the proclamation proclaiming his birthday, August 21, 2022, as ‘James David ‘Bebo’ Herring Day’. Following the reading the Proclamation was presented to the family. Page 1 of 3 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS - There were none. 5. 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, seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. 6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - Motion to approve the Minutes for 1) the July 11, 2022 Regular Council Meeting and, 2) the July 27, 2022 Special Called Meeting together in globo, as a unit, was made by James Martin, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved. 6A. THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER THE ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION # 13 OF 2022 OF THE TOWN OF VIVIAN, LOUISIANA - A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING MAYOR FESTAVAN TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR AIRPORT IMPORVEMENT PROJECT # 3-22-0070-016-2022 AND FURTHER SIGN AND EXECUTE DOCUMENTS AND LEGAL PAPERS NECESSARY TO CONSUMMATE SUCH TRANSACTION. Motion to adopt Resolution # 13 of 2022 was made by James Martin, seconded by Raymond Williams; all approved. 7. PROMOTION OF POLICE PERSONNEL - THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE CHIEF OF POLICE’S RECOMMENDATION TO PROMOTE THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUAL TO THE RANK OF SERGEANT - DeAveon Benjamin, Full- time Officer, Hire date - June 28, 2021. Following remarks made by Chief Nelson motion to approve his recommendation to promote Officer Benjamin to the rank of Sergeant was made by Denise Alexander, seconded by Michael Guthrie; all approved. Chief Nelson then presented Sergeant Benjamin with his new badge. ZONING, CONDEMNATION & CODE ENFORCEMENT MATTERS - A. FINAL CONDEMNATION HEARING(s) - i. THE BOARD OF ALDERMAN WILL CONSIDER THE FINAL CONDEMNATION OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED PROPERTY, TO WIT: Lots 19, 20, 21 & 22, blk. 14, Christian Heights addn., and having a municipal address of 509 South Pardue St., Vivian, Caddo Parish, LA together with all buildings and improvements located thereon (Geographical Number 221626-127- 0032-00) and, Lots 23 & 24, blk. 14, Christian Hts. addn., and having a municipal address of 509 South Pardue St., Vivian, Caddo Parish, LA together with all buildings and improvements located thereon (Geographical Number 221626-127- 00330 0033-00). This case is continued from the November 8, 2021, and the January 10 & April 4, 2022 Regular Council meetings. Anthony Davis of Bossier City, Ju’keia Davis of Bossier City and Shandra Davis of 111 Lovette St. in Vivian were present on behalf of the family in this matter. During this time a check in the amount of $1,976.47 was presented to Town Attorney Doug Dominick to redeem property taxes on Lots 23 & 24, blk. 14, Christian Hts. Addn. Following much discussion, questions and answers on the matter, motion to continue until the November 14, 2022 Regular Council Meeting was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Angela Channell; all approved. Page 2 of 3  ii. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN WILL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY FOR FINAL CONDEMNATION: Lot 22, Legion Hills Sub, unit 2. Vivian, Caddo Parish, Louisiana 221636-2-22, together with all buildings and improvements therein. Municipal address of 1504 South Pardue St., Vivian, LA 71082 Elizabeth Price, attorney for Wells Fargo Mortgage, whose address is 1505 N. 19th St. in Monroe, Louisiana was present on behalf of the matter. Following much discussion, questions and answers on the matter, motion to continue until the September 12, 2022 Regular Council Meeting was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by Denise Alexander; all approved. B. COMPLETE ZONING/CONDEMNATION & CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT - There was none. MAYOR’S REPORT - Mayor Festavan gave a report on the following: 1) the energy award that was presented to the Town at the Louisiana Rural Water Association Conference on July 20th, 2) the new First Guaranty Bank that will be built, 3) the Farmers Markets will only be held on the last Saturday of each month through November, 4) Redbud Association is about to begin meetings, and Denise Alexander was asked to comment on the new Terrapin Neck Mini Fest to be held in September & October, 5) update on the demolition and cleanup at 317 W. Atlanta St., and 6) the new digital sign. ANNOUNCEMENTS BY BOARD OF ALDERMEN - There were none. ADJOURN - Motion to adjourn was made by Raymond Williams, seconded by James Martin; all approved. Meeting was adjourned at 7:20 p.m. _______________________________ Kellie Morris, Town Clerk _______________________________ Ronnie Festavan, Mayor August 12, 2022 Page 3 of 3