Turkey Creek Council agrees to lease arena for go-cart track

TURKEY CREEK - The Turkey Creek Village Council, during the board’s September 16, regular meeting, discussed the rodeo arena lease agreement. Mayor Heather Cloud stated that with the current leasee, Wesley King, wishing to terminate his lease with the village, Clyde Ware is interested in leasing the arena and making a go-cart race track at the location. Ware addressed the council with his plans, noting he would like to start out with two Saturdays a month and see how things progress. He said he would need to carry a $5 million insurance policy for race nights and a $1 million general liability policy. He said this venue would be a fun activity and bring revenue into the community. In order to obtain the insurance policies, he needs to know the boundaries and property description to show the insurance company and put up a fence, as the insurance company will not allow any activity until the fence is up and the policy is in place. The council agreed to a one-year, first option lease policy. However, due to the amount being invested by Ware, he asked the council for a three-year extended lease with the first option for renewal after the term is over. Cloud and the council agreed to the extended lease. The mayor, council and Ware agreed to place port-a-potties at the location for the first year and then, depending on the success of the venture, restrooms would be built in the future. With the council and Ware in agreement, the lease agreement with exact terms and conditions will be signed later in the week. Cloud also asked Ware if, should the council cover the cost, he would agree to hold a Christmas event each year, once the facility is ready.
Resident Rhonda Butler addressed the council about the possibility of her road and property being incorporated into the Turkey Creek city limits. She said that half of her property is in the limits, while the other half is not. She stated that she and her husband, as well as 90 percent of the other residents down their street, would like to be incorporated so that they may utilize the village’s services, such as local police department. Village Attorney Greg Vidrine stated the majority of residents in the area would halve to sign a petition requesting incorporation and then the property owners’ addresses would have to be certified by the registrar of voters office. Once this is done, advertisement in the village’s municipal journal is required by law. In addition, maps would have to be drawn once aerial photography of the are is done in order to keep an accurate record of the new boundaries. Butler said she would talk to the other residents and Vidrine said that once a definite plan and idea of where the exact new boundaries will be located is decided, the issue could be further discussed at the next meeting. The council voted to table the issue pending further information on the issue.
Butler also discussed her new venture Gobble Gully Paintball, noting it has been very successful so far. She hopes to expand the business with a splash pad in the future and said the community and parish are saying good things about it. She added that many patrons have come from throughout the parish, as well as Alexandria and Lafayette for a fun day of paintball.
The council adopted a resolution in favor of amendments to the constitution to allow outside businesses to handle collections for the village. The Supreme Court had previously ruled this unconstitutional, however, the legislature recently passed an amendment allowing municipalities the option to hire outside assistance with collections. The Louisiana Municipal Association supports the amendment and has asked that all municipalities adopt the ordinance.
In other business, the council:
•Olita Poole as a board member to the Ward Five Fire Department.
•Approved payment for Village Clerk Melissa Ferguson’s mileage.
•Approved the minutes of the August 19, regular meeting.
•Approved expenditures for the month of August.
•Approved utility adjustments.
•Heard the financial report from Cloud.