Laine Fontenot visited the Kinder Council meeting Monday, June 7, to discuss ideas of forming an event that would allow local artists to perform.
Fontenot, who attended the meeting with Kenny Spears, said a group of residents were exploring options and looking for information on how to start an event that would include music and maybe a cooking competition. He said some of the group has been gathering together to play music and decided to see if they could create a venue for these musicians in Allen Parish to showcase their talents.
He asked if the city would be interested in helping financially. Ideas were shared about developing an event, where it might be held, what finances may be available to the group and which organizations could assist with information and organizing, such as the Allen Parish Tourism Commission, Chamber and Fairs and Festivals.
Fontenot said they were in the exploring stage and nothing was set in stone. However, he explained the group had been invited to hold an event in conjunction with a craft show organized by Eric Kuyper and his group in September. (Kuyper is the present commander of the American Legion.)
Councilman Chris Fontenot offered to assist the group and attend some of the meetings. Fontenot said he would contact the councilman. He also explained he would return to a meeting in the future to give an update on the group’s plans and needs once the group made some concrete decisions.
In other business, the council:
•Conducted a public hearing and adopted the proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2021/2022. In the new budget, all town employees and officials will receive a three-percent pay raise, estimated to cost about $25,000, beginning July 1. The budget is expected to generate $1.3 million in general fund revenues and expend $1.9 million in the general fund, including $1.1 million for the police department.
•Approved a resolution to accept the USDA Statement of Budget, Income and Equity report.
•Conducted a public hearing and amended the 2020/2021 budget.
•Introduced an ordinance to authorize the issuance of bonds not to exceed $3.35 million. The funds will allow the town to refinance its debt on for sewer upgrades at a savings of almost $750,000. The council had been working on the refinancing of the bonds for several months in order to save the town some money.
