NOVEMBER 2022

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Once In a LifetimeBY CLIFF PALMER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAMATSCliff PalmerExecutive Director,LaMATSThe saying, “once in a lifetime” can bea bit overstated at times. But for me,and many long-standing members ofthe LMA, serving alongside formerCity of Baker Mayor/Councilman NormanE. “Pete” Heine has been just that- a true once in a lifetime experience.Born in December 1928 at the familyhome on Ready Street in BatonRouge, this would prove to be a realsign of how he would conduct hislife – always ‘ready’ to serve his fellowman. Mr. Pete’s early years of servicestarted in the U.S. Air Force. He served in the historicpost-WWII Berlin Airlift campaign during 1948 and thenlater as a fighteraircraft crew chiefduring the KoreanWar. He went onto serve severalterms of electedand appointedoffice in hismuch-loved cityof Baker as mayorand councilman,and in West FelicianaParish as their first Parish Manager. In all his years ofservice, Mr. Pete has never betrayed the public’s trust. Hisfamily’s deep pastoral roots provided young Pete with astrong and principled beginning. That foundation wouldquickly become his trademark as he returned home andtransitioned from military service to serving his hometownin a variety of ways.As a confident, skilled, and proven leader, he was electedby his LMA peers to serve as President (1967-1968), andthen a few years later elected as a delegate to the LouisianaConstitutional Convention of 1973 to represent theinterests of local government. Throughout his many yearsas mayor and councilmember, Mr. Pete hasalways been a reliablesource of counsel for theLMA leadership and staff.He has been the face ofthe LMA, and always a capableadvocate ‘ready’ totake on the most difficultissues in an effort to helpeducate and persuade ourfederal representativesin Washington, D.C. andstate officials in BatonRouge. In 2017, LMA PresidentGonzales Mayor Barney Arceneaux selected Heineto receive the coveted LMA President’s Award in recognitionof his valued and sustained service calling him, “aman of his word who deeply cares about people.”Current LMA President and Ville Platte Mayor JenniferVidrine refers to his years of loyal service to the LMA as,“idyllic, and a victory for all humanity.”How do you honor a manwho has, by all accounts,collected a lifetime ofaccolades and achievements?Mr. Pete was recentlyrecognized by the LMAfor his more than 60years of faithful serviceto the organization withthe dedication of thenew LMA ExecutiveBoardroom named on hisbehalf. President Vidrinesponsored the effort to name the new LMA Boardroomafter Mr. Pete, and it wasn’t a hard sell. A man as respected,revered, and admired as Mr. Pete is a man who comesalong only once in a lifetime. We are honored to knowhim, and we are honored to now carry his name with us.Page 10LMR | NOVEMBER 2022
LCRI Holds Reception for Workshop AttendeesFrom left to right: Jennings Mayor Henry Guinn, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Vice President Anthony Bartie, Governor John Bel Edwards, BeauregardParish Police Juror Eddie Ware, Vinton Mayor Marcus Renfrow, Natchitoches Mayor Ronnie Williams, Jr., and Lake Charles Mayor Nic HunterOn October 19, the Louisiana Community ResilienceInstitute held a reception at the Louisiana Governor’sMansion to kick-off of an intensive three-day leadershipworkshop designed to help Louisiana elected officialsfrom areas impacted by hurricanes, flooding, and winddamage. LCRI workshop participants met with subjectmatter experts to develop creative strategies that willimprove community recovery, resilience, and advancement.LMA member mayors who participated were JenningsMayor Henry Guinn, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter,Vinton Mayor Marcus Renfrow, and Natchitoches MayorRonnie Williams, Jr.During the LCRI recovery and resilience workshop,these elected officials worked with nationally renownedprofessionals in planning, architecture, landscape architecture,hazard mitigation, economic and communitydevelopment, transportation, and engineering to developprojects to help their communities approach recoverychallenges through resilient community design.Objectives for this small, closed-door workshop wereto provide elected officials a better understanding ofthe role design, planning, and hazard mitigation play inimproving community resilience, and to substantiallyincrease their capacity to tackle complex issues anddefine solutions by providing a repertoire of ideas tailoredspecifically for their communities. In addition tosite-specific work sessions, the workshop included oneon-onediscussions with professionals and representativesof resource agencies on designing resilient citiesin increasingly dynamic, water-intensive environments.The next workshop will take place in late spring of2023, working with mayors from communities impactedby Hurricane Ida. The workshop is limited tono more than eight elected officials to ensure full andfocused participation. If you’d like to take part, contactMary Bergeron with LSU’s Coastal EcosystemDesign Studio by emailing mberg41@lsu.edu or calling225.802.9932.LMR | NOVEMBER 2022 Page 11
Page 1 and 2: LOUISIANAMUNICIPAL REVIEWPublished
Page 3 and 4: Inside the LMADirector’s Viewpoin
Page 5 and 6: Membership Directory2018 Roster Edi
Page 7 and 8: GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.Special
Page 9: Featureproblems locating replacemen
Page 13 and 14: MunicipalitiesLegal BriefsTHANKSGIV
Page 15 and 16: Affiliate andPartner NewsLaMATS Giv
Page 17 and 18: Risk Management, Inc. Celebrates it
Page 19 and 20: Affiliate andPartner NewsLMR | NOVE
Page 21 and 22: Affiliate andPartner NewsLOUISIANA,
Page 23 and 24: Affiliate andPartner NewsLAMSA Wrap

NOVEMBER 2022

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?