Boy's and Girl's Club expected to open this summer

The Ville Platte City Council discussed two developments affecting younger residents of the city this summer.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said she hopes a goal she has worked on for 15 years -- opening of a Ville Platte Boy’s and Girl’s Club -- will come together this summer.
Engineer Ronnie Landreneau reported to the council, during its monthly meeting Tuesday, January 14, that one of the final steps, inspection of the old city hall building on Court and Main streets, will take place next week. The final report can be expected back in February, he said.
Mayor Vidrine said when the inspection report indicates the building is available for public use, volunteers will be invited to clean and do other final preparations to open the club. “It’s my prayer to open it by June 2,” after school is out for the summer, the mayor said.
Also beginning on June 2, will the Summer Feeding Program. Pastor Allen Freeman requested the city’s sponsorship of the program, which he has been involved with for 37 years.
He said the program served more than 500 children last summer at Ville Platte High School. About 25 adults and 25 young people were hired to help with the program last summer.
There is no income requirement, and Mayor Vidrine said the program is the sole chance some young people have to eat balanced meals during the summer.
The mayor said the city will announce when application forms are available at city hall.
Freeman said children who can feed themselves, up to the age of 18 can take part in the program. He said family members can sit with their child or help the child eat, but people older than 18 are not supposed to eat. The feeding program ends at the end of July, and lasts from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Buses will make stops to pick up program participants at the east and west parts of the city, and in the Kennedy Subdivision. The city council voted to approve of the request to sponsor the program this summer.
Auditor Vic Slaven reviewed the audit findings for the report of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. He said there were some missing lease contract forms kept by Section 8 housing, which are required by HUD guidelines.
Another speaker at the meeting was Arthur Sampson. He said he has seen debris remaining on roads after vehicles have been involved in accidents and suggested the city consider passing an ordinance requiring police or towing company employees to remove the debris.
Sampson said he has swept up and removed the debris because it posed a danger of damaging tires or causing another accident as drivers swerve to avoid hitting the debris.
Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue said tow truck operators have cleaned up the debris in the past, and that he will check into how it is handled now.
Landreneau reported about 700 of about 3,100 “smart meters” that can be read remotely have been installed in different areas of the city. He said two crews are installing the new meters and “everything is going very well.”
In other city council business:
•When asked if city crews are resurfacing roads in the city, Mayor Vidrine said state crews are resurfacing state roads and highways in and around Ville Platte.
•The mayor reported city expenditures in December totaled $131,379, $73,632 less than the city spent in November.
•Fire Chief Ted Demoruelle reported fire fighters responded to 316 calls for assistance in December, 18 in Ville Platte, including 11 structure fires. Chief Lartigue reported 567 calls for assistance to the police department last month, requiring 288 reports, 14 citations and six felony charges. Police also responded to 54 vehicle accidents in December. None of the calls to police or fire departments last month resulted in fatalities.
•The council approved a liquor permit for the annual pre Mardi Gras dance at the Northside Civic Center to benefit the Swamp Pop Museum.
•Mayor Vidrine reminded the public the mobile pantry will come to the Northside Civic Center the fourth Wednesday of each month starting in February.
•The mayor announced there will be free help for completing income tax forms again this year at city hall for Ville Platte residents, starting in February. People interested in the service can call city hall for scheduling.
• The mayor also announced the city received a $4,000 grant through the United Way to assist students.