August 2022

LOUISIANA

MUNICIPAL REVIEW

Published by the Louisiana Municipal Association

Celebrating an

Historic First

Vidrine's r LMA M

Presidencyr Marks r s A First in 96 Yearse

VOL. 87, ISSUE 8

AUGUST 2022

Executive Director's

Annual Report

Annual Convention

Recap

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

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MUNICIPAL REVIEW EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor-in-Chief: John Gallagher jgallagher@lma.org

Managing Editor: Karen Day White kwhite@lma.org

Editor: Anita Tillman atillman@lma.org

Associate Editor: Charlotte Smith

Production Coordinator: Baton Rouge Press, Inc.

Convention

Photography: Zydeco

Media

2022-2023 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory)

President – Jennifer Vidrine, Mayor, Ville Platte

First Vice President – Derrick Johnson, Mayor, Cheneyville

Second Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville

Immediate Past President – Michael Chauffe, Mayor, Grosse Tete

District A Vice President – Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton

District B Vice President – Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston

District C Vice President – Jimmy T. Holland, Councilman, Oak Grove

District D Vice President – Howard “Keith” Lewing, Mayor, Anacoco

District E Vice President – Rich Dupree, Mayor, Pineville

District F Vice President – Charles James, Mayor, Sunset

District G Vice President – Chuck Robichaux, Mayor, Rayne

District H Vice President – Edwin “Ed” Reeves, Mayor, Plaquemine

District I Vice President – Jean Pelloat, Mayor, Madisonville

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW

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District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson

LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales

LMA Past President – Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales

LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth

LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle

LMA Past President – Harry Lewis, Mayor, Rayville

LMA Past President – Jimmy Williams, Mayor, Sibley

Vice President at Large – vacant

Vice President at Large – vacant

Vice President (< 1K) – vacant

Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – vacant

Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – vacant

Page 2

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Inside the LMA

Director’s Viewpoint

A LOOK BACK AND A LOOK AHEAD

BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

This year marked a continued

emergence from the COVID-19

pandemic, as we took steady steps

toward normalcy, including a full

year of in-person gatherings. I want

to express my deepest appreciation to LMA President

Michael Chauffe for providing the outstanding leadership

and stability that empowered our organization to thrive,

while paving the way for a successful future for the LMA.

Thanks to continued mitigation efforts and widespread

vaccination programs, we successfully reinstituted our

in-person events, starting with our enormously successful

84th Annual Convention in the capital city of Baton

Rouge in July, where a crowd of nearly 1,200 officials and

guests gathered in such numbers for the first time since

our 2019 annual convention. Hundreds more attended

subsequent events, including the Annual Mid-Winter

Conference in February, Municipal Day at the Capitol in

April, and our hugely successful series of the ten district

meetings in June. Please know we remain mindful of the

best practices for health and safety related to COVID,

which is a persistent presence in our lives.

In August of 2021, immediately following our Annual

Convention, our state was struck once again by a devastating

hurricane. Hurricane Ida made landfall near Grand

Isle and travelled through southeast Louisiana leaving

catastrophic damage in its wake, the effects of which we

are still seeing today. I am proud to say that the LMA and

our subsidiaries answered the call for help. Harnessing the

generous donation of funds from the LMA, LaMATS and

RMI, our staff and board members made several trips into

the affected areas to provide much-needed supplies such

as water, fuel, generators, food, clothing, personal care

products, and other goods. We traveled into Grand Isle,

Golden Meadow, Lockport, throughout the north shore,

and other areas. I want to thank Cliff Palmer, Executive

Director of LaMATS, and Patrick Cronin, General Manager

of RMI, for the substantial contribution of financial aid and

supplies that our members sorely needed and welcomed.

Though there are too many to mention here, I want to

thank all of the elected officials who cooked meals, collected

and delivered supplies, and provided support to

those municipalities that needed assistance.

In December of 2021, the LMA purchased a building

and adjoining lot to serve as our new headquarters.

The 32,000-square-foot building and adjoining 2.5-acre

lot are the centerpieces of our 5-acre property, which

is located in south-central Baton Rouge near the LSU

Campus on Perkins Road. Nestled among live oaks and

pecan trees, the building will house the LMA, RMI, and

LaMATS, as well as the Louisiana Association of Chiefs

of Police and Government

Consultants. The building

will feature a state-of-theart

executive board room and

multiple conference rooms. A

purchase agreement has been executed

regarding the current building

near downtown, and we anticipate that our transition into

the new headquarters will be complete by September 1.

The LMA had another successful legislative session,

partnering with other local government associations to

address a number of critical issues during the 2022 Regular

Session. Among our successes is the appropriation of

$25 million of state dollars to fund a collaborative effort of

the LMA and the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. The

Louisiana Infrastructure and Technical Assistance Corporation

(LITAC), a 501 (C)(3) nonprofit organization, will

provide free grant consultation and grant writing services

to municipalities and parishes throughout Louisiana to

assist them with accessing funding from the Infrastructure

Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Of the total allocation,

$5 million is earmarked for LITAC’s consultation services,

and $20 million is reserved to provide the local matching

funds for infrastructure projects covered under the IIJA.

The mission of the LMA is to educate, advocate, and

empower progressive and effective leadership through

a united network of municipalities. I look forward to

continuing that mission with the support of our newly

inducted Board President Jennifer Vidrine, First Vice

President Derrick Johnson, Second Vice President Rick

Allen, our Executive Committee, and our Executive

Board. The LMA weathered a global pandemic and

multiple devastating natural disasters, and we have

emerged stronger than ever. My deepest appreciation

goes to the staff members of the LMA, LaMATS, and

RMI for their tireless dedication and teamwork. Their efforts

have ensured that even during the most challenging

times, the LMA will succeed in fulfilling our calling

to serve Louisiana’s municipal leaders.

It was my pleasure to present our Annual Report in

person at our 85th LMA Annual Convention in Lafayette

in the presence of over 1,100 delegates, guests, exhibitors,

and sponsors. What a wonderful time it was. The

report is available for all of you to read in this edition of

our Louisiana Municipal Review. It is with great humility,

gratitude, and appreciation that I have the privilege of

serving as your Executive Director. Thank you for your

continued support through attending our events, engaging

in legislative initiatives, and participating in our

programs and services.

Together, we are #LMAStrong.

LMR | AUGUST 2022 Page 3

President’s Message

HONORED, FIRED UP, AND READY TO LEAD THE LMA!

BY MAYOR JENNIFER VIDRINE, CITY OF VILLE PLATTE

Please allow me to start my first

message as your new LMA President

with an enthusiastically resounding,

THANK YOU! With all my heart,

THANK YOU for the privilege and

opportunity to serve each member municipality during

the coming year, and for the honor to work beside my

fellow officers, First Vice President Mayor Derrick Johnson

(Cheneyville) and Second Vice President Mayor Rick

Allen (Leesville). We pledge to work in unity and to boldly

represent and protect the interests of the LMA.

I am so grateful for each accomplishment LMA Immediate

Past President Mayor Michael Chauffe is credited for

through his strong leadership during the past year. The

unprecedented number of severe weather events that

affected so many of our communities was met with a

comprehensive and caring response by our organization

and thanks in a large part to Mayor Chauffe’s ability to

mobilize and deliver materials and manpower. We also

now have a new beautiful and safe building in Baton

Rouge for our staff and affiliate organizations to work

from as they serve the membership. Mayor Chauffe led

the charge and took the necessary action to purchase

the facility and renovate sections so that we will call it

home this month. This important capital investment will

have a significant impact on the future of the LMA for

many years to come. Thank you, Mayor Chauffe!

For those who were unable to attend the Annual Convention

a couple of weeks ago in Lafayette, you were

missed. As usual, the LMA staff did an excellent job of

planning and delivering three days of informative training

sessions, networking, entertainment and excellent

food. None of this would have been possible without

the generous contributions from the host city, Lafayette

Consolidated Government, and the financial support of

more than 50 corporate and public sponsors. Thank you

to each one, especially our Platinum sponsors: Acadian

Ambulance Service, AT&T, Cox, Environmental Technical

Sales (ETEC), Government Consultants, Sustainability

Partners, and V1 Fiber.

It was a very busy and productive Convention that had

something for everyone. We appreciated the show of

support by numerous senior officials who took time out

of their very busy schedules to provide great insight into

their areas of governance. It was obvious they respect the

LMA and recognize what we do on the local level. Our

senior U.S. Senator, Dr. Bill Cassidy, U.S. Congressman Troy

Carter, and President Biden’s Senior Advisor and White

House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch

Landrieu updated

us on important

federal programs.

And our esteemed

Governor John Bel

Edwards, Lt. Gov.

Billy Nungesser,

Secretary of

State Kyle Ardoin,

State Treasurer

John Schroder,

State Senator

Gerald Boudreaux

President Joe Biden

and State

Representative

Vincent Pierre enlightened us on all things Louisiana.

Personally, I was moved by the emotional address by our

Page 4

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Inside the LMA

I was overwhelmed by the elegance and class of the

banquet gala and could feel the love, support and yes…

unity in the room. Congratulations to each municipality

that received a Community Achievement Award. I especially

salute the Town of Jean Lafitte for yet another Best

of Show award!

I believe with all my heart that we will always be BETTER

TOGETHER and STRONGER TOGETHER! Even during

the worst of times, as we lead our communities, let’s

lean on one another and help carry each other’s load

to make it through each challenge stronger and better

TOGETHER! Let us recommit ourselves, be determined

and unified in the coming year, and lift each other up

every chance we have. No matter the size of your village,

town or city, please know that I CARE ABOUT YOU, and

I offer you my steadfast and immovable support and full

attention to matters that matter most to you. Your problems

will be my problems! Please know that you’re not

alone, and that help is on the way! Let us help each other

pursue opportunities during these unprecedented times

of federal and state assistance.

long-serving LMA

Board member

and past president,

former Pineville

Mayor Clarence

Fields, when he

spoke to the large

gathering at the

Prayer Breakfast.

I already miss

Clarence and Rosa

but celebrate as

Vice President Kamala Harria they begin a welldeserved

retirement

from public office.

The theme of my presidential address delivered at the

Convention’s finale was UNITY.

As we prepare to face the second part of 2022 and

journey into 2023 and all the challenges that will come

our way, please know your LMA stands ready to assist

each of our members. I encourage you to stay in touch

with the LMA whether it be through direct contact

with the staff (a listing of staff can be found at www.

lma.org), or by reading our weekly E-newsletter and

monthly magazine, Louisiana Municipal Review. If you do

not currently receive an emailed version of the weekly

E-newsletter each Thursday, please contact editor@lma.

org immediately so that you can be added to our E-newsletter

distribution list and be informed, educated, notified

and up-to-date! An informed municipality is a productive

municipality!

I welcome your feedback, suggestions and advice on

how we can grow closer as an organization and achieve

greater unity. Please feel free to call on me any time.

I Love You All!

TOGETHER, we are THE LMA!

Yours in Heartfelt Public Service,

Jennifer

(Special note: This QR code will give you the opportunity

to view many of the Convention

guest speakers, workshops, and

other events. All you need to do

is scan the code through your

cell phone camera, and a link will

appear at the top of your screen.

Select it and you’ll see a variety

of videos and photos that capture

the essence of the Convention.)


Governor’s Column

CONNECTIVITY IS KEY

BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA

August is here, and that means parents,

students, and teachers are all

preparing to head back to the classroom

for a new school year. What an

exciting time. And what an exciting time for the LMA as

you move forward under new leadership. It was a pleasure

being with you last month to celebrate your 85th annual

convention in Lafayette – a true testament to the strength

of all our municipalities and our people.

I don’t think we can ever have too much good news, and

when it comes to our unemployment rate, Louisiana has

the lowest rate in our state’s history at 3.8 percent. That

means more Louisianans are employed than ever before.

That’s the result of our bipartisan efforts to grow and

diversify our economy. But it also speaks to the incredible

talent we have here in Louisiana. We know that the

best tool for a family to fight the pressures of inflation is a

good-paying job. This is a great time for Louisianans who

are looking to start a new career or find a new opportunity

with better pay. Please encourage your constituents

to reach out to the Louisiana Workforce Commission for

assistance (laworks.net) and to see what opportunities

are available where they live.

Connectivity is a word that keeps coming to mind as I

think about the tremendous progress we are making toward

our goal of eliminating the digital divide by 2029. In

fact, we created the Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana

(BEL) Commission with that singular mission. The Office

of Broadband, ConnectLA, was also created within the

Division of Administration and that is where we started

Louisiana’s broadband grant program called the Granted

Unserved Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUM-

BO). We have learned a great deal from the pandemic

about how critical it is to have affordable and accessible

high-speed internet throughout our state. Just last month,

we announced that $130 million from the American

Rescue Plan, out of a total investment of $176 million, has

been awarded to Internet Service Providers to expand

broadband to over 66,000 locations, homes, and small

businesses, in 50 parishes. In addition, we plan to make

an additional $43 million in investments in October, if not

sooner.

To address the estimated 462,000 Louisianans who lack

basic digital literacy skills, ConnectLA, the Louisiana

Board of Regents, the Louisiana Department of Education

and the State Library of Louisiana have partnered to

establish pilot programs in multiple parishes to reduce

the digital illiteracy rate in those parishes by 50 percent

over five years. Higher Education Commissioner, Dr. Kim

Hunter Reed joined me recently in announcing the launch

of five Digital Literacy & Inclusion Pilot sites embedded

in rural and urban library branches. The sites include East

Carroll, Jefferson, Livingston, Rapides, and West Feliciana.

The pilot sites are designed to not only increase access

to high-speed digital resources, but also improve the

overall computer and internet literacy of individuals living

near those library locations.

Another quick reminder as we make our way through hurricane

season, being prepared is our best defense. Please

continue to motivate your constituents to have their

emergency plans in place during this hurricane season.

Making certain that we are all up to date on our COVID-19

vaccinations and boosters is at the top of the list in making

certain we are prepared and protected.

Everyone can always visit www.GetAGamePlan.org for

ideas on how to put an effective plan together and prepare

for an evacuation should that be needed.

It is truly great to partner with the LMA. I commend you

for your service and dedication. Thank you and God bless.

Page 6

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Inside the LMA

2021-2022

Executive Director’s

Report

Membership

Our membership consists of 303 cities, towns, and

villages, and two parish governments. This year, our

elected officials represented the LMA on a myriad of

state boards, commissions, and organizations. The engagement

of our member municipalities’ elected and

appointed officials has been an essential part of our

success in state and federal advocacy, and the on-going

dialogue between our office and municipal leaders

statewide provides boundless opportunities for growth,

learning, and unification.

The LMA staff and representatives of our two wholly

owned subsidiaries, LaMATS and RMI, visited many

municipalities around the state, providing technical

assistance and operational support, and educating the

LMA membership about services offered through our

subsidiaries. Participation in parish municipal association

meetings, mid-size cities gatherings, and national

events allowed our organization to network with local

officials around the state, as well as our peers and

congressional delegation in Washington DC. Webinars

were presented throughout the year on topics such as

leading through the COVID-19 pandemic, federal funding

opportunities, internet security, and emergency

preparedness.

Conferences

The 84 th Annual LMA Convention was convened

in-person July 29-31 in Baton Rouge after a one-year

hiatus of a live events due to the ongoing COVID-19

pandemic. Attendance exceeded 1,000, a clear indication

that our members, while exercising due health and

safety precaution, were ready to return to in-person

events. We are proud that our members’ utilization of

mitigation measures such as vaccination, voluntary

masks, and social distancing allowed us to hold the

event without creating any additional threats from the

virus. We were honored to hear messages from Governor

John Bel Edwards, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser,

Treasurer John Schroder, and National League of

Cities CEO Clarence Anthony. Along with over 30 workshops,

we also provided opportunities for our members

to complete their mandatory training in governmental

ethics and sexual harassment prevention.

Our 2022 Mid-Winter Conference was also held

in-person in February in Baton Rouge, where we received

a warm welcome from Baton Rouge Mayor/President

Sharon Weston Broome. On the first day of the

conference, attendees enjoyed remarks from Lieutenant

Governor Billy Nungesser; heard updates from Capitol

Hill, including US Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman

Garret Graves, and Irma Esparza Diggs, Senior Executive

and Director Federal Advocacy for the National

League of Cities; received information on transportation

infrastructure from Louisiana DOTD Secretary Dr.

Shawn Wilson; and were treated to a very informative

workshop on ARPA funding. Day two hosted a series of

educational workshops and featured a virtual keynote

address from Governor John Bel Edwards, culminating

with mandatory training on governmental ethics.

The LMA actively participated in numerous state and

national conferences, including events hosted by our

affiliate and advisory organizations. On the state level,

some of those conferences included the Louisiana Association

of Chiefs of Police, Louisiana City Attorney’s

Association, Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association,

Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and

Assistants, Louisiana Recreation and Park Association,

and the Building Officials’ Association of Louisiana. Our

coverage of national events included conferences hosted

by Strategic Government Resources, the Southern

Municipal Conference, the and the National League of

Cities. The events provide invaluable opportunities to

network with state and national peers, which serve to

strengthen our partnerships and bolster our ability to

represent the interests of our members.

Legislative Advocacy

The 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature

gaveled in on March 14 and adjourned Sine Die on

June 6, during which over 2,500 bills were file, resulting

in the passage of 776 new laws. Despite being a general

subject matter session, much of our time was spent

once again on tax-related measures, with our legislative


advocacy team actively tracking nearly 300 measures.

Our collaboration with local government organizations

- including the Police Jury Association of Louisiana,

the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, the Louisiana

School Boards Association, the Louisiana District Attorneys

Association, the Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators,

the Louisiana Assessors Association, and

the Louisiana Conference of Mayors - was an integral

part of our success at the capitol this year. We successfully

shepherded several bills through the legislative

process, including accessing tort reform provisions,

empowering members to create stormwater utility systems,

easing the burdens of public procurement, and

making much-needed, sweeping changes to the Public

Records Law. Our team prevailed in minimizing the

damaging effects of worker’s compensation expansion

measures, and defeated legislation that would have

abolished mayor’s court throughout the state. Perhaps

the most monumental victory was the stalling of a constitutional

amendment that sought to centralize the

collection of all sales taxes in the state. Though careful

planning and strategic partnerships, all under the guidance

of our Legislative Committee (lead by now-retired

Mayor Clarence Fields of Pineville) the LMA emerged

from the session in the best position possible.

On the heels of the American Rescue Plan Act

(ARPA), Congress passed in November the Infrastructure

Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA), a

once-in-a-generation bipartisan investment in our nation’s

infrastructure, competitiveness, and communities.

This bill is an historic opportunity to rebuild America’s

roads bridges and rails; expand access to clean drinking

water; and ensure that every American has access to

high-speed internet, all while investing in communities,

both urban and rural, that have been too often left behind.

Nearly 100 programs encompassing an array of

infrastructure opportunities will be available. The LITAC

initiative discussed above will hopefully ensure that no

money meant for local governments in Louisiana is left

on the table.

Our membership has actively sought funding

through the Water Sector Program, through which

an addition $400 million was appropriated this year

for a second round of funding. Likewise, communities

have developed partnerships to access funding for

high-speed internet through the Granting Unserved

Municipalities Broadband Opportunities (GUMBO) Act,

which was strengthened during the 2022 Regular Session.

Lastly, the second tranche of ARPA funding will

be released shortly to those municipalities who have

made application. Information on all of these programs

is available on our infrastructure landing page at www.

lma.org.

Thank you to the LMA Legislative Advocacy Team for

the long hours spent at the Capitol and to all the LMA

members who actively engaged with your legislators

when we needed you the most. On an unlevel playing

field, where we are often outnumbered and always outspent,

you make the difference and drive our legislative

successes in Baton Rouge.

Membership Services

Our organization and the services we offer would

not be possible without the dedicated work of the

LMA staff. Their ability to overcome the adversity of

COVID-19, to work as a team to transition to remote

working, and then seamlessly transition back into the

workplace, are testament to their indominable spirit

and their commitment to our missions and our membership.

Your LMA staff collectively dedicates tens of

thousands of hours each year publishing our weekly

e-newsletters and monthly magazines; providing technical

assistance; planning and perfecting online and live

conferences, meetings, webinars, and events; managing

our corporate partnerships; managing affiliate organizations;

and providing accounting and financial services

to the association, our subsidiaries, and our affiliates.

We are grateful to have been entrusted with the organizational

management of the Louisiana Municipal

Clerks Association, the Building Officials’ Association

of Louisiana, the Louisiana City Attorneys Association,

and the Louisiana Recreation and Park Association; and

we appreciate the fiscal management support that we

provide to the Louisiana Municipal Gas Authority. We

prioritize the success of these organizations since we

rise and fall as a team.

We are proud of the rebranding of our information

technology assistance program as “MAP-IT,” or “Municipal

Assistance Program – Information Technology.” The

program was initially designed to provide computer

equipment to municipalities in need of that technology.

While we continue to service that need, cybersecurity

has taken a front seat in our MAP-IT program because

of the escalating incidence of cyberattacks and the

growing threat to computer systems statewide. So, in

addition to modern equipment, qualifying members

who currently have no or severely limited cybersecurity

capabilities may be eligible to receive, at no cost, one

or more of the following: cloud backups for disaster

and emergency recovery, with or without monitoring;

next generation antivirus software with ransomware detection

capabilities; educational software that includes

security awareness online videos, testing, and email

phishing campaigns; and the installation and setup of

programs through the LMA. Please call our IT Director

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LMR | AUGUST 2022

Inside the LMA

Tracy Melancon or contact your District Vice President

for more information.

Your LMA staff is truly dedicated to providing our

members with the best in customer service and personalized

attention. My sincere appreciation and respect

go out to all of our staff members for their efforts. I am

especially proud of the teamwork that our staff displays

daily since it is the key to enabling the LMA to accomplish

its mission.

Risk Management, Inc.

RMI, now in its 36 th year, continues to provide indemnity

coverage to municipalities for public liability,

workers’ compensation, and dental needs. Additionally,

health and accident benefit programs are available

through RMI’s agency.

Since January of last year, RMI, Inc. has increased

its fund membership to 218 members by adding 23

new or returning participants. They have an aggressive

new business development plan with four strategically

located customer services representatives in four

quadrants of the state. Combined with the personal

visits performed by RMI’s General Manager Patrick Cronin,

RMI has logged 198 face-to-face municipal visits

through mid-July, emphasizing its commitment to fulfilling

the coverage and risk needs of our membership,

while expressing their sincere thanks for current fund

member participation. While bringing new and returning

members into the LMA family of self-insured funds

is one of its main focuses, the goal to provide excellent

state-of-the-art service to our members has helped RMI

secure 100% of its current fund members during 2022.

The new website (www.rmila.com) is fully functional

and fund members are enjoying the upgrades in its

capabilities and ease of use for adding/deleting municipal

vehicles and adding/removing law enforcement

officers. Members will soon be able to pay their member

premiums online and claims reporting has been

streamlined for faster and more accurate delivery to

our claims and underwriting departments.

RMI has placed an emphasis on heightened involvement

with the police departments of our member municipalities

by increasing its support of the Louisiana

Association of Chiefs of Police at its regional and statewide

conferences in April and July, respectively. Patrick

Cronin, RMI’s General Manager, has held detailed

training sessions with new and incumbent police chiefs

to discuss the various aspects and requirements of

pre-employment psychological profiles with our selected

partners, Spartan and Matrix. RMI has also highlighted

training protocols to increase awareness as to the

need for comprehensive, detailed, and documentable

departmental policies and procedures for our members.

RMI has also broadened its health insurance and

ancillary coverage offerings to our members by partnering

with JJL&W Insurance Consulting Services, LLC

this month. This partnership will open RMI’s health and

related coverage capabilities up to over 30 available

markets, allowing them to offer more comprehensive

and cost-effective plans to our members. JJL&W has

hit the ground running by reaching out to our current

roster of health insurance plan participants and they

will be reaching out to potential members during the

remainder of the year and beyond.

While the numerous changes, upgrades, and service

enhancements have helped to grow RMI’s footprint

with Louisiana municipalities, they are just getting

started on their goal of re-establishing RMI as the premier

provider of coverage and risk related services to

our current, and prospective, fund members.

I share Patrick’s contagious enthusiasm for serving

our members, and I encourage your continued participation

in RMI’s programs. If you are currently a member,

it may be time to sit down and discuss your coverage

to confirm that RMI is meeting all your needs and

expectations. If you are a former participant, or if you

have never enjoyed the liability or workers’ compensation

protections offered by RMI, now is a perfect time

to let them show you how they can help to strengthen

your bottom line and provide critical protection against

your potential liability.

Louisiana Municipal Advisory and

Technical Services Bureau

LaMATS is celebrating its 24 th year of fulfilling its

mission to bring economical and efficient services

that assist the LMA membership with their day-to-day

business. Under the capable leadership of Executive Director

Cliff Palmer since 1998, LaMATS’s services have

expanded from Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) collection

to embrace a suite of outstanding services to support

municipal operations, most of which are provided at no

cost to LMA members.

In addition to its foundational IPT service, LaMATS

is proud to offer Occupational License Tax (OLT) collection,

grant research assistance, an Online Buyer’s

Guide, consultation services for capital outlay projects,

Brownfields grant assessments, franchise agreement

audits, fleet management services, property tax millage

consulting, drone imaging services, and half-staff flag

notification services. Further, one of its newest additions,

LaMATS Purchasing Services (LPS), continues to

evolve, providing procurement assistance to members

utilizing smart technologies such as electronic bidding

platforms, and offering group purchasing options – all

of which are designed to save you money. The Munici-


pal Surplus Property program continues to expand with

having helped numerous municipals sell over $500,000

in surplus property.

Initiatives for 2022

The LMA will continue to improve our training options

for our membership by building on the virtual

platforms that were instituted because of COVID-19.

Through our partnerships with governmental, private,

and non-profit organizations, our staff will develop a

curriculum of training on topics ranging from mayor’s

courts to grant writing and emergency preparedness.

We are working toward incorporating more video

access into our training opportunities, even for live

events.

The LMA looks forward to even

greater member outreach, including

preparing updated marketing materials

containing both print and visual medium

to educate our members on the

mission and services of the LMA with

the goal of continually improving our

membership services. Through LITAC,

the LMA will strive to provide the necessary

technical assistance needed to

assist with access to federal infrastructure

funding.

We will strive for the revitalization

of our rural communities by ensuring

broadband access to unserved and

underserved areas, including engaging

with the Broadband for Everyone in

Louisiana (BEL) Commission, pushing

for access to GUMBO funds, and

focusing on state and federal funding

opportunities for broadband development.

We are currently in the third season

of our Small Town Podcast series,

which is sponsored by the Louisiana

Department of Economic Development.

Thanks to a $10,000 grant from

LED, we will soon be launching a

special LMA podcast channel to also

feature mid-size cities and expand our

programing to videos. This popular

streaming podcast provides a perfect

platform to promote our small towns

and villages, and other municipal

leagues have mimicked our efforts. We

are grateful to the host of Small Town

Podcast, Matt Seale of Ocilla, Georgia,

for his continued collaboration and his

passion for promoting Louisiana’s small towns.

Financials

The financial report of the LMA below shows that actual

operating revenues for the year ending December

31, 2021, as $3,443,304. Actual operating expenditures

totaled $3,930,566. Thus, our expenditures exceeded

revenues by $487,362. However, the figures do not reflect

the operational expenditures for the past seven

months. Rest assured that the organization remains

financially healthy, with approximately $5,469,000 in

accessible cash reserves, which is more than one year’s

worth of operating expenses. Many other state leagues

throughout the country have only six-month reserves.

Louisiana Municipal Association

Revenue

Administrative Dept $ 2,876,611

Legal Dept 429,306

LMGA 135,133

Total LMA Revenue $3,443,304

Expenditures

Administrative Dept $2,844,005

Legal Dept 511,509

LMGA 106,195

IT 256,975

Disaster Recovery 15,203

Capital Outlay/Depreciation 196,679

Total LMA Expenditures $3,930,566

LMA Revenue in Excess of Expenditures ($487,262)

Page 10

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Municipalities

During the 2022 Regular Session,

the Legislature passed Act 212,

which changes the minimum qualifications

for an elected chief of

police in a village that is chartered

under the Lawrason Act.

The amended law (La. R.S. 33:

385.1(B)) now provides that

the elected chief of police of a

Lawrason Act village need only

reside within the boundaries of

the parish in which the village is

located - not necessarily within

the village limits.

Act 212 became effective in May of

2022, so these new minimum residency

requirements are applicable

to all upcoming elections of Lawrason

Act village police chiefs.

As always, home rule charter and

legislative charter municipalities

should consult their respective

charters and ordinances for guidance

on elected chief qualifications

If you have any questions, please

contact Karen White, LMA Executive

Counsel, at 225-332-7670.

AG’s Opinions

BY JEFF LANDRY,

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Custom Water

Treatment Programs

Designed by Professionals Since 1990

POTAB

ABLE

Corrosion Inhibition Iron & Manganese Control Enhanced Disinfection NSF Certified

EPA Approved Chlorine dioxide for Stage 2 compliance assurance DBP reduction

WASTE

WA

ATER

Sludge Dewatering Polymers Dechlorination Technical Support/Service Testing

FAX: (225)654-9533

P. O. Bory,

Worker’s

Compensation

Opinion:

22-0023:

Reserve

police officers

are

not entitled

to worker’s

compensation

coverage for activities as a

reserve police officer. Released:

8/1/2022

Alcohol Regulation

Opinion:

22-0012: The

Town of Many

may amend or

repeal Ordinance

6-22 of

the Many Code

of Ordinances

so as to allow

the granting of

a license to sell

alcohol to businesses

located

within 300 feet

of certain establishments.

Released:

7/26/2022


Legal Briefs

BEYOND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL

LMA staff members are privileged to

respond to thousands of technical assistance

questions from elected and

appointed municipal officials each year.

Many times, there is clear guidance in

federal or state law, something definitive to which members

may be directed to answer their questions. With the advent

of new administrations last month, we have noticed an increase

in callers seeking guidance for issues involving interpersonal

conflicts, leadership and management strategies,

and divergent opinions regarding municipal operations.

While municipal charters and the Lawrason Act do provide

guidance regarding the respective lanes of authority for municipal

leaders, our constitution and laws generally do not

micro-manage specific instances of conflict. But that does

not mean that there are no solutions or that mastering such

skills isn’t a critical part of fulfilling public service.

Indeed, the beginning of a new administration’s term is a

perfect opportunity to set the tone for the interaction and

collaboration between municipal leaders. After all, our dedicated

municipal leaders spend hours each year learning

about operational best practices and legal requirements,

including mandatory training requirements in ethics, campaign

finance, sexual harassment prevention, and cybersecurity.

Because cooperation among local leaders is such a

critical component of effective governance, we suggest that

conflict resolution is an essential skill that should be more

than an afterthought. Inspired leadership demands practice,

just like any other skill. If you are ready to advance your leadership

skills – no matter what your job title or position – the

LMA has a resource to help you do so.

For years, Ron Holifield, CEO of Strategic Government Resources,

has inspired LMA members at our Mid-Winter Conference,

Annual Convention, and affiliate events. For over

two decades, SGR’s singular mission has been to empower

local governments to succeed by developing innovative,

collaborative, authentic local leaders. As a result, SGR is the

nationwide leader in providing leadership training to local

governments.

The LMA has forged a partnership with SGR to provide online

training for our members on a range of topics designed

to build skilled leaders, invested employees, and enviable

workspaces. Our collaboration means that SGR is offering

LMA members access to exceptional training at an exceptionally

low cost.

SGR has developed the Servant Leader’s Resource Library,

which features original content – from pragmatic to motivational

– from compelling speakers nationwide (https://www.

governmentresource.com/live-online-training/servant-leadership-resource-library).

Because of our ongoing partnership, EVERY one of your

employees can enjoy 24-7, unlimited access to every video

for only $250 per year per municipality/organization.

You can design a leadership training schedule for yourself

and/or your employees based on the enormous library of

entertaining online classes. While we cannot overemphasize

how much the benefits of these inspirational and instructive

classes outweigh the minimal cost, the truth is that the value

of having a team of invested and motivated officials and employees

is immeasurable. Now is the perfect time to take the

steps to ensure that employees want to come to work, even

when there are challenges at hand.

We know how to acquire the tactile skills that we need for

our careers: we train, we practice, and we repeat, until we

achieve the fluency that we want. Conflict resolution, persuasive

communication, inspirational management, and other

essential leadership skills are no different. To quote LMA’s

Immediate Past President Mayor Michael Chauffe of Grosse

Tete, “Municipal officials are elected to solve problems, not

create problems.” We encourage you to take advantage of

the wealth of resources that is available through the LMA-

SGR partnership to discover and nurture your municipality’s

leadership capabilities. Because it’s not about the next election;

it’s about the next generation.

Page 12

LMR | AUGUST 2022

LaMATS Convention Week Wins

This year’s well-attended LMA Annual Convention was

the perfect showcase for LaMATS’s new services and

partnerships, exciting Board news and some big wins.

Getting a head-start on convention activities, LaMATS

Board of Directors met Wednesday, July 27, in Lafayette.

The meeting marked the last as President for Rayne

Mayor Chuck Robichaux, who led the LMA subsidiary

with characteristic professionalism, much appreciated by

fellow members and staff alike. Executive Director Cliff

Palmer called Robichaux a “kindred spirit,” noting his frequent

assistance to neighboring communities and strong

service orientation.

Subsidiary and

Affiliate News

Procurement Consultant Paul Holmes introduces Suzanne

Williams (L), Town of Many, as new LACPC Chairperson

Incoming LaMATS President, Councilman Nathan Martin

of Pineville confers with Palmer and Holmes following the

LaMATS presentation

LaMATS now welcomes incoming Board President,

Pineville Councilman Nathan Martin, along with new Vice

President, Mayor David Butler; Secretary/Treasurer, Mayor

Jimmy Williams; and newest member, LMA First Vice

President Mayor Derrick Johnson of Cheneyville.

In recognition of Mayor Jennifer Vidrine’s historic post as

LMA’s first Black, female President, Councilman Martin

expressed “great respect and admiration for Mayor Vidrine’s

leadership as a former President of LaMATS” and

noted with pride that both the current LMA President

and Immediate Past President, Mayor Michael Chauffe,

are among LaMATS leadership.

Also recognized at the meeting was Town of Many’s Suzanne

Williams, who was named first Chairperson of the

Louisiana Cooperative Purchasing Commission (LACPC),

the LaMATS-administered commission of local governments

who jointly purchase materials, supplies, and

equipment in accordance with State bid law.

The explosive growth of LaMATS purchasing services

(LPS) was illustrated best by Procurement Consultant

Paul Holmes’s report of first-year sales in our Surplus

Property Program. From July 2021 through June 2022,

LaMATS and online marketplace provider GovDeals managed

the successful bidding of more than $511,000.00

worth of surplus property for participating Louisiana

local governments. According to Holmes, the potential

benefit to municipalities is enormous by allowing La-

MATS to put virtually any unwanted movable property

before a nationwide audience of eager bidders.

GovDeals representatives were among this year’s vendor

“Village,” our family of LaMATS service providers who

shared their unique value (and swag!) with LMA members

in the Cajundome convention hall. Also at hand

were new partners Azavar Government Solutions, providing

franchise fee auditing services, and Smart Home

America, the national nonprofit dedicated to lowering

Mayor Chuck Robichaux (in jacket), Immediate Past President

of LaMATS, receives plaque from Board in appreciation

for his exemplary service over the past year

insurance premiums by promoting sound building codes.

Rounding out the LaMATS Village were popular vendors

Touché Printing; Precision Concrete Cutting; Kincade

Recreation; Government Capital Corporation, and Musco

Sports Lighting.

LaMATS thanks all our valued partners, Board members,

bureau staff and LMA supporters who have made “La-

MATS and YOU in 2022” the perfect motto for this year.


LAMSA FALL LINEUP FOCUSES ON EDUCATION

BY MARLAINE PEACHEY, LAMSA CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

The Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and

Assistants will hold their 32 nd Annual Fall Conference in

Lafayette, September 14-16, at the Doubletree Hotel on

Pinhook Drive. Registration has begun and rooms are

available at the LAMSA rate until August 30. The brochure

and registration form can be found on the LMA

website or at www.lma.org/lamsa20.

On Wednesday, members may participate

in a tour of the LeVieux Village and Historical

Park and the Orphan Train Museum in

Opelousas, followed by a tour of the Tony

Chachere Creole Foods Plant. Let us know if

you would like to join us!

The fall lineup of speakers will cover a variety

of educational topics on current issues.

On Thursday, the agenda includes “Mandatory

Ethics Training” by Greg Thibodeaux of the Louisiana

Board of Ethics; “How to Plan and Prepare the Perfect

Audit” by Diane Allison, Assistant Legislative Auditor

and Director of Government Services; “Public Bid Law”

by Cliff Palmer, Executive Director of LaMATS and Paul

Holmes, Procurement Consultant; “ARPA Funding and

The Infrastructure Act” by Jay Dardenne, Commissioner

of Administration of the State of Louisiana; and “Public

Records Requests” by Karen White, Executive Counsel

for the LMA. A Mayor’s

Panel will be held

on Friday morning

and the conference

will wrap up with

“One More Mountain” by Mr. Joseph Prejean, Author, Life

Coach and Award-Winning Motivational Speaker.

A short special meeting will be held on Thursday to vote

on a change in bylaws and an instructional talk will be

given on “How To Apply For Your CMA”.

Membership in the Association shall be open to all Municipal

and Parish Employees (non-contracted) performing

the duties of a Secretary or Assistant, regardless of title,

in any incorporated town, village, city or parish government

chartered under and in conformity with the laws of

the State of Louisiana.

If you would like to attend the conference and your

municipality is not able to financially support your

attendance, you may submit a Scholarship Application,

available on our website no later than August 8, 2022.

You must be a member and your dues must be current

to apply. A letter from your Mayor or Supervisor is also

required. Follow guidelines on our website.

For more information or to sponsor, call Marlaine Peachey

at 985-630-1798 or email at lamsaconference@att.net.

Please submit separate registration for each delegate….

Address___________________________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address

City/State/ZipCode

Yes

Guest Name (if applicable) for Wednesday Tour (no children allowed)________________________________________

Guest Name (if applicable) for Thursday Lunch (no children allowed)________________________________________

Early registration should be received by August 8, 2022. Full refunds will be made for cancellations received before

August 2, 2022; there will be no refunds after August 8, 2022.

Registration Fees:

Conference sessions are for registrants only.

Checks should be payable to: LAMSA

Mail checks to:

Credit Card Registration is available. 985-630-1798

QUESTIONS:

LAMSA Conference Coordinator

Page 14

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Partner Insight

BY GORDON KING, GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS INC

Are we or are we not in a recession? Clearly it can

be argued either way and is being played out on the

nightly news programs – two quarters of negative

growth equals a recession, and so on and so forth.

The question becomes, so what difference does it

make? We may not be in a recession yet, but we

clearly are in an inflation!

Those of us old-timers can remember what happened

in the early 1980’s after the inflationary

period during and after the Carter years. 1) interest

rates for mortgages in the 18 to 21% range, and

2) very stringent monetary policy. When I built by

first house in 1982, my interest rate for a first-time

homebuyer was a mere 9.75%, and that was very

much below market. That same first-time homebuyer

rate was 2.99% at the first of this year and is now

5.75% with 4 points of down payment assistance. As

interest rates increase, it impacts the ability of the

homeowner to qualify for a loan.

Also, as the cost of goods and services go up, your

disposable income is not increasing at the same rate.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a news release

dated July 13, revealed that the Consumer Price

Index for June 2022 showed that the costs for all

items increased 9.1% for the 12 months, ending in

June. This was the largest 12-month increase since

the period ending November 1981 (i.e. almost 41

years).

GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.

Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing

L.Gordon King

Riggins

700 North 10 th Street Annex Bldg.

Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(225) 344-2098 (Phone) (225) 344-5952 (Fax)

gcla@gc-la.net (email)

OVERVIEW

Modern day government has become a large financial

enterprise, handling millions of dollars and facing

service and revenue pressures. The governing

authority and Administrator(s) face complex financial

decisions ranging from the impact of property and

sales taxes to the financing of capital improvements.

As government finance has become more complex,

the need for financial advice to base decisions upon

has. The services of an expert Municipal Advisor are

being used by more and more governmental units.

A Municipal Advisor (or “MA”) serves as a

consultant advising the governing authority on

matters relating to the following:

Total cost analysis of financing alternatives;

Review of capital improvement financing

programs;

Advice on the structuring and marketing of debt

securities.

The MA is an integral member of the governing

authority’s management team, providing

advice andanalysis to assist in financial

decision-making.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

FINANCE ANALYSIS

• Analyzing available alternatives in relation to

cost to the governing authority and providing

financial guidance and recommendations;

• Analyzing from a cost/benefit standpoint the

use of incentives (free land, subsidy of bond

issues, utility improvements) to attract

industry;

• Providing a detailed upfront and long-term

financial analysis of costs to the governing

authority versus benefits of the specific

project; and

• Serving as an economic development finance

resource for the Governing Authority.

We Have The Experience!


The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is “in

charge” of monitoring inflation. At their meeting on

June 14 – 15, they announced a 75 bps increase in

the fed funds target rate and reaffirmed that their

target range for inflation is 2.00%. The 10-year UST

rate increased to 3.48% immediately prior to the

Fed’s action. The 10-year US Treasury rate is the

benchmark for mortgage rates and is the most widely

traded bond in the world. It has since dropped

to a rate of 2.93%. In addition, municipal rates have

trended up with the 10-year UST. The FOMC met on

July 26 – 27 and raised their target rate another 75

bps. The 10-year UST dropped to 2.68% on July 28.

The Fed meets again in September with all eyes on

whether they continue the increases to attempt to

tame inflation.

Will this be enough to curb the inflationary pressures?

We hope so. Municipalities, like the citizens

who live within them, have budgets that they have

to live by. We are not headed back to the early

‘80’s (in my opinion), but where we land is anyone’s

guess.

L. Gordon King formerly served as General Counsel,

Deputy Director, and Executive Director of the LMA, and

he is now a partner at Government Consultants, Inc.

ENVIRONMENTAL

TECHNICAL SALES, INC.

7731 Office Park Blvd.

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

(225) 295-1200 (225) 295-1800 (fax)

Ronnie Hebert, Chairman

Daniel Hebert, President

Brady Sessums, Vice President

Joseph Hebert

Christian Primeaux

Chad Robinson

www.etec-sales.com

Water … Wastewater … Sludge

Odor Control…Pumping

Equipment Systems

Solutions…Water Meters

Page 16

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Partner Insight

Take Care before taking the Law into Your Own Hands!

SOME TIPS FOR DRAFTING ORDINANCES

BY PATRICIA DOANE, CODE AUTHOR, PLANNER & CARTOGRAPHER, NEIL ERWIN LAW, LLC

1. Assess the Goal. Is your Ordinance

to amend or add a simple

provision of the municipal code or

to amend or enact a whole code

sec tion or chapter? If you need

an entirely new group of regulations--a

development code, for example--think about

what resources you need. You likely will need a consultant

and possibly a review team of stakeholders for

drafting, and then get legal review before introduction

(see No. 8 below).

2. Find a Template Ordinance. If your munici pality has

some recently enacted ordinances get a copy, particularly

any that are similar in character to the type you

are writing.

3. The Basics. Start with a refresher course by reading

Pages 35 – 41 of the LMA’s excellent guide to

Ordinances and Resolutions found in Chapter 1 of

the Handbook for Municipal Officials. This contains

guidance on the differ ence between ordinances and

resolutions, their limitations, and how to enact them.

You can find a link to it in the Publications section of

LMA’s home page.

4. Codification. If you have a Code of Ordi nances, use its

Section numbering format for your changes. Check

the first few pages of the Code book for information

about how the Section numbers are laid out. The

Code pub lisher usually includes guidance on how to

add or amend Sections or Chapters.

5. Look for Examples. There are many sources for examples

of ordinances, but the cardinal rule is to look

at Louisiana communities. Even if you find a great

concept in another state, it may not be allowed under

Louisiana laws.

6. The Municode.com website is a good place to start

your search. The service is free and after you select

Louisiana, it will display all the local governments that

have online code available for online search through

the web site. You can search within each local government

using keywords, or browse through the chapter

headings in the left pane. Select the sections you want

to keep and download them as PDF or Word files.

Look for codes that reference the enabling Louisiana

Statutes. This will give you a head start on researching

its applicability.

7. Get Informed About Preemptive Regulations. Your

existing code may have references already to other

“higher” laws by the State or Federal government

that will help guide you in researching these laws and

regulations. Search for State Statutes on your topic

and verify whether your ordinance meets those requirements.

Relevant State Statutes may be scattered

in more than one place and there are often separate

provisions for specific communities.

8. Check the Closing Sections. If your template ordinance

doesn’t already have a severability clause and a

section describing the effective date of the ordinance,

be sure to add these two sections.

9. Legal Review. Get an attorney with municipal law experience

to review your ordinance, especially if it’s a

complex ordinance, or one with emerging new laws,

such as sign or cell tower regulation.


Bons Temps in Lafayette for the

LMA 85th Annual Convention

President Jennifer Vidrine and First Vice President Derrick Johnson.

Over 1100 local elected officials,

municipal employees, and special

guests representing 303 municipalities

and two consolidated parish

governments, gathered in Lafayette

this week for the Louisiana Municipal

Association’s 85th Annual Convention,

July 28-30 at the Cajundome.

“We are very pleased to be in Lafayette

for our 85th Annual Convention,”

said LMA Executive Director

John Gallagher. “We haven’t held our

convention here since 2015, and it is

always a favorite spot for our municipal

leaders to attend a conference.

We have over 1,100 attendees, and

our members benefit from the opportunity

to network with colleagues

and exchange ideas. Our main

purpose for this convention is education,

and this year we have almost 30

workshops on various topics ranging

from USDA funds to broadband to

fiscal administration and more. These

training sessions give our municipal

officials the tools they need to be

Second Vice President Rick Allen.

more effective municipal leaders.”

Governor John Bel Edwards, Lt.

Governor Billy Nungesser, Treasurer

John Schroder, LaDOTD Secretary Dr.

Shawn Wilson, Insurance Commissioner

Jim Donelan, and U.S. Senator

Bill Cassidy, M.D. were among those

participating in the state’s largest

gathering of municipalities.

During the convention, Jennifer

Vidrine, Mayor of Ville Platte was

installed as Board President. Also

installed were Cheneyville Mayor

Derrick Johnson, as LMA First Vice

President, and Leesville Mayor Rick

Allen, as LMA Second Vice President.

“We’re very excited about our new

leadership governing the Louisiana

Municipal Association for 2022-

2023,” said LMA Executive Director

John Gallagher. “I want to thank

Immediate Past President Michael

Chauffe, Mayor of Grosse Tete, for his

leadership and work in the last year

as he led the LMA. I also congratulate

our new officers, Mayor Vidrine,

Mayor Johnson, and Mayor Allen.

The LMA staff and I look forward to

working with our new leadership as

we endeavor to move our municipal

governments forward in the upcoming

year.”

Page 18

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

2022-23 District Vice Presidents

Ten district vice presidents (DVP) have been elected to

serve during 2022-2023.

Each DVP serves as a regional representative and voting

member of the LMA Executive Board.

LMA District A

4 parishes, 34 municipalities

LMA District B


LMA District C


LMA District D


LMA District E


LMA District F


LMA District G


LMA District H


LMA District I


LMA District J


District A:

Mayor Kim Gaspard

Haughton

District B:

Mayor Ronny Walker

Ruston

District C:

Councilman

Jimmy T. Holland

Oak Grove

District D:

Mayor

Howard “Keith” Lewing

Anacoco

District E:

Mayor Rich Dupree

Pineville

District F:

Mayor Charles James

Sunset

District G:

Mayor Chuck Robichaux

Rayne

District H:

Mayor

Edwin “Ed” Reeves

Plaquemine

District I:

Mayor Jean Pelloat

Madisonville

District J:

Mayor Rodney Grogan

Patterson


Opening Session

The opening session on Thursday, July 28, included a

spirited welcome by Lafayette CAO Cyndra Wingerter,

followed by remarks from Police Jury Association Executive

Director Guy Cormier before the keynote address

from Governor Edwards.

Governor John Bel Edwards addressed

membership at the Opening Session.

Governor Edwards shares a lighthearted moment with John and

Camille Gallagher.

Former Pineville Mayor Clarence

Fields and his wife, Rosa, singing

the Star Spangled Banner.

Opening invocation.

LMA's Leadership with Governor Edwards and Lafayette CAO Cyndra Wingerter.

Leadership and Delegate

Luncheons

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was the keynote speaker for the association’s

Leadership Luncheon. Allison Clarke, Deputy Secretary for the

Office of GeauxBiz, gave a detailed update on elections on behalf of

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. Stacy Duvic, LED Director of Community

Competitiveness (Don Pierson, LED Secretary), announced the two

LED Development Ready Community Awards recipients - Abbeville

and Killian.

During the convention’s Delegate Luncheon, Grosse Tete Mayor, and

Immediate Past LMA President, Michael Chauffe gave his farewell address,

and Service Awards were given out to recognize the hard work

and efforts of LMA staff and members.

Lafayette Fire Department Honor

Guard.

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser and Immediate

Page 20

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

The City of Killian received an LED Development Ready Award.

Susan Russell (standing), Executive Director

of Keep Louisiana Beautiful and Stacy Duvic,

Director of Community Competitiveness at

Louisiana Economic Development.

The City of Abbeville received an LED Development Ready Award.

Vendors

Where would we be without our vendors? They bring such a wealth of information,

knowledge, and opportunities to our members, and we thank them for all they do!


The Annual Prayer Breakfast has become one of the most

popular and well-attended events during the Convention.

Since 2014, the City of Pineville has hosted the prayer

breakfast and this year, national recording artist and

vocal coach Ben Waites served as the featured entertainment.

He gave an emotionally beautiful performance

during the Friday morning event.

Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree presented the event, and

retired Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields was the keynote

speaker. Fields delivered an uplifting and inspirational

message encouraging members to reach beyond party

lines and racial differences to work together to help Louisiana’s

communities move forward.

the opening invocation.

Baker Mayor Darnell Waites gave the closing

benediction.

Pineville Councilman Nathan Martin enjoying

the entertainment.

Former Mayor of Pineville Clarence Fields

was the event's keynote speaker.

Music was provided by national recording

artist and vocal coach Ben Waites.

Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree served as host

for the Annual Prayer Breakfast.

Page 22

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Workshops

Government-Focused Technology

Solutions for Today,

Tomorrow and Beyond called

for attendees to learn how to

leverage technology to lower

operational costs and protect

against unplanned incidents.

The workshop speaker was

Kristina Lagasse Sarai, Director

Communications.

Convention

Broadband Development speakers

included Veneeth Iyengar with

Development and Connectivity,

and Heather Mills and Teles Fremin

with CTC Technology & Energy.

They provided practical information

on how municipalities can

access incoming federal funding to

bridge digital divides within their

communities.

Broadband Solutions for Unserved and Underserved Communities saw LMA members join

community and economic development partners from around the state as they illustrated how

broadband can be transformative for economic and overall quality of life improvements.The

panel host was Ryan Meche, Director, LUS Fiber.

Connecting Your Cities Through

Fiber, C-Band and 5G provided

membership with options

available to them in ensuring

Louisiana’s connectivity. Jason

Winborn, AT&T Area Vice Presi-

Doiron, AT&T State Director

and Jake Stine, AT&T Senior

Principal Architect presented.

Connecting Your Municipality

to Broadband Today

helped members navigate

through the paperwork to

help get their municipalities

connected. V1 Fiber President

& CEO Frank Del Col

and Vice President of Business

Development Walter

Rheinhart presented.

Public Records Requests

was presented by Deborah

Henton, Executive Counsel

for the Louisiana Police

Jury. This session provided

attendees with critical information

about Louisiana’s

“Sunshine Law.”

Catch Leaks Before They Catch You! Integrated

Acoustic Leak Detection for 20 Years

had members learning about the latest

patented acoustic leak sensing technology

years. The workshop presenter was Andrew

Dudley, Solution Manager, Kamstrup.

Finding the Pot of

Gold: Tips on Accessing

Federal Funding allowed

members to learn practical

tips from industry

expert, Brett Kriger, Deputy

Director of Disaster

Response at the LMA, for

seizing IIJA funding and

maximizing its potential.

How to Avoid

Fiscal Administration

saw Michael

G. Battle, Advisory

Services Manager

with Louisiana

Legislative Auditor,

discuss best

practices of the

tion

process.

Introduction to Debt

discussed bonds, the debt

process in Louisiana, and the

various parties involved in the

debt process. Speakers were

Financial Advisors from Government

Consultants, Nnamdi

Thompson, Diatriz “Dee Dee”

Riggins, and Shaun Toups.


Avoiding Vicious Bytes -

Cybersecurity Awareness

was presented by

Eric Romero, IT Director

with The City of Baton

Rouge, and discussed

safeguarding municipal

assets in the virtual

world.

New Funding and Tools to Help

Address Your Municipality’s Litter

Problem addressed new initiatives

that will provide municipalities

with additional supplies,

resources and grant funding. The

workshop presenter was Susan

Russell, Executive Director of

Keep Louisiana Beautiful.

LaMATS & You in 2022 allowed members

insight into LaMATS programs and

services that can assist municipalities.

and LaMATS Purchasing Service Procurement

Consultant Paul Holmes discussed

numerous ways that LaMATS can help.

Rural Development: What is it Good For? Absolutely

Everything! was presented by U.S.

Department of Agriculture Louisiana State

Director Deidre Deculus Robert Esq., along

with USDA Business and Industry Program

Manager Matthew Seaton, Community

Programs Specialist Kyla Fleming, and Single

Family Housing Program Director Faye

Hornsby. Presenters, and discussed ongoing

and new Rural Development programs.

Show Me The Money For Your Municipality

saw members learning about

public-private partnerships and their

use in funding municipal projects.

Bert Carson, Investment Developer

with Sustainability Partners, oversaw

a panel of Sustainability Partners

Dazet, Adam Cain, and Ashley Cain.

Mayor’s Court: Procedures, Update & Best

Practices saw members learning best practices

for ticket procedures, forms, trial,

and court practices, while discussing recent

legislation and its impact on mayor’s

courts. Speakers were City Attorney Bobby

King, and Mayor’s Court Magistrate Todd

Caruso, both with the City of Walker.

Transportation Infrastructure was instrumental in

allowing members to learn more about what federal

IIJA funding means for their respective communities.

The workshop was presented by Dr. Shawn Wilson,

Secretary, Louisiana Department of Transportation

and Development (DOTD).

Talkin’ Trash: Litter Courts and Enforcement

provided attendees with best practices of

litter enforcement as part of a statewide

structured litter program. Presenting the

workshop were Constable Rick Moore, Litter

Enforcement Director with the The State of

Water & Sewer Infrastructure allowed

Amanda Ames, Chief Engineer

with the Louisiana Department of

Health, and Scott Templet, Engineer

Manager with the State of Louisiana

Environmental Quality Department

to advise members on how to improve

their systems for the betterment

of their citizens.

Municipal Exposure assisted members with

highest level of coverage for Louisiana cities,

towns, and villages. Speakers were Patrick

Cronin, General Manager of Risk Management

Inc., and Mike Knaps with the Louisiana

Association of Chiefs of Police.

Environmental Remediation gave members

an opportunity to learn about resources

available through the Louisiana Department

Program. Speakers were Rebecca Otte

-

Technical Liaison, Louisiana Department of

Environmental Quality.

Mayor/Police Chief Relations gave members

a glimpse into relationships between elected

mayors and police chiefs. Experts included

LMA Past President and Woodworth Mayor

Director of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs

Task Force Coordinator with the Louisiana Association

of Chiefs of Police, Mike Knaps, and

Grambling Chief of Police Tommy Clark.

Page 24

LMR | AUGUST 2022

LMA Service Awards

Each year, LMA pays tribute to elected municipal officials, and

LMA staff, who have given their communities many years of

public service. This year, 38 distinguished individuals have

fulfilled the public duty of serving their citizens in every way.

We recognize elected officials who have served for four, six,

eight, and ten terms in office.

The dedication of our recipients has earned our respect and

admiration.

Four-Star Silver Service Award:

The Silver-Star Service Award represents four terms in

office, or 16 years of elected service. This year, we honor the

following recipients, who are:

David Bonin, Councilman, Broussard

Kenny Higginbotham, Councilman, Broussard

Kevin Colligan, Mayor, Cankton

Karla Shively, Alderwoman, Dodson

Chuck D. Autin, Councilman, Franklin

Eugene Foulcard, Mayor, Franklin

Joseph Garrison, Sr., Councilman, Franklin

Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales

Kirk Boudreaux, Councilman, Gonzales

Nicholas Degueyter, Mayor, Leonville

Kerry Willingham, Councilman, Leonville

Terry Montoucet, Councilman, Scott

Wayne Bolton, Councilman, Sibley

Richard Davis, Councilman, Sibley

Robert Smart, Councilman, Sibley

William Borchert, Jr., Councilman-at-large, Slidell

Craig Prosper, Councilman, St. Martinville

Dennis P. Williams, Councilman, St. Martinville

Mario Brown, Chief of Police, White Castle

Six-Star Gold Service Award:

The Six-Star Gold Service Award represents six terms in


following recipients, who are:

Jonathon Foster, Councilman, Amite City

H. Keith Lewing, Mayor, Anacoco

Charles Vincent, Councilman, Baker

T. J. Butler, Jr., Alderman, Franklinton

Michael Fuselier, Councilman, St. Martinville

Eight-Star Gold Service Award:

The Eight-Star Gold Service Award represents eight terms in


following recipients:

Kenneth Giardina, Mayor, Montpelier

Oscar P. Goody, Jr., Councilman, Moureauville

Ten-Star Gold Service Award:

The Ten-Star Gold Service Award represents ten terms in


following recipient:

Harry Lewis, Mayor, Rayville

We are also proud to honor LMA staff members for their

years of dedicated service. This year, we present awards to:

David Marcase, Defense

Counsel, 5 years of service

Tracy Melancon, Director of

Information Technology, 5

years of service

Jennifer Bourgeois,

Controller, 15 years of

service

Dinah “Penny” Ambeau-

Scott, Membership

Services Coordinator, 25

years of service and the

longest standing LMA

staff member.

David Bonin, Broussard

Kevin Colligan, Cankton

Barney Arceneaux, Gonzales

Convention

Harry Lewis, Rayville

Kenny Higginbotham, Broussard

Chuck Autin, Franklin

Kirk Boudreaux, Gonzales


Nick Degueyter, Leonville Kerry Willingham, Leonville Terry Montoucet, Scott Wayne Bolton, Sibley

Richard Davis, Sibley Michael Fusilier, St. Martinville Mario Brown, White Castle H. Keith Lewing, Anacoco

Charles Vincent, Baker T.J. Butler, Franklinton Jennifer Bourgeois, LMA Dinah “Penny” Ambeau-Scott, LMA

Page 26

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

President’s Awards

Each year, the President of the LMA recognizes those

special individuals who have made special “above and

beyond” contributions to our organization.

In recognition of meritorious service to municipal

government in Louisiana, the following received the

President’s Awards:

Retired Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields

• Clarence Fields is a retired

six-term mayor for the City of

Pineville. He served as LMA Past

President, Past President of both

RMI and LaMATS, and long-time

chairman of the LMA Legislative

Committee and Memorial

Committee. Fields is an inductee

into the Louisiana Political Hall

of Fame in Winnfield and the

Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame at

Angola. He served on the LMA

Executive Board for decades and sits on numerous

boards and commissions. We are grateful to Mayor

Fields for his tireless and selfless service to the

people of Louisiana.

Mayor David Camardelle of Grand Isle

Mayor Carmadelle for never giving up on the coastal

communities that we love so much and that are so

vital to Louisiana industry.

Mayor Jimmy Williams of Sibley

• Jimmy Williams is the Mayor

of the Town of Sibley. He is an

LMA Past President and guided

the association through some

of the most horrendous and

challenging years in recent

history, including dealing

with the advent of the global

pandemic, a record-breaking

hurricane season, and the crash

of municipal revenue bases

because of the pandemic.

Throughout his two-year presidency, he faced lifethreatening

illnesses with grace, humor, and courage;

and he never missed a beat. We honor Mayor

Williams as a constant friend, steady leader, and

dedicated public servant.

Mayor Robert Hardey of Westlake (posthumously)

• Bob Hardey was the Mayor

of the Town of Westlake. He

passed away on January 29,

2022 after a courageous battle

with cancer. Mayor Hardey

served as the LMA District G

Vice President. He served on the

Westlake City Council for twelve

years and was elected Mayor in

2014 and then ran unopposed

in 2018. As a testament to his

humanity and service, he was

elected West Calcasieu Outstanding Citizen of the

Year 2021. We are truly heartbroken over the loss

of such a great man, but grateful to have had the

privilege of serving with him.

• David Camardelle is the Mayor of the Town of Grand

Isle. He is an LMA Past President who serves on

the Executive Committee of the LCDA, along with

many other boards and commissions. He has been

in municipal politics for over 40 years, and has

been a constant and fearless advocate for coastal

conservation in Louisiana. He famously quoted, “I’m

not giving up, as long as there’s one grain of sand

on this island, we are going to plant the American

flag and we’ll stay strong.” We thank and salute

Mrs. Janice Hardey accepts the President’s Award on behalf of her

late husband.


On Saturday, July 30 in Lafayette, sixteen

Louisiana municipal governments – Alexandria,

Cankton, Carencro, Crowley, Gonzales, Kaplan,

Lafayette Consolidated Government, Lake

Charles, Mansura, Monroe, Pineville, Scott, Tullos,

Youngsville, Woodworth, and Zachary – took home

Community Achievement Awards, the Louisiana

Municipal Association’s most prestigious award

for outstanding municipal improvements and

accomplishments in the 2021 calendar year.

The top honors of the night went to the Town of

Jean Lafitte, who took home the LMA’s 21st Annual

‘Best of Show’ Award for its “Louisiana Wetlands

Educational Center.” The town is developing a

$3.5 million dollar facility that will create an

educational center for residents and visitors, jobs

in their community, and provide a boost to local

tourism, businesses, and restaurants. Located

in the center of one of the world’s largest and

most productive wetlands and estuaries, this

3,500 square-foot educational center will teach

students, residents, and visitors about the ecology,

importance, and rebuilding of the wetlands

and coast of South Louisiana. Not only will it

provide visitors an opportunity to learn about the

deteriorating coast, but also about how the town is

turning the tide to rebuild the wetlands and save

our environment and way of life.

"The Community Achievement Awards are the

most fun part of the convention because that’s

when all of the villages, towns, and cities have

a chance to show everyone else what they have

accomplished in the last year,” said LMA President

Jennifer Vidrine. “These municipalities are proud

to submit their projects and it gives the entire

convention a chance to see what is happening in

each community. I love it, especially when they

announce the ‘Best of Show’ and everybody is

excited and taking pictures - that’s the best part!

I am encouraging all municipalities to submit

projects for next year’s awards so that all of LMA

can see what you’ve done in your area.“

The LMA’s annual awards program recognizes

municipalities for outstanding achievement

in basic services, community development,

technology & connectivity, and economic

development. Within these categories, awards are

presented in four population subcategories.

“The Community Achievement Awards really are

important to our association,” said John Gallagher,

LMA Executive Director. “This is the highlight of our

annual banquet and I like to call it the Academy

Awards of municipal government in Louisiana.

It’s a way that we can highlight the efforts of

municipalities that have expended funds and

worked hard on projects throughout the last year

- whether it pertains to infrastructure, technology,

or economic development - and give the winning

municipalities the proper recognition for all their

hard work.”

Entries submitted were judged by a committee

of judges from Louisiana Economic Development,

Louisiana Industrial Development Executives

Association, Capital Region Planning Commission,

and the Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal.

The award winners and honorable mentions in

each category and population group are as follows:

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY

Recognizes outstanding achievements during

the 2021 calendar year in public transportation,

citizen participation, public buildings, main

street improvements, development plans, parks

and recreation, beautification, promotion of

community projects, strategic planning, or

cultural enrichment.

Population 3,000 and under:

Winner:

•Town of Tullos – Elevated Tank Restoration

Honorable Mention:

•Town of Simmesport – Sanitation Stations

Population 3,001 to 10,000:

Winner:

•City of Gonzales – All Abilities Field

Honorable Mention:

•City of Franklin – Historic Preservation of City

Hall & Construction of the Bayou Teche Political

Museum

•City of Patterson – City of Patterson Outreach

Program (Senior & Disabled Citizens Drive Thru

Luncheon)


Winner:

•City of Youngsville – City of Youngsville

Municipal Complex

Honorable Mention:

•City of Abbeville – Harmony Park Community

Garden

•City of Gretna – Gretna City Park

Population 25,001+:

Winner:

•City of Lake Charles – #ReTreeLC Initiative

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY

Recognizes outstanding achievements

during the 2021 calendar year in industrial

development, industrial parks, location/

expansion of business and/or industries,

tourism, community promotion, or workforce

development.


Winner:

•Village of Cankton – RG3 Automated Meter

Reader Installation


Winner:

•City of Carencro – 2019 Asphalt Overlay Project

Populations 10,001 to 25,000:

Winner:

•City of Pineville – Why Not Stop at Y-Not Stop

Honorable Mention:

•City of Ruston – Ruston Sports Complex Indoor

Facility

Population 25,001+:

Winner:

•City of Alexandria – Riverfront Amphitheater

Improvements

BASIC SERVICES CATEGORY

Recognizes outstanding achievements during the

2021 calendar year in water, sewer, streets, drainage,

municipal buildings, fire, police, emergency services,

municipal management, solid waste management,

recycling, or communication systems.


Winner:

•Town of Mansura – Bayou Lacombe Drainage

Improvements

Honorable Mention:

•Town of Gibsland – Wastewater Treatment Plant

•Village of Natchez – Wastewater Improvement

Project


Winner:

•City of Kaplan – Sewer Rehabilitation

Honorable Mention:

•Town of Church Point – Church Point Town Hall

•City of Tallulah – Harlem Street Drainage Project


Winner:

•City of Zachary – Transition Guide

Population 25,000+:

Winner:

•Lafayette Consolidated Government – Animal

Shelter Maintains No-Kill Status, Selected for

Shelter Collaborative Program

TECHNOLOGY AND CONNECTIVITY CATEGORY

Recognizes outstanding achievements during

the 2021 calendar year in the expansion of

broadband, marketing, image campaigns,

websites, e-newsletters, local access channels,

communication programs, or proliferation of

technology essentials.


Winner:

•Town of Woodworth – 4 Steps to Tech Success

Honorable Mention:

•Town of Sarepta – Police Body Cams

•Town of White Castle - Town Gym-Fitness and

Wellness Center


Winner:

•City of Scott – Cityworks-Asset Management

System

Honorable Mention:

•Town of Addis – Smart City Initiative

•City of Ville Platte - City Unity Mural


Winner:

•City of Crowley – Baseball/Softball Complex

Revitalization

Population 25,001 and over:

Winner:

•City of Monroe – State of the City Marketing Video

Page 28

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

BEST OF SHOW

Town of Jean Lafitte

City of Monroe, Technology And Connectivity

City of Crowley, Technology And Connectivity

Town of Woodworth, Technology And Connectivity

City of Scott, Technology And Connectivity

City of Carencro, Economic Development

City of Pineville, Economic Development

City of Alexandria, Economic Development

City of Lake Charles,

Community Development

Lafayette Consolidated Government,

Basic Services


City of Gonzales, Community Development

City of Youngsville, Community Development

City of Kaplan, Basic Services

Board and Business Meetings

During the July 27 Board Meeting, retired Pineville Mayor

Clarence Fields, former Stonewall Mayor Randal Rodgers,

and retired Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza, were honored

for their many years of service to both the LMA Board

and their respective municipalities.

Our annual Business Meeting on July 30 saw members

Town of Mansura, Basic Services

voting in the new LMA Constitutional Amendments,

voting for new Board positions, and taking their annual

mandatory Code of Governmental Ethics training.

Let the voting begin!

During Wednesday’s July 27 Board Meeting, retired Pineville Mayor

Clarence Fields, former Stonewall Mayor Randal Rodgers, and retired

Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza, were honored for their many years of

service to both the LMA Board and their respective municipalities.

LMA Executive Director John Gallagher, Immediate Past President

Vidrine (Ville Platte).

Page 30

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

US Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Troy Carter, and State Senator Gerald Boudreaux applaud Mayor Vidrine's historic installation as LMA President.

This year’s Annual Banquet was an evening that truly put

the commemoration of an historic event on full display.

During the Saturday night banquet, Jennifer Vidrine,

Mayor of Ville Platte, was installed as our new LMA Board

President. Mayor Vidrine succeeds Michael Chauffe, Mayor

of Grosse Tete, as LMA’s highest ranking officer. She

is also the first Black woman to serve as President in the

Association’s 96-year history. Mayor Vidrine will be the

state’s leading advocate for villages, towns, and cities

during her 2022-2023 term as the Association’s President.

She will lead the LMA Executive Board and chair

the LMA Executive Committee.

We are grateful for the presence of so many elected

officials, dignitaries, special guests, and friends who traveled

to Lafayette or virtually shared in the momentous

occasion. The outpouring of support and recognition

flowed in from President Biden and Vice President Harris,

members of our Congressional delegation, Governor

Edwards and his staff, statewide elected officials, legislators,

fellow mayors, and community leaders. LMA members

and their guests packed the Cajundome and were

not only able to witness the event, but everyone had an

opportunity to hear Mayor Vidrine’s vision for LMA and

determination to make sure that no one is left behind as

we push to get the available funding to build Louisiana’s

infrastructure #LMAStrong!

We look forward to a productive year and continuing to

blaze new trails.

congratulates Vidrine. on her new position.

Vidrine with cherished friend and former LMA Board colleague, Norman

"Pete" Heine.


Page 32

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention


Page 34

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

Recognition Galore!

THANKS FOR

HOSTING A

WONDERFUL

85TH ANNUAL

LMA

CONVENTION

LAFAYETTE!

SAVE THE DATE FOR OUR

86TH ANNUAL

Alexandria, Louisiana

CONVENTION AUGUST 3-5, 2023

Page 36

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Thanks to

our Convention Sponsors!

Convention


Page 38

LMR | AUGUST 2022

Convention

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MERS Self Service Portal

The Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (MERS)

now offers members the ability to see their retirement

account in real time.

Each member of MERS, active and retired, can register

their account online. Survivors of deceased members

may also register. It’s easy.

First, go to the homepage at mersla.com and click on

“Self Service Portal” at the bottom of the page. Next,

click on “Self-Registration” to begin the registration

process and locate your account with MERS. By registering

your own account, you help prevent fraudsters from

trying to access your information.

Once an account is established, active members may:

• View employee contribution balances, member

statements, service credit details, and the names of

beneficiaries

• Change address and beneficiary information using

DocuSign

• Calculate an estimate of retirement and/or DROP

benefits

Retired members with an account may:

• Print an income verification letter

• Change address and direct deposit information

using DocuSign

• View most recent history of benefit payments

When setting up your account, please use a personal

email address, rather than your work email. This account

will then be available to you during your work years and

your retirement.

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Page 40

LMR | AUGUST 2022

August 2022

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