Chataignier forms events committee

CHATAIGNIER — The Chataignier Village Council moved to create an events committee for the village at Monday’s council meeting.
Mayor Jackie Thomas said, “The committee will be responsible for any activities that we want to sponsor here in the village and anything we would want to do as far as donations and activities that can generate funding for the necessities here in Chataignier.
“We have such a great need for so many different things here in Chataignier.”
Thomas said several people have expressed interest in being members of the event committee, and she said the group will also help to determine what the biggest needs are in Chataignier.
“The recreation park is a priority as far as getting a play ground for the kids and getting the basketball courts revamped,” Thomas said.
The council also discussed adding three reserve officers to the police force to help with school traffic and provide extra security at events. Thomas asked Town Clerk Rhonda Miller to look into liability and insurance questions regarding adding the officers to the village’s police force.
In Miller’s Clerk Report, she said the town’s first fundraiser, a barbecue plate lunch sale, went well.
Miller said, “Our Oct. 8 fundraiser was a fantastic success. We sold 113 plates. We made $500. I am really happy with that being our first fundraiser.”
Thomas said that money from such fundraisers will be used to do work at the village recreational park, but the money can be used for other needs in the village.
Miller said a representative from the Louisiana Works Commission recently visited the village hall to let her know about possible upcoming temporary job opportunities in the town.
“They have put together a grant to send us workers to help clean the ditches. It’s supposed to happen in the next few weeks. I’m trying to give first choice to residents who have been out of work for 30 days or longer.”
Miler said the ditch cleaners will not be allowed on private property. The pay for the jobs will be between $10 to $14 an hour, and a sign up sheet for residents is located at the Chataignier Food Store and the post office.
Miller said the village also received a $500 donation from Cleco for the annual Christmas Parade.