Ville Platte City Council celebrates ‘good financial news’

The Ville Platte City Council and city employees celebrated good financial news during the regular January meeting Tuesday evening.
Certified Public Accountant Vic Slaven reported his audit of the city, not only giving a positive finding, but adding that the improvement is the continuance of a pattern of good fiscal management.
Slaven reported that the unencumbered balance of the General Fund is nearly $513,000. He said that this amount represents money is not dedicated to anything and that the city is free to spend “as it wishes.” The amount is a 50 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.
“The report is pretty good,” Slaven told the council. Since the implementation of a new purchase order plan four years ago, Slaven said that the budget has “improved dramatically” and that the city is becoming “very fiscally responsible.”
There were many city employees in attendance at the meeting, and they broke into cheers at some other good financial news: the council voted to give a 3 percent pay raise to all city employees. This marks the fourth year in a row that the employees receive a raise.
Employees with at least five years’ experience were granted longevity pay.
In addition, city employees were granted additional paid holidays, bringing the total to 16 days. The additions were the Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, if those days fall on a weekday.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine noted that the improvement was “a team effort, a concentrated effort.” On behalf of the council, she thanked the city department heads and employees for their good work during the year.
“Thank you very much,” Vidrine told them amid the cheers. “You are doing a great job, and we really appreciate your effort.”
The city council voted to enter into partnerships with two different organizations: Prairie Heritage, Inc and the summer feeding program.
Prairie Heritage, Inc. is responsible for organizing a Cajun music and heritage festival at Chicot Park. It is headed by Ville Platte lawyer Gilbert “Winky” Aucoin and Tony Davoren. The festival, which is scheduled for April 10-11, will be called Le Grand Hurrah.
As usual, the city will continue to sponsor the summer feeding program, which begins the first Monday of June. The program provides free meals to any child up to 18-years-old. The funding flows from federal grants through the city.
The council approved resolutions approving Charles Tate to pursue an application process for an Affordable Housing and Community Revitalization program. The program, which will seek funding and investors, will help to revitalize the south side of the city, commonly called “The Woods”. The program would focus on building and refurbishing single-family homes.
Ville Platte Community Theater and the Veterans of Foreign Wars each donated money to the Boys & Girls Club, which is still in the process of receiving accreditation. VPCT donated $200 and the VFW donated $100. The Club needs to have $150,000 to receive an official charter from the national organization. Anyone who wants to donate can do so at city hall or online at www.cityofvilleplatte.com.
Per the recommendation of Chief of Police Neil Lartigue, the city hired three full-time patrolmen and three part-time jailers. Lartigue said that the city now has 24 policemen, and his goal is to have 33 officers.
The council recognized Carlton Doucet and councilman C.J. Dardeau. Doucet, who recently retired, was given a plaque for his 16 years of faithful service.
Dardeau was surprised with a plaque and a birthday cake. The longtime member has served 38 years on the council, making him the second longest-serving councilman in Louisiana. His birthday was earlier in the month.