A late November meeting allowed the council to discuss a council resignation, whether or not funding for a USDA project was mismanaged and settle a claim with an employee.
The council learned Councilman Jonathan “Jay” Lewis had turned in his resignation. However, Charlotte Artis, city clerk, explained the state could not accept the document unless it was notorized. She said she contacted Lewis with the information, and she expected the proper paperwork in the next few days.
The council will have to nominate someone to replace Lewis until an election can be held. From the information shared, an election could be held in March for the rest of Lewis’ term if the council can complete the necessary steps by December 23. (The regular scheduled meeting in November was delayed due to no quorum. With Lewis out and Councilman Donald Taylor sick, it takes the rest of the council to make a quorum, which can be a problem when scheduling meetings.)
Johnnie Myers and Larry Alexander both spoke to the council about being appointed to Lewis’ seat.
When the council began discussing applying for LGAP (Local Government Assistance Program) and CWEF (The Community Water Enrichment Fund) for the 2020-21 fiscal year, a discussion began about CWEF funds for the 2018-2019 fiscal year and the USDA money earmarked for the present water project in Oberlin.
It appears the USDA money may have been mismanaged, and the town is short about $60,000 to complete the water projecct. There are still 75 active customers that require new meters and no money to complete the project. Just a few months ago, the council learned from its engineering firm, Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix and Hixson Inc., there was enough money to add to the project. Now they are being informed there isn’t enough money to do the original project either.
An audit has been planned for the construction water project to see where the USDA funds were utilized. The town may have to consider increasing water bills again to complete the project even though customers had an increase at the start of the project.
Mayor “Moochie” Manuel said he was advised there was plenty of money left in the account and then it was noted there wasn’t enough funds.
“Is it common for these projects to be underbudgeted and overbudgeted,” Wayne Smith, councilman at large, asked.
“I don’t understand how it went overbudgeted because USDA monitors it,” Luke Abrusely, attorney, said.
Bobby Thomas, councilman, said he rode around looking for lost meters. He said one was installed at a location where no one had lived for 30 years.
After the discussion, the town decided to request more information from Meyer, Meyer before making any decisions on how to proceed.
The council also tabled a bill from the company for approximately $4,000 from Meyer, Meyer for work done to complete the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) application. Thomas questioned what did Meyer, Meyer do for the town. Employees gathered information for the company about hurricane damage, pictures, payroll expenses, GPS coordinates, equipment used, etc. to input and submit to FEMA. He asked for documentation of what exactly was done by the company to prepare the FEMA application for reimbursement of funds. The council agreed it would asked for documentation.
In other business, the council:
•Moved the December meeting to 6 p.m. Wednesday, December 16.
•Went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The council agreed to pay $1,088.38 to settle a grievance.
•Approved a service agreement with the Allen Parish Police Jury for maintenance on JJ Storer Road.
•Recommended applying for LGAP funds to purchase a dump truck for the town.
•Approved the minutes from the October 19, meeting.
•Approved the November bills.
•Approved the requests of Bonnie McNabb and Courtney Rider to move trailers into the town.
•Met David Vidrine, an attorney from Oakdale, who is asking the council to select him as its attorney. At the end of the year, Abrusley will leave the position to assume his elected position as judge in Oakdale.
