MAY 2023

0 5 . 2 3 

MUNICIPAL 

Parks and 

Recreation Matters 

A Conversation with 

Randy Albarez - Louisiana's 

Own 'Park Zuckerberg'

A Quarter-Century of Municipal 

Service! 

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

The 

of ideas 

Louisiana 

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for municipal 

the official 

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in Louisiana. 

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With 

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serves 

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as a medium 

is read 

for 

by employees 

the exchange 

of 

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

Jennifer Vidrine, LMA President Derrick Johnson, First Vice President Rick Allen, Second Vice President 

Ville Platte Mayor, Cheneyville Mayor, Leesville 

Immediate Past President – Michael Chauffe, Mayor, Grosse Tete 

District 

District A 

Vice 

Vice 

President 

President – 

Kim 

Kim 

Gaspard, 

Gaspard, 

Mayor, 

Mayor, 

Haughton 

Haughton 

District Vice President Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston 

District B Vice President – Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston 

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

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

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

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

District E Vice President Rich Dupree, Mayor, Pineville 

District District F E Vice Vice President President – Charles Rich Dupree, James, Mayor, Mayor, Pineville Sunset 

District G F Vice President – Charles Chuck Robichaux, James, Mayor, Mayor, Sunset Rayne 

District H G Vice President – Edwin Chuck “Ed” Robichaux, Reeves, Mayor, Rayne Plaquemine 

District I H Vice President –– Jean Edwin Pelloat, “Ed” Reeves, Mayor, Madisonville 

Mayor, Plaquemine 

District J I Vice President – Rodney Jean Pelloat, Grogan, Mayor, Mayor, Madisonville Patterson 

District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson 

Page 2 

LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales 

LMA 

LMA 

Past 

Past 

President 

President – 

Johnny 

Johnny 

Berthelot, 

Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales 

LMA Past President David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

LMA Past President David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle 

LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle 

LMA Past President Harry Lewis, Mayor, Rayville 

LMA Past President – Harry Lewis, Mayor, Rayville 

LMA Past President Jimmy Williams, Mayor, Sibley 

Vice LMA President Past President at Large – Jimmy – Dr. Xanthe Williams, Seals, Mayor, Mayor, Sibley Homer 

Vice President at Large – Darnell Dr. Xanthe Waites, Seals, Mayor, Mayor, Baker Homer 

Vice President (< at 1K) Large – Kevin – Darnell Kately, Waites, Mayor, Mayor, Parks Baker 

Vice President (1K (< 1K) – 2.5K) – Kevin – Gail Kately, Wilking, Mayor, Mayor, Parks Ball 

Vice President (2.5K (1K – – 2.5K) – Julius Gail Wilking, Alsandor, Mayor, Mayor, Ball Opelousas 

Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – Julius Alsandor, Mayor, Opelousas 

LMR | MAY 2023

C O N T E N T S | M A Y 2 0 2 3 

DIRECTOR'S VIEWPOINT 

S p r i n g i n g i n t o a c t i o n 4 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 

L e t ' s n o t f o r g e t o u r f a l l e n h e r o e s 

a n d o u r m o t h e r s 5 

12 

PARKS AND 

RECREATION 

MATTERS 

A C O N V E R S A T I O N W I T H 

R A N D Y A L B A R E Z - L O U I S I A N A ' S 

O W N ' P A R K Z U C K E R B E R G ' 

GOVERNOR'S COLUMN 

A W h o l e L o t o f G u m b o & G u m p t i o n 7 

TREASURY NOTES 

L o u i s i a n a V e t e r a n s c a s h c l a i m 9 

TECH TALK 

C a u t i o n : U n w e l c o m e A t t a c h m e n t s 

A h e a d 1 5 

LAMATS 

L a M A T S r e c o g n i z e s c l e r k s ' a s s o c . 

e x c e p t i o n a l l e a d e r s h i p 2 2 

TOURISM TALK 

L e t L o u i s i a n a S h i n e 8 

LEGAL BRIEFS 

B e c o m e R e c r e a t i o n R e a d y 1 5 

RISK MANAGEMENT, INC. 

P a r k s a n d P l a y g r o u n d S a f e t y 2 1 

CLERKS CORNER 

6 2 n d A n n u a l L M C A S p r i n g c o n f e r e n c e 

2 3 

LRPA 

1 s t A n n u a l P a r k s & R e c D a y 2 5 

LAMSA 

L A M S A B o n d s i n A l e x a n d r i a 2 8 

18 

WEST MONROE 

R o l l i n ' a n d P r o g r e s s i n ' o n 

t h e R i v e r 

l O U I S I A N A M U N I C I P A L R E V I E W E D I T O R I A L S T A F F 

E d i t o r - i n - C h i e f J o h n G a l l a g h e r | j g a l l a g h e r @ l m a . o r g 

M a n a g i n g E d i t o r A n i t a T i l l m a n | a t i l l m a n @ l m a . o r g | A M C o r p I n t e r n a t i o n a l 

E d i t o r C h a r l o t t e S m i t h | c h a r l o t t e @ t e a m a m c o r p . c o m | A M C o r p I n t e r n a t i o n a l 

A d v e r t i s i n g : G i n g e r E p p e s | g e p p e s @ l m a . o r g | L M A C o r p o r a t E r e l a t i o n s 

P u b l i s h e r : L o u i s i a n a m u n i c i p a l a s s o c i a t i o n 

E d i t o r i a l o f f i c e s : L o u i s i a n a M u n i c i p a l A s s o c i a t i o n , 6 7 6 7 P e r k i n s R o a d , P o s t O f f i c e B o x 4 3 2 7 , B a t o n R o u g e , 

L A LMR 7 0 8 2| 1MAY - 4 3 22023 7 , e d i t o r @ l m a . o r g , w w w . l m a . o r g , ( 2 2 5 ) 3 4 4 - 5 0 0 1 , ( 8 0 0 ) 2 3 4 - 8 2 7 4 , F A X ( 2 2 5 ) 3 4 4 - 3 0 5 7 . Page 3

DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT 

Springing Into Action 

It’s all systems go here at the 

LMA, as we focus on another 

legislative session. Our team 

is down at the Capitol building 

daily, making sure nothing 

is being missed while 

advocating for each of you. 

They’re tirelessly having conversations 

with legislators 

and lobbyists and making 

sure that our members are 

being looked out for. I want 

to take this time to say thank 

you to each of the LMA staff. 

It’s a busy time of year for us, 

and I’m always amazed that 

it’s handled so professionally 

and so well with no complaints. 

I ask each of you to 

communicate with our team 

on matters important to you, 

and to please take the time 

to tell them thank you for a 

job well done when you see 

them. It’s not an easy task, 

but they do it because they 

know how much each of you 

matters. 

This month’s magazine spotlights 

something I love – the 

great outdoors, specifically 

the beauty of Louisiana. 

Charlotte Smith spoke at 

length to Randy Albarez this 

month, and they both delve 

into the wonder of our Louisiana 

parks system. There’s 

something for everyone 

when it comes to our vast 

and welcoming greenspaces, 

and we have a lot to be proud 

of as a state of inclusivity. 

West Monroe is also featured 

this month. Charlotte 

and Mayor Mitchell discuss 

their budding riverfront redevelopment 

plan, which 

already has new boat slips 

and a marine for residents 

to enjoy. Mayor 

Mitchell utilized 

effective ways 

of communicating 

with 

her citizenry 

on this project, 

and the 

final results will 

be nothing short 

of outstanding. It’s another 

example of using land 

for recreation for all to enjoy. 

Our Legal Briefs by Karen 

Day White tie into our great 

outdoors theme by assisting 

members to understand how 

to open up parks and recreation 

facilities for public use, 

while protecting municipalities 

from legal liability. As 

stated in the article, a valid 

liability waiver “can mean the 

difference between a pre-trial 

dismissal and a policy-limit 

judgment, so it is well worth 

the time.” 

Our District Meetings are 

coming up in June, so we’ve 

put the complete schedule 

in this month. It’s an honor 

to see our LMA District 

Vice Presidents host these 

meetings with such vigor, as 

they understand how vital 

they are to our organization 

and our membership. These 

meetings adhere to our missions 

of education, advocacy, 

and service, and 

they’ll allow you 

to hear from 

candidates 

running for 

LMA Executive 

Office in 

the 2023-2024 

year. I thank 

our host cities and 

mayors in advance for 

the work they each put into 

making these meetings so 

successful, and I look forward 

to productive conversations 

I want to take this time to say thank you 

to each of the LMA staff. It’s a busy time 

of year for us, and I’m always amazed 

that it’s handled so professionally and 

so well with no complaints. 

on our internal operations, as 

well as talks with congressional, 

state, and local leaders. 

Can you believe the year’s 

flown so quickly that registration 

is now open for our 86 th 

Annual Convention? It doesn’t 

seem that long ago that we 

gathered for a successful convention 

in Lafayette, and soon 

we’ll do it all over again at the 

Randolph Riverfront Center in 

Alexandria from August 3-5. 

You’ll find early registration 

information in this edition, as 

well as a final push for you to 

submit projects for our highly 

anticipated Community 

Achievement Awards. I enjoy 

this convention, as each 

year our vendor list and our 

workshops grow, meaning 

the information you receive 

is current and important. And 

John Gallagher, 

Executive Director 

it certainly helps that through 

it all, we’re able to have a lot 

of fun together. To our veteran 

leaders, we welcome 

you back with open arms, 

and to our new attendees, I 

can guarantee you’ll find the 

convention a most valuable 

resource and an excellent way 

to network and find mentors 

to assist you on your journeys. 

Each year we seem to grow 

in attendance numbers, so 

please make plans to book 

your rooms early. 

As always, we are here for 

you. You are the reason we 

come to work each day, and 

you are the reason that work 

is enjoyable. We have issues 

within our organization from 

time to time, just as any organization 

does. But our issues 

are always met with the sincerest 

approach of a compromised 

middle ground. I thank 

you for that, and for your 

faith in me as an Executive Director 

always willing to listen 

to and hear your concerns. 

Being #LMAStong means 

the world to so many of us. 

It’s something I will tirelessly 

work to always be. 

Page 4 


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

Let’s Not Forget Our Fallen Heroes and Our Mothers 

The month of May has particular 

significance to me. As 

Americans, we honor and pay 

special tribute to the brave 

men and women of our military 

who died in service to our 

great Nation. We know this as, 

MEMORIAL DAY. Please join 

me on Monday, May 29th to 

reflect on the true meaning 

of this ultimate sacrifice and 

show our gratitude to the 

families of our beloved fallen 

national heroes. May we NEV- 

ER forget each precious life 

and their contribution to our 

country. OUR FREEDOM WAS 

NOT FREE! I Love Our Military 

Men, Women and their families. 

Every time you see one of 

our military men and women, 

please say, “THANK YOU FOR 

YOUR SERVICE!” 

Prior to Congress officially 

establishing Memorial Day 

in 1971, our nation paid their 

respects each year on Decoration 

Day. At the first one 

in 1868, General (and future 

U.S. President) James Garfield 

gave an address at Arlington 

National Cemetery while an 

estimated 5,000 people decorated 

the graves of 20,000 Civil 

War soldiers with flowers. To 

this day, thousands of volunteers 

decorate the gravesites 

at each of our national cemeteries 

with flowers and miniature 

American flags in recognition 

of every war and conflict. 

While recently in our Nation’s 

Capital attending the annual 

NLC Congressional 

City Conference, 

the LMA honored 

all Louisiana service 

members by placing 

a beautiful floral 

wreath at Arlington 

National Cemetery. 

It was a distinct, 

humbling and 

emotional honor 

to lead our delegation. 

We were 

also privileged to 

visit the extraordinary 

9-11 Memorial 

at the Pentagon 

where we stood on 

hallowed ground 

and heard numerous 

stories from 

that fateful and tragic day in 

2001. May we NEVER forget 

these precious souls (military 

and civilian) and how our 

country changed forever. 

With resounding LOVE and 

GRATITUDE, I find it fitting 

that we also honor in May a 

special group of extraordinary 

individuals known for their 

selflessness, dedication, unmatched 

contributions to our 

WORLD, and indelible unconditional 

LOVE… MOTHERS! 

Next to God’s love, in my opinion, 

there is absolutely nothing 

stronger than A MOTH- 

ER’S LOVE! I have mentioned 

in previous articles, I adore, 

cherish and MISS my dear 

Momma so much every day. 

She provided a comfortable 

and safe home, Christian example, 

education, discipline, 

support, encouragement, 

tremendous LOVE every day 

and she showed me how to 

wear hats (for those wondering 

where I got the love of 

hats from-now you know)! 

One of the many things she 

instilled in me is the core value 

of RESPECT-which is DE- 

Jennifer Vidrine, 

LMA President 

Ville Platte 

VOID today-for Leaders, Office 

Holders, Women and Fellow 

Human beings from the White 

House to the US Capitol to the 

State Capitol to City Hall to 

Associations to Organizations 

to Corporations and to human 

beings from all walks of 

life! We should all go back to 

the old landmark of the basic 

core value of respecting one 

another! My Momma said, “I 

Love You” to me every day of 

my life until the day she died. 

LMR | MAY 2023 Page 5

Her LOVE words still resonate with me today 

and those three (3) powerful words 

have gotten me through good days, bad 

days, disrespectful days, backstabbing 

days, evil days, struggles and life, and 

they can do the same for you! So, take the 

time to tell your Momma, Mom, Mother, 

Big Momma, Nanna, Mawmaw, Meemaw 

or whoever you call Mother, “I LOVE YOU” 

and “THANK YOU” not only on Mother’s 

Day, but every day! Mothers sacrifice so 

that WE can have a better life. Some of us 

will never know the breadth and depth 

of the sacrifices Mothers 

made for us yesterday so 

Scan the QR Code to view additional 

photos from the NLC trip. 

Photos courtesy of Cliff Palmer. 

we could have a better TODAY! Just when 

you think they have given their all, they 

sacrifice even more. Remember MOMMA! 

HAPPY, HAPPY 

MOTHER’S DAY-GIRL POWER! 

Yours in Public 

(and Deeply Grateful) Service, 

Jennifer 

Page 6 


GOVERNOR’S COLUMN 

A Whole Lot of Gumbo and Gumption 

I hope you all had a joyous 

Easter spent with your loved 

ones. Since last month’s column, 

I delivered my final 

State of the State address and 

kicked off the 2023 legislative 

session. 

I’ve been honored to serve 

the great state of Louisiana for 

nearly eight years, but I’m not 

done working yet. I will use 

every remaining day of my 

administration to continue 

working toward our common 

goal – a better, stronger and 

more prosperous Louisiana. I 

want to take a moment with 

you to reflect on the progress 

we’ve made and all that 

Building roadmaps from right now 

to what's next 

I hope to accomplish in the 

upcoming legislative session. 

You may remember back in 

my first inaugural address, I 

promised there was no challenge 

we would not meet. 

Little did we know how often 

that statement would be tested. 

It took a whole lot more 

gumbo and gumption than 

we expected, but we have 

met every challenge. From 

the record budget deficit 

we inherited to the floods of 

2016, to the national reckoning 

over racial injustice and 

discriminatory policing. From 

multiple hurricanes, including 

the two strongest to ever 

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hit our state, Laura and Ida, to 

tornados and a once a century 

pandemic. Despite all that 

we’ve endured, we’ve made 

tremendous progress and 

come out stronger on the other 

side. Thank you for doing 

your part in moving the state 

toward a better tomorrow. 

Since taking office, my administration 

has expanded Medicaid 

to 500,000 working Louisianans, 

produced the best 

budgets for public education 

in state history, ushered in 

record-low unemployment 

rates, diversified Louisiana’s 

growing economy, invested 

$5.5 billion into infrastructure 

projects, and prioritized 

coastal restoration and hurricane 

protection. 

The state has run surpluses 

since the first year my administration 

was fully responsible 

for the budget, transforming 

a $2 billion deficit into consistent 

surpluses. Because of 

this, the state’s rainy day and 

revenue stabilization funds 

will be the healthiest they’ve 

ever been, with more than 

$2 billion set aside for future 

emergencies. We’ve also made 

strides in education. Louisiana 

has gone from a state that was 

disinvesting in higher education 

more than anywhere 

else in the country to a state 

making historic investments 

in education at every level, 

from early childhood to K-12 

to higher education. The state 

has also made an unprecedented 

$750 million investment 

toward overdue sewer 

and water improvements in 

local water and sewer systems. 

My legislative agenda in 2023 

Gov. John Bel Edwards 

prioritizes Louisiana families. 

My pro-life position extends 

beyond my support for limiting 

abortion, and my legislative 

package includes bills to 

increase the minimum wage, 

close Louisiana’s gender pay 

gap, provide paid family and 

medical leave, increase literacy 

rates, eliminate the death 

penalty, and provide abortion 

exceptions for rape and incest. 

If Louisiana really wants to call 

itself a pro-life state, we must 

do more to help families be 

happy, healthy, and successful. 

One of the most important 

things I’m asking of the legislature 

this session is to give 

our teachers a $3,000 pay 

raise as well as $1,500 for support 

workers. We’ve been taking 

small bites of the apple for 

the past five years, with teacher 

pay raises totaling $3,300. 

Because of the hard work we 

have all put in, we can nearly 

double that now. I hope you 

all will support me in giving 

our educators the raise they 

so evidently deserve. 

I look forward to working with 

you all in my final year in office, 

and I thank you for your 

tireless efforts toward a better 

Louisiana. God Bless. 


TOURISM TALK 

Let Louisiana Shine 

Two years ago, the legislature 

moved Keep Louisiana Beautiful 

under my office. Last 

year, the governor named 

me chairman of a task force 

to clean up Louisiana. 

After seven months of meeting 

and bringing in experts, 

we are well on our way to 

making a difference. 

We just finished Love the 

Boot Week with our largest 

clean up ever in Louisiana. 

Over 530 schools, universities, 

civic, and social groups 

in all 64 parishes showed up 

to clean up Louisiana. 

We also partnered with the 

D.A.R.E. program to teach 

kids in schools the importance 

of not littering. We’re 

giving out grants for trash 

receptacles, litter abatement 

equipment such as trucks, 

trailers, and supplies to our 

sheriffs, and anything else 

we can do to help local governments 

and municipalities 

clean up their communities. 

This is something we all can 

work on together and hopefully; 

we can look forward to 

one day having a beautiful 

Louisiana with no trash. 

If you’d like to get more involved 

or get tips on how 

to clean up Louisiana, go to 

www.KeepLouisianaBeautiful. 

Billy Nungesser, 

Lieutenant Governor 

org or reach out to me as we 

want to make sure we are doing 

everything we can to Let 

Louisiana Shine and support 

Keep Louisiana Beautiful. 

Page 8 


TREASURY NOTES 

Louisiana Veterans Cash Claim 

John Schroder, 

State Treasurer 

The 283,000 military 

veterans spanning the state 

are the focus of Louisiana 

Treasury’s newest initiative 

aimed at helping return 

unclaimed property to 

those who have served 

our great nation. It’s called 

the “Veterans Cash Claim,” 

and it’s our latest push to 

help get missing money 

back into the hands of the 

rightful owners. These most 

valiant men and women, 

who served to protect each 

of us, deserve to receive 

their unclaimed property. 

Our Unclaimed Property 

staff is available to help retired 

and active military 

men and women claim their 

money. We will be providing 

in-person assistance at 

upcoming events including 

those sponsored by the 

Disabled American Veterans 

and the VFW. In addition, 

our staff is contacting the 

leaders of other veterans 

groups and organizations 

across the state. We want to 

mobilize our teams and help 

veterans with the process in 

person. 

As a veteran Army 101st Airborne 

Division CID Special 

Agent, I have made returning 

unclaimed property to 

veterans one of my top priorities 

for this year’s 50th Anniversary 

of Louisiana’s Unclaimed 

Property Program. 

I could not be more proud 

of my staff for being able to 

report that more than half 

of the unclaimed property 

checks ever written from the 

Louisiana Department of 

Treasury have been during 

my administration. But now, 

I’d like to turn particular attention 

to giving back to our 

veterans. 

Over the past fifty years, 

Louisiana’s Unclaimed Property 

Program has issued 1.38 

million unclaimed property 

checks, returning $727 million 

to the rightful owners. 

Since I have been in office, 

we have printed 760,575 

checks, putting $278 million 

back into the hands of the 

owners and the state’s economy. 

I plan to increase that 

number to include as many 

veterans as possible who 

have money in our system. 

Unclaimed property is lost or 

forgotten money from items 

such as royalties, unclaimed 

cash, stocks, bonds, securities, 

and insurance proceeds 

never paid out. One in six 

individuals in Louisiana has 

unclaimed property, with 

claims averaging $900. 

To check for unclaimed 

property or learn more 

about the “Veterans Cash 

Claim” program, go to LaCashClaim.org. 

If you know of 

a veterans group or organization 

interested in having a 

UCP booth at an upcoming 

event or meeting, please call 

us at (225) 342-0015. 


LMA Members Gather for 

46th Annual Municipal Day and Crawfish Boil 

LMA members came from across the 

state to join together at the State Capitol 

on Tuesday, April 25, for our 46th Annual 

Municipal Day. Advocating for citizens 

across Louisiana was alive and well, as 

members met with lawmakers to discuss 

the issues that mean the most to their 

constituents. Over 250 people attended, 

including event sponsors, members of 

the House and Senate, and several delegates 

from state agencies. 

Longtime LMA contract lobbyist Paulette Bailey Wilson greets Gov. Edwards. 

Speaking to the delegation at the start of 

Municipal Day were Rep. Rick Edmonds, 

Chairman, House Committee On 

Municipal, Parochial And Cultural Affairs; 

Rep. Roy Adams; Rep. R. Dewith Carrier; 

Rep. Matthew Willard; Rep. Ed Larvadain; 

and Guy Cormier, Executive Director of 

the Police Jury Association of Louisiana. 

We are grateful for the time they each 

took to visit with our LMA members. 

LMA Leadership with Gov. John Bel Edwards. 

Rep. Ed Larvadain. 

Edmonds warmly greets Gonzales Councilman and former legislator Johnny Berthelot. 

Guy Cormier, PJAL Executive Director. 

Page 10 


LMA Leaders with House Speaker Clay Schexnayder. 

April 25th was declared “LMA Day” by the House of Representatives. 

Rep. R. Dewith Carrier 

Rep. Roy Adams 

Rep. Matthew Willard 

The Louisiana 

Municipal Association 

expresses heartfelt 

gratitude to everyone 

for their generous 

contributions and 

assistance which 

made our 46th Annual 

Municipal Day and 

Crawfish Boil possible. 


Randy Albarez – 

Louisiana’s 

Very Own 

‘Park Zuckerberg’ 

Randy Albarez is 

the Executive Director 

of Parks 

and Recreation for 

the City of Walker. 

Before that, Randy 

was a Sales Consultant for 

Louisiana for Musco Sports 

Lighting. While with Musco, 

Randy was part of numerous 

athletic field projects from 

Youth Sports, to LSU sports, to 

the New Orleans Saints, just to 

name a few. Randy has been 

a park and recreation professional 

for over 30 years, starting 

at BREC in Baton Rouge. He 

served as Executive Director 

of West Feliciana Parish Parks 

and Recreation and the Hammond 

Area Recreation District 

No.1. At both, he helped 

develop and oversee two departments 

from the ground 

up and was the point of contact 

on construction of two of 

the premier Sports Complexes 

in the state of Louisiana. Starting 

with the West Feliciana 

Sports Park in St. Francisville, 

and then Chappapeela Sports 

Park in Hammond. Randy has 

also been fortunate to serve 

on many state (LRPA), (LMA) 

and national (NRPA) boards 

Randy Albarez with daughter Miranda Albarez. 

– all boards he’s still a valued 

member of. So, when the idea 

hit me to dedicate an edition 

to our Louisiana parks, recreation 

facilities, and the plentiful 

great outdoors, there was 

only one person I wanted to 

speak with. You guessed it – 

Randy Albarez. 

“I started in Parks and Recreation 

at the age of nineteen as 

a day camp counselor working 

summers to help pay for 

college. At first, I wanted to be 

a coach and teacher, but after 

a couple of years working for 

BREC and working in the Intramural 

departments at SLU, 

I realized I wanted to take a 

recreational path in my career.’ 

And luckily for Louisiana he 

made that shift. He’s a valued 

resource for so many Parks 

and Recreation Directors 

and their staff that there’s no 

doubt he made the right call 

– or calling. 

Among the most important 

qualities that a Parks and Recreation 

Director should have, 

Randy cites “passion, patience, 

integrity, and a thinking 

outside of the box mentality.” 

Most of all, though, 

is a continuous willingness 

Page 12 


to leave things better than you found 

them.” 

But is that as easy as it sounds? Randy believes 

it is if you can use a clearly defined 

process for evaluating the success of your 

parks and recreation programs. 

“We should always be striving for an improvement 

in the quality-of-life opportunities 

we give our communities. You 

best time to schedule maintenance for 

parks and recreational facilities. 

“Most facilities have to be maintained 

daily, or the wear and tear will be evident. 

Outdoor/Indoor facilities are just 

like your home. You have to take care 

of them depending on the season and 

need. My facilities all have a Maintenance 

Master Plan schedule that we follow. My 

staff will tell you I am very big on first 

is that people when forced or told they 

can’t do something will get outside. We 

need to let our citizens know Parks and 

Rec is cool!” 

And with an influx of allergy meds available, 

that excuse doesn’t fly any longer! 

As the season gets busier, more hands 

touch equipment. So, just how often 

should parks and recreational facilities 

can gauge your success by community 

involvement over a sustained period of 

time. 

Everyone likes something when it is shiny 

and new, but can you continue over a period 

of time to keep it that way? 

Utilizing volunteers can help with this by 

making a huge impact. 

“We would not be able to offer the programs 

we do, especially for youth sports 

if it weren’t for volunteers. There are not 

enough volunteers, but we do what we 

can to recruit by offering quality programs 

that everyone wants to be a part 

of. Training to help volunteers be successful 

is also key. We have sponsors that 

offer discount cards for goods and let us 

pass them along to our volunteers. 

With us on the heels of a newly minted 

spring season, and summer not far behind, 

Randy is clear and concise on the 

impressions and 

insist on addressing 

what needs to 

be done or fixed 

right away. I keep 

an old-fashioned 

farmer’s almanac 

on my desk all the 

time.” 

As a state, we obviously want to increase 

the number of people who use our parks 

and recreational programs in Louisiana. 

But how? Allergies keep people away. 

Kids prefer technology to fresh air. So, 

how do Parks and Recreation Directors 

combat that? 

“Set up a ‘Get Out and Play Campaign.’ 

We need all agencies in the state to promote 

parks and recreation. If there is one 

thing we were taught when we were 

basically shut inside for a year and a half 

be cleaned? 

“Everyday! Sometimes a few times a day. 

Is it realistic to cover a large department 

24/7? No. But if our citizens would take 

ownership and help us keep our parks 

and facilities clean by doing their part, it 

would make the job easier, and citizens 

would feel prouder of their facilities! I 

taught my kids from an early age that 

we would leave somewhere we visited 

better than we found it. Even if it means 

picking up someone else’s mess.” 


With fingers in a lot of pies, Randy sounds 

like quite a busy man, so what’s a typical 

day like for him? 

“I usually wake up between 5:30 am and 

6:00 am to get ready for work and start on 

my day. I make calls on the way into the 

office and just make a list of the top five 

things I need to get done that day. We call 

our office organized chaos sometimes 

because we are not always sure what or 

who will pop in on us. I wear many hats as 

the Executive Director. I am a consultant, 

project manager, budget director, procurement 

manager, supervisor of staff, 

and a quality control officer just to name 

are big issues. Balancing where to put resources 

without hurting anyone’s feelings 

isn’t the easiest task.” 

With so many residents, and each wanting 

different things, how does Randy 

manage to keep everyone happy? 

“By offering as many programs and opportunities 

as possible that fit our community. 

You can’t force something that 

doesn’t fit. Utilizing 

resources and partnerships 

in an area 

that makes sense 

is key. You do not 

have to reinvent the 

when it is not offered. “ 

What can people expect on the day? 

“To walk away with the feeling that in 

some small way, parks and recreation 

professionals and departments do matter 

in terms of the quality of life for all our 

citizens we serve. And more importantly 

partnerships and networking are vital to 

all of our successes.” 

a few. I try to fit dinner in with my wife or 

an LSU ball game with one of my kids. I 

usually get to bed between midnight or 

2:00 am, and then I start all over.” 

I’m not a fan of someone who’s braggadocious, 

but I am a firm believer in people 

blowing their own trumpets when doing 

a great job, and Randy’s doing a great job. 

So, what are the qualities he possesses 

that make him feel he’s a successful Parks 

and Recreation Director? 

“I’m a good listener, and I have an understanding 

of what the end goal is and 

who it is for. Oh, and patience, patience, 

patience!” 

But he must face challenges, right? It can’t 

be all rosy. 

“Budget constraints and communication 

with the underserved of a community 

Page 14 

wheel, but changing things up and offering 

some diversity helps give residents 

more choice.” 

As many are aware, the LRPA is 

holding their first, open to the public, 

Parks & Rec Day on May 16 at the 

State Capitol and grounds. Where did 

the idea come from? 

“Years ago, LRPA had a day at the capitol. 

It was basically handing out pencils 

and memo pads. The LRPA Board came 

up with the idea to be more 

engaged with our elected officials. 

Louisianians like to have fun. Our 

event this year will hopefully 

engage our legislators to participate 

and have some fun with us, while at 

the same time learning the 

importance of what we offer to our 

and their communities through some 

hands on education. And sadly, what 

happens 

Why should more people utilize our local 

parks? 

“For physical, spiritual and mental 

well-being that makes us all better human 

beings!” 

Randy was great to talk to. I love an interviewee 

so passionate about what they do, 

and I hope everyone takes advantage of 

the May 16 event, or at least uses Randy 

as a resource for some wonderful information. 

I won’t be in town, but I’ve got other plans 

based on Randy’s cavalcade of ideas. It 

seems that when discussing offerings 

Randy feels are missing from our parks 

and recreation facilities, Baby Goat Yoga 

tops the list. You “herd” it here first, ladies 

and gents – Don’t even “goat” me started 

on how much I want to do this. I’m not 

even “kid”ding! 

by Charlotte 

Smith 

AMCorp 

International 

Smith is a Senior Communications 

Consultant for AMCorp and is the Editor 

of the Louisiana Municipal Review. 

Contact: charlotte@teamamcorp.com 


LEGAL BRIEFS 

Become 

Recreation 

Ready 

The arrival of warm weather in Louisiana 

ushers in an influx of outdoor activities, 

where long, hot days give way 

to fun-filled nights. As we continue to 

emerge from the dark days when COVID 

first arrived in our state, one thing remains 

clear: Louisianans love fairs, festivals, 

and outdoor recreation. As English 

author Fennel Hudson notes, “Cooking 

and eating food outdoors makes it taste 

infinitely better than the same meal 

prepared and consumed indoors.” 

The downside from a legal standpoint 

is that hosting more people on municipal 

property increases the potential for 

personal injury lawsuits. June, July and 

August are statistically the months with 

the highest reported rates of accidental 

injury, as residents and guests soak up 

all the culture that Louisiana has to offer. 

So how can a municipality protect itself 

against legal liability while embracing 

tourism and special events? 

There are statutory protections in place 

for municipalities who make their land 

available for recreational use (“Recreational 

Use Immunity”), but it’s even 

better to have a comprehensive, legally-binding 

waiver/release of liability in 

hand when someone is unfortunately 

injured. 

Obviously, it’s not practical or even logistically 

possible to have everyone at 

a community festival stop and sign a 

waiver as they enter onto municipal 

property. Further, courts have consistently 

held that the boilerplate language 

printed on the back of an admission 

ticket does not generally amount 

to an enforceable agreement. But if a 

group rents space in a municipal building 

or on municipal property for a function, 

there should be an agreement setting 

forth the terms of that rental. Even 

if groups are allowed to use municipal 

SEE BRIEFS PAGE 16 

Modern Technology in Times of Emergency 

In late August of 2022, the City 

of Ruston was hit by one 

of the largest natural disasters 

to land in our 

area in decades. The 

lives lost, the property 

damaged, and 

the magnitude of 

this disaster left us 

all wondering the 

same questions: could 

we have done more to 

make sure our residents 

were prepared for this event, 

and could there be more that we could 

do afterwards to ensure that cleanup 

efforts and safety notices went out efficiently 

and effectively? Those questions 

led the City of Ruston to explore its new 

public emergency communication system. 

Over ten years prior to this hurricane, the 

City had invested in an audible tornado 

alarm system. With sirens strategically 

placed all over the city, coverage was provided 

to notify as many people as feasibly 

possible during two primary events: public 

emergencies and tornado alarms. That 

system was designed with good intentions, 

but residents quickly became 

unsure of exactly what an alarm sound 

meant, and testing these devices led to 

a boy-who-cried-wolf effect: citizens began 

to ignore siren sounds during the 

day, as they often did not know the difference 

between a test and real threat. This 

plus a decade of degrading parts put the 

City on a path to explore new options for 

a new public notification system. 

After looking at several options, we 

eventually landed on the Code Red alert 

system – one of many systems available 

on the market with similar functions and 

features. These modern alert systems 

rely fully on technology, sending out notifications 

through email, text, and app 

notifications. As an added bonus, most 

of these systems allow users to receive 

phone calls, as well, should they be tied 

to a landline only. We embraced this new 

system from day one and began a public 

information campaign to get citizens 

registered to receive alerts as quickly as 

possible. Buy-in was initially 

slow, but as word of mouth 

spread about the usefulness 

of the automated 

and manual 

alerts sent out, registrations 

began 

to rise. With every 

severe weather 

event in our area, we 

continue to see new 

citizens sign up, as our 

alert system triggers automated 

NWS alerts by geographic 

area, and citizens can get real-time, applicable, 

clear, concise alerts as soon as 

the NWS (or the City) pushes the information 

out. No more having to wait on 

TV weather updates or staying glued to 

a weather app on your phone – the information 

comes to you when you need 

it most. This alert system also allows the 

City to push out a number of other public 

alerts beyond weather, such as road 

closures, boil advisories, etc. 

This new system was not free, but we 

consider the cost to be well worth it. Louisiana 

has dealt with its share of severe 

weather and natural disasters, and one 

thing we can all agree on is that there 

is no price too small when it comes to 

keeping our residents safe. For those cities 

that have yet to look into such notification 

systems, we highly recommend it. 

A modernized public alert system is not 

the final, fool-proof answer, but it brings 

us great strides forward in our goal to 

send out advanced and timely notices of 

emergency events and, hopefully, save 

lives in the process. 

by Dusty 

Hampton 

City of Ruston 

Dusty is the IT/Telecom Director for the 

City of Ruston, He can be reached by 

emailing dustyhampton@rustonla.gov. 


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15: BRIEFS 

property without charge, an agreement 

should still be executed. That paperwork 

should include language that the party 

will defend, indemnify, and hold the municipality 

harmless from any legal action 

should someone on the premises be injured 

during that activity. 

If inherently dangerous activities occur 

on municipal property, participants and 

those entering the property for that purpose 

should sign a waiver of damages 

form, stating, at a minimum: 1) that they 

acknowledge the risk of injury from the 

activity is significant; 2) that they knowingly 

and freely assume all risks, both 

known and unknown, even if they arise 

from the negligence of the released parties 

or others, and that they assume full 

responsibility for their participation; and 

3) that they freely and voluntarily agree 

to release and hold harmless the municipality 

should they be injured. Some 

examples of such activities would be 

baseball, water recreation, and extreme 

sporting activities like motocross. 

Note that since minors do not have 

the capacity to contract, municipalities 

should require that the parent or legal 

guardian execute the waiver on behalf of 

the minor child. 

Drafting such legally-enforceable documents 

is both art and science, and should 

be a collaborative effort between the 

municipal attorney and the municipal 

employee who has the necessary knowledge 

of the property. That piece of paper 

can mean the difference between a 

pre-trial dismissal and a policy-limit judgment, 

so it is well worth the time. 

by Karen Day 

White 

LMA Executive 

Counsel 

White is a member of the LMA Legislative 

Advocacy Team and can be reached at 

kwhite@lma.org. 

If you have any questions, please contact LMA Deputy Director Richard Williams by emailing rwilliams@lma.org or calling 225-332-7640. 

Page 16 



West Monroe: 

Rollin’ and Progressin’ on the River 

Campbell’s Landing Ribbon Cutting 

Nestled on the 

west bank of 

the Ouachita 

River is the 

City of West 

Monroe. She’s 

a quaint and a pretty city, 

with numerous green spaces 

and more than most in terms 

of activities. West Monroe 

caught the attention of U.S. 

News and World Report earlier 

this year by being voted 

third in their list of Top 10 

Best Southern Small Towns. 

Anyone who’s visited is sure 

to know why. It’s a great location 

that’s constantly moving 

forward by adding things 

that draw people in and amplify 

their quality of life. One 

such addition is a brand new 

downtown riverfront project, 

centered on community want 

A rendering displays the final outcome for the current downtown riverfront project 

and need. 

“The community was involved 

in several different 

ways - public town hall meetings 

held at various times 

and locations, online surveys, 

Zoom meetings, and one-onone 

meetings with key leaders 

and stakeholders,” said 

Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell. 

“Then a master plan steering 

committee of community and 

business leaders was formed 

along with various subcommittees. 

Master planning was 

done specifically for Downtown 

West Monroe as part of 

the Downtown West Monroe 

Streetscape Master Plan and a 

Citywide Master Plan.” 

Connecting with the community 

is close to Mayor Mitchell’s 

heart, as progress can 

only come when the voice of 

Page 18 


the chance to enjoy their input on the 

great outdoors while supporting their 

local economy in the process. 

with the city’s portion. 

Projects like this can take a while to get 

off the ground, so West Monroe will be 

adding to it as the years go by. But there’s 

already much progress that’s been made. 

Mayor Staci Albritton Mitchell 

the populous is considered. What good 

is building or improving if it’s not in the 

best interest of the people you serve? So, 

utilizing new ways, and all ways, to reach 

an entire city’s audience became key. 

“Social media was highly used to promote 

the survey and town hall meetings. 

Traditional media is not always seen 

by the general public, so it is important 

to find various ways to connect with all 

aspects of the community,” said Mayor 

Mitchell. “To that point, Facebook isn’t 

the only form of social media that is 

viewed by the public, which is why we 

are exploring other forms of social media 

such as Instagram and TikTok, which has 

afforded us a unique way to get messaging 

out to different audiences while telling 

the same story. We have found it to 

be an effective way to reach a younger 

audience and work closely with our Mayor’s 

Youth Council members who serve 

as the litmus test for what forms of social 

media are used and how they are viewed 

among a younger demographic. We also 

used the City of West Monroe website; 

a texting service; press releases to local 

media outlets; television appearances; 

email blasts from the Chamber of Commerce; 

signage around town; as well as 

having other city departments such as 

the West Monroe Senior Center and the 

West Monroe Community Center help 

spread the word.” 

The overall aim of the downtown riverfront 

project is simple - give all residents 

The public was an important resource for the project. 

“There will be greater accessibility to the 

Ouachita River for recreational usage, 

which includes fishing, performing arts, 

boating, water sports, etc., as those were 

top priorities identified in the plan,” added 

Mayor Mitchell. “An important part 

of this project is accessibility to the river 

that connects to downtown, providing 

an economic and cultural boost to the 

businesses, restaurants and other entities 

located in the downtown district. 

The public and private sector working 

together is what is making West Monroe 

and our community successful. The community 

must support the vision, projects, 

and direction 

the city is moving, 

so community engagement 

is one 

of the most important 

aspects of local 

government.” 

The City purchased 

the land 

for $300,000, with 

another $50,000 

donated by the 

landowners. Grants 

from both the Louisiana 

Department 

of Wildlife and Fisheries 

and the AARP 

were used to assist 

“The marina portion is in and ready to be 

used. It has four pull-in slips and enough 

area for about fifteen other boats, depending 

on the river level and length of 

the boat. The public can just pull in or 

along the marina, tie up, and go eat or 

shop downtown. It is a complimentary, 

recreational marina, not for overnight 

parking,” said Mayor Mitchell. “Now we’re 

waiting to hear from the Louisiana Department 

of Wildlife and Fisheries that all 

is in order, and we can advertise for bids. 

I hope the fishing pier will be under con- 

Campbell’s Landing is one of the boat slips currently open to the public. 


Mayor Mitchell cuts the ribbon so Campbell’s Landing can 

be utilized. 

struction by this summer. We’re waiting 

for another cost estimate to rehabilitate 

the existing building on the property and 

are looking for funding opportunities for 

the amphitheater and stage now.” 

Many towns and cities in Louisiana struggle 

with populations moving elsewhere. 

The reasons are many, but tend to focus 

on better jobs, better schools, and better 

access to things for residents to do. West 

Monroe didn’t want to become a statistic 

in terms of people moving on. They want 

their people to stay, and they want even 

more to come, so the project was very 

focused on a way to make people take 

pride in the city. 

“A happy community makes all the difference 

in the world,” added Mayor Mitchell. 

“Community involvement and participation 

is making these projects successful. 

The marina, gangway and movement/ 

construction of the marina was paid for 

with private contributions. There are 

several things that will come from this 

project. Downtown West Monroe is already 

a great destination. The addition 

of the riverfront development will bring 

more visitors to West Monroe, give our 

current residents a better quality of life, 

and increase our economic activity. More 

consumers mean more businesses and 

vice versa. More economic activity not 

only means more jobs and disposable 

income for individuals, 

but it also means increased sales 

tax revenue for the City, school 

board, and the state. So, with all 

projects, we are working to take 

West Monroe to the next level.” 

Taking it to the next level has 

been on Mayor Mitchell’s agenda 

since she first took office. 

Since 2018, West Monroe has 

seen funding for replacements 

of two of the city’s largest sewer 

lift stations, a completed detention 

project that alleviated 

historical flooding in a neighborhood, 

the securing of funding 

for repair and improvements 

to a large drainage canal, and 

many other projects. 

“Essential infrastructure will always 

be a priority, but we must 

also work for things like improving 

connectivity all over the City,” said 

Mayor Mitchell. “Safety for pedestrians 

and cyclists is important and was identified 

as a top priority in the citywide Masterplan. 

My administration is working 

with the public on identifying projects 

and funding so all areas of the city - residential, 

recreational, green space, and 

business are connected safely for pedestrians, 

automobiles, and cyclists.” 

Once again, it all comes back to community 

engagement, and West Monroe is 

leading a charge on outreach that other 

towns and cities could benefit from. 

“There is not one form of outreach that 

works best – it takes a concentrated effort 

of all of these various mediums,” said 

Mayor Mitchell. “The important thing 

is consistency and regular posts with a 

variety of content that engages various 

groups, businesses, demographics, etc. 

We are constantly working to find ways 

to engage with the public. The most important 

is one-on-one interactions. My 

office hosts regular opportunities for the 

public to visit with me and department 

heads to get updates and ask questions 

about things happening in the community 

– Parklet Day, Coffee with the Mayor, 

walkabouts in various neighborhoods, 

visiting local restaurants and businesses. 

We do it all.” 

To find out more about West Monroe and 

their projects, visit their website, https:// 

www.cityofwestmonroe.com/. They turn 

140 this year, and are gearing up for a not 

to be missed Ouachita Riverfest sponsored 

by Duck Commander and Curly’s 

Top Dog on Saturday, May 13 from 10am 

- 4pm in downtown West Monroe. 

Check out West Monroe’s upcoming Ouachita 

RiverFest. 

“There will be live local music from 11am 

- 5pm, a Big Bass Tournament sponsored 

by the Honey Hole Tackle Shop, and a 

Duck Drop sponsored by Pinch a Penny 

Pool supply store,” added Mayor Mitchell. 

“The Kids Zone is sponsored by Building 

Futures Pediatric Therapy. The free festival 

will be held in Alley Park and on the 

streets of downtown West Monroe. It will 

be a great event, and the funds raised will 

further benefit the downtown riverfront 

development. I invite you all to come and 

see just how we’re making progress happen 

in West Monroe.” 

by Charlotte 

Smith 

AMCorp 

International 

Smith is a Senior Communications 

Consultant for AMCorp and is the Editor 

of the Louisiana Municipal Review. 

Contact: charlotte@teamamcorp.com 

Page 20 


RISK MANAGEMENT, INC. 

Parks and Playground Safety 

Now, with park and playground crews 

out raking leaves and cleaning parks, it 

is the perfect opportunity for municipalities 

to have their crews inspect and double 

check the safety of their playgrounds, 

playground equipment, and the surrounding 

areas. The following guidelines 

should help you reduce your municipality’s 

liability and make your playgrounds 

safer for the citizens who use them. 

Park Rules 

Every park should have established and 

posted rules to protect the users and reduce 

the municipality’s liability. 

A few examples of these rules would 

be: No glass containers allowed in park; 

Children less than 12 years of age must 

be supervised by an adult; No alcoholic 

beverages; No profanity. 

The municipality should establish their 

own set of rules to best suit the interests 

of the municipality and the patrons using 

the facilities. 

Inspection of Parks 

The park maintenance crews shall check 

the parks every day to ensure safety of 

equipment and cleanliness of the park’s 

facilities and grounds, and they should 

document these inspections and any 

problems found. 

Crews should be especially observant of 

the following conditions: 

A concern would be broken fencing materials, 

benches, tables, and signs on the 

playground. Ensure that Park Rules are 

posted, legible, and very visible to all entering 

the park. Check for unlevel walking 

areas. Include in this check, exposed 

tree roots and stumps, rocks, and equipment’s 

exposed concrete footings. These 

are all potential trip/fall dangers. Survey 

the entire playground for debris such as 

fallen tree limbs, broken bottles/glass, 

and overfilled refuse containers. 

Check Condition of Equipment 

Check the playground equipment for 

rust, rot, cracks, or splinters, especially 

where it comes into contact with the 

ground. For example, 

extended or protruding 

bolts and screws that are 

not protected by rubber 

caps. Inspect seesaws 

closely to ensure that partial 

car tires or some other 

shock absorbing material is embedded 

in the ground underneath the seats or 

secured on the underside of the seat itself. 

Check equipment to ensure that it is 

securely anchored, and that all hardware 

is secure. This would include checking 

loose or worn fastening devices and connections 

such as “S” hooks. Look closely at 

moving components, like swing hangers 

and merry-go-round bearings to ensure 

that they are not worn. Ensure that there 

are no broken or missing components on 

any of the equipment. This would include 

handrails, guardrails, protected barriers, 

steps, and rungs on the ladders. 

Broken Equipment 

If broken equipment is detected during 

your inspection, it should be immediately 

repaired or removed. If removal of 

a piece of equipment is required, be sure 

to also remove the base and/or footings 

that it is mounted to, and then level out 

the surrounding ground. This will ensure 

no trip/fall hazards are left behind. 

Use Zones and Fall 

Heights 

The Use Zone is the surface 

under and around a 

piece of equipment onto 

which a child falling from 

or exiting from the equipment would 

be expected to land. There are specified 

standards for Use Zones as well as Fall 

Heights. Use Zones are a minimum of 

six feet in all directions of playground 

equipment. Some equipment requires 

larger areas of Use Zones, such as slides 

and swings, which is determined by the 

type and height of the equipment. Fall 

Heights is the vertical distance between 

the highest designated play surface on 

a piece of equipment and the protective 

surfacing beneath it. 

Cushioning Material/Protective 

Surfacing 

Of utmost urgency is the presence of 

cushioning or protective surfacing 

materials under and around the playground 

equipment. There are various 

types of materials that can be used 

such as sand, treated wood fiber, wood 

chips, mulch, mats made from safe- 

SEE SAFETY PAGE 22 


LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES 

LaMATS Recognizes Clerks’ Assoc. Exceptional Leadership 

Throughout the twenty-five 

year history of LaMATS, the 

members of the Louisiana 

Municipal Clerks Association 

have been our great friends 

and close partners in service. 

In cities large and small, it 

is the Clerks who hold the 

institutional memory and 

provide the administrative 

continuity that support their 

Mayors, Councilpersons, and 

citizens alike. 

The LMCA is dedicated to the 

continued education and professionalism 

of its members, 

and its leadership assures the 

continuing strength of the 

organization. With the LMCA’s 

recent election of new officers, 

LaMATS commends the 

service of those who have led 

the organization over the past 

year and those accepting the 

mantle for its future. 

LaMATS Executive Director 

Cliff Palmer, speaking on behalf 

of the bureau’s staff and 

Board of Directors, expressed 

his “warmest welcome and 

congratulations” to President 

Lora W. Johnson, LMMC, MMC 

of New Orleans, and “our sincerest 

thanks for the outstanding 

service of Immediate Past 

President Dolores Quebedeaux,” 

LMMC, of Arnaudville. 

Ms. Quebedeaux described 

her tenure leading the 

LMCA as “the opportunity 

of a lifetime, truly an honor 

and pleasure,” and thanked 

her supportive City Council 

members and Arnaudville 

Mayor, Todd Meche. 

In comments on her new role 

as member of the LMCA Executive 

Board, President Johnson 

said, “It is our duty to serve 

the membership and to unite 

all the Municipal and Deputy 

Clerks. I am here to help 

achieve our goal of Unity, because 

in the LMCA, everyone 

has a voice.” Johnson invited 

all clerks to contact her with 

suggestions for training and 

any ideas for positive change 

for the organization. “I am always 

open and ready to listen 

and serve,” she said. 

Dolores Quebedeaux (R) passes the presidential gavel to Lora Johnson (L). 

Additionally, LaMATS wishes 

to recognize the full slate of 

new LMCA officers, including 

Vice President 

Veronica Williams, 

MPA, LCMC, of Lafayette; 

Secretary/ 

Treasurer Veronica 

Brown, LCMC, of 

Greenwood; Public 

Relations Officer 

Meshaun Arcenaux, 

LMMC, of 

Napoleonville; and 

Ex-Officio Board 

Member, the Hon. 

Jennifer Vidrine, LMA President 

and Former Mayor, Ville 

Platte. 

by Cliff 

Palmer 

LaMATS Executive 

Director 

Palmer leads the Louisiana Municipal 

Advisory and Technical Services Bureau 

(LaMATS) - a subsidiary of LMA. He can 

be reached at cpalmer@lamats.net. 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21: SAFETY 

ty tested rubber, or rubber-like mats. 

Make sure that the material meets the 

type and depth requirements for each 

piece of equipment. In High Impact 

areas under swings, slides, merry-gorounds, 

etc. these cushioning materials 

must be raked and leveled each day. 

Also, a daily check for foreign objects, 

sharps, and other debris is essential to 

providing for the safety of playground 

users. 

Accessibility for Disabled Persons 

All playgrounds must be accessible for 

disabled persons in accordance with 

the Americans With Disabilities Act. This 

includes parking, equipment, ramps, restrooms, 

water fountains, and pathways. 

There are numerous rules and regulations 

regarding parks, playgrounds, and 

swimming pools. 

This article refers only to a few examples 

to help you understand the importance 

of maintaining safe play areas for your 

municipality. For specific information 

regarding regulations and standards for 

parks, playground and swimming pools 

contact Risk Management, Inc. 

by Patrick 

Cronin 

General Manager, 

RMI 

Cronin leads Risk Management, Inc. (RMI) 

- a subsidiary of LMA. He can be reached at 

pcronin@rmila.com. 

Page 22 


CLERKS CORNER 

62nd Annual LMCA Spring Conference 

The Louisiana 

Municipal Clerks 

Association held 

their 62nd Annual 

Spring Conference 

at the Le Meridien 

Hotel in New Orleans, 

from April 13 – 14, 2023. The Annual 

Spring Conference is the traditional induction 

of new officers to the executive 

board, the awarding of service pins, and 

the designation of certification accomplishments 

for the municipal clerks of 

Louisiana. 

This year, Lora Johnson, MMC, LMMC, 

Clerk of Council for the City of New Orleans, 

was inducted as the President of 

the Clerks Association. Also inducted 

were Veronica Arceneaux, MPA, LCMC, 

Clerk of Council, as Vice-President; Veronica 

Brown, LCMC, Clerk, Greenwood 

as Secretary/Treasurer; and Meshaun 

Arcenaux, LMMC, Clerk, Napoleonville, 

as the Public Relations Officer. 

Mrs. Johnson began her journey as the 

Deputy Clerk for the New Orleans City 

Council in 2006 under the leadership 

of Clerk of Council, Peggy Lewis. In 

2013, Mrs. Johnson became the Clerk 

of Council for the Council for the City of 

New Orleans. By 2020, Mrs. Johnson had 

completed both her International and 

Louisiana Master Clerk Certifications, 

MMC and LMMC. These distinguished 

Lora Johnson being sworn in by Councilmember Joseph I. Giarrusso, III, City of New Orleans, 

District A. 

Lora Johnson being presented the LMCA Gavel 

from Dolores Quebedeaux, 2022 President. 

Lora Johnson being presented a Proclamation from the New Orleans City Council by Councilmembers, Joseph I. 

Giarrusso, III, Lesli Harrris, Oliver Thomas, Freddie King, and Eugene J. Green. 

certifications are only accomplished by 

many hours of training and seminars. 

To become a president for the Louisiana 

Municipal Clerks Association, officers 

must complete a three-year term as a 

Trustee and one-year terms as Public Relations 

Officer, Secretary/Treasurer, and 

Vice-President. Mrs. Johnson completed 

these requirements and was presented 

the gavel of the LMCA by Mrs. Dolores 

Quebedeaux, LMMC, Arnaudville, 2022- 

2023 President of the LMCA. 

The following nine trustees will serve on 

the 2023-2024 Executive Board. One Year 

Trustees are Margra Steele, LCMC, Folsom; 

Kayla Bannister, Mansura; 

and Rose Roche’, Port Allen. 

Two Year Trustees are Julia 

Jackson, LCMC, Winnsboro; 

Dolores Pousson, LMMC, Iota; 

and Amanda Anglin, LCMC, 

Hosston. Three Year Trustees 

include Tiffany Parish, LCMC, 

Cotton Valley; Tonya Pennywell, 

LCMC, Colfax; and Deborah 

Nealon, LMMC, Rayville. 

Service awards were presented 

to Twenty-Five year recipients 

Genevieve Ellis, Richmond; 

and Sherry McCann, 


Lora Johnson with Margra Steele, Danita Nyegaard, and Eva 

Kibodeaux, LCMC recipients. 

MMC/LMMC, Sibley. Twenty Year recipients 

included Toria Comeaux, Port Barre; 

and Carolus Riley, MMC/LMMC, Monroe. 

Ten Year recipients included Veronica 

Arceneaux, LCMC, Lafayette; Patti Gregory, 

LCMC, Mer Rouge; Lora Johnson, 

MMC/LMMC, New Orleans; and Deborah 

Nealon, LMMC, Rayville. Five Year 

recipients included Amie Brown, LCMC, 

Many; Norma J. Cruz, LCMC, Gretna; 

Monica Hamilton, LMMC, White Castle; 

Donna Jones, LMMC, Alexandria; Tiffany 

M. Parish, LCMC, Cotton Valley; Roxane 

Richard, LCMC, Plaquemine; and Mindy 

Marcantel, Lake Arthur. 

The Louisiana Municipal Clerks Institute 

conferred the prestigious designation of 

Louisiana Master Municipal Clerk to Julia 

G. Jackson, LMMC, Clerk, Winnsboro; 

and Dana K. LeJeune, LMMC, Clerk, Zachary. 

This designation is awarded only after 

the completion of all requirements 

of the Master Academy which includes 

receiving the Louisiana Certified Municipal 

Clerk designation, Entrance into the 

Academy, and 1st, 2nd & 3rd Sustaining 

Levels. Congratulations to these Master 

Municipal Clerks for their determination 

and perseverance to complete the requirements 

to become a Master Municipal 

Clerk. 

The Municipal Clerks Institute also conferred 

the designation of Louisiana Certified 

Municipal Clerk or Deputy Clerk 

upon Eva C. Kibodeaux, LCMC, Welsh; 

Margra Steele, LCMC, Folsom; Danita 

Nyegaard, LCMDC, Farmerville; and Alicia 

Watts, LCMC, Madisonville. 

The following individuals are working 

toward the Master Municipal Clerks 

Lora Johnson with Dana LeJeune and Julia Jackson both LMMC recipients. 

designation by their entrance into the 

Academy. Amanda Anglin, LCMC, Rayne; 

Dana Boudreaux, LCMDC, Lockport; Jessica 

Celestine, LCMC, LeCompte; Sarah 

Fontenot, LCMDC, Rayne; Jessica Marcel, 

LCMDC, Sunset; Roxane Richard, LCMC; 

Plaquemine; Laural Strange, LCMC, Forest 

Hill. 

Those completing the 2nd Sustaining 

Level of the Master Academy are Lisa 

Meche, LCMDC, Carencro; Glenna Luther, 

LCMC, DeRidder; Annette Cutrera, 

LCMC, Rayne; and Mandy Himel, LCMC, 

Lockport. 

by Ginger Eppes 

Louisiana Municipal Association 

Ginger is the Corporate Relations Manager 

with the LMA and LMCA Coordinator. She 

can be reached by emailing gepps@lma.org. 

New Comprehensive Guide to Mayor’s Courts Released 

Our newly revised Comprehensive Guide to Mayor’s Courts 

provides a deep-dive examination of the nature and scope of 

mayor’s courts, operational guidelines, and a host of sample 

forms and best practice templates. The LMA has collaborated 

with the Supreme Court, as well as the Legislative Auditor’s Office, 

to develop this training, which is accessible for free download 

on our website, www.lma.org, under the “Publications” tab. 

The guide is designed to assist mayor’s court presiding officers 

with the provisions of Act 691 of 2022. Each such presiding 

officer shall be required to receive training within ninety 

(90) days of assuming status as presiding authority, and every 

year thereafter. The training may be completed either in person 

or online, and it shall be provided by the Louisiana Supreme 

Court. 

If you have any technical assistance questions regarding mayor’s 

court operations, please contact the LMA offices. 

Page 24 


1st Annual Parks & Rec Day: Where Community Grows 

We are very excited to announce that 

the LRPA will be hosting its Inaugural 

Parks & Rec Day at the Capitol on May 

16. You are invited to join us from 10:30 

a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Capitol Rotunda 

and on the Plaza. Later that evening, 

from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m., join us at the 

Lt. Governor’s apartment and AZ Young 

Park to see how parks and recreation 

are “Where Community Grows.” This day 

is for highlighting the value that parks 

and recreation bring to our local communities 

throughout the state, and to 

educate legislators on the importance 

of local parks and recreation to the 

well-being of our state. 

This will be an all-day event. Networking, 

brunch, and activities/games on 

the Plaza will start at 10:30 a.m. and end 

around 2:00 p.m. Later that evening at 

the Lt. Governor’s apartment and AZ 

Young Park, we will have entertainment 

and activities, as well as food catered by 

Louisiana Bayou Bistro. 

Visit our website at lrpa.net under 

‘Events’ to register. The tentative agenda 

is listed below. 


Rotunda/Plaza set-up 

etworking, Brunch & Mimosas 

Parks and Outdoor Rec Capitol Alario Day Plaza at the Capitol 

Tentative Agenda 

r in the Rotunda 8:00 and a.m. the – 9:30 Alario a.m. Plaza area for Registration Rotunda Lobby and 

Lt. Governor’s Apartment 

networking, brunch, and mimosas 

Outdoor Capitol Alario Plaza 

Downtown Baton Rouge 

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Rotunda/Plaza set-up Louisiana State Capitol 

10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Networking, Brunch & Mimosas Louisiana State Capitol 

Gather in the Rotunda and the Alario Plaza Rotunda Lobby and 

area for networking, brunch, and mimosas Outdoor Capitol Alario Plaza 

Legislative Update 

1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Legislative Update Louisiana State Capitol 

Rotunda 

Networking with Legislators 

Resolution signed 

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

House & Senate Floor 

Networking with Legislators Louisiana State Capitol 

Resolution signed 

House & Senate Floor 

Evening Event 

5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Evening Event Lt. Governor’s Apartment & AZ Young Park 

All you can eat Crawfish & Fried Fish 

All you can 

AZ 

eat 

Young 

Crawfish 

Park 

& Fried Fish 


Catered by La. Bayou Bistro 

Catered by La. Bayou Bistro 

Transportation will not be provided. 


Transportation will not be provided. 

Stay Connected! 

Louisiana State Capitol 

Rotunda Lobby and 




Lt. Governor’s Apartment & 

Emergency Telephone Numbers: 

LRPA Executive Director, Susanne Diez: (225) 975-2975 

Emergency Telephone Numbers: 

utive Director, Susanne Diez: (225) 975-2975 

LMA 2023 District Meetings Schedule Unveiled 

District D – Anacoco (Mayor Lewing) 

June 7, 2023 (Wednesday) 

Vernon Parish Fairgrounds Auditorium 

276 H M Stevens Boulevard 

Leesville, Louisiana 71446 

District E – Pineville (Mayor Dupree) 

June 8 , 2023 (Thursday) 

708 Main Street 

Pineville, Louisiana 71360 

District I – Madisonville (Mayor Pelloat) 

June 13 ,2023 (Tuesday) 

Town of Madisonville Reception Hall 

403 St.Francis Street 

Madisonville, Louisiana 70447 

District G –Rayne (Mayor Robichaux) 


Rayne Civic Center Ballroom 

401 Gossen Park Drive 

Rayne, Louisiana 70578 

District H –Plaquemine 

(Mayor Reeves) 

June 20, 2023 (Tuesday) 

Plaquemine Community Center 

23245 Short Street 

Plaquemine, Louisiana 70764 

District J –Patterson (Mayor Grogan) 


Patterson Area Civic Center 

116 Cotton Road 

Patterson, Louisiana 70392 

District F –Sunset (Mayor James) 

June 22, 2023 (Thursday) 

Carencro Community Center 

5115 N. University Avenue 

Carencro, Louisiana 70520 

District A –Haughton (Mayor Gaspard) 

June 26, 2023 (Monday) 

First Baptist Church Family Life Center 

105 E. Washington Avenue 

Haughton, Louisiana 71037 

District B – Ruston (Mayor Walker) 

June 27, 2023 (Tuesday) 

2001 Champion Way 

Ruston, Louisiana 71270 

District C –Oak Grove 

(Councilman Holland) 

June 29, 2023 (Thursday) 

Thomas Jason Lingo Community Center 

10284 Highway 17 

Oak Grove, Louisiana 71263 

Page 26 


ALWAYS ON 

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JOHN M. SCHRODER, SR. 

Louisiana State Treasurer 

LAMP, Inc. President 

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Find out how our consistent, conservative portfolio management 

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THEODORE C. SANDERS, III 

Chief Executive Officer 

LAMP, Inc. 

LOUISIANA ASSET MANAGEMENT POOL 

Call 800-249-LAMP or visit www.lamppool.com to learn more. 

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subject to change and do not remove credit risk. Investment involves risk including the possible loss of principal. No assurance can be given that the performance 

objectives of a given strategy will be achieved. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Any financial and/or investment decision may incur losses. 


LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTS 

LAMSA Bonds in Alexandria 

The Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and Assistants 

(LAMSA) held their 33rd Annual Spring Conference in Alexandria 

on March 29 – 31, 2023. The Conference began with a 

visit to the Alexandria Museum of Art to view the Environmental 

Impact II traveling exhibition, produced by David J. Wagner, 

L.L.C., which focuses on global as well as local environmental 

issues. Members also participated in several interactive activities 

to understand the power of art and its impact on others. 

Following our Museum tour, attendees enjoyed dancing, fellowship, 

and a photo booth at our “Get to Know You Reception.” 

This year we were proud to have 89 attendees, 21 were firsttime 

attendees along with three members who were receiving 

their coveted CMA certifications: Melanie Cooper of Monroe, 

Charlene Napoleon of Colfax, and Janet Vincent of DeRidder. 

The conference began with a warm welcome from the Honorable 

Mayor of Alexandria, Jacques Roy. Classes began with 

mandatory sexual harassment prevention training, followed 

by a discussion about “Understanding Your Retirement” by Lacey 

Weimer, “How to Manage Work-Related Stress” by Tamera 

Tullos, BSN, RNC-MNN, “Anatomy of a Bad Decision” by Karen 

White, LMA Executive Counsel, and an emotional presentation 

by our own Camilla Brown about the” Risk and Long-Term Effects 

of Bullying in the Workplace”. 

At our Annual Business meeting, our new board members were 

announced. They are President Constance Barbin of St. Gabriel, 

Vice President Roxanna Richard of Gueydan, Secretary Lynn Hebert 

of Monroe, Treasurer Andrea Livings of Lafayette Consolidated 

Government. Directors At Large are: Glenna Luther of De- 

Ridder, Courtney Tell of Haynesville, Janet Vincent of DeRidder, 

and Mary Carroll of Cameron Parish. Also, the board and fellow 

members thanked Joan Methvin for her 15+ years of service as 

treasurer to the Association. Joan will be missed at future board 

meetings but will still be an active member of LAMSA. 

On Friday, we enjoyed hearing from our mayor’s panel consisting 

of the Honorable Mayor David Butler from the Town of 

Woodworth, Honorable Mayor Rich Dupree from the City of 

Pineville, and the Honorable Herman Williams from the Town 

of Lecompte. 

The conference’s focus was on how to be a better you. We live in 

a fast-paced world where it’s hard to be everything to everyone. 

It can feel like you are juggling many roles and goals in order to 

be successful at work and family life. Taking care of yourself is 

essential to maintaining a healthy balance between work and 

family. We explored some of these essentials: “Understanding 

your Retirement” allows you to prepare for the future and know 

what your financial future holds for you and your family. “How 

to Manage Work-Related Stress” showed us how to take care of 

our mental and physical health to brighten our mood and be 

happier. Finding healthier outlets for stress, like exercising and 

Woodworth Mayor David Butler, LAMSA President Constance Barbin, 

Lecompte Mayor Herman Williams, and Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree. 

doing yoga, can redirect negative emotions. If we don’t take 

care of ourselves mentally and physically, we won’t be able to 

serve ourselves, our family, and others. The “Risk and Long-Term 

Effects of Bullying in the Workplace” demonstrated how bullying 

can feel traumatic and lead to excessive stress, fatigue, depression, 

and even feelings of burnout. Workplace bullying is a 

serious problem that negatively affects not just the victim but 

also those who witness or learn about it. 

All of our speakers provided tools at the conference to be a better 

you and a better co-worker. But most importantly, I hope 

everyone who attended knows YOU are valuable, and YOU have 

a friend in LAMSA. LAMSA is a network of trusted members who 

are there for YOU in good and difficult times. You need help researching 

a project, writing a grant, have a question about an 

ordinance, new software, or just need to vent – we are just a 

text, email, or phone call away. That’s LAMSA LOVE! 

LAMSA wishes to thank all our sponsors and exhibitors for their 

continued support. We could not do it without you. 

In closing, I ask you to Save the Date for the LAMSA Fall Conference 

which will 

be held September 

20 – 22, 2023 

at the Courtyard 

by Marriott in Houma, 

Louisiana. For 

more information, 

call Kristine Scherer 

at 504-259-1068 

or email me at lamsa@currently.com. 

by Kristine 

Scherer 

LAMSA 

Kristine is the LAMSA Conference 

Coordinator and can be reached by 

emailing lamsa@currently.com. 

Page 28 


86th Annual Convention 

The 86th Annual LMA Convention is taking place in August in Alexandria. In this edition, you can find registration 

information and a hotel list. For more information on sponsorships, exhibitors, a tentative agenda, and 

more, visit www.lma.org/convention. 

Reservations process opens for LMA’s 86th Annual Convention 

August 3-5, 2023 

Randolph Riverfront Center | Holiday Inn | Hotel Bentley 

City of Alexandria 

CONVENTION HOTELS 

To secure a hotel 

reservation, you must give 

the reservation clerk your 

name, title, and name of 

municipality. 

No more than 10 rooms per 

municipality are allowed. 

State law allows an 

exemption from sales tax 

on sleeping rooms reserved 

by officials representing 

government entities. When 

making reservations, it is 

your responsibility to inform 

the hotel of your tax-exempt 

status and submit the 

required form to claim the 

exemption. 

Rates cited are nightly, exclusive 

of taxes. Hotels are listed 

alphabetically with complete 

address and contact information. 

Comfort Suites 

6015 Old Boyce Road 

Alexandria, LA 71303 

(318) 445-9800 

$89.00 Flat Rate 

Courtyard by Marriott 

3830 Alexandria Mall Drive 


(318) 445-2415 


Fairfield Inn & Suites 

2830 South MacArthur Drive 


(318) 449-9000 


Four Points Sheraton 

2301 N MacArthur Drive 


(318) 619-3300 


Hampton Inn & Suites 

6124 West Calhoun Drive 


(318) 445-4449 


Holiday Inn Alexandria - 

Downtown 

701 4th Street 


(318) 541-8333 


Holiday Inn Express 

2340 North MacArthur Drive 


(318) 487-9898 


Holiday Inn Express - 

Pineville 2820 Monroe 

Highway 

Pineville, LA 71360 

(318) 704-6700 


Home 2 Suites by Hilton 

3800 Alexandria Mall Drive 


(318) 704-6450 


Historic Hotel Bentley 

200 DeSoto Street 


(318) 442-2226 


Details: Questions regarding 

the hotel reservation procedure 

should be referred to LMA 

Events Director, Nikki Samrow, 

nsamrow@lma.org 

(225) 344-5001, 

(800) 234-8274 



86 th Annual Convention 

August 3-5, 2023 

Please print or type all information legibly: 

DELEGATE OTHER [A delegate is an elected/appointed official or municipal employee.] 

Name: __________________________________________ Title_______________________________ 

RANDOLPH RIVERFRONT 

CENTER 

707 Main Street 

Alexandria, Louisiana 

TO AVOID HIGHER ON-SITE FEES, 

REGISTER NOW! 

MAKE YOUR 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS 

BY JULY 12! 

REGISTER ONLINE AND PAY WITH 

YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD AT 

WWW.LMA.ORG 

Complete one form per delegate. 

Payment of convention registration fees must accompany 

registration forms. The LMA will not bill for registration fees. 

No faxed or emailed registrations will be accepted. 


Annual Convention Registration 

Post Office Box 4327 

Baton Rouge, LA 70821 

First name/nickname to appear on badge: __________________________________________________________ 

Municipality: _______________________________________________________________________ 

Mailing Address: _______________________________ City/Zip: _____________________________ 

Work Phone: ________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________ 

GUEST INFORMATION: 

❖ The registration fee includes one (1) guest. 

❖ A guest cannot be an elected/appointed official or a municipal employee. 

Name: 

First name to appear on badge: ___________________________ 

EARLY BIRD REGULAR LATE & ON-SITE 

NOW THRU JUNE 22 JUNE 23 – JULY 20 BEGINS JULY 21 TOTAL 

Delegate $250.00 Delegate $300.00 Delegate $350.00 Delegate $__________ 

Other $300.00 Other $350.00 Other $400.00 Other $__________ 

REFUND POLICY: 

An administrative fee of $75 will be charged for all cancellations, 

including medical emergencies. No refunds will be given after Thursday, 

July 20 (two weeks prior to the start of event). Refunds will be issued only 

if the LMA office receives your cancellation request in the form of a letter 

on your official letterhead mailed, emailed, faxed, or delivered to our 

office with a postmark date no later than Thursday, July 20, 2023. 

Telephone requests for refunds are not acceptable. There will be no 

exceptions to this policy. 

Telephone: (800) 234-8274 ▪ (225) 344-5001 ▪ www.lma.org 

Now 

Accepting 

Submissions 

for 2022 

Community 

Achievement 

Awards 

Did your municipality undertake an 

award-worthy project in 2022? If so, 

we would love to recognize your great 

work and award bragging rights as a 

winner of our annual LMA Community 

Achievement Awards competition. This 

year’s competition recognizes municipalities 

for outstanding projects promoting 

progress in municipal services and operations 

in 2022. 

For a full list of categories and rules, 

along with information on how to enter, 

visit www.lma.org, click on our Membership 

Services tab, and choose Community 

Achievement Awards from the dropdown 

menu. 

Page 30 


Hometown Happenings: May 2023 

Food, festivals, and frogs! May brings Louisiana a wide array of festivals to enjoy. There is truly something 

for everyone! Take advantage of the beautiful weather and look up to the skies for an airshow or look down 

and smell the roses at a garden festival. May is a blessed time to be a Louisianian. 

You may find yourself wondering after seeing it listed as 

Rayne’s offering in our May Hometown Happenings exactly 

what one does at a frog festival. While frogs may be the focus, 

they are certainly not the only attraction at this May 11 

through 13, 51st Rayne Frog Festival. You’ll find things to do 

for all ages and interests, from carnival rides to dance contests, 

and arts and crafts to a cultural tent, with cooking demonstrations 

and music. But if you’re in the ‘Frog Capital of the World’, 

you won’t want to miss out on some the amphibian-themed 

activities, such as the famous frog race or the crowning of Miss 

Frog Festival Queen. 

Natchitoches Jazz and R&B Festival 

May 12-13, Natchitoches 

natchjazzfest.com 

Mud Bug Boil-Off 

May 13, Thibodaux 

facebook.com/events/594335409224889 

Ouachita RiverFest 

May 13, West Monroe 

ouachitariverfest.com 

Cruisin Cajun Country 

May 18-20, New Iberia 

cruisincajuncountry.com 

Festa Italiana 

May 19-20, Donaldsonville 

visitlasweetspot.com/events/festa-italiana-may-19-20/ 

Photo from raynefrogfestival.com 

51st Rayne Frog Festival 

May 11-13, Rayne 

raynefrogfestival.com 

Louisiana Blackberry 

Festival 

May 20, Houma 

explorehouma.com/ 

events/louisianablackberry-festival/ 

May is primetime 

blackberry season, the 

time of year when the 

berries are the ripest 

and juiciest, and Houma’s 

newest festival 


promises blackberries in all its delightful forms. Whether 

you like them fresh, preserved in jellies or jams, or baked 

into pies, your tastebuds will love all the offerings. This free 

event will be held in Houma on Saturday, May 20, so bring 

the entire family, experience everything blackberry, and 

support the Houma Heights Cultural District. 

Mudbug Madness Festival 

May 25-28, Shreveport 

mudbugmadness.com 

56th Annual Jambalaya Festival 

May 26-28, Gonzales 

jambalayafestival.net/home 

Featuring one of our state’s most famous and beloved foods, 

we don’t need to tell you why Gonzales’ annual Jambalaya 

Festival is a must do this Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28. 

The highlight of this one will definitely be the cooking contest, 

so bring your appetite to try all of this year’s contestants. 

Will 2022 Champ, Austin King, pull off a repeat, or will a new 

contender take bragging rights in 2023? In addition to delicious 

eats, you’ll also find live music, a car show, and both a 

1-mile and a 5-mile run. At 56 years running, you know this is 

a good one! 

2022 Champion Austin King. 

Courtesy of Gonzales Jambalaya Festival Association. 

by Lynsi Schultz Williams 

AMCorp International 

Lynsi is a staff writer at AMCorp International. 

She can be reached by emailing lwilliams@ 

teamamcorp.com. 

PRESORT 

STANDARD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

Page 32

MAY 2023

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