LMR_September proof8

Louisiana Municipal Review 

PUBLISHED BY THE LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION 

VOL 83, NO. 9 

SEPTEMBER 2018 

LMA & LRPA 

LMA’s 81st 

Annual Convention 

Lake Charles, 

Louisiana 

We take recreation seriously. 

Louisiana Recreation and Park 

Association is LMA's newest 

managed affiliate! 

Page 22 

Mayor Hunter’s 

Welcome 

Page 18

The Louisiana Municipal Review, the official publication of the Louisiana Municipal Association, serves as a medium for the exchange 

of ideas and information for municipal officials in Louisiana. With a circulation of over 3,200, this publication is read by employees of 

Louisiana municipal governments, sheriffs, parish presidents, state government officials, and members of the state legislature and 

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Statements or expressions of opinions appearing herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Louisiana Municipal 

Association. Publication of any advertisement shall not be considered an endorsement of the product or service involved. No 

material from this publication may be reprinted without the express permission of the editor. 

Editorial offices: Louisiana Municipal Association, 700 North 10th Street, Suite 400, Post Office Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821- 

4327, editor@lma.org, www.lma.org, (225) 344-5001, (800) 234-8274, FAX (225) 344-3057. 

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW 

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Louisiana. 

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LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW 

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2018-19 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory) 

President – Harry Lewis – Mayor, Rayville 

First Vice President – Jimmy Williams – Mayor, Sibley 

LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales 

LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro 

Second Vice President– Michael Chauffe – Mayor, Grosse Tete LMA Past President – Carroll Breaux, Mayor, Springhill 

Immediate Past President – Lawrence Henagan, Mayor, DeQuincy LMA Past President – Vern Breland, Mayor, Sterlington 

District A Vice President – Peggy Adkins, Mayor, Sarepta 

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

District B Vice President – Roy Lewis, Mayor, Homer 

LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle 

District C Vice President – Lucy Holtzclaw, Mayor Pro Tem, Sterlington LMA Past President – Clarence Fields, Mayor, Pineville 

District D Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville 

LMA Past President – Norman Heine, Councilman, Baker 

District E Vice President – Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville Vice President at Large – Derrick Johnson, Mayor, Cheneyville 

District F Vice President – Purvis Morrison, Mayor, Scott 

Vice President at Large – Jennifer Vidrine, Mayor, Ville Platte 

District G Vice President – Kenneth Stinson, Mayor, Vinton 

Vice President (< 1K) – Johnnie L. Natt, Mayor, Mangham 

District H Vice President – David Toups, Mayor, Addis 

Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – William D'Aquilla, Mayor, St. Francisville 

District I Vice President – Donald Villere, Mayor, Mandeville Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – Robert Hardey, Mayor, Westlake 

District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson 

Page 2 

LMR | September 2018

Inside the LMA 

Director’s Viewpoint 

WE’RE SERIOUS ABOUT OUR AFFILIATES 

BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

September in the State of Louisiana means that 

football is upon us, fall is around the corner, and cooler 

temperatures draw us outdoors. September is also 

the perfect time to officially welcome the Louisiana 

Recreation and Park Association (LRPA) as our newest 

affiliate to come under the management of the Louisiana 

Municipal Association. Ironically, LRPA is one of our 

oldest affiliate organizations as they are celebrating their 

75th anniversary in 2018. We really enjoyed working with 

the LRPA officers in planning and executing the cover 

photo of this month’s Louisiana Municipal Review. We 

all work hard on your behalf at the LMA office, but in our 

personal time, many of us like to keep active, which is 

important for both mental and physical health. I urge you 

to promote the recreational facilities in your areas and if 

your parks and recreation staff are not LRPA members, 

to please consider joining so you can take advantage of 

what a LRPA membership has to offer. Check out www. 

lrpa.net and take advantage of all that LRPA has to offer. 

I want to take this opportunity to recognize all of our 

affiliate organizations. Some of you may not realize the 

tremendous partnership the LMA has with many local 

government associations and the integral part they play in 

the success of our association. We work closely with these 

groups on regulatory and legislative matters, as well as on 

any issues for which they seek our advice. Twelve affiliate 

organizations are represented on the LMA Executive 

Board. We greatly value their participation and input on 

many decisions made to determine the direction of the 

LMA. In addition to the LRPA, the other affiliates include: 

•Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association (LMCA) 

•Louisiana City Attorneys Association (LCAA) 

•Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators (LATA) 

•Building Officials Association of Louisiana (BOAL) 

•Louisiana Fire Chiefs Association (LFCA) 

•Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police (LACP) 

•Louisiana Airport Managers Association (LAMA) 

•Louisiana Municipal Black Caucus Association (LMBCA) 

•Louisiana Conference of Mayors (LCM) 

•Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and 

Assistants (LAMSA) 

•Louisiana Rural Water Association (LRWA) 

LMA provides management services for the LMCA, LCAA, 

BOAL, and now LRPA. These services include accounting 

and administrative services, coordinating conferences 

and training, and maintaining membership lists and dues. 

The LCAA will be hosting its annual CLE in Baton Rouge 

on September 21-22, 2018 and the 

LMCA will be holding its annual 

fall institute October 21-26 also in 

Baton Rouge. Information on these 

conferences can be found in this 

issue as well as at www.LMA.org. We will be assisting in 

the LRPA Annual Conference in January and BOAL will 

be holding its annual conference in March. Stay tuned for 

more information. 

I also want to recognize our subsidiaries, Risk 

Management Incorporated (RMI) and the Louisiana 

Municipal Advisory and Technical Services Bureau 

(LaMATS). These wholly-owned subsidiaries of the LMA 

provide important services to our membership. RMI 

manages the LMRMA risk pool and provides liability 

coverage, workers compensation and unemployment 

compensation coverage to LMA members. LaMATS is 

currently celebrating its 20th anniversary and provides 

many services, including Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) and 

Occupational License Tax (OLT) collection, procurement 

services, debt collection, technical assistance on millage 

management, and consulting services on capital outlay 

funding. Please check our website at www.LMA.org to 

learn more about our subsidiaries. 

We are excited to host a meeting of municipal human 

resource professionals from around the state at the 

LMA office in Baton Rouge on October 1. This came 

at the request of several municipal HR professionals 

asking for assistance in putting together an event to 

network and exchange ideas and to learn about the 

recent developments in state and federal laws relating to 

employment. Details can be found in this issue and in our 

weekly e-newsletter. 

Lastly, the LMA was approached by the National League 

of Cities (NLC) as only one of several states to which 

the NLC will provide its resources, both monetary and 

manpower, to highlight the infrastructure needs of 

municipal and local governments throughout the state. 

The idea is to bring the national infrastructure issues 

to the local point of view while emphasizing the need 

of federal funding nationwide to address infrastructure 

issues. This program will run during September and 

October and will tentatively culminate in a municipal 

infrastructure summit in Alexandria on October 30 to 

allow our members to voice their infrastructure needs and 

to hear from our state and federal officials on this issue. 

Things will be moving fast on this, so please stay tuned. 

LMR | September 2018 Page 3

President’s Message 

17 YEARS LATER: WE STILL REMEMBER 

BY MAYOR HARRY LEWIS, TOWN OF RAYVILLE 

I remember exactly where I was 

on September 11, 2001. It was the 

beginning of another busy morning 

at Rayville High School, where I 

served as principal. At about 8:35 a.m., the telephone 

began ringing off the hook. Each call alerted us about 

the attack on New York. I turned on the office TV and 

saw scenes that appeared to be in a disaster movie, 

except this unbelievable, shocking scene was happening 

in real time. 

I asked our teachers to turn their room TV’s on to allow 

students to witness this sad, but historic event. The 

Rayville Police Department actually sent an officer to get 

a student out of class because his father, an Army officer 

stationed in New York, was likely at the site. However, his 

father was delayed that day because of an appointment. 

We learned that extreme Islamic terrorists had hijacked 

four airplanes. The first airplane plowed into the north 

tower of the World Trade Center, the second into the 

south tower of the World Trade Center, and the third 

plane attacked the Pentagon. The fourth plane’s attack 

was foiled by the courageous passengers of United Flight 

93. This plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania, killing 

Legal Briefs 

PARTY, INTERRUPTED 

BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL 

Law enforcement officers are charged with 

enforcing the laws within their jurisdictions and with 

safeguarding the public. Officers are often forced to 

enter potentially dangerous situations knowing little 

or nothing about the scenario, and in carrying out 

their duties, officers can sometimes cause damages 

to criminal suspects or other persons. It is upon the 

backdrop of this canvas that the defense of qualified 

immunity for law enforcement officers has arisen. 

Neatly stated, qualified immunity for police officers 

means that the allegation of civil liability against the 

officer must be dismissed because the complained of 

act did not violate a clearly established constitutional 

or federal statutory right of which a reasonable person 

would have known. In the same way that a lock will 

only give way when all of the tumblers fall into place, 

all aboard. No one is sure of the plane’s target. 

This deadly attack killed nearly 3,000 people. This 

number included firemen, paramedics, police officers and 

Port Authority police officers. Additionally, many who 

survived this dreadful attack are experiencing various 

health issues as a result of toxic fumes. 

This attack affected every state in the United States, but 

the shock and grief of these vicious attacks were shared 

by countries throughout the world. Seventeen years 

later, we still remember 9/11. We remember lives lost and 

the families who suffered these loses. Cities, towns and 

villages throughout Louisiana and the nation will observe 

this day. American flags will proudly wave on homes and 

businesses, and at half-mast on US government buildings 

and establishments. Schools and businesses will observe 

9/11 with a moment of silence. Churches will open for 

special prayer services. 

Let this be a day of remembrance and service. Take the 

time to thank and pray for our first responders who put 

their lives on the line everyday so that we may live in safe 

communities. 

We remember! God bless this great organization! God 

bless Louisiana! God bless the United States of America! 

the defense must prove all of the 

essential elements of this immunity 

in order for a lawsuit against 

an officer to be dismissed. The 

overarching theme of the immunity, though, is that 

the officers must have acted reasonably based on the 

information known to them at the time. 

The US Supreme Court recently examined the 

immunity in the context of a particularly bawdy case 

arising from the District of Columbia (D.C. v. Wesby, 138 

S.Ct. 577, 1/22/18). Therein, police officers responded 

to a complaint about loud music and illegal activities 

in a vacant house. Upon arrival, the officers smelled 

marijuana, and observed beer bottles and liquor on the 

filthy floor, a make-shift strip club set up in the living 

SEE LEGAL BRIEFS, PAGE 6 

Page 4 



Governor’s Column 

THE VALUE OF PARTNERSHIP 

BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA 

I want to begin by thanking the entire Louisiana Municipal 

Association for inviting me to speak at your 81st Annual 

Convention in Lake Charles last month. It was a pleasure 

seeing so many mayors, council members, police jurors 

and other local leaders from around the state and hearing 

your ideas and perspectives on how to continue growing 

and improving our state. As usual, LMA Executive 

Director John Gallagher and LMA President Lawrence 

Henagan made me feel welcome from the start. I greatly 

appreciate their strong leadership and dedication to 

Louisiana’s incredible cities, towns and villages. 

Congratulations to Rayville Mayor Harry Lewis on 

becoming LMA’s new president and to Sibley Mayor 

Jimmy Williams for being elected first vice president 

and Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Chauffe for being 

elected second vice president. Their combined years 

of experience as proven leaders will be a tremendous 

asset to the Association, and I offer them and all of the 

members my continued support. 

As recovery from the disastrous floods of 2016 continues, 

there is some good news to share with you. Both the 

Restore Task Force and the U.S. Department of Housing 

and Urban Development (HUD) quickly approved 

my request in July to increase the reimbursement 

grant award for the Restore Homeowner Assistance 

Program from 50 percent to 100 percent for all eligible 

homeowners who were impacted by the floods. The 

first wave of updated reimbursement checks were 

mailed immediately and the program has distributed 

more than $60 million in additional funds to nearly 

5,000 homeowners. Ultimately, more than 10,000 

eligible homeowners will receive about $110 million in 

reimbursement funds. 

October 1, 2018 is the deadline for homeowners who have 

already been invited to fill out an application with Restore 

but have not completed it. This deadline only applies to 

just under 4,000 homeowners. On another related issue, 

one of our top priorities has been correcting the federal 

duplication of benefits language that has prevented 

thousands of homeowners from receiving the full amount 

of their disaster recovery award from Restore. This is by 

far the number one complaint we have received and one 

we believe can only be fixed by the federal government. 

Both my administration and our congressional delegation 

have been working tirelessly to resolve this matter. 

Unfortunately, flooding is becoming all too common, 

and the March and August floods in 

2016 have forced us to rethink our 

approach to floodplain management. 

The status quo is no longer an 

option. Recently, we launched the Louisiana Watershed 

Initiative. It’s a continuation of the planning, coordination 

and collaboration across various federal, state, and local 

agencies in direct response to the historic 2016 floods. I 

created the Council on Watershed Management through 

executive order earlier this year. It is the interagency 

structure at the state level through which all Watershed 

Initiative efforts will be coordinated and managed. 

The Council is comprised of the Office of Community 

Development (OCD), the Department of Transportation 

and Development (DOTD), the Coastal Protection and 

Restoration Authority (CPRA), the Governor’s Office 

of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness 

(GOHSEP), and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and 

Fisheries (LDWF). In the coming months, they will begin 

introducing a number of efforts focused on statewide 

flood risk reduction. 

Even as we recover from one natural disaster, we are 

always preparing for the possibility of another. As 

we enter the peak months of hurricane season, it is 

important to have a plan in place to protect our families, 

homes and businesses. If you or your constituents are 

in need of a plan, the Governor’s Office of Homeland 

Security and Emergency Preparedness can help. Visit 

www.GetAGamePlan.org for more information. 

In closing, Donna and I wish you and your families a very 

relaxing and enjoyable Labor Day. With all the hard work 

that the men and women of Louisiana’s three hundred 

and five municipalities put in each and every day, it is 

important that we recognize the benefits we all enjoy 

because of their efforts. Be proud of all you do for our 

great state, we certainly are. God bless you all. 

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4: LEGAL BRIEFS 

room, a used prophylactic, and a naked woman and 

several men in an upstairs bedroom. 

When the police arrived, some partygoers ran away, 

and some hid; some said that it was a bachelor party 

but couldn’t identify who it was for; and some said that 

they were there at the invitation of “Peaches,” though 

she was not there. The officers eventually tracked 

down Peaches, who admitted that she did not lease the 

premises, a fact confirmed by the property owner. The 

officers arrested 21 partygoers for illegal entry, charges 

that were eventually dropped. 

Sixteen of the arrestees sued for wrongful arrest, 

and both the trial court and the court of appeal 

found in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding $680,000 

in damages and $1 million in attorney fees. SCOTUS 

reversed the lower courts and dismissed all claims 

against the officers, noting, “Considering the totality 

Hometown Happenings 

of the circumstances, the officers made an ‘entirely 

reasonable inference’ that the partygoers were 

knowingly taking advantage of a vacant house as a 

venue for their late-night party.” Regarding qualified 

immunity, the court ruled that the plaintiff must point 

to a “clearly established law” to demonstrate that the 

officers acted improperly and held that the plaintiff 

bears the burden of showing a “robust consensus of 

cases” to support that claim. 

After years of detailed case law on every element of 

qualified immunity, SCOTUS seemed to fall back on a 

common-sense standard in this case, opining: “Most 

homeowners do not live in near-barren houses. And 

most homeowners do not invite people over to use 

their living room as a strip club, to have sex in their 

bedroom, to smoke marijuana inside, and to leave 

their floors filthy. The officers could thus infer that the 

partygoers knew their party was not authorized.” 

St. Jude Fall Festival 

Sept 7-8, Zwolle 

Oldies But Goodies Festival 

Sept 8-9, Port Allen 

www.westbatonrouge.net 

Allen Parish Fair 

Sept 12-15, Oberlin 

www.allenparish.com 

St. Martinville Kiwanis Pepper Festival 

Sept 13-15, St. Martinville 

Mamou Cajun Music Festival 

Sept 14-15, Mamou 

www.mamoucajunmusicfestival.com 

Marthaville Good Ole Days 

Sept 14-15, Marthaville 

Natchitoches Meat Pie Festival 

Sept 14-15, Natchitoches 

www.meatpiefestival.com 

St. Theresa Bon Ton Festival 

Sept 14-16, Sulphur 

Sabine Fair & Rodeo 

Sept 18-22, Many 

Gueydan Duck Festival 

Sept 20-23, Gueydan 

www.duckfestival.org 

Alligator Festival 

Sept 20-23, Luling 

www.alligatorfestival.org 

Fried Chicken Festival 

Sept 22-23, New Orleans 

www.friedchickenfestival.com 

Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival 

Sept 27-30, New Iberia 

www.hisugar.org 

Cut Off Hurricane Festival 

Sept 28-30, Cut Off 

Gretna Heritage Fest 

Sept 28-30, Gretna 

www.gretnafest.com 

Page 6 




Public Records 

Opinion: 17-0056A Addresses three 

requests for clarification submitted 

by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor 

regarding Louisiana’s Public Records 

Law. Opinion Released: 7/27/2018 

Opinion: 17-0155 All evidence described in La. R.S 44:1, et 

seq., and not exempted by law is public record. Where the 

constitutional right to access a public record conflicts with 

an interested individual’s right to privacy, records may be 

withheld from public view only where the reasonable expectation 

of privacy is great enough to outweigh the right 

to direct participation. Opinion Released: 8/13/2018 

Dual Officeholding 

Opinion: 18-0060 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding 

and Dual Employment Law prohibit a full-time university 

police officer for Louisiana State University at Alexandria 

from serving as the full time Chief of Police of the Town of 

Lecompte. The provisions of the Dual Officeholding and 

Dual Employment Law do not prohibit a full-time university 

police officer for Louisiana State University at Alexandria 

from serving as the part time Chief of Police of the Town of 

Lecompte. Opinion Released: 7/25/2018 

Opinion: 18-0092 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding 

and Dual Employment Law do not prohibit the Deputy Director 

of the Haynesville Housing Authority from serving as 

the Mayor of the Town of Haynesville, pursuant to the exemption 

of La. R.S. 42:66(N). Opinion Released: 8/14/2018 

Mayor’s Court 

Opinion: 17-0092A A mayor pro tempore may preside over 

the mayor’s court upon the written consent of the mayor, 

as set forth in La. R.S. 33:405(A)(6). Recalls La. Atty. Gen. Op. 

No. 17-0092. Opinion Released: 7/31/2018 

Police Chiefs 

Opinion: 18-0005 Addresses the authority of the elected 

chief of police of a Lawrason Act municipality and questions 

related to the legality of certain actions taken by 

the chief of police of the Village of Georgetown. Opinion 

Released: 8/15/2018 

Prohibited Donations 

Attorney General’s Opinions 

BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL 

Opinion: 17-0085 The City of Bogalusa may not forgive, 

reduce, or set aside any part of a customer’s utility bill for 

leaks on the customer’s side of the water meter. La. Const. 

art. VII, § 14(A). Opinion Released: 8/17/2018 

Opinion: 18-0045 The Ebarb Waterworks District No. 1 may 

transfer ownership of a water line which it no longer utilizes 

to the South Toledo Bend Water District so long as Ebarb 

has a demonstrable, objective, and reasonable expectation 

of receiving equivalent value in exchange for the transfer. 

Opinion Released: 8/13/2018 

Calendar of Events 

SEPTEMBER 

6 Emergency Disaster Recovery (Region 9), 

Tangipahoa OHSEP, 114 N. Laurel, Amite, LA 

from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 


Calcasieu OHSEP, 901 Lake Shore Dr., Lake 

Charles, LA from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

12 LMA Executive Committee Meeting starts 

at 10:00 a.m. in the first-floor rooms of the 

LMA office building, 700 N. 10th St., Baton 

Rouge, LA 70802 

12-14 LAMSA 29th Annual Fall Conference, 

Embassy Suites, Baton Rouge 


Lamar Dixon Expo Center, 9039 S. St. Landry 

Ave., Gonzales, LA from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 

p.m. 

21-22 LCAA Fall Conference & CLE, Embassy 

Suites, Baton Rouge 

OCTOBER 

1 LMA Human Resource Seminar, LMA 

Building, 700 N. 10th St., Baton Rouge, LA 

from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

2-4 BOAL ICC Training, Eastbank Council 

Chambers, Joseph S. Yenni Building, 1221 

Elmwood Park Blvd, 2ndFloor, Jefferson, LA 

70123 

Safety Consulting and Programs 

16260 Airline Highway, Suite B 

Prairieville, LA 70769 

chris@riskwise.biz 

Chris Conti 

Board Certified Safety Professional 

Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter 

www.riskwise.biz 

O 225.313.4448 

C 225.413.7542 

F 225.313.4518 

Page 8 


Municipalities 

New Iberia Police Force Rolls with LaMATS Support 

After years of contracting for law 

enforcement services through the 

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office, New 

Iberians saw the swearing in on June 

19, 2018, of the city’s first police force 

since 2004. 

More than seventy new officers, forty 

patrol cars, and twenty unmarked 

units rolled out across Acadiana’s 

second largest city on July 1, 

meeting an ambitious self-imposed Mayor Freddie DeCourt 

deadline and marking the success 

of herculean efforts by New Iberia employees, elected 

officials and supportive residents. 

“This is the beginning of rebounding our city,” said New 

Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt in remarks during the June 

ceremony reported by KATC.COM News. “This is the 

catalyst to put us back on the map.” 

Helping ready the new patrol vehicles for action, LaMATS 

Purchasing Services (LPS) contracted with Lafayette 

based company Emerg-Equip to supply dozens of 

essential safety items such as lights, sirens, alarms and 

steel window guards. Additionally, LPS posted a regional 

request for quotes on police gear, confirming that local 

suppliers could provide competitive prices on most 

everything the new department would need. 

“We’re proud to play a part in 

this historic event for the people 

of New Iberia,” said LaMATS 

Executive Director, Cliff Palmer. 

“We congratulate Mayor DeCourt 

and his staff, and especially 

the brave men and women of 

the NIPD for their outstanding 

accomplishment.” 

The move to re-instate the city’s police department was 

long championed by Mayor DeCourt. The former twoterm 

Mayor Pro Tem had expressed concerns for public 

safety as early at 2006, after some forms of violent crime 

rose sharply in the city. As reported by The Daily Iberian 

in August of 2006, DeCourt emphasized the need for 

improvements in local policing: “We’ve got to be assured 

that our citizens are getting the best protection they can.” 

After his election in 2016, Mayor DeCourt 

acted quickly to propose a city-wide 

half-cent sales tax to fund a new police 

force with a start-up budget of $9 

million. Voters approved the measure 

in October of 2017, and a month later, 

the city council unanimously approved 

the hire of former Jennings Police 

Chief Todd D’Albor to lead the new 

department. 

“There were many challenges in building a Police 

Department from nothing in eight months’ time,” said 

Mayor DeCourt. “We all know government cannot move 

at the pace of private business. LaMATS was a valuable 

partner in allowing us to meet our goals on a tight 

timeline.” 

In acknowledgement of the assistance his city has 

received from communities in the region, including a gift 

of five patrol cars approved by the Lafayette City-Parish 

Council in June, as well as four patrol units from the City of 

Youngsville, Mayor DeCourt has now allowed New Iberia to 

serve as sponsor of a cooperative purchasing agreement 

permitting other Louisiana local governments to receive 

the same low pricing on emergency equipment secured 

through LPS. As New Iberia 

City Clerk Maxine Gonsoulin 

relayed in a recent message, 

“Other communities were 

there for us in our time of 

need, and we would like to 

do the same.” 

For more information about joining in New Iberia’s 

cooperative purchasing agreement for competitively 

priced police vehicle equipment, contact LaMATS at (225) 

344-5001 or visit: lamats.net/LPS. 


The City of Baker & Southern University form Partnership 

to Create the Capacity for Facilitating Regional Events 

By Mayor Darnell Waites, Baker 

The City of Baker and 

the Southern University 

Agricultural Land Grant 

Campus came together to 

form a partnership to help 

Baker facilitate this year’s 

annual Baker Buffalo 

Festival. This agreement 

was monumental because 

it opened the doors for 

Baker and Southern 

University to benefit from 

each other since they are so close in proximity. Southern 

University had acquired the Maurice A. Edmond 

Livestock Arena along with 15 acres of land. 

This arena and its acreage has made it an excellent 

place to host rodeos and a plethora of major indoor and 

outdoor events. This arena 

will hold 1800 people. Baker 

and Southern University will 

be working together in the 

future because the City of 

Baker will continue to host 

more regionalized events 

requiring more space. 

Baker looks forward to 

this partnership because it 

connects Baker, Southern 

University and North Baton 

Rouge together in creating a destination place or hub for 

events in this region of the parish. The City of Baker and 

Southern University is putting on a Rodeo on September 

8th at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena along 

with a Trail Ride and a Zydeco Dance that night. 

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LaMATS 

CALL (225) 344-5001 

WWW.LAMATS.NET/SERVICES 

Page 10 


LAMATS Board Names New 2018-2019 

Officers and Members 

At the July 30 meeting of the LaMATS Board of 

Directors, the 2018-2019 slate of officers was named, and 

two new members were added. 

LaMATS new officers are: Mayor Clarence Fields of 

Pineville (President); Mayor Jennifer Vidrine of Ville 

Platte (Vice President); and Mayor Kathy Richard of 

Arnaudville (Secretary/Treasurer). LaMATS welcomes 

incoming members Councilman Nathan Martin of 

Pineville and Mayor David Butler of Woodworth. 

The full slate of the 2018-2019 LaMATS Board: 

Mayor Glenn Brasseaux (Carencro) 

Mayor Carroll Breaux (Springhill) 

Mayor Vern Breland (Sterlington) 

Mayor David Butler (Woodworth) 

Mayor David Camardelle (Grand Isle) 

Mayor Billy D’Aquilla (St. Francisville) 

Mayor Clarence Fields (Pineville) 

Mayor Harry Lewis (Rayville and LMA President) 

LaMATS 2017-18 Directors: 

LaMATS 2017-18 Officers: 

Mayor Clarence Fields 

President 

(Pineville) 

Mayor 

Jennifer Vidrine 

Vice President 

(Ville Platte) 

Councilman Nathan Martin (Pineville) 

Councilman Vernon “Step” Martin (Crowley) 

Mrs. Gay Nell Pepper, CMC (Farmerville) 

Mayor Kathy Richard (Arnaudville) 

Mayor Jennifer Vidrine (Ville Platte) 

John Gallagher, LMA Executive Director 

A Word from 

Our Affiliates 

Mayor Kathy Richard 

Secretary/Treasurer 

(Arnaudville) 

Mayor Carroll Breaux 

Immediate Past 

President 

(Springhill) 

Mayor 

Glenn Brasseaux 

(Carencro) 

Mayor Vern Breland 

(Sterlington) 

Mayor David Butler 

(Woodworth) 

Mayor 

David Camardelle 

(Grand Isle) 

Mayor Billy D’Aquilla 

(St. Francisville) 

LMA President 

Mayor Harry Lewis 

(Rayville) 

Councilman 

Nathan Martin 

(Pineville) 

Councilman Vernon 

“Step” Martin 

(Crowley) 

Gay Nell Pepper, MMC 

(Clerk, Farmerville) 

John Gallagher 

LMA Executive 

Director 


Clerks Corner 

BY DOUGLAS SCHMIDT, LCMC 

MANDEVILLE CITY CLERK, LMCA PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER 

The 43rd Annual Institute will be 

October 21-26, 2018 at the Embassy 

Suites in Baton Rouge. Friday 

morning sessions have been added 

to receive more points toward 

certification. I hope we can have a 

record turnout for our classes. The 

committee has booked some new 

speakers and topics, as well as, 

some fun activities. Don’t forget 

to bring a door prize if you wish to 

participate. Likewise, Wednesday 

is Hat Day – we want to see some 

unique and fun hats again this year! 

The LMCA would like to welcome all 

new clerks and we hope to see you 

at the Institute. 

LAGNIAPPE – September is Better 

Breakfast Month and Bourbon 

Heritage Month. Just don’t get the 

two confused unless you enjoy a 

nip of Bourbon with your breakfast!! 

Take care of yourselves! 

Looking for 

Salary Data? 

Through a partnership with 

SurveyNavigator, LMA 

members can find salary data for 

more than 60 jobs commonly 

found in Louisiana local 

government. With an easy online 

interface, Louisiana’s elected and 

appointed officials can make 

hiring and advancement decisions 

with confidence in the most 

current and accurate data 

available in the market. 

Compare directly 

between munis 

Accurate and 

timely info 

Customized 

search and save 

LaMATS 

CALL (225) 344-5001 or VISIT WWW.LAMATS.NET/SERVICES 

Page 12 


A Word from 

Our Affiliates 

4 3 r d A n n u a l L o u i s i a n a M u n i c i p a l C l e r k s I n s t i t u t e 

E m b a s s y S u i t e s H o t e l – B a t o n R o u g e 

O c t o b e r 2 1 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 8 

R e g i s t r a t i o n Fo r m 

NAME: 

BADGE NAME: 

TITLE: 

MUNICIPALITY: 

EMAIL: 

This year, the association is offering an off- site tour to St. Francisville on Tuesday, October 23, 8 a.m. 

to 3 p.m. The trip will include visiting the Myrtles Plantation & Angola Prison. Lunch is sponsored by St. 

Francisville and clerks will earn 7 points for attending. To reserve a seat on one of the charter buses, 

circle the “Yes” response below. If you fail to select yes, a seat will not be reserved for you. 

Yes, reserve me a seat! 

No, I will not be attending. 

1 st Year attending 2 nd Year attending 3 rd Year attending Master Academy 

R EGISTR ATION FEES: 

$ 300 BASIC INSTITUTE (FULL WEEK – 40 points max) 

Recommended for those seeking certifications 

$215 MASTER ACADEMY (WED. - FRI. – 18.5 points max) 

$120 DAILY RATE 

$30 PER ADDITIONAL BANQUET TICKET 

T OTAL A NTIC IPA TED INSTITUTE POINTS: 40 

Clerks must earn 100 points through the Institute to apply 

for the Louisiana Certified Municipal Clerk/Deputy Clerk 

certification. 

A C C O M M O D A T I O N S : A block of rooms has been reserved at the 

Embassy Suites Hotel at a rate of $125 single/double. Please call 

(225) 924- 6566 to make your reservation. Mention group 

name: Louisiana Municipal Clerks Institute for the discounted 

rate. The reservation cut- off date is September 30. 

H A V E A Q U E S T I O N ? 

Contact: Kelly Drone LMA Membership Services 

Coordinator (225) 344- 5001 Phone (225) 490- 8907 Fax, 

or kelly@lma.org. Please make a ll checks payable to LMCA 

and send to P.O. Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70802. 

REMINDERS: 

Daily R affles 

To participate, bring a door prize 

and receive a raffle ticket. 

Pizza & Game Night 

On Monday, October 22, bring 

a gift not to exceed $10 and 

enjoy complimentary pizza 

Silent A uction 

Get ready to bid! The LMCA silent auction 

funds our scholarship recipients for the 

following year 

W ant to collect municipal pins? 

Bring your municipality’s lapel pins to 

exchange with other clerks. 

Casual d ress all w eek and… 

Wednesday: Crazy Hat Day! 

Thursday: LMCA Polo Shirt/black shirt 

Frid ay Classes 

The Louisiana Municipal Association will 

host Friday classes at the LMA building, 700 

North 10 th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802. 


2018 LCAA Fall Conference & CLE 

PLEASE RESERVE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, September 21 and 

22, 2018, for the 2018 LCAA Fall Conference & CLE, which will take 

place at Embassy Suites by Hilton Baton Rouge, located at 4914 

Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808. Classes will 

begin Friday, September 21 at 1:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 

22 at 8:30 a.m., providing 8 hours of available CLE credit. Prior to 

kick off, a light lunch will be served from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. on 

Friday. 

Please make your room reservation by calling Embassy Suites by 

Hilton Baton Rouge directly at (225) 924-6566. 

Registration for the CLE may be completed either by using the 

Conference Agenda 

Friday, September 21, 2018 

· 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Public Bid Law 

Erin Day, Louisiana Attorney General Office 

· 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

La. Constitution Art. 7 Sec 14 and Cooperative Endeavors 

Craig Cassagne, Louisiana Attorney General Office 

· 3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - BREAK 

· 3:15 p.m.- 4:15 p.m. 

Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics 

Brett Robinson, Louisiana Department of Ethic 

· 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. 

Wayfair v. South Dakota Decision 

Jason Brown, Kean Miller LLP 

Saturday, September 22, 2018 

· 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. 

Legal Ethics 

Michael O’Brien, Kean Miller LLP 

· 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

Civil Procedure Updates 

Alex Rossi and Zia Oately, Kean Miller LLP 

· 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - BREAK 

· 

· 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 

2018 Legislative Updates 

Karen White, Louisiana Municipal Association 

· 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. 

Professionalism 

Alan Berteau, Kean Miller LLP 

These sessions will be highly informative and entertaining, so 

we look forward to seeing you there. If you have any questions, 

please contact Penny Ambeau-Scott by email at pambeau@lma. 

org or by telephone at (800) 234-8274. 

enclosed registration form, 

or with a credit card through 

the Louisiana Municipal 

Association’s website at www. 

lma.org.lease contact registration@lma.org 

to obtain a user name and password to complete 

the online registration process. The cost for the conference is 

$80.00 for LCAA members, $90.00 for non-member local government 

representatives, and $100.00 for all other attendees. 

LOUISIANA CITY ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION 

2018 FALL CONFERENCE & CLE 


Saturday, September 22, 2018 

Embassy Suites Baton Rouge 

4914 Constitution Avenue 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

NAME: 

______________________________________________ 

ADDRESS: ______________________________________________ 

_____________________________________________________ 

PHONE: 

______________________________________________ 

MUNICIPALITY/FIRM REPRESENTED: _____________________________ 

_____________________________________________________ 

E-MAIL ADDRESS: _________________________________________ 

(Circle one below) 

LCAA Member: $80.00 

Local Government Representative: $90.00 

All other attendees: $100.00 

Mail registration and check (payable to LCAA) to: 

2018 LCAA FALL CONFERENCE & CLE 

Attn: Penny Ambeau-Scott 

Post Office Box 4327 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821-4327 

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.LMA.ORG 

Page 14 


BOAL Annual Fall Training 

BOAL is pleased to announce our next training will be a An overview of the 

3-day event from October 2 – 4, 2018 in Jefferson Parish methods used to 

at the Eastbank Council Chambers in the Joseph S. Yenni Louisiana 

determine 

Rural 

wind 

Water 

loads 

Association 

Building at 1221 Elmwood Park Blvd, 2nd Floor, Jefferson, 

LA 70123. William Hudson will serve as the instructor. 

in ASCE/SEI 7-10 

for main-wind-force 

Tuesday - October 2, 2018 

resisting systems 

and components 

2015 ISPSC Design, Installation & Inspection Principles and cladding is 

.6CEU Thornton, Musso, &Bellemin 

included, as well as 

This all-day seminar will introduce you to the 2015 a discussion of the 

I approve this ad copy for use in the following issues: LWR-R0018 

International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC). significance of the 

The seminar is designed to address the needs of code 

officials, contractors, installers, architects and pool 

builders. The seminar includes information regarding 

changes in ASCE/SEI 

7-10 for the design of buildings. 

Date: 

energy, barriers, suction entrapment and circulation 

systems and much more. We will also discuss the 

benefits of adopting this all-encompassing code and 

what it means for enforcement agencies. 

Index Listings 

Wednesday - October 3, 2018 

WATER TREATMENT CONSULTANTS 

2015 IRC Performing Residential Mechanical 

Inspections .6CEU 

This all-day seminar will focus on the key changes from 

the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). The details 

provided will enhance your understanding of mechanical 

terminology, equipment, materials and methods of 

installation as related to residential construction. This 

seminar concentrates on the mechanical portion of 

the IRC along with the appropriate portions of the 

International Fuel Gas Code and the International Energy 

Conservation Code. It covers 

the minimum requirements 

for residential mechanical 

inspections. You will also discuss 

major portions of a residential 

plan. This seminar will provide 

information so that the residential 

mechanical inspector can 

perform inspection tasks that are 

consistent with the requirements 

in the 2015 IRC. 

Thursday - October 4, 2018 

(Morning seminar) 

2015 IBC Structural Loads-Wind 

.3CEU 

The morning seminar reviews 

the details of developing wind 

loads using the 2015 International 

Building Code (IBC) and the wind 

load procedures in ASCE/SEI 

7-10, Minimum Design Loads for 

Buildings and Other Structures. 

Membership Directory 

2018 Roster Edition 

Official Publication of the 

Authorized Signature: 

Thursday - October 4, 2018 (Afternoon seminar) 

Artwork Contact: 

2015 IBC Wood-Framed Shear Walls .3CEU 

A Word from 

Our Pub Code Affiliates 

The afternoon seminar discusses the purpose of shear 

walls and reviews their design and use in light-frame 

wood construction using the 2015 International Building 

Code (IBC), 2015 Special Design Provisions for Wind 

and Seismic (2015 SDPWS) and 2015 National Design 

Standard (NDS). Topics include shear wall design, 

diaphragms, chords, collectors and anchorage, and 

determining when prescriptive braced wall panels vs. 

engineered shear walls are used. 

BOAL is committed to continuing to be the premier 

training organization in Louisiana for Code Officials. 

All certificates offered at this training will qualify 

as Preferred Provider CEUs and we thank you for 

continuing to be a part of our great organization. 

Custom Water 

Treatment Programs 

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Sludge Dewatering Polymers Dechlorination Technical Support/Service Testing 

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8/21/14 8:33 PM 


Myra Streeter, MMC, CMA, CAA 

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. Welcome 

Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome 

City of Baton Rouge 

Conference 

Agenda 

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Ethics Training 

Brett Robinson, LA Board of Ethics 

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break 

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Retirement For All Ages 

Nancy Boudreaux 

La. Office of Financial Institutions 

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon LAMSA Board Meeting 

11:15 a.m. – 12 Noon Safety in the Workplace 

Lunch on your own 

Chris Conti, Riskwise 

12 

12:15 

Noon 

p.m. 

– 1:30 p.m. Lunch, 

Meet 

CMA 

in Lobby 

and 

for Capitol tour 

Recertification 

We will leave promptly 

awards 

at 12:30 p.m. 

All 

and 

Things 

return 

LaMATS, 

at 4:30 p.m. 

Cliff 

The 

Palmer 

first 55 

to register will be able to ride the bus. 

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Communication Everyone else will and follow by car. 

Customer Service 

Dinner on your own Debra Gould, Executive Coach 

Debra Gould and Associates 

Thursday, September 13, 2018 

2:30. – 2:45 p.m. Break 

7:00 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast/Registration 

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Office of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy 

Drew Maranto, Deputy Chief of Staff 

8:30 – 8:45 a.m. President's Welcome & 

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Public 

Announcements 

Speaking: How to 

Conquer 

Myra Streeter, 

Your 

MMC, 

Fear 

CMA, CAA 

Marlaine Peachey, 

8:45 – 9:00 a.m. 

LAMSA 

Welcome 

Conference Coordinator 

Mayor Sharon Weston-Broome 

Dinner on your own City of Baton Rouge 

9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Ethics Training 

Brett Robinson, LA Board of Ethics 

LAMSA Conference Agenda 


7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast 

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Mayor's Panel 

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Developing Dynamic 

Leadership Skills 

Merlyna Valentine, B.S., Masters, 

Educational Leadership 

11:15 a.m. – Noon Wrap Up, Gift Exchange 

Evaluations, Scholarship 

Drawing Attendance 

Certificates. 

12:00 Noon Dismiss 

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Retirement For All Ages 

Nancy Boudreaux 

La. Office of Financial Institutions 

11:15 a.m. – 12 Noon Safety in the Workplace 

Chris Conti, Riskwise 

12 Noon – 1:30 p.m. Lunch, CMA and 

Recertification awards 

All Things LaMATS, Cliff Palmer 

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Communication and 

Customer Service 

Debra Gould, Executive Coach 

Debra Gould and Associates 

2:30. – 2:45 p.m. Break 

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Office of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy 

Drew Maranto, Deputy Chief of Staff 

3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Public Speaking: How to 

Conquer Your Fear 

Marlaine Peachey, 

LAMSA Conference Coordinator 

Dinner on your own 


7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Breakfast 

8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Mayor's Panel 

10:00 – 10:15 a.m. Break 

10:15 – 11:15 a.m. Developing Dynamic 

Leadership Skills 

Merlyna Valentine, B.S., Masters, 

Educational Leadership 

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least 

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Call or click www.LAOneCall.com 

Page 16 


Partner Insight 

Rural Development 

MODERN INFRASTRUCTURE IS A FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC 

GROWTH AND PROSPERITY 

BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATE DIRECTOR DR. CARRIE CASTILLE 

In Louisiana, approximately 58% of water systems are 

over 50 years old and need to be replaced. In serious 

cases, deteriorating systems can result in public health 

issues. Modern, reliable water infrastructure is vital 

not only to public health, but also essential to the 

economic vitality of small rural communities. 

During the LMA Annual Convention, USDA Rural 

Development (RD) along with members of the LA 

Rural Water Infrastructure Committee (LRWIC) 

participated in a rural water roundtable discussion. 

Municipal leaders were afforded the opportunity to ask 

questions to address aging water systems and funding 

opportunities that many small struggling communities 

are facing today. We are working to bring resources 

together in a coordinated and collaborative effort to 

address ongoing issues with declining public water 

systems in rural communities. 

Through RD’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and 

Grant program, funding is available to assist small 

rural communities with replacement or construction 

of water and sewage systems to obtain clean and 

reliable drinking water in rural communities. Funds 

may be used for legal and engineering fees, land 

acquisition, capitalized interest, equipment, and startup 

operations and maintenance. A rural community 

with fewer than 10,000 people is eligible to apply for 

funding. Applicants can be public bodies, non-profit 

corporations and federally recognized Indian tribes. 

RD water programs are making a difference here in 

Louisiana. For example, the Poland Water Association, 

Inc. is receiving a $1 million loan and a $161,000 grant 

to construct two water wells. The booster station will 

be restored to service with a new chlorination facility 

and a pad-mounted natural gas generator to provide 

emergency power. 

The Alberta Water System, Inc. will use a $164,000 loan 

and a $1.5 million grant to construct an additional well. 

Water meters will be replaced with radio-read meters 

to reduce water loss and carbon treatment systems will 

be added to booster stations to mitigate disinfection 

byproducts. Additional funding includes a $30,000 RD 

Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities 

and Households grant and a $2,000 contribution from 

the water system. 

The Town of Delcambre will use a $291,000 loan and 

a $183,000 grant to upgrade water 

distribution lines and install meters 

that service residents in Vermilion 

Parish. In FY 2015, the project 

received a $1,722,000 USDA loan 

and a $1,179,220 USDA grant. 

Dr. Carrie Castille 

The Lena Water System, Inc. will receive a $3 million 

loan to adjust the discharge pressure for the booster 

stations, construct two water wells and a ground 

storage tank with booster pumps and install radio-read 

meters. 

Eligible rural communities and water districts can 

apply online for funding to maintain, modernize or 

build water and wastewater systems. They can visit 

the interactive RD Apply tool, or contact the RD 

Community Programs Department by emailing jared. 

hicks@la.usda.gov or (318) 473-7940. 

We appreciate the opportunity to work with our 

municipalities to help support economic development 

and prosperity. If you have any questions, please 

contact me, carrie.castille@la.usda.gov or (318) 

473.7921, to let us know how we can help. 


Treasury Notes 

LMA CONVENTION PROVIDED GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS LOCAL 

FINANCING AND COLLECT UNCLAIMED MONEY 

BY STATE TREASURER JOHN M. SCHRODER 

Thank you again for the warm 

welcome at this year’s LMA 

annual convention. I thoroughly 

enjoyed the prayer breakfast, 

and appreciated the opportunity to take part in the 

panel on capital outlay financing and the feedback 

and participation from local officials who attended. I 

look forward to continuing our conversations on new 

ways to help local governments finance much-needed 

infrastructure projects. 

to all unclaimed property items totaling $50 and up. 

What happens if you are still at your address and 

never got the notice or the money? If the address was 

correct, the holder may simply have failed to notify 

you. Or, there’s always the chance you thought the 

letter was junk mail and ignored it or accidentally 

threw it away. 

The Treasury receives well over 100,000 new unclaimed 

Treasury staff attending this year’s 

convention also had a great time 

interacting with attendees and 

helping them search for their 

unclaimed property. Treasury staff 

was available at the convention 

to search names, and as a result, 

found roughly $4,000 in unclaimed 

property for those of you who were 

able to stop by. If you missed us, 

you can still search online at www. 

latreasury.com. 

One of the most frequent questions 

we received during the convention 

was, “Where did this unclaimed 

property come from?” followed by 

“How did it get turned over to the 

state?” These are great questions, 

and there are a lot of different ways 

money can go unclaimed after a 

period of time. 

Most unclaimed property occurs 

because of a wrong address. People 

move and change jobs. As a result, 

everything from a utility deposit to a final paycheck 

can get lost or forgotten about in the excitement of a 

new transition. 

Louisiana law requires businesses (we call them 

holders) to attempt to contact you before sending the 

money to the State Treasury (L.R.S. 9:159.E). The law 

requires holders, such as utility companies or former 

employers, to perform due diligence and send a letter 

to the last known address of the owner between 60 

and 120 days before turning the money over to the 

Unclaimed Property Division. This requirement applies 

State Treasurer John M. Schroder was honored to give the benediction to close out the prayer 

breakfast at this year’s LMA annual convention. 

property items each year. For the first time this year, 

we will be able to cross-reference the new unclaimed 

property we receive with correct addresses from the 

Louisiana Department of Revenue. This means more 

money back in the hands of more Louisiana citizens! 

We always recommend visiting us online at www. 

latreasury.com to search for unclaimed money in 

Louisiana. But there are several additional resources 

available to you to search for unclaimed property. I’ve 

compiled a list here, so take a minute to check it out, 

and please feel free to share it: 

SEE TREASURY, PAGE 19 

Page 18 


Partner Insight 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18: TREASURY 

Unclaimed Property in other States: Almost all 

states run unclaimed property programs, so if you 

once lived in another state, visit our partner site www. 

missingmoney.com. 

Federal Tax Refunds: Each year thousands of federal 

income tax refunds go back to the federal government, 

usually because of a wrong address. Search for your 

unclaimed federal income tax return here: www.irs.gov/ 

refunds. 

Unclaimed Retirement Benefits: The Louisiana State 

Employee Retirement System allows you to search 

for unclaimed benefit checks or contributions for 

individuals or their beneficiaries. You can search the 

list here: www.lasersonline.org/retirees/unclaimedproperty/. 

Life Insurance Policies: The Louisiana Department of 

Insurance will help you find out if a loved one had a life 

insurance policy that has gone unclaimed. You can ask 

the department to search to locate a missing policy 

here: https://www.ldi.la.gov/consumers/insurancetype/life-annuities/life-insurance-policy-search. 

Unclaimed Insurance Funds for Veterans: The 

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs keeps a list of 

unclaimed insurance funds that are owed to current 

and former policyholders or their beneficiaries. Search 

here: https://www.insurance.va.gov/UnclaimedFunds. 

Unclaimed Savings Bonds: The U.S. Treasury 

Department allows you to submit a claim for lost, 

stolen or destroyed U.S. Savings bonds. The form 

can be found here: https://treasurydirect.gov/forms/ 

sav1048.pdf 

For more information about these or other unclaimed 

property efforts, visit us at www.latreasury.com 

and search for your money at https://louisiana. 

findyourunclaimedproperty.com/. 

RESERVE YOUR SPOT 

2018 Keep Louisiana Beautiful State Conference 

September 26-27|Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center 

This annual two-day conference is a great opportunity for environmentally-minded individuals, 

municipalities, businesses, and organizations to come together for networking, training, and sharing 

ideas. Agenda topics include: the importance of community appearance, litter reduction strategies, 

recycling initiatives, and information on waste tires, green business practices, and marine debris. 

Join us! 

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26: 9am to 3:30pm 

Everyday Heroes Awards Banquet to follow 

THURSDAY, SEPT. 27: 9am to 3pm 

REGISTER ONLINE AT KEEPLOUISIANABEAUTIFUL.ORG 


Red Cross Readiness 

Red Cross Readiness 

The most active point of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane 

season is upon us. It only takes one storm to threaten 

millions of people and the American Red Cross wants 

everyone to be safe and well prepared. 

A Snapshot of Red Cross Readiness 

Year round, the 

American Red 

Cross of Louisiana 

is continuously 

preparing for 

response through volunteer recruitment, training 

opportunities, and material stocking and positioning. 

Here in Louisiana, we rely on a strong network of 

volunteers, donors, and partners, to support the multitude 

of needs that arise within our communities prior to, during 

and after a disaster. 

The Red Cross works throughout the year to provide 

your communities with trainings including: Shelter 

management and operations, disaster action team 

training for those interested in responding to everyday 

disasters like home fires and flooding, and preparedness 

educational programs for individuals and families. 

Another way the Red Cross utilizes advanced readiness 

tactics is through the pre-placement of material assets. As 

disaster risks including severity and geographical impact 

are identified, materials such as cots, blankets, and nonperishable 

food items are positioned in strategic locations 

to allow for quick and efficient distribution in effected 

areas. 

Community Preparedness 

When it comes to a disaster, advanced preparation is 

imperative. The American Red Cross of Louisiana stands 

ready to coordinate with your municipality and state 

leadership when disaster strikes. Working with elected 

official’s offices during times of disaster there are several 

recurring themes that are helpful to know now before 

disaster strike your constituency: 

Mobile apps: Encourage downloading of preparedness 

apps from Red Cross, FEMA, NOAA, and State/Local 

Government. Information and preparedness tips can be 

found here. Additional app information is available at 

redcross.org. 

Messaging: The Red Cross can supply your community 

messaging teams with messaging including articles, 

flyers, and infographics to distribute across social media 

and mainstream platforms. Topics could include: Home 

heating safety and escape plan information, emergency 

kit packing lists, hurricane preparedness and recovery 

information, etc.. 

Partner Shelters: Many, but not all, shelters are managed 

by the Red Cross-the Red Cross also supports partnermanaged 

shelters with resources. In some cases, 

independent organizations open shelters without 

operational support from the Red Cross (sometimes 

referred to as pop-up, adhoc, or spontaneous shelters). 

In-kind donations: Please do not encourage constituents 

to send or bring unsolicited material (in-kind) donations 

such as clothes, furniture and appliances. They create a 

challenge for our agency and many others in regards to 

storage and sorting, when focus is needed on response 

and recovery. Please do encourage constituents to donate 

through other disaster response organizations who accept 

donations. 

Social Media Resources 

For other ideas on how to join the conversation, utilize 

our resources please follow our official Red Cross social 

networks: 

Twitter: @ArcLouisiana 

Instagram: ARC Louisiana 

Facebook: facebook.com/ArcLouisiana 

Websites: http://www.redcross.org| www.redcross.org/ 

Louisiana 

How To Reach Us 

Your Red Cross executive staff is ready to answer any 

questions and provide resources as needed: 

Joshua Joachim 

Chief Executive Officer – New Orleans 

(504) 620-3105 Ext. 3152# 

Merri Alessi 

Executive Director – Baton Rouge 

(225) 456-5500 

Michelle Davison 

Executive Director – Shreveport 

(318) 626-6009 

Page 20 



Cultivating Connections | Louisiana Housing Conference 

KEITH CUNNINGHAM, JR., LOUISIANA HOUSING CORPORATION 

I am excited to announce that the Louisiana Housing 

Corporation will host its first housing conference, 

CONNECTIONS April 2-4, 2019. 

For three days, 400 housing professionals will convene 

at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Baton Rouge for 

a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded, 

mission-driven peers to examine, learn, and discuss how 

to improve the lives of Louisiana residents recognizing 

affordable housing as the cornerstone of the community. 

By bringing together a diverse group of housing 

professionals, we intend to develop strategies wherein 

we can work together and leverage resources in order 

to build thriving and resilient communities, families, and 

individuals across the state. 

As we embark upon this journey to connect community 

resources, I invite you to join us for the 2019 Louisiana 

Housing Conference. This inaugural event will provide an 

excellent opportunity for you . 

As an all-inclusive housing conference, CONNECTIONS 

will cover an array of topics designed to put housing 

first including housing development, homeownership, 

compliance, homelessness solutions, and community 

development. 

For more information about sponsorship and exhibitor 

opportunities, please visit LouisianaHousingConference. 

com. For specific questions, please email Na’Tisha Natt, 

Director of Public Affairs at connections@lhc.la.gov or 

call (225) 763-8720. 

I look forward to seeing you as we work to build stronger 

communities and CONNECTIONS. 

WHAT IS CONNECTIONS? 

At CONNECTIONS you will have the unique opportunity 

to connect with a diverse group of professionals from 

all housing sectors in the state. The conference will be 

divided into five tracks that examine and discuss housing 

from an individual, regional and statewide perspective. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? 

Accountants 

Advocates 

Attorneys 

Commercial Lenders 

Contractors 

Developers 

Elected Officials 

Government Representatives 

Homebuyer Counselors 

Housing Providers 

Investors 

Mortgage Lenders 

Non-profit Representatives 

Property Managers 

Realtors 

Service Providers 

HOW TO REGISTER? 

Early registration starts September 14, 2018 

The cost to attend is $195 

Visit LouisianaHousingConference.com 

WANT MORE INFORMATION? 

Call Na’Tisha Natt at (225) 763-8720 

Email connections@lhc.la.gov 

Randy Albarez 

Field Sales Representative 

Mobile: 225/317-3180 

Fax: 800/374-6402 

E-mail: randy.albarez@musco.com 

4896 Albert East Blvd 

Zachary, LA 70791 

www.musco.com 

We Make It Happen 

® 


Happy 75th Anniversary LRPA: 

75 years of Taking Recreation Seriously! 

What’s New? 

Louisiana Recreation and Park Association (LRPA) and LMA 

are excited to announce a new and improved partnership. As 

one of LMA’s oldest affiliates, LRPA starts its next 75 years by 

entering into a formal contract with LMA for the provision of 

management services, convention planning, fiscal accounting 

and a host of other exciting activities and services. For many 

years, LRPA has had a seat on the LMA Executive Board of 

Directors and LMA greatly values the longstanding relationship 

and input from LRPA. This expanded partnership opens the 

door to a host of possibilities and ideas to benefit our cities and 

citizens. 

LRPA is a network of recreation professionals throughout this 

great state. It is the job of those professionals to constantly be 

Smiles Park at Kiroli in West Monroe 

on top of changes in the 

recreational climate and 

to treat all recreational 

activities just as seriously. 

One of the first joint efforts 

in this partnership was 

reaching out to Lieutenant 

Governor Billy Nungesser, 

who manages Louisiana’s 

State Parks. LRPA gives a big welcome to the state parks folks 

and looks forward to working with the state parks on broad 

approaches to recreation through all of the exciting state and 

local parks. Parks can be used as tools and vehicles to promote 

such things as economic development, the arts, culture, 

recreation, and tourism. 

What makes recreation so serious? 

This expanded 

LRPA/LMA partnership 

opens the door to a 

host of possibilities 

and ideas to benefit 

our cities and citizens. 

Recreational opportunities play a large role in quality of life. As a 

tourist destination, people travel here to take part in Mardi Gras, 

festivals, learn about our history, and of course take in some of 

the great sports attractions. However, Louisiana ranks among 

the bottom 10 states for quality of life for the people who call 

our communities home. Sadly, this has been consistent for the 

last five years. Health, comfort and happiness are standards 

considered when evaluating the quality of life, as well as other 

factors like environmental quality, social interactions and leisure 

activities. For recreational organizations to help contribute to 

Louisiana citizens having a better quality of life, we must also 

face our shortcomings and take action – together! 

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Feature 

How can LRPA help you? 

Recreation is viewed differently by everyone. Gone are the 

days of simply offering sports leagues. Only 30% of youth 

participate in sports leagues, and two of every three youth stop 

participating in sports activities by high school. When surveyed, 

the number one reason youth stop playing sports is because 

it is no longer fun. Adults also want to play in sports leagues 

because they are “fun.” The first counter measure that needs to 

be taken to keep people in an athletic activity is to once again 

make it a fun environment. 

Sports leagues only address 30% of the youth, and address 

even less of the adults. Other recreational activities can include 

walking trails, climbing walls, hunting and fishing, music, and 

much more. As professionals in recreation, we can help develop 

a plan to also reach those members of your communities who 

may not like to kick a ball or swing a bat. We can also help to find 

creative ways to reach those individuals who seem to only be 

interested in video games. 

Part of recreation and leisure needs to include how we can 

create a more sustainable culture. Programs that are both 

healthy and educational can also address things such as 

environmental issues. Doctors, nutritionists, and other 

health care providers often look to get information out 

to the community on healthy living, so partnering with 

local health groups can present a great opportunity 

for a community walking program that also provides 

health education. Walking programs are being created 

nationwide that track your progress and have you pick up 

litter while on a trail run. Art programs can then use some 

of the plastic bottles, cans, and other items to create art 

projects. 

Help us help you! 

Our goal in recreation is to provide recreational 

opportunities to everyone. This includes youth, adult, 

seniors and individuals with special needs. Recreation 

is a business that is about helping people have fun, 

but it also must be taken seriously in order to reach 

everyone in the community. Our job does not stop 

at the park. Recreation providers aid in the safety of 

the public, environment, and many other areas that all 

contribute to a higher quality of life for our families and 

constituents. 

Whether your parks department is big or small, full time, 

part time, or volunteers, please join LRPA today and take 

advantage of the exciting things that are on the horizon 

for parks and recreation in Louisiana. Memberships 

are available for recreation professionals, agencies, and 

friends of recreation. For membership information call 

the LMA at 225-344-5001 or visit www.lrpa.net. 

Save the date! 

For membership and conference 

information, see LRPA’s newly 

redesigned webpage at 

www.lrpa.net. 

Let’s work together as members of the great State of Louisiana 

and increase the quality of life for the residents in all our 

communities. We invite you to join us January 21-24, 2019, 

for the 2019 LRPA Convention at the Hilton Capitol Center in 

downtown Baton Rouge. This will be a great opportunity for 

professional development, networking, and new ideas. 

A variety informative and innovative speakers and topics are 

scheduled, and evening festivities include a reception at the 

beautiful Louisiana State Museum, located across the street 

from the State Capitol. Special thanks to Lt. Governor Nungesser 

for arranging this venue. If you have a topic you want to know 

more about, or want to be a presenter at this convention, call 

225-344-5001. 

For reservations, call 1-899-955-6962 and mention the LRPA 

Annual Conference for the group rate of $139 per night. We 

hope to see you there! 

Broussard Sports Complex at St. Julien Park 


Louisiana Municipal Association 

Human Resource Seminar 

October 1, 2018 | 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

700 N 10th Street | Baton Rouge 

Registration: FREE 

To register, download the form at www.lma.org. 

Registration due by September 17, 2018 

Questions: Lisa Jones @ ljones.lmahr@gmail.com or (985) 386-6484 

Gary Watson @ gwatsonds@bellsouth.net or (225) 667-8390 

9:30 am-9:45 am Registration 

9:45 am – 10:00 am Welcome 

10:00 am – 10:15 am Vendor Recognition 

10:15 am – 11:00 am Interface EAP Fred Newman, CEO Interface EAP 

11:00 am – 11:30 am Risk Management Jerry Cronin, Risk Management, Inc. 

11:30 am – 12:15 pm Lunch Pelican State Credit Union 

12:15 pm – 12:45 pm Vendor Booths 

12:45 pm – 1:30 pm Legal Update Edward Hardin, Kean Miller 

1:30 pm – 2:00 pm MERS Susita Suire, MERS Benefit Administrator 

2:00 pm – 2:10 pm Break 

2:10 pm – 2:30 pm LMA-HR Website Tracy Melancon, LMA 

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm Roundtable Discussion 

3:15 pm – 3:30 pm Door Prizes 

PRESORT 

STANDARD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

Page 24

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