VP City Council OKs raises for board, mayor

Following a public hearing at which no one gave any testimony, the Ville Platte City Council unanimously agreed to give pay increases to itself and Mayor Jennifer Vidrine.
Starting in January, the Council’s salary will increase 14 per cent, going from $600 to $700 per month.
Vidrine, who inherited a part-time salary when she took office four years ago, will see a 44 per cent increase in salary. Previous mayors only worked part-time at the job. Vidrine, however, works at City Hall full-time, and the Council wanted to compensate appropriately. She will increase from $39,000 to $70,000 a year.
In other salary news, the Council approved an annual two percent pay increase for firemen; and it approved increased longevity pay for employees who have been with the city for at least five years.
The Council unanimously approved the appointment of Chris Harrison as the new Fire Chief. Harrison, who has nearly 22 years on the job, has been serving as interim chief since the retirement of Ted Demourelle a few months ago.
In addition, Blake Perron was named Assistant Fire Chief, and Fabien Poullard was named Fire Captain.
Vidrine and City Attorney Eric Lafleur announced some good news concerning jobs in Ville Platte. Lafleur said that Slumberger, which acquired Cameron earlier this year, is closing two Cameron plants. The production lines in those plants are being moved to Ville Platte, adding about 50 more jobs.
In more good economic news, Vidrine reported that sales tax receipts increased 5.22 per cent from November 2014 to November 2015. She also announced that a consulting firm will be in Ville Platte next week to assess the feasibility of another hotel in the city.
The Council approved mailing out letters to owners of abandoned property that is in violation of city nuisance ordinances. The letter will inform the owners what the violations are; and that they have 30 days to correct the problem.
If the problem is not corrected, the City will abate the nuisance, adding the costs to the tax bill of the property.
In related news, Gervis LaFleur, head of Evangeline Community Action Agency, gave out awards to the councilmen with the cleanest districts. LaFleur told the Council that the litter around the city is a problem.
“This is very serious,” LaFleur told the Council. “As my father told me, You don’t have to be rich to be clean. Some councilmen and city employees have deplorable conditions in the district around their homes. We have to practice what we preach, and do our part to encourage our citizens to keep the city clean.”
Mike Perron, representing District C, was given the first place award for the cleanest district. Donald Sam, representing District E, won second place; and District A’s C.J. Dardeau won third place.
Both Lisa DeRouen and Councilman Bryant Riggs addressed services concerning the city’s elderly population. DeRouen presented an annual request that the City approve sponsoring the transportation program maintained through the Evangeline Council on Aging.
DeRouen reminded the Council that the transportation program is for everyone, including the general public, not just for the elderly and for medical transport. She discussed a hot lunch program at the MLK Center with Vidrine, saying that people at least 60-years-old can get food there five days a week.
Riggs spoke about helping the elderly move out of dilapidated homes and into clean, safe apartments. He provided the information in the place of Francis Blood and Becky Beene, of the Village de Memoire.
“There are about 11 vacancies at the Village de Memoire,” Riggs said. “Our elderly citizens need to know that there is a good place for them to live. They don’t have to stay in crappy rent houses.”
Riggs said that he plans to do a walking tour of the city to talk to the elderly, telling them about the opportunities. He invited other council members to join him.
The Council also approved allowing the mayor to adorn City Hall with the motto, “In God We Trust.”
“I think we all believe in God, and we trust in God,” Vidrine said, “and we don’t have a problem with God and government together.”