Repairs to village hall discussed at Chataignier Council meeting

CHATAIGNIER — Chataignier Village administrator Gail McDavid recently met with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss repairs to the village hall.
McDavid said, “It’s moving slow. We need to be cautious about whether or not FEMA will pay for the wall stud replacement and faceplates and cuff plates and all this other stuff.”
The council held its monthly meeting Monday, January 23 at the village fire station.
The village hall sustained damaged during the August 2016 flood, and the building also has a termite problem.
Council members and Christina Darbonne, lead for village’s recently formed events committee, discussed ideas for events and fundraisers to host in the town. Suggestions made included: the already-established Christmas Parade, a Breast Cancer Walk in December, a Pancreatic Cancer Walk in November, cookoffs, an Easter Egg Hunt, Fall Festival and Back to School and End of School celebrations.
The only action taken during the meeting was to set up an account and transfer funds from the Gula Miller account, funds left to the village by late resident Gula Miller for use in the village and betterment of the village, to the account for to fund repairs to the village hall. The motion passed unapposed.
Mayor Jackie Thomas said, “We have to fix our town hall. If FEMA does help, will have to match any funds FEMA gives us.
“If we have to move forward and use some of that money and hope that FEMA reimburses us, regardless of how it actually goes, we have to fix our building.”
Repairs to the hall are estimated to cost $15,000 to $20,000.
The council also discussed purchasing flood insurance for the hall.