VPCC discuss drainage issues with residents

The Ville Platte City Council, responding to citizen requests to participate in drainage and zoning management, decided to hold a special meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at 6 p.m. in the city council meeting room to discuss steps to address the two issues.
Dr. Greg Ardoin told the council and mayor that a group of citizens recently met at his house to discuss drainage problems, which he said were getting worse.
He suggested a group of 15 to 20 citizens are interested in monitoring drainage problems and working with the city engineer and other local officials and report their findings to the city council. He said the local volunteers could network with people outside Ville Platte who live in areas that may affect drainage problems in the city.
Another citizen, Toby Landreneau, said, “We’re not here to complain,” adding, “drainage is a very complex issue.” He said some weirs, or dams, in area bayous are about 50 years old and are adding to the local drainage problems. He said so much silt and vegetation have built up in concrete dams, “they don’t look like concrete.”
Another citizen, Devinskie Arvie, came to the podium to talk about drainage issues and the need for more control of zoning in Ville Platte.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said she has been in communications with Denham Springs officials because “one of the best planning and zoning commissions in the state,” is there.
Zoning regulations and boards can determine allowable use of property, such as for commercial or residential use, or building density in neighborhoods.
The mayor said a Denham Springs official called her October 4, and that she is arranging a visit there to discuss that community’s zoning procedures and look at the zoning ordinances there.
Mayor Vidrine said she would like representatives of the Evangeline Parish Police Jury to be at the special meeting. Two police jurors, Ryan Ardoin and Kevin Veillon, were at the city council meeting and said the police jury would be represented at the special meeting on October 15.
The city council approved three ordinances that were the subjects of public hearings before the council meeting began:
•The council voted for an ordinance prohibiting placement of propane tanks inside a residence, such as for heating. Fire Chief Ted demourelle said, during last month’s city council meeting, that is hazardous, especially if the house catches fire. Propane tanks will only be allowed, for recreational use, outside a residence.
•An ordinance requires that people who want to transport mobile homes into the city must have them inspected by the fire chief and the building inspector. Mayor Vidrine said the issue was brought up after someone moved a “delapidated” mobile home into the city. The mobile home owner “promised to fix it up” but never did. She also said as the city is already working to remove abandoned structures, she doesn’t want people bringing more problems into the city.
•The council also passed an ordinance adopting the 2013 ad valorem tax millage rate.
Mayor Vidrine said starting in January, an 18-wheeler from Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana will come to the Northside Civic Center to distribute food.
The mayor said there are no income requirements, and people will not have to be receiving government assistance to receive food, but will need to show a state identification card.
The food distribution will not cost the city, although volunteers will be needed to assist in the distribution. She said people who go to the civic center from 10 a.m. to noon will receive 10 to 12 food items they will take home to prepare. Food will not be prepared at the civic center.
In other council business:
•Mayor Vidrine reported that September expenses were $55,260 below expenses for the month before. She thanked city supervisors for staying within their budgets. “This makes up for the past two months,” she said.
•Sales tax collections were up 12 percent this August, compared to August 2012, the second highest of any sales tax collection entity in the parish, the mayor said.
•Next month’s city council meeting will be on the first Tuesday of the month, November 5, because of a conference members of the council will attend the next week.
•The mayor announced that the first donation has been made to the city that will be deposited into a special account to be used to start a Boys and Girls Club of Ville Platte. CenturyLink donated $750 for computer equipment. She said Boys and Girls Club executives have started the paperwork process and the club is expected to be open from 3:30 to 7 p.m. during the school year and all day during the summer. The club will be in the old city hall building at Court and Main streets. No opening date has been announced.
•The mayor asked for input from councilmen on what hours truck-or-treat should be held this year. They decided to have it from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, an hour longer than last year’s, which was 5 to 7 p.m. The mayor said city hall will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. for children to stop by for candy. The mayor will be there like last year, “when the mayor scared them to death,” she said.
•Fire Chief Demourelle reported 30 calls for assistance in September, 15 in the city and seven of those involving structures. Police Chief Neal Lartigue reported 195 calls to the police department resulting in 66 arrests, eight of them on felony charges, and 44 vehicle wrecks. None of the fire or police activity involved fatalities.
•During the mayor’s comments at the end of the meeting, Mayor Vidrine cautioned the public of scam letters that appear to be sent from the city and advise people to purchase insurance for their pipes. She said out-of-town scammers, and not the city, are sending the letters.