VP City Council proposes raises for board, mayor

During its regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening, The Ville Platte City Council proposed two new ordinances.
The first ordinance would increase the pay for council members and Mayor Jennifer Vidrine. Council members would increase their monthly pay from $600 to $700. Vidrine’s salary would increase to $70,000.
According to Vidrine, the salary for the councilmen has not been increased in almost 30 years.
District C councilman Mike Perron said that Vidrine deserved a raise.
“We need to give her a fulltime salary,” Perron said. “She’s been serving as a fulltime mayor, but she’s been receiving a part-time salary.”
The other ordinance would allow the city to contract out the collection of insurance premium taxes to the Louisiana Municipal Advisory and Technical Services Bureau Corporation. Insurance premium taxes are also known as business license taxes.
Under the ordinance, LaMATS would be authorized to collect the taxes and penalties due to delinquent payments. The fee for LaMATS services would be paid through their collection activity. It would not cost the city anything for the service.
A public hearing on both of the ordinances will be held
before the next regular meeting on Dec. 8. The hearings will be at 4:30 and 4:45 p.m., with the regular meeting to start at 5 p.m.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, certified public accountant Vic Slaven told the Ville Platte City Council that his audit of last year’s budget showed the city is in excellent shape.
Slaven, who is a partner at Kolder, Champagne, and Slaven, revealed that, among other budget items, the city has an unassigned, undedicated general fund balance of more than $400,000.
In an understatement that drew smiles, Slaven reported that the surplus was “very good.”
Abandoned property was once again a topic of interest in the meeting. Although there was not a specific agenda item dealing with abandoned property, several councilmen brought it up during comments.
Vidrine told the council that the city is sending out notices to the owners of the properties, who will have 30 days to take care of the problem. After 30 days, the complaints are sent to the city attorney. If the city has to clear the property, Vidrine said that the cost will be added to the tax bill.
There was also a lively debate about allowing public parking on City Hall property during the evening hours. Recently, a sports bar, The Bulldog, opened up across the street from City Hall. After the Ville Platte High homecoming game, patrons of the bar parked in the City’s drive-through lanes.
Some council members wanted to allow parking in three of the lanes during the evening hours, but to require that the first lane remain clear so that people can pay their bills after hours. Some members wondered whether that was workable.
In the end, Vidrine decided that she would study the issue with Police Chief Neil Lartigue and legal assistance. Next month, she will be able to make a recommendation.
Councilman Jerry Joseph asked Vidrine about improving the safety at the intersection of Lincoln Road and Chataignier Street, where a four-way stop was recently installed. Joseph said that there have been several accidents involving pedestrians recently.
He asked Vidrine to put a crosswalk at the intersection, requiring vehicles to yield to pedestrians. He also asked for a culvert and catch basin to be placed there, closing out the deep ditch and making it easier to turn. Vidrine said that she will have to consult with the Department of Transportation Development because it involves a state highway.
The City will hold a tax sale for delinquent properties on Nov. 18. The tax sale will be conducted online, and people can place bids through the city’s website. People who do not have internet connection or who need help will be able to access computers at City Hall.
The City also adopted a resolution supporting the sale of CLECO to North American Investor Group. Sabrina Salling, representing CLECO, said that the sale of the electric company would not cause a noticeable impact on utility services to Ville Platte. The company would keep its name and continue to be based in Pineville. It would also keep a local office in Ville Platte.