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Director’s Viewpoint<br />
Inside the LMA<br />
September 2009 LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW Page 15<br />
LMA Convention Recap<br />
LMA presents service awards as tribute to 33 longtime elected municipal officials<br />
ANSWERING THE CALL<br />
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR<br />
Mayor William D’Aquilla, St. Francisville, received a diamond service pin marking ten terms, or<br />
40 years, of elected municipal service. Another ten-term recipient, Mayor Pro Tempore Edwin<br />
Britt, Newellton, was unable to attend the ceremony. This year’s ceremony honored 33 munici-<br />
September was ushered in by Hurricane Harvey, which<br />
left a trail of destruction along the Gulf Coast of Texas<br />
and southwest Louisiana. We commend the leadership of<br />
municipal officials in southwest Louisiana for their tireless<br />
work and for the service they provided to their citizens<br />
as the storm made its way through Louisiana. Seeing<br />
the images on television reminded us here at the LMA<br />
of the<br />
Ville Platte,<br />
flooding<br />
Mayor Pro<br />
that<br />
Tempore<br />
inundated<br />
Curtis Francisco,<br />
Baton<br />
Cottonport,<br />
Rouge<br />
Councilman<br />
last<br />
Jim<br />
August<br />
Holland, Oak<br />
and Grove, dramatically and Alderwoman affected Susan Jeansonne, the Hessmer, lives received of several service pins LMA symbolizing and four<br />
terms, or 16 years, of elected service. Not present were Council Member Jonathan Foster,<br />
RMI employees. It also brought to mind the outpouring<br />
Geyen, Lake Charles, Mayor George L. Grace, St. Gabriel, and former Mayor James H.<br />
of assistance they received during that time, including the<br />
generous died earlier contributions this year. from across the country donated<br />
through a NLC GoFundMe account. LMA and RMI staff<br />
members immediately went to work to pay it forward by<br />
collecting a large amount of necessary supplies to send<br />
to those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Louisiana and<br />
Texas. As we continue our discussion of disaster recovery,<br />
we chose to feature “Operation Give Back” as our cover<br />
story for this month’s issue of the Review.<br />
As Harvey recovery efforts were ramping up, the ferocious<br />
and enormous Hurricane Irma struck the southwest<br />
coast of Florida, before moving inland and wreaking<br />
havoc through every major city in the state. As Irma was<br />
approaching the Florida Keys, LaMATS Executive Director<br />
Cliff Palmer loaded up his truck and drove to his home<br />
in Tallahassee where he rode out the storm. Luckily, his<br />
home and property sustained only minor damage. After<br />
pal leaders from 21 municipalities with a combined total of 640 years of public service.<br />
securing his home, Cliff dedicated many long hours to<br />
assisting others in the area with cleanup and recovery.<br />
We are proud of the generosity and perseverance of<br />
the LMA staff who respond when help is needed. This<br />
edition is dedicated to them and to all LMA officials, first<br />
responders, and employees who worked tirelessly to<br />
not only protect their residents, but to provide shelter<br />
for those forced to leave their homes, be they Louisiana<br />
citizens or otherwise.<br />
In light of these natural disasters, debate over the<br />
proposed reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance<br />
Program (NFIP), which was set to expire on September<br />
30, was indeed timely. Instead of crafting a long-term<br />
From left, Councilman Joseph “Blackie” Landry, Addis, Councilman Russell “Rusty” Parrish,<br />
solution<br />
Addis, Councilwoman<br />
for reauthorization,<br />
Edith Williams, Logansport,<br />
Congress,<br />
Mayor William<br />
as part<br />
Jeanmard,<br />
of<br />
Ville<br />
its<br />
Platte,<br />
aid<br />
package for the victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma,<br />
Mayor Michael Chauffe, Grosse Tete, were given service award pins marking six terms, or 24<br />
passed years, of a elected short-term service. Not present resolution were Councilman to extend David Adams, the Golden NFIP Meadow, until<br />
Councilman John Hoagland, Many, Councilman I. D. Bostian, Many, Mayor Kenneth Freeman,<br />
December Many, and Councilman 8. We Patrick continue Loftus, Stonewall. to monitor the progress of<br />
NFIP reauthorization and are working closely with our<br />
peers in the southern municipal leagues, the Coalition for<br />
From left, Mayor Lavelle Brown, Oak Grove, Alderman Scott Kelly, Hessmer, Alderman Wayne<br />
Bolton, Sibley, Mayor Pro Tempore Oscar S. Mellion, Plaquemine, Councilwoman Carol Alfred,<br />
Amite, Mayor Lynn Bordelon, Hessmer, Alderman Robert P. Roy, Hessmer, Councilman Rodney<br />
Rainwater, Sterlington. Honored posthumously was Alderman Brent Bencaz of Livingston, who<br />
Councilman Ronald Kevin Gantt, Rosedale, Mayor Lawrence “Football” Badeaux, Rosedale, and<br />
Sustainable Flood Insurance, and the<br />
National League of Cities, to protect<br />
municipal interests as this matter<br />
moves forward.<br />
<strong>October</strong> is a month replete with educational opportunities<br />
in all facets of municipal government. The LMA staff has<br />
From left, Councilman Arthur L. Perkins, Denham Springs, and Mayor Carroll P. Bourgeois, Addis,<br />
been busy working with affiliate organizations to organize<br />
received diamond service pins marking eight terms, or 32 years, of elected municipal service. Not present<br />
their were retired annual Councilwoman meetings Clara Bass, and Newellton, conferences. and Councilman Clovis The J. Dardeau, Louisiana<br />
Ville Platte.<br />
City Attorneys Association will hold its annual Continuing<br />
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<strong>LMR</strong> | <strong>October</strong> 2017 Page 3