City council votes down gift basket ordinance

The Ville Platte City Council, during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, July 8, decided to take no action on a proposed ordinance that would require council members receive quarterly reports of the cost of gift baskets the city provides during special occasions.
Mayor Jennifer Vidrine spoke during a public hearing that took place just before the council meeting. She said the cost of the gift baskets, which include mostly spices produced locally, are already available in public records, and that if passed, the ordinance would require unnecessary extra work for the office staff at city hall.
The ordinance was proposed by Councilman Taranza Arvie, who was not present at the public hearing this month, nor the public hearing that had been scheduled last month. He also was not present at the council meeting Tuesday.
Mayor Vidrine said the council passes ordinances to prevent situations that are “detrimental,” but the gift baskets promote local businesses. She said, “Believe it or not, these city baskets are famous now.” She said when she visits major U.S. cities and presents a city basket, local contacts receive phone calls about the products in the baskets. One example was NPR Radio in Washington, D.C., which called KVPI to find out more about the products in the baskets.
The baskets contain 10 different locally produced spices and T-shirts “we get for free,” the mayor said.
The mayor also updated the council on the clearing of the Rendevous Dinner Club that burned to the ground a year ago, and the efforts of the city to clear abandoned properties.
•Mayor Vidrine said she had been in touch with the owners of what was the Rendevous earlier in the week and was informed that work on clearing the debris and cleaning is proceeding, but at a slow pace because of potential hazardous conditions.
•The mayor said that more than 200 abandoned properties in the city have been cleared or mowed, but that there are about 400 more lots that need work. “It’s not fair to the neighbors,” who not only see the abandoned properties daily, but have to contend with snakes or rodents that come from there, or people who use the abandoned properties for illegal purposes. Mayor Vidrine said the city continues to send letters to owners of abandoned properties when they are identified. Once a letter is sent, the property owner becomes involved in a legal process that involves a citation, a subpoena, fines and in at least one instance, an arrest warrant. “We are on a mission,” the mayor said about the city’s efforts to clear abandoned properties.
One of the council’s legal consultants, Greg Vidrine, gave a brief summary of his qualifications as candidate for city judge.
Police Chief Neal Lartigue reported there were 752 calls for assistance in June , 110 more than the previous month. Those calls resulted in 49 arrests, five of those for felony charges. Police also responded to 32 vehicle accidents. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Harrison reported there were 31 calls for assistance in June, 25 of them in Ville Platte and of those, seven involved structure fires.
The city’s consulting engineer, Ronnie Landreneau, reported that the current phase of the city’s water system upgrade should be complete within a couple of months, at which time bids for the third phase can be advertised. He said the upgrade has resulted in drawing less water from the city’s wells.
Landreneau also reported that work will soon begin to tie the walking trail in front of Mercy Regional Medical Center with the walking trail at Heritage Park. A pedestrian bridge over Main Street will be constructed by the state DOTD, at no cost to the city.
Mayor Vidrine had several announcements at the end of the council meeting, which is set aside for the mayor’s report on the agenda:
•She said the July Fourth movie and fireworks at Northside Park was a “huge success,” with all of the items in the concession stand sold out. She thanked the sponsors and the city employees who helped make it a success. She said she hopes the event will expand each year, and that the city plans to show a movie monthly except during football season.
•The mayor briefed the council on the city’s acquisition of heavy machinery, including a street sweeper and a sewer cleaner.
•Mayor Vidrine announced there will be a book signing by authors Jane Vidrine and Jean Kiesel for their newly published pictorial history book, Evangeline Parish, on Friday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at city hall.
•Some 80 new red street signs will be placed on streets that either have no street signs or where the signs are unintelligible, the mayor said. The signs will be placed on 10-foot poles to deter thieves.
•Work on the old Evangeline Bank building at Court and Main streets continues, and the state secretary of state’s office has approved of the name of the organization, which can now pursue 501(c)-3 tax exempt status. “We’re getting close,” to the opening date, she said. She also encouraged people to donate so the club can have the $150,000 in assets required by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America umbrella organization. The mayor said half of that amount has been raised.
•The mayor said the state will provide 100 trees to be planted at Hargrove Park, where a walking trail will soon be poured.
•The city is seeking permits to place flag poles to fly the U.S., state, city and other flags, including the Ville Platte and Sacred Heart high school flags.
•The mayor said the city is arranging to host the regional state baseball championship tournament at the new ballpark complex. She said the 20 teams expected will boost the local economy.
•On September 6, Ville Platte High School will host the Louisiana Championship Wrestling for a fund raiser for the Boys and Girls Club. Tickets will be sold at city hall starting a month before the event.
•Meals for the elderly will begin Monday, July 28, at the MLK center. A $1 donation is encouraged, but no one will be turned away, the mayor said. The center will be open from 8 a.m. to noon, and lunch will be served starting at 10:30 a.m. for people 60 and older.