Chataignier council discusses sewer issues

Chataignier Mayor Jackie Thomas, during the monthly village council meeting January 20, urged residents of the community who are delinquent in paying for sewer service to pay for the service or have their water service cut in February.
Wilbur Rozas, the village clerk, said letters have been sent to people who aren’t current in their sewer bills. “It’s not that they don’t know,” they are behind on their sewer service bills, he said.
The letters state water service will be terminated February 1. Those who have service cut will then have to pay their past-due amounts and pay a $25 fee to have water service restored. Mayor Thomas said the village will give people a 10-day period after the February 1 deadline to pay their bills before having service terminated.
Rozas said 10 people were more than two months behind on paying for their sewer service, six were over four months, three were over five months behind, one was six months behind, one was seven months behind, three were eight months behind and five were 10 to 13 months behind in paying their sewer bills.
During a discussion about maintenance of the village’s sewer system, Hurley Mose, the sewer maintenance supervisor, said the owner of property who intends to either build homes or locate mobile homes there apparently does not plan to connect those units to the village’s sewer system.
Alderman Gail McDavid said, “It’s a violation of state law,” for a property owner to have a residence within 300 feet of a community’s sewer line to put in a septic tank instead of connecting to the sewer line.
The village council also voted to use the remaining funds in a grant that is paying for replacements of water meters and to apply for a $25,000 state grant to make other improvements to the community’s water distribution system.
The council also learned that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will evaluate the intersection of First and Vine streets, which also is the intersection of state highways 29 and 95. Citizens have asked to either make that intersection a four-way stop or to install flashing warning lights because drivers approaching the intersection can be confused about what approaching vehicles have the right of way.
McDavid said he talked to a DOTD official who said the department would try to examine the intersection before the current school year ends because there is less traffic during the school year. DOTD will then inform the village what it intends to do.
During the mayor’s report at the end of the council meeting, Mayor Thomas thanked two citizens who have volunteered to improve the community.
Jeffery Gallow cut down a large tree that had been growing next to the rear wall of the community center. The tree was suspected to be threatening the center’s foundation as well as contributing to a leak in the roof.
The mayor commended Geneva Lartigue for painting the interior of the community center, using her own money to purchase the paint and supplies. Lartigue also volunteered to decorate the village for Christmas.
Increasing volunteerism in the community has been one of Mayor Thomas’ priorities because of its limited financial resources.
In other business, the Chataignier Village Council:
•Voted to retain Rozas as the council’s records manager.
•Appointed Alderman Joseph Semien as mayor pro-tem.
•Received financial disclosure forms from Rozas, who cautioned the mayor and aldermen to use the paper forms instead of filing their personal information on a computer. He said although the computer would be easier, they could risk having their personal information disclosed. The state requires the information to be filed by governmental officials by May 5.
•Was advised by Rozas that residents of the community are receiving their property tax statements from the state late, so penalties for late payments have been moved back from the end of December to the beginning of February.
•Also heard Rozas caution the public that anyone providing a service in the community for monetary compensation must obtain an occupational license.