Water system, speedway restrooms discussed at Turkey Creek meeting

TURKEY CREEK – The Turkey Creek Village Council, during the board’s March 15 regular meeting, discussed the an update on the current state of the Ward 4 Water District.
Mayor Heather Cloud stated the community of Cypress Creek requested Turkey Creek’s assistance in monitoring their water system for them. Both agreed to a payment of $1,500 per month for the service of Turkey Creek providing the monitoring and reports to Cypress Creek’s board. Council member Joey Ducote was worried about the liability, but Attorney Greg Vidrine stated an indemnity clause was included in the contract so that would not be an issue.
Willie Powers, superintendent of the Turkey Creek Water System, stated daily samples are being taken and sent to the lab for testing once a month. He also noted the system has been flushed and seems to be fine. Cloud added the partnership seems to working well so far.
The mayor and council revisited the issue of building restrooms at the Lil Dega Speedway. The owners, Clyde and Shay Ware, agreed to assist the village with the cost of building the new portable restrooms. Engineer Adam Janet discussed the price and options for a two-stall restroom and three-stall restroom facility. He stated that a two-stall, insulated facility would feature two handicapped-accessible stalls, one male and one female, for a cost of approximately $9,000. The cost for a three-stall, insulated restroom facility with one handicapped-accessible stall, would cost approximately $11,700 with insulation. The restrooms would have to be located on the northside of the track property and water lines would have to be run to the new restroom facilities. The council decided to get pricing options for a three-stall restroom, and Cloud suggested that a limit for the highest amount the council is willing to spend on the project should be decided on so that Janet could get bids for the project. A special meeting was scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23, to discuss the bids received.
The council then discussed the possibility of purchasing an excavator/trackhoe for the village, as it will cause less damage when doing work on yards than the backhoe. Powers stated the backhoe is fine for some things but tears up the grounds that then need to be repaired once a project is completed.
Powers said an excavator can go where a backhoe can’t and will be a benefit when placing meters. Council member Neal King agreed an excavator is quicker, easier and is less destructive to property. Cloud said the decision was up to the council. Janet noted it will be advantageous to try and get state contract pricing for the trackhoe, as it will save several hundred off the cost of the equipment, and will get price quotes on various models of trackhoes with angle blades and mucking bucket and the council will discuss this issue during the special meeting next week.
Cloud, during the public comment period prior to the start of the meeting, said that she has been in contact with Shawn Wilson, DOTD Secretary for the state of Louisiana, to discuss the repairs needed to Hwy 167.
Cloud said she has been working on this since she has been in office and that she and Janet have put together a presentation of letters, details and photos to support the need for repairs to the highway. The information has been given to Wilson’s office and now she is just waiting to hear back from the DOTD with the legislators’ analysis and decision to find out if the Hwy 167 route will be placed on the list of future projects for the DOTD.
Mayor Cloud then asked to enter into executive session to address police department issues with Chief Robert Glenn Leggett and Officer Bryce Melancon and to discuss an ordinance which would impose a penalty for non-payment of water and/or sewer bills.