August/September 2023

Aug-Sept.23 

Louisiana 

MUNICIPAL 

REVIEW 

VOL. 88 

ISSUES 8 & 9

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2023-2024 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory) 

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Page 2 

President – Derrick Johnson, Mayor, Cheneyville 

First Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville 

Second Vice President – Ray Bourque, Mayor, Broussard 

District A Vice President – Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton 

District B Vice President – Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston 

District C Vice President – Staci A. Mitchell, Mayor, West Monroe 

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 

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 – 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 – TBA 

Vice President at Large – TBA 

Vice President (< 1K) – TBA 

Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – TBA 

Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – TBA 

LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023

LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023 Page 3

DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT 

Executive Director’s Report 

What a few months it’s been! 

In fact, what a year! I want to 

first express my appreciation 

to LMA Past President Jennifer 

Vidrine, President Derrick 

Johnson, and First-Vice President 

Rick Allen for providing 

leadership and stability last 

year that empowered our organization 

to thrive and pave 

the way for a successful future 

of the LMA. 

In a brief review of our 

LMA year, the LMA Annual 

Mid-Winter conference was 

held in February, our Municipal 

Day at the Capital in 

April, and in June, the hugely 

successful series of the 

ten statewide district meetings, 

where almost 900 LMA 

members were in attendance 

throughout the state. 

A mere three weeks from the 

conclusion of our 2022 annual 

convention, the LMA, RMI 

and LaMATS staffs boxed up 

over 30 years of LMA history 

as we prepared to move 

into the new LMA home. We 

made a seamless transition 

into the new headquarters. A 

32,000 square foot building 

and adjoining 2.5-acre lot are 

the centerpieces of the 5-acre 

property south central Baton 

Rouge near the LSU Campus 

on Perkins Road. Nestled 

among live oaks and pecan 

trees, the building houses the 

LMA, RMI, and LaMATS offices 

as well as the Louisiana Association 

of Chiefs of Police and 

Government Consultants. 

Among the highlights of the 

building are a state-of-theart 

executive board room, 

multiple conference rooms, 

and a noise-reduced webinar 

room. Our old headquarters, 

located on N. 10th Street 

in downtown Baton Rouge 

was sold for $3 million in 

mid-September 2022, greatly 

reducing the financial obligations 

remaining on the new 

headquarters. 

I am pleased to let you know 

that the Louisiana Infrastructure 

and Technical Assistance 

Corporation (LITACorp) is 

up and running full speed 

ahead. This historic joint-venture 

with the Police Jury Association 

of Louisiana has 

been funded by a $25 million 

appropriation by the state. 

The LITACorp Board, chaired 

by LMA President Derrick 

Johnson, Sr. was successful 

in hiring a familiar face and 

name, Leslie Durham, as the 

Executive Director. She came 

to us after serving at the pleasure 

of the President of the 

United States as the Federal 

Co-Chairwoman of the Delta 

Regional Authority (DRA). 

The board, with the guidance 

of Leslie and her staff, hired 

two consultants, Franklin & 

Associates and Hunt Guillot 

and Associates to serve as 

the “boots on the ground” to 

assist our rural municipalities 

and parishes with grant writing 

and other technical assistance 

as it relates to the 2021 

Infrastructure Investment 

and Jobs Act (IIJA). 

Season 3 of our Small Town 

Podcast series has also 

dropped. You can access the 

series through our website at 

www.lma.org or on the Small- 

Town Podcast website at 

www.smalltownpodcast.com. 

We are also excited to announce 

the LMA’s own podcast, 

From the Piney Woods to 

the Bayou where we will be 

featuring local stories from 

around the state under the 

banner of the LMA through 

our in-house communications 

team, AMCorp International. 

I want to thank Louisiana 

Economic Development 

Secretary Don Pierson for his 

continued generous support 

on all of our podcast ventures. 

Our wholly owned subsidiaries, 

RMI and LaMATS, saw 

positive growth this year. 

RMI General Manager Patrick 

Cronin and his team hit the 

road making a total of 225 

municipal visits in 2023 and 

realizing new annual premiums 

totaling $1,219,000 

dollars. LaMATS Executive 

Director Cliff Palmer and his 

team continue to see growth 

in their programs, including 

the growing procurement 

and surplus sales program as 

well as LACPC Joint Municipal 

Commission. Thank you 

also to RMI Chairman Mayor 

David Butler and LaMATS 

Chairman Councilman Nathan 

Martin for your leadership 

this past year. 

The LMA had another successful 

legislative session 

where we partnered with 

John Gallagher, 

Executive Director 

other local government associations 

to address a number 

of critical issues in the 2023 

Regular Session of the Legislature. 

Among the successes 

was the passage of SB 166 

which will allow - under certain 

circumstances - the waiver 

of a local match for capital 

outlay projects in municipalities 

under 6,000 in population. 

This will go a long way 

in helping those municipalities 

be able address their 

infrastructure needs without 

placing a burden on their 

budgets. 

The LMA continues to be in 

a solid financial condition. 

Despite the economic downturn 

faced in the last year and 

the continued resurgence we 

are seeing; our investments 

are solid and seeing continued 

growth. The LMA has 

been operating in a slight 

deficit for a number of years, 

and through the leadership 

of our officers and executive 

committee and actions being 

taken, we are very hopeful to 

be seeing a budget surplus in 

2024 and beyond. 

CONTINUED PAGE 6 

Page 4 


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

To My LMA Family… 

I would like to give thanks to 

God first and foremost. Without 

him none of this would 

be possible. To LMA leadership 

and staff, and all our affiliates 

and subsidiaries, I also 

say thank you. As President, I 

appreciate your support and 

dedication, and I look forward 

to the work we will do together 

over the coming year. 

I also want to thank our 86th 

Annual Convention host city 

of Alexandria and Mayor 

Jacques Roy. Being able to 

share my inauguration with 

family and friends so close to 

home was the icing on the 

cake, and the City of Alexandria 

did everything to ensure 

a wonderful experience. 

When I first started my journey, 

after serving 11 years in 

the military, I never thought 

that I would be where I am 

today. I followed the lead of 

my father by joining the military. 

Little did I know I would 

be going to war a few years 

later. I moved to Cheneyville, 

as I saw quickly that I wanted 

to make a difference. So, I decided 

to run for councilman, 

then mayor. I attended law 

school and became an attorney, 

and now I am President 

of the Louisiana Municipal 

Association. I am proud, honored, 

and humbled. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t 

acknowledge the trailblazers 

that came before me and 

paved the way for me to be 

able to serve you in this capacity. 

Mayor Clarence Hawkins 

- the first Black President 

of the LMA, my mentor Mayor 

Clarence Fields who I am 

blessed to have had in my 

corner, Mayor Bobby Washington, 

Mayor David Riggins, 

and Mayor Harry Lewis, who 

appointed me to his board 

and guided me and has always 

been the voice I needed. 

And finally, LMA Past President 

Jennifer Vidrine. I will 

forever be grateful for their 

leadership and their guidance. 

It has been my honor. 

I couldn’t do anything without 

an excellent support system. 

To my councilmembers 

past and present, my clerk, my 

chief, my fire chief, my town 

attorney, my auditor, and my 

town engineers, I thank them 

for being supportive and 

holding down the fort and 

stepping up every time. I appreciate 

them all. 

To my employers and colleagues, 

I thank them for 

supporting me and allowing 

me to grow and thrive as an 

advocate. 

To my parents, my sister, and 

my brother, I thank them for 

always letting me know that 

it’s okay to fail as long as you 

get back up and try again, 

and for being my cheerleaders. 

I thank my entire family 

for encouraging me and rooting 

for me always. 

To Tiffany, thank you for your 

patience, love, and unwavering 

commitment to a strong 

foundation. To Skylar and 

Braylon, thank you for allowing 

me to be your hero. 

I have toured and visited 

many communities across 

Louisiana over the last two 

years. I’ve heard success stories, 

and I know individual 

needs. A number of us have 

the same problems in our 

municipalities, whether water 

and sewer, failing infrastructure, 

economic issues, or our 

children graduating and leaving 

the state. We all had an 

opportunity to listen to each 

of the candidates running for 

governor recently, and I hope 

close attention was paid. I 

can assure you as your LMA 

President that I plan to work 

closely and collectively with 

our next governor to alleviate 

many of the stresses that are 

put on local communities. 

My plan is to continue to work 

with the staff to educate all 

communities on the resources 

the LMA provides, along 

with those of the USDA, DRA, 

LITACorp, and many others. 

For too long funding information 

has been released on 

grants and low interest loan 

programs, but with large 

amounts of money being 

left on the table. Deadlines 

may have already passed, or 

our villages, towns, and cities, 

don’t have the people in 

place to complete the needed 

paperwork and requirements 

for approval. I plan on 

working to bridge that gap. 

Because those funds that aren’t 

coming to our communities 

are some of the reasons 

that our children are leaving 

this great state. 

Throughout my tenure as 

LMA President, I will continue 

to be passionate about our 

youth. Without them there is 

little hope for a positive and 

productive future. One of the 

first things I implemented as 

President of the Black Caucus 

was the Riggins/Sampson 

Scholarship Fund to help 

freshman and sophomore 

students with the cost of col- 

Derrick Johnson, Sr. 

LMA President 

Cheneyville 

lege. I want to thank the Black 

Caucus and President Darnell 

Waites for continuing that 

mission, and I will do all I can 

to support its advancement. 

I believed God puts each of 

us in leadership positions for 

a purpose, not so others can 

stroke our egos. We are here 

to inspire the youth to be 

great leaders themselves, so 

they can go out and do great 

things. We must show them 

that anything is possible. It 

doesn’t matter where you are 

from, be it a village of a handful 

of people or a metropolis, 

let’s leave our municipalities 

in a better position than we 

found them, so that when 

we pass the torch to the next 

generation, that person already 

has a leg up. 

Treat everyone’s problems 

like your own, and let’s work 

together to make this state 

great. And remember that if 

we find ourselves too big to 

do the small things, then we 

will always be too small to do 

the big things. 

God bless you. God bless 

Louisiana. And God bless the 

United States of America. 


GOVERNOR’S COLUMN 

Rising to the Challenge 

Happy fall, y’all! I hope everyone 

is doing well and is as 

excited about cooler weather 

and football season as I am. 

It’s been a busy two months 

since my last column, and 

I’m looking forward to sharing 

with you some exciting 

announcements we’ve made 

in Louisiana, from broadband 

to coastal restoration to energy 

investments. 

Congratulations on holding 

your 86th annual convention 

this year. It’s an event I always 

enjoy attending but unfortunately, 

could not be there. 

While I was able to send a 

proclamation congratulating 

LMA President Derrick Johnson, 

Sr. and board members, 

please know that I will forever 

treasure your partnership 

during my administration 

and am grateful for all of the 

things that we have been able 

to accomplish together for 

the people we are blessed to 

serve. Although my time in office 

is winding down, we have 

until the end of this year to 

continue our good work and 

I’m looking forward to it. In 

fact, I want to encourage you 

to reach out to Leslie Durham 

with LITACorp. She is doing 

great work and is available to 

assist you with information 

about funding opportunities 

for important projects. 

I recently testified before the 

U.S. Senate Budget Committee 

about the fiscal impact 

of extreme weather, sea level 

rise driven by climate change 

on our infrastructure, and 

the importance of building 

climate-resilient systems 

to mitigate damage to our 

economy and our people. The 

concept of resilience means 

doing everything we can to 

avoid the cost of disasters to 

our people, to our land, and 

to our way of life, and we are 

rising to the challenge. 

Here at home, I was proud to 

sign legislation authored by 

Rep. Jerome Zeringue that 

establishes the first statewide 

Chief Resilience Officer. It’s a 

high-level policy position designed 

to ensure that successive 

governors will keep Louisiana 

ahead in mitigating the 

impacts of climate change on 

our economies and ecosystems. 

And speaking of resilience, we 

recently broke ground on the 

largest ecosystem restoration 

project in our state’s history. 

The Mid-Barataria Sediment 

Diversion, the first project of 

its kind, that will restore and 

rebuild over 26,000 acres of 

coastal land and provide better 

protection to our most vulnerable 

communities and critical 

infrastructure. I’m grateful 

to the Coastal Protection and 

Restoration Authority and our 

federal, state, and local partners 

for their decades-long 

efforts to make this critically 

important project a reality. 

Others are taking notice of 

Louisiana’s role as a global 

leader in the energy transition, 

and it’s bringing good-paying 

jobs and historic investments 

to our state. Our talented 

workforce, and the embracing 

of lower carbon technologies, 

have attracted funding 

from the U.S. Department of 

Energy to create a commercial-scale 

direct air carbon 

capture facility in Southwest 

Louisiana. Dubbed Project Cypress, 

the facility is expected 

to create 2,300 good-paying 

jobs and remove one million 

metric tonnes of carbon dioxide 

emissions each year from 

the atmosphere—an amount 

equivalent to roughly 222,500 

gasoline-powered cars. 

Last month was also a historic 

month for broadband 

expansion in Louisiana. We 

broke ground on the largest 

GUMBO project to date that 

will bring highspeed affordable 

and reliable internet to 

9,140 households and 535 

small businesses in Avoyelles 

Parish. With the GUMBO 

grant program, along with 

the $1.3 billion awarded to 

Louisiana from the Bipartisan 

Infrastructure Law, we will 

continue to work toward our 

Gov. John Bel Edwards 

goal of high-speed, affordable 

internet for every home 

and business by 2029. 

Lastly, I want to encourage 

you and those in your municipalities 

to visit the newly-unveiled 

Louisiana Heritage 

Monument. This first of 

its kind monument is located 

in the Capitol’s Louisiana 

Veterans Memorial Park and 

is a truly stunning tribute to 

all of our African American 

veterans, from the formerly 

enslaved soldiers who fought 

in the Siege of Port Hudson 

during the Civil War in 1863 

through modern conflicts. 

It pays tribute to those men 

and women who have served 

our nation with distinction 

and bravery. 

I want to again express my 

gratitude for all your work to 

better the state of Louisiana 

every day. Thank you, and 

God bless. 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4: DIRECTOR 

The mission of the LMA is to educate, advocate, 

and empower progressive and 

effective leadership through a united 

network of municipalities. 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, including 

storms and pandemics, the LMA will 

succeed in fulfilling our calling to serve 

Louisiana’s municipal leaders. 

It was my pleasure to present this report 

in person at our 86th LMA Annual Convention 

in Alexandria in the presence of 

our delegates. 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. 

Page 6 


TREASURY NOTES 

LA Treasury Unclaimed Property, LA Wallet Team Up to 

Reunite Citizens with Lost Money 

I am a firm believer that priority 

should be placed on what 

is most convenient for taxpayers, 

not on what’s easiest 

for government. As elected 

officials and government employees, 

we work for them – 

not the other way around. 

Treasury is always on the 

lookout for ways to benefit 

citizens. I have long been calling 

for expanded electronic 

options for government to 

accept payments such as Paypal, 

Venmo, and Cash App. I’ve 

also advocated for responsible 

electronic meetings for 

boards and commissions as 

Building roadmaps from right now 

to what's next 

CONTACT 

ANITA TILLMAN 

800-920-9826 EXT 700 

WWW.TEAMAMCORP.COM 

We help you find your 

voice, own your 

narrative, and captivate 

the right audience. 

Messaging 

Crisis Communication 

Speechwriting 

Transition Management 

Social Media Management 

Strategic Planning 

Publication Development 

Outreach 

Process Improvement 

Communication Training 

legal for the conducting of 

business. This is not only more 

convenient for board members 

and savings for the state 

in terms of travel expenses, 

but it’s also about greater access 

and convenience for citizens 

who no longer must travel 

to Baton Rouge to attend 

meetings and participate in 

government. A bill this past 

Legislative Session will make 

this a reality once all the procedures 

are in place. 

I’m proud to announce that 

Treasury has found an additional 

way that Unclaimed 

Property can assist citizens. 

A groundbreaking partnership 

between the Louisiana 

Treasury Unclaimed Property 

Program and LA Wallet, the 

state’s leading digital identification 

platform, streamlines 

the process of reconnecting 

Louisiana citizens with their 

unclaimed property. The LA 

Wallet app, which is utilized 

by over 1 million Louisianans 

for driver’s license and 

identification purposes, now 

also features an easy-to-use 

Unclaimed Property search, 

enabling users to effortlessly 

check for unclaimed assets in 

their name. 

Nowadays people can run 

their households and sometimes 

even their businesses 

from their cell phones. An 

app-based solution for accessing 

unclaimed property 

makes perfect sense. The 

LA Wallet app with the Unclaimed 

Property component 

securely harnesses the power 

of technology in order to simplify 

the process for citizens, 

allowing them to reclaim their 

lost funds with ease. 

John Schroder, 

State Treasurer 

Envoc President Calvin Fabre, 

co-founder of LA Wallet, 

shared his thoughts on the 

collaboration, stating, “We are 

thrilled to be part of this process. 

Address discrepancies 

have historically been a major 

reason why unclaimed property 

remains uncollected. By 

incorporating the Unclaimed 

Property search feature in the 

LA Wallet app, we can assist in 

returning money to the rightful 

owners.” 

Unclaimed property includes 

uncollected funds from payroll 

checks, old bank accounts, 

royalties, utility deposits, interest 

payments, stock certificates, 

and life insurance proceeds. 

One in six individuals 

in Louisiana has unclaimed 

property, with average claims 

amounting to $900. There is 

currently $1 billion waiting to 

be claimed. 

Checking for your unclaimed 

property is easy through 

LaCashClaim.org, calling the 

Treasury’s Unclaimed Property 

Division at 888-925-4127 

(Monday through Friday, 10 

a.m. to 3 p.m.), and now by 

also checking within the LA 

Wallet app. There is no charge 

to utilize the LA Wallet app, 

which is available on both Apple 

and Google. 


Attorney General’s 

Opinions 

Open Meetings 

Law 

Opinion 23- 

0012: While it 

may be advisable 

that an 

agenda item 

contain notice 

of executive 

session, 

such a specific 

designation 

is not required 

by law. 

Jeff Landry, 

Attorney General 

A majority of the City Council is necessary 

to provide advice and consent to confirm 

the Mayor’s appointment of a City Attorney, 

and the Mayor does not have the 

authority to appoint an “interim” City Attorney 

without the advice and consent of 

a majority of the City Council. The Charter 

appears to allow a situation in which a City 

Attorney performs civil duties for Bastrop, 

while the City Prosecutor performs criminal 

duties. Released: 7/27/2023 

Authority of Elected Officials 

Opinion 23-0073: The Mayor does not 

have the authority to install GPS devices 

on police department vehicles. The Mayor 

does not have the authority to install key 

loggers or spyware on police department 

computers. Released: 7/26/2023 

Opinion 23-0035: The Board of Aldermen 

of the Town of Elton may not require 

the Mayor to work a certain number of 

hours, require a schedule of work hours, 

or require the Mayor to keep a timesheet 

and record hours worked. Released: 

6/19/2023 

Mayor’s Courts 

Opinion 23-0068: The fine assessed for 

failure to appear should be deposited into 

the Town’s general fund. Before a court 

can determine that the defendant has 

committed a direct contempt, the defendant 

must be given an opportunity to be 

heard so that he can offer the court a defense 

or explain other mitigating circumstances. 

Released: 6/27/2023 

Louisiana Housing Corporation 

Keys for Success 

The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC) 

understands the unique challenges our 

heroes face when it comes to homeownership. 

With demanding schedules and 

added financial stress, saving for a down 

payment and closing costs can make 

the dream of owning a home seem out 

of reach. The Keys for Service program 

is here to bridge that gap and make it 

easier and more affordable for our Louisiana 

first responders, certified teachers, 

and essential workers, to purchase their 

dream homes. 

This program is designed to be simple 

and easy to use. LHC works with participating 

lenders and real estate professionals 

to ensure the process is as seamless 

as possible. Whether you’re a first 

time homebuyer or looking to move to 

your next home, LHC is here to help. With 

the Keys for Service program, Louisiana 

residents who meet one of the following 

criteria can receive 4% in down payment 

and closing cost toward purchasing their 

home. 

Qualifications: 

• The maximum annual household income 

for borrowers is $125,000 

• Activate, full-time employees of city, 

parish, or state law enforcement or 

emergency response agency 

• Active, full-time firefighters, licensed 

paramedics, or public safety telecommunications 

employees 

• Active, full-time teachers 

• Active, full-time employees of hospitals, 

physician offices, pharmacies, 

drug stores, outpatient care centers, 

nursing care facilities, and assisted 

living centers. 

For more information, visit www.lhc. 

la.gov/keysforservice. 

By Joshua 

McNemar 

Louisiana Housing 

Corporation 

McNemar is Chief of Staff for the 

Louisiana Housing Corporation. He can 

be reached by emailing JMcNemar@lhc. 

la.gov. 

Page 8 


LEGAL BRIEFS 

Legislative Session Expands Sunshine Laws 

US Supreme Court Justice Louis D. 

Brandeis, a towering legal and judicial 

figure who largely shaped American 

jurisprudence, noted, “sunlight is said to 

be the best of disinfectants;” Dalai Lama 

opined, “A lack of transparency results in 

distrust and a deep sense of insecurity;” 

and Founding Father Patrick Henry famously 

declared, “The liberties of a people 

never were, nor ever will be, secure, 

when the transactions of their rulers 

may be concealed from them.” 

Louisiana’s Public Records Law and 

Open Meetings Law are rooted in these 

concepts, and flow from the principle 

articulated in Article XII, Section 3 of the 

Louisiana Constitution: “No person shall 

be denied the right to observe the deliberations 

of public bodies and examine 

public documents, except in cases 

established law.” 

Nearly every legislative session, there 

are bills that would alter aspects of one 

or both of these “Sunshine Laws,” but 

the 2023 Regular Session ushered in 

substantive changes of which municipal 

leaders should be aware. 

It has long been the case that a public 

records custodian may charge a requestor 

for making copies of public records 

and may also demand payment 

in advance of providing the responsive 

records to the requestor. Last year, the 

law was tweaked to specifically provide 

that such reproduction fees may include 

the transmission of electronic copies of 

public records (i.e., providing records 

via email, shared cloud-based apps, and 

more). Admittedly, the fee schedule for 

electronic transmission of electronic 

records can be hard to promulgate, as 

electronically stored data can be difficult 

to paginate. Nonetheless, the law 

empowers custodians to charge for 

both hard-copy and electronic reproduction 

of records. 

This year, the legislature again amended 

the Public Records Law to add a new 

mandate: “Any custodian who elects to 

establish and collect such fees shall establish 

a reasonable fee schedule and 

post the schedule where it can be readily 

accessed by the public.” (Act 247 of 

2023) This means that any municipality 

who wishes to charge a fee for the reproduction 

of records, whether by hard 

copy or electronic means, MUST have a 

clearly defined fee schedule, and must 

further make that fee schedule “readily 

accessible” to the public. This would 

certainly include having the fee schedule 

readily available at municipal buildings 

and on the municipality’s website. 

In short, use all reasonable diligence to 

make the fee schedule easy to find for 

anyone seeking to access public records. 

The Open Meetings Law sustained an 

even greater shift. Act 393 of 2023 added 

two new obligations for municipalities, 

both rooted in ADA-recognized disabilities. 

Every municipal government 

must now adopt rules, regulations, and 

procedures to accommodate participation 

in their public meetings by members 

of the public with disabilities recognized 

by the Americans with Disabilities 

Act; AND the municipality must also 

adopt rules, regulations, and procedures 

to allow any member of the municipal 

board of aldermen/council with an 

ADA-recognized disability to participate 

and vote via electronic means. Further, 

if a member of the body is participating 

remotely under this new provision, it automatically 

triggers a requirement that 

the municipality open up public participation 

via “electronic means,” which is 

broadly defined to include teleconferencing 

and/or video conferencing. 

To assist our members in complying 

with these new ADA-based open meetings 

requirements, the LMA will publish 

model guidance on our website 

under the “Publications” tab, which will 

be available starting September 1. The 

full text of both legislative acts may be 

found at www.legis.la.gov under the 

“Bills” tab. 

Editor’s Note: The information provided 

in this column is not a replacement for 

consultation with your own municipal 

attorney, and it should not be considered 

legal advice for any particular case or 

situation. 

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. 


LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES 

LaMATS, LACPC Announce Developments, New Officers 

The Louisiana 

Municipal Advisory 

and Technical 

Services 

Bureau (La- 

MATS) and the 

LaMATS-administered 

Joint 

Commission for Cooperative Purchasing 

(LACPC) held productive concurrent 

meetings during LMA’s 86 th Annual 

Convention. The LACPC, which fosters 

cooperative purchasing agreements to 

LaMATS Procurement Consultant Paul 

Holmes addresses members of the LACPC 

and LaMATS Board at a meeting held in 

Alexandria, August 2, 2023. 

lower costs on municipal services and 

materials, lists more than twenty mayors 

among its membership, with several 

also serving on the LaMATS Board. 

David Butler 

Woodworth Mayor, 

President 

LaMATS Procurement Consultant, Paul 

Holmes, led the LACPC meeting, the 

Commission’s second in-person convening 

since its inception. Holmes reported 

the LACPC will soon receive its incorporation 

as a 501(c) nonprofit organization, 

a best-practice that will assure 

transparency for the quasi-governmental 

entity and ease of operation on behalf 

of member municipalities. An initial 

Board of Directors for the new nonprofit 

will include current Commission Chairperson 

Suzanne Williams, grant writer 

for the Town of Many, along with Councilman 

Nathan 

Martin of Pineville, 

and Mayors Rick Allen 

(Leesville), David 

Butler (Woodworth), 

and Jimmy 

Williams (Sibley). 

Holmes also reported 

on the 

LACPC’s success to 

date in establishing 

seven cooperative 

contracts, 

now in use by numerous 

Louisiana 

municipalities to 

secure competitive 

pricing on items 

like utility tractors, 

boom trucks, street 

sweepers, police tasers, and certain bulk 

chemicals including quick lime. Holmes 

explained these contracts originated 

from Commissioner requests and were 

bid out on their behalf by LaMATS in 

accordance with state bid laws. “Our 

members felt it would be good to have 

cooperative contracts on these items in 

place for all to use,” he said. “We knew 

that cities would need and buy them if 

available, so that’s what we’ve done.” 

Following adjournment of the LACPC 

LMA Immediate Past-President and former 

LaMATS Board President, the Honorable 

Jennifer Vidrine, with commemorative gift 

reading, “Thank you for your years of loyal 

service to the LaMATS Board of Directors.” 

LaMATS Board of Directors 

Jimmy Williams 

Sibley Mayor, 

Vice President 

Michael Chauffe 

Grosse Tete Mayor, 

Secretary/Treasurer 

Incoming LaMATS President Mayor David Butler (center), with 

incoming Vice President, Mayor Jimmy Williams (left), present 

Immediate Past-President Councilman Nathan Martin with 

commemorative service plaque. 

Page 10 


LaMATS and LPS Project Coordinator Claire Shaw welcomes visitors to 

“LaMATS Village,” the section of LMA Convention space dedicated to 

the LaMATS family of preferred vendors and partners. 

meeting, LaMATS called its regular quarterly Board Meeting to 

order. Among other items of business, members voted in a new 

slate of officers, to include Woodworth Mayor David Butler as 

President; Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams as Vice President; and 

Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Chauffe as Secretary/Treasurer. 

In accepting his new role as Board President, Mayor Butler 

commended Immediate Past-President, Pineville Councilman 

G R E E T I N G S F R O M G R E T N A ! 

GretnaLa.com 

Nathan Martin, for his “exceptional leadership on behalf of the 

LaMATS mission and a sterling example to follow.” Mayor Butler, 

along with incoming Vice President Mayor Williams, presented 

Councilman Martin a plaque commemorating his time in office 

and expressing the Board’s gratitude for his exemplary service. 

Councilman Martin, who will remain on the Board, thanked 

fellow members and LaMATS staff for their “support and outstanding 

dedication to serving Louisiana’s local governments 

and elected leaders.” 

Former LaMATS President and LMA Past-President, Jennifer Vidrine, 

also received a gift commemorating her leadership on both 

boards and accolades 

for her selfless 

public service 

in elected office. 

Incoming LaMATS 

President David Butler 

thanked Vidrine 

for her longtime 

friendship and generous 

support of the 

Bureau’s directors 

and staff alike. 

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. 

Mayor Belinda Constant is 

pleased to invite you to Gretna 

for this fall's Mid-Sized Cities 

Mayors' Conference. More 

information in the body of this 

email. 

Come for the conference, stay for 

Gretna Fest 

October 6-8 

Mid-Sized Cities 

Mayors' Conference 

October 4-6, 2023 


RISK MANAGEMENT, INC. 

What a 

Wonderful 

Convention 

It was wonderful seeing everyone at the 

LMA Convention in Alexandria. We enjoyed 

reconnecting with so many friends 

from the Louisiana municipal community, 

including mayors, clerks, police and fire 

chiefs, and everyone else involved in the 

service of our state’s cities, towns, and villages. 

We also enjoyed meeting new municipal 

officials and employees, and we are 

thankful for the new opportunities which 

we hope to enrich over the months and 

years ahead. 

We are grateful for the many friendships 

we’ve established with our municipal 

leaders and employees, and we sincerely 

appreciate the opportunity to serve the 

municipalities of the State of Louisiana. 

We also welcome our newest addition 

to our already existing wonderful and 

insightful 2023-2024 Board of Directors, 

LMA First Vice President and Leesville 

Mayor Rick Allen. He will be joining Chairman 

and Woodworth Mayor David Butler, 

Vice Chairman and Rayville Mayor Harry 

Lewis, Secretary/Treasurer and Gonzales 

Mayor Barney Arceneaux, Pineville Mayor 

Rich Dupree, Grosse Tete Mayor Michael 

Chauffe, LMA President and Cheneyville 

Mayor Derrick Johnson, Sr., and Sibley 

Mayor Jimmy Williams. 

Rick Allen 

David Butler 

Harry Lewis Barney Arceneaux Rich Dupree 

Michael Chauffe Derrick Johnson Jimmy Williams 

by Patrick 

Cronin 

General Manager, 

RMI 

Cronin leads Risk Management, Inc. (RMI) 

- a subsidiary of LMA. He can be reached at 

pcronin@rmila.com. 

Louisiana811.com 

Call 811 or visit Louisiana811.com at least two full 

work days in advance before digging. 

That’s all it takes to notify Louisiana 811 members, 

so they can mark nearby utility lines and pipelines 

to prevent injury and costly accidents. 

CALL OR CLICK BEFORE YOU DIG. IT’S THE LAW. IT’S FREE. 

Page 12 



LITACorp Attends First LMA Annual Conference 

At the LMA’s 86 th Annual Convention 

in Alexandria, Executive Director Leslie 

Durham and Senior Advisor Alex Holland 

of the Louisiana Infrastructure Technical 

Assistance Corporation (LITACorp) unveiled 

the organization’s Technical Assistance 

Thornton, Program Musso, to a crowded &Bellemin room of 

mayors, aldermen, and government staff 

eager to learn more about how they can 

work with LITACorp to tap into federal resources. 

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

LITACorp, a nonprofit organization, was 

established in October 2022 as a collaborative 

partnership between the LMA and 

the Police Jury Association of Louisiana 

(PJAL) to advance three key goals: 

1. Equip Index Listings political subdivisions located 

in rural and economically distressed 

WATER TREATMENT CONSULTANTS 

areas with the tools and resources 

they need to identify, apply for, and 

administer federal grants funded 

through the Infrastructure Investment 

and Jobs Act (IIJA). 

2. Minimize barriers for political subdivisions 

to access federal resources 

by assisting them with meeting local 

cost share requirements of federal 

grant programs funded through IIJA. 

3. Acquire federal grant funds through 

IIJA to construct, improve, 

or repair public infrastructure, 

ie. water and sewer 

systems, roads, bridges, 

railways, ports, broadband, 

etc. in rural and 

economically distressed 

communities throughout 

Louisiana. 

Ultimately, LITACorp’s mission 

is to advance the economic 

prosperity of Louisiana 

communities. 

LITACorp’s Board of Directors 

consists of local elected officials 

who can speak to the challenges 

Louisiana communities 

face when addressing their 

public infrastructure, which 

directly informs the development 

and implementation of 

LITACorp’s programs. 

LITACorp’s Technical Assistance 

Program provides various services 

at no cost to Louisiana 

2018 Roster Edition 

Official Publication of the 

Louisiana Rural Water Association 

Board of Directors 

(2022 – 2023) 

Derrick Johnson, Cheneyville 

(Chairman) 

Eugene Olivier, Iberia Parish 

(Vice Chairman) 

Ray Bourque, Broussard 

Michael Chauffe, 

LWR-R0018 

Grosse Tete 

Harry Lewis, Rayville 

Rick Allen, Leesville 

Bob Brotherton, Bossier Parish 

John Marceaux, Jefferson Davis Parish 

Kenny Haymon, Vernon Parish 

Tony Guillory, Calcasieu Parish 

John Gallagher, Baton Rouge (LMA) 

Guy Cormier, Baton Rouge, (PJAL) 

communities including, but not limited 

to, strategic planning, project development, 

funding identification, grant writing, 

grant administration, technical services 

(e.g., engineering design) and more. 

Authorized Signature: 

Date: 

Artwork Contact: 

Ad Order # 1636839 

Adv Code 179697 

S. Rep: Jason Zawada (C) 

Before receiving technical assistance, 

interested communities must submit a 

Letter of Interest (https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=litacorp) 

to 

LITACorp. LITACorp will then match communities 

with the appropriate technical 

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The latest information about LITACorp, including 

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and its forthcoming Matching Funds 

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86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION 

86th Annual Convention 

Over 1500 local elected officials, 

municipal employees, 

and special guests, representing 

303 municipalities 

and two parish governments, 

convened in Alexandria for 

the Louisiana Municipal Association’s 

(LMA) 86th Annual 

Convention 

The convention held at the 

Riverfront Center from August 

3-5, 2023, celebrated 

local achievements, facilitated 

knowledge sharing, and 

honored the commitment of 

Louisiana’s municipal leaders 

The convention served as a 

significant platform to address 

the state’s municipal 

concerns, celebrate local governance, 

and foster a shared 

sense of purpose among municipal 

leaders. 

Throughout the 

event, attendees 

echoed a common 

sentiment 

of collective 

growth, with a 

focus on innovation, 

community 

engagement, 

and sustainable 

development 

for the future of 

Louisiana. 

“Alexandria was 

honored to host 

the LMA this year 

and visit with all 

our Louisiana friends and, truly, 

municipal families,” said Alexandria 

Mayor Jacques Roy. 

“We are so excited about Louisiana’s 

future with the cadre of 

leaders across our state ready 

to take on serious problems 

and make Louisiana better. 

What is most important about 

this convention is what we 

learn from each other. Cities 

are incubators of the best of 

local government, and I hope 

other leaders will listen to the 

Page 16 


innovative ideas 

coming from so 

many of them.” 

The convention 

kicked-off on 

Thursday with a 

gubernatorial candidate 

forum. This 

marked the first 

time that all seven 

gubernatorial 

candidates have 

appeared on stage 

together. Friday’s 

events emphasized 

learning and 

collaboration. Delegates 

took part in various workshops, 

panel discussions, and educational sessions 

designed to address the unique 

challenges and opportunities faced by 

municipalities. The convention closed 

on Saturday with welcoming new board 

leadership and honoring the achievements 

of municipalities across the state. 

LMA Executive Director John Gallagher 

expressed gratitude, noting, “I think 

we’ve had a great convention. My thanks 

to Mayor Roy and the entire City of Alexandria 

on fine-tuning a wonderful convention. 

We appreciate the hospitality, 

and they’ve been excellent hosts.” 


A Year of New Leadership 

Mayor Derrick Johnson, Sr. of Cheneyville was inaugurated 

as the LMA President during the Annual 

Banquet with a blessing of the gavel by Reverend 

Cedric Brown with Second Edgefield Baptist 

Church. Leesville Mayor Rick Allen was also installed 

as First Vice President, and Broussard Mayor Ray Bourque 

as Second Vice President. 

Johnson, succeeding former Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine, 

will serve as the primary advocate for the villages, towns, 

and cities of Louisiana throughout his 2023-2024 term, steering 

the LMA Executive Board and chairing the LMA Executive 

Committee. 

“This is a surreal moment, and I never thought when I first started 

this journey that I’d be here, or that I’d even want to be here,” 

shared Johnson. “But over time, I’ve been mentored by great 

leaders and I’ve learned that I have a calling, and that I do justice 

to myself and to others when called to serve. I hope to be able 

to make an impact this coming year on not only my own municipality 

but on so many others that need help across the state.” 

Allen, stepping into the First Vice President role, commented, 

“It’s difficult to describe the future of an organization that I 

personally feel is running remarkably well as it is. My plan is to 

contribute as much as possible to the next generation of leaders 

who are finding out about our services for the very first 

time. My hope is to find a way to blend old and new in such 

a way that the LMA continues to be progressive but holds 

steadfast to its history.” Allen is currently serving his third term 

as Mayor of Leesville, having first won the office in 2014. He 

also serves on the Governor’s Military Advisory Committee, 

the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, 

and is Chairman of the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance. 

Ray Bourque, taking on duties as Second Vice President, asserted, 

“The value of the LMA in terms of our missions of advocacy, 

education, and service, is that we help local elected 

officials achieve their goals. When we can assist our local communities, 

that knowledge travels statewide. And that causes 

ongoing change in a positive manner.” Bourque is currently in 

his second term as Mayor of the City of Broussard. Previously 

a city council member for eight years, he has focused on envisioning 

a future of healthy growth for Broussard. 

John Gallagher, LMA’s Executive Director, praised the new 

leadership, saying, “I’m very excited to continue working with 

Mayor Johnson in his new capacity as our LMA President, with 

Mayors Allen and Bourque in their roles, and the entire incoming 

board. This new slate of officers is going to be bringing 

a lot of energy and ideas, and I’m looking forward to a very 

productive year ahead.” 

Saturday night’s banquet also saw numerous honors bestowed 

on President Johnson from LMA partners and friends, an inspiring 

speech by Air Force Sustainment Center Commander and 

Materiel Command Lieutenant General Stacey T. Hawkins (introduced 

by his very proud father and former Bastrop Mayor 

Clarence Hawkins), a rousing National Anthem by Stephen Fontenot, 

and an emotional musical tribute by Zalah Vallien. 

The Pineville High School JROTC Program presented a touching 

display in the form of a POW-MIA Missing Man Table, taking attendees 

through the importance of each item’s placement and 

reminding the audience to remember our missing service men 

and women who have not yet returned home. 

Special thanks go to Pineville Councilman Nathan Martin for 

his head table introductions, LMA Communications Consultant 

Anita Tillman for serving as emcee, Dr. Brookie Allphin for 

presenting the Community Achievement Awards, and President 

Johnson’s children, Skylar and Braylon, for their Pledge of 

Allegiance recitation. 

The night was capped off by a stunning and energetic performance 

by national recording artist Cupid and the Dance Party 

Express, who certainly lived up to their name! 

Page 18 





Page 20 


District Vice Presidents 2023-2024 

Congratulations to all of our 2023-2024 District Vice 

Presidents. We look forward to a fruitful year ahead. 

District A: Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton 

District B: Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston 

District C: Staci Albritton Mitchell, Mayor, West Monroe 

District D: Howard “Keith” Lewing, Mayor, Anacoco 

District E: Rich Dupree, Mayor, Pineville 

District F: Charles James, Mayor, Sunset 

District G: Chuck Robichaux, Mayor, Rayne 

District H: Edwin “Ed” Reeves, Mayor, Plaquemine 

District I: Jean Pelloat, Mayor, Madisonville 

District J: Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson 


District A: 

Mayor Kim Gaspard 

Haughton 

District B: 

Mayor Ronny Walker 

Ruston 

District C: 

Mayor 

Staci Albritton Mitchell 

West Monroe 

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 


The opening session included a warm, inspiring welcome 

from Alexandria Mayor Jaques Roy, and Alison Clarke, on behalf 

of the Secretary of State’s Office, spoke to participants on 

the importance of elections. 


Gubernatorial Candidate Forum 

And speaking of elections…what an honor to be the first gubernatorial 

candidate forum in this election cycle with all seven candidates 

in attendance. We thank Senator Sharon Hewitt, Attorney 

General Jeff Landry, Mr. Hunter Lundy, Representative Richard 

Nelson, Treasurer John Schroder, Mr. Stephen Waguespack, and 

Dr. Shawn Wilson, for their time and their candor. 

Page 22 


Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was the keynote speaker for the 

association’s Leadership Luncheon. Stacy Duvic, LED Director 

of Community Competitiveness announced the LED Development 

Ready Community Awards recipients - Lafayette 

and Scott. 


Leadership Luncheon 

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser once again delivered a spirited 

update on the Lt. Governor’s Office and the Department of 

Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Following his speech, the 

Lt. Governor was presented with a President’s Award for his 

tireless work promoting Louisiana that brings tourism into 

our municipalities. 


Prayer Breakfast 

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’s 

musical performance by Sally Cowan 

and Family did not disappoint. 


Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree presented 

the event, and former LSU baseball player/1996 

World Series hero and now motivational 

speaker, Warren Morris, gave the 

keynote address. Morris delivered an uplifting 

and inspirational message encouraging 

members to look within themselves 

in order to fine tune one’s character. 

A special thank you also to Reverend 

Frank Jackson for the invocation, Reverend 

and Pineville Councilman Nathan 

Martin for the musical introduction, 

and Father Chad Partain for the closing 

benediction. 

Page 24 


Workshops 

We presented participants with numerous workshops aimed 

at giving them the information they need to effectively serve 

their respective communities. Information was provided on 


grant funding, fighting blight, cybersecurity, tax sale processes, 

leak detection, economic challenges, Mayor’s Courts, municipal 

risks, surplus property solutions, and much more. 



Page 26 


Singing, and dancing, and an air show 

– Oh my! Who knew an air hanger at 

England Air Force Base could look so 

magical? 

We wish to thank the City of Alexandria, 

namely Mayor Jacques Roy, Director of 


Host City Reception 

Community Services Tonya Corley, Special 

Events Coordinator Angela Guillot, 

and Special Projects Coordinator Stacey 

West for such a phenomenal Host City 

Reception. Food was provided by Sweet 

Latte, 2 Reign Catering, Café Desoto, and 

Royal Indian Bistro, with DJ Tony Groove 

and the National WWII Museum Victory 

Belles providing entertainment. And 

what about that air show? The AeroShell 

Aerobatic Team did an outstanding job! 

Special thanks also goes to the Louisiana 

National Guard for their static display of 

military equipment. 


LMA Service Awards 

Created by the LMA Executive Board, these service awards honor 

elected municipal officials who have served sufficiently well 

to earn continual and repeated re-election to positions of authority 

in their respective municipalities. Indeed, election to a 

position of municipal authority is a great honor and privilege. 

But re-election is an extremely high honor reflecting the trust 

and confidence each long-term municipal official has earned 

through many years of dedicated public service. These service 

awards pay fitting tribute to such unparalleled achievement. 

Eight-Star Gold Award 

(serving or completed 8th term – 28 to 32 years of service) 

• Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales 

• Melvin L. Hasten, Councilman, St. Gabriel 

• Lionel Johnson, Jr., Mayor, St. Gabriel 

• Verna Smith, Councilwoman, Jean Lafitte 

Tom Banchie 


Nicholas Degueyter 

• Clarence A. Vappie, Mayor, Baldwin 

Six-Star Gold Award 


• Thomas “Tom” Bouchie, Councilman, Pineville 

• Nicholas Degueyter, Mayor, Leonville 

• Kevin “Frazier” Dorn, Councilman, Pineville 

• Irma T. Gordon, Mayor, Kentwood 

• Jimmy Holland, Councilman, Oak Grove 

• Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville 

• Mike Stephens, Mayor, Gilbert 

• Kerry Willingham, Councilman, Leonville 

Four-Star Silver Award 


• Christy Creppel, Councilwoman, Jean Lafitte 

• Calise Michael Doucet, Councilman, Rayne 

• Michael Hall, Councilman, Kentwood 

• Debra K. James, Councilwoman, Rayville 

• Lester Levin, Mayor, Franklin 

• Randy Lloyd, Alderman, Gilbert 

• Rex McCarthy, Councilwoman, Winnsboro 

• Donald Robin, Councilman, Port Barre 

• Jacques Roy, Mayor, Alexandria 

• Sarah Trahan, Alderwoman, Delcambre 

LMA Employee Service Awards: 

• Bettie Bean, Receptionist, 15 years 

• Donna Wilcox, Executive Assistant, 5 years 

• Richard Williams, Deputy Director, 5 years 

Kevin Dorn Irma Gordon Jimmy Holland Debra James 

Lester Levine Nathan Martin Rex McCarthy Mike Stephens 

Page 28 



Sarah Trahan Clarence Vappie Donna Wilcox Richard Williams 

President’s Awards 

Past President Jennifer Vidrine 

recognized individuals 

who she felt made special 

“above and beyond” contributions 

to the LMA throughout 

her presidency. In recognition 

of meritorious service 

to municipal government 

in Louisiana, the following 

received the President’s 

Awards: 

The Biden Administration 

and former New Orleans 

Mayor Mitch Landrieu for 

their work on IIJA funding, 

allowing Louisiana to make 

historic investments that will 

address infrastructure issues. 

Louisiana’s 

Congressional 

Delegation for the work 

they’ve done on behalf of 

local government to bring 

funding to Louisiana. 

ETEC and Sustainability Partners 

for being such dedicated 

and supportive sponsors 

of LMA’s mission and that of 

local government. 

LMA Deputy Directors Richard 

Williams and George 

Murphy, and RMI General 

Manager Patrick Cronin for 

the stellar work they do and 

commitment they show. 

Senator Gerald Boudreaux, 

LMA Contract Lobbyist Paulette 

Bailey Wilson, and Director 

of Intergovernmental 

Affairs for the Louisiana 

Governor’s Office Roderick 

Scott for advocating for and 

supporting our cities, towns, 

and villages. 

Patrick Cronin, RMI Daniel Hebert, ETEC Ronnie Hebert, ETEC Jason Hewitt, Sustainability Partners 

Roderick Scott, Governor’s Office Eric Street, Sustainability Partners Richard Williams, LMA Paulette BaIley Wilson, The Mirror Group 


On Saturday, August 5 in Alexandria, 14 

Louisiana municipalities – Jean Lafitte, 

Cheneyville, Plaquemine, Broussard, 

Woodworth, Franklin, West Monroe, Cankton, 

Carencro, Baker, Lake Charles, Many, 

Patterson, and Gonzales won top honors 

at the Louisiana Municipal Association’s 

Community Achievement Awards for 

exceptional improvements and accomplishments 

for the 2022 calendar year. 

The prestigious awards, categorized under 

Community Development, Economic 

Development, Basic Services, and Technology 

& Connectivity, recognize the 

perseverance, dedication, and tireless 

efforts of elected municipal officials and 

their teams across various municipalities. 

“The Community Achievement Awards 

are very important because they give the 

municipalities the opportunity to showcase 

the projects going on in their cities, 

as well as other municipalities seeing 

what’s going on in neighboring communities,” 

said Past President Jennifer Vidrine. 

The pinnacle of the evening was the 

awarding of the Town of Jean Lafitte with 

the LMA’s 22nd Annual ‘Best of Show’ 

Award for “The Rosethorne Tidal Levee 

Project” – the second win in a row for 

the town. A monumental endeavor, this 

$34 million dollar project spans across 

approximately 580 acres, encompassing 

150 homes, 5 businesses, and 4 government 

buildings. Started in 2022, this twophase 

project, set to conclude in 2024, 

marks a collaborative effort between 

numerous mayoral tenures and parish, 

state, and federal officials. Designed to 

safeguard against 10-year tidal or rainfall 

flooding, the project not only embodies 

the community’s resilience but also its 

commitment to ensuring long-term environmental 

protection and sustainability 

for its residents. 

“I want to congratulate all our Community 

Achievement Award winners,” 

said LMA Executive Director John Gallagher. 

“There were some creative and 

fascinating entries. I want to also give 

a special congratulations to Jean Lafitte 

on their second Best of Show win in as 

many The following is the list of honorable 

mentions and winners for each 


Community Achievement Awards 

category and division: 

Community Development Category 

• 3,000 and under population: 

Honorable Mentions: Town of Brusly 

(St. James Park) and Town of Port Barre 

(Splash Pad in Veterans’ Memorial Park). 

Winner: Town of Cheneyville (Park Revitalization). 

• 3,001 to 10,000 population: 

Honorable Mentions: Town of Ball (Children’s 

Playground) and Town of Richwood 

(Health and Resource Fair). 

Winner: City of Plaquemine (Development 

of Fort Area Park). 

• 10,001 to 25,000 population: 

Honorable Mentions: City of Natchitoches 

(Texas and Pacific Depot Rehabilitation 

Project) and City of Pineville (KEYS 

to the Renovation of KEES PARK). 

Winner: City of Broussard (Envision 

Broussard – Phase 1). 

Economic Development Category 


Honorable Mention: Village of Gilbert 

(Community Playground Project). 

Winner: Town of Woodworth (Glow Up!). 


Winner: City of Franklin (Franklin Loop 

Paddle Trail). 

• 10,001 to 25,000 population: 

Winner: City of West Monroe (Highland 

Park Property Re-use Project). 

Basic Services Category 

City of Carencro 


Honorable Mentions: Town of New Llano 

(New Llano Fire Department – Main 

Station) and Town of Sarepta (Updating 

Town Hall). 

Winner: Village of Cankton (Village of 

Cankton Water System Improvements). 


Honorable Mentions: Town of Franklinton 

(Varnado, 18th, and Alford Street 

Project) and Town of Iowa (Wastewater 

Treatment Pond Oxidation Repairs). 

Winner: City of Carencro (2015 Force 

Main and Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades 

– Phase II). 

• 10,001 to 25,000 population: 

Honorable Mention: City of Youngsville 

(Downtown Streetscape). 

Winner: City of Baker (LYNX Microtransit 

project). 

• 25,001 and over population: 

Winner: City of Lake Charles (Drainage 

Improvement Program). 

Technology & Connectivity Category 


Honorable Mention Town of Simmesport 

(Splash Pad). 

Winner: Town of Many (Automatic Reading 

Water Meters). 


Winner: City of Patterson’s (Town Hall 

Meetings Project). 

• 10,001 to 25,000 population: 

Winner: City of Gonzales (Gonzales Climate 

Action and Resilience Plan). 

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. 

LMA extends its warmest congratulations 

to all winners and honorable mentions 

for their commendable endeavors. The 

Community Achievement Awards Judging 

Committee also extends its gratitude 

to LMA for promoting and recognizing 

these exceptional municipal achievements. 

Page 30 



BEST OF SHOW 

Town of Jean Lafitte 

City of Natchitoches 

City of Baker 

Town of Simmesport 

City of Gonzales 

Town of Many 

City of Patterson 

City of Youngsville 

Town of Port Barre 



Town of Woodworth 

Town of Ball 

City of Franklin 

City of West Monroe 

Town of Sarepta Village of Cankton Town of Franklinton 

Village of Gilbert Town of Brusly City of Broussard 

Town of Cheneyville 

City of Pineville 

City of Plaquemine 

Page 32 


At this year’s Board Meeting, Past President 

Jennifer Vidrine was thanked 

for her year of service to the LMA and 

received a few nice surprises, affiliate 

and partner organizations were given 


Board and Business Meetings 

the opportunity to share their end of 

year reports, and new LaMATS and RMI 

Boards were announced. 

Our Annual Business Meeting saw new 

LMA Leadership officially voted in with 

new President Derrick Johnson, Sr., First 

Vice President Rick Allen, and Second 

Vice President Ray Bourque, along with 

our ten District Vice Presidents being 

approved. 


Vendors 

Our incredible vendors bring such a wealth of information, 

knowledge, and opportunities to our members, and we thank 


them for all they do! We wouldn’t be who or where we are 

without their continued support. 

Page 34 


The Louisiana Municipal Association expresses heartfelt gratitude to all of 

The Louisiana Municipal Association expresses heartfelt gratitude to all of 

our sponsors and exhibitors for their contributions and assistance which 

our sponsors and exhibitors for their contributions and assistance which 

have made the 86th Annual Convention possible. 

have made the 86th Annual Convention possible. 

Platinum Sponsors Sponsors 

Gold Sponsors 

Silver Sponsors 

Bronze Sponsors 


Financial News 

Many municipalities struggle with the 

decision of how to pay for various capital 

projects (roads, water and sewer improvements, 

drainage, etc.). When grants 

and capital outlay from the cities aren’t 

enough, there are usually three options: 

Pay-As-You-Go (“PAYGO”) - The municipality 

pays for the capital project with 

funds on hand. Usually this is over a 

number of years. 

Bond Financing - The municipality issues 

debt to provide monies upfront to 

complete the project. The bond is paid 

for over a set number of years. Usually, 

the time is matched with the useful life 

of the project / asset. 

Do Nothing - The municipality doesn’t 

budget any money for capital improvements 

or replacements. This is the costliest 

as infrastructure and capital assets 

deplete. 

PAYGO 

Most governments cannot generate 

enough revenues from their current 

budget to finance all of the infrastructure 

projects that they want. However, 

current revenues can finance a significant 

portion of most government’s capital 

needs and may include designated 

revenues that have been specifically 

collected to fund capital projects. Cities 

should ensure that the annual revenues 

are enough for capital projects as well as 

operation of current expenses. 

The main advantages of pay-as-you-go 

financing (relative to debt financing) 

are as follows: 

• Reduced interest expense - The 

savings in interest costs payable on 

outstanding debt can be used to 

finance additional capital projects, 

reduce taxes, or expand services. 

• Increased flexibility - The absence of 

fixed annual debt costs provided for 

greater flexibility during economic 

downturns. Future revenues are not 

designated for debt service and can 

be used for other purposes such as 

saving up for future projects. 

• Enhanced debt capacity - If a city 

has zero outstanding debt it may 

find that future ability to borrow for 

“greater” capital needs is enhanced. 

If a city borrows now, it may not be 

able to borrow as much in the future. 

GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC. 

Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing 

L. Gordon King 

Deatriz Riggins 

Nnamdi Thompson 

Shaun B. Toups 

James R. Ryan 

Jamie Holloway 

Benjamin Bankston 

(Consulting & Municipal Advisory Firm) 

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: 

• Financial feasibility of projects; 

• 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 

independent advice and analysis 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. 

6767 Perkins Rd., Suite #250 

Baton Rouge, LA 70808 

(225) 344-2098 (Phone) 

gcla@gc-la.net (Email) 

We Have The Experience! 

Page 36 


The main disadvantages of pay-as-yougo 

financing (relative to bond financing) 

are as follows: 

• Insufficient funds - Current revenues 

are not likely to be sufficient to 

pay for significant capital outlays or 

infrastructure projects. 

• Higher cost of construction – Inflation 

may raise costs at a rate higher 

than the interest cost of borrowing. 

• Uncertainty of funding requirements 

- Unlike bond payments, the 

funds necessary for capital projects 

may be greatly inconsistent from 

year to year. 

• Depletion of reserves - Reserves 

may be reduced for other uses before 

they are sufficient to pay for the 

desired projects. 

Bond Financing 

Borrowing or bond financing is not a 

new source of revenue. Borrowing is a 

way of moving the completion of capital 

projects to the present and the payment 

for those projects into the future. 

However, the debt plus interest expense 

must be repaid from the current revenue 

sources. Nevertheless, the repayment of 

the bonds can be made over time as the 

project is used. Debt financing should 

not be viewed as a “last resort,” because 

it is often the best alternative available. 

The main advantages of bond financing 

(relative to pay-as-you-go) are as follows: 

• Acquisition as needed - Cities can 

enjoy prompt use and benefit of 

capital improvements. Immediate 

or rapid construction is limited with 

pay-as-you-go financing. 

• Repayment in cheaper dollars - With 

a positive inflation rate, repayment 

costs will be less burdensome than 

full payment at the time of acquisition. 

• Stability - Since debt service payments 

are known and predictable, 

wide fluctuations in required expenditures 

are avoided. 

• Reduced operating cost - Older, 

high-maintenance infrastructure 

is more quickly replaced by newer, 

low-maintenance projects. 

The main disadvantages of financing 

(relative to pay-as-you-go) are as follows: 

• Interest costs - The cost for the use 

of money must be added to the total 

cost of the capital project. 

• Encumbered future revenues - Potential 

revenues are dedicated to 

the repayment of debt and are thus 

not available for other uses. 

In summary, neither approach is inherently 

superior to the other. Usually, the 

best course of action is a combination of 

both approaches. For example: A municipality 

might utilize bond financing for 

the purchase, acquisition, or construction 

of a public building and PAYGO 

funding for the equipment and furnishings. 

The financing decision should be 

carefully considered as to which option 

the city is willing to embark. 

By Nnamdi 

Thompson 

Government 

Consultants, Inc. 

Government Consulting Inc, can be reached 

by emailing nthompson@gc-la.net. 


Stop and Think – It Can Make All the Difference 

I came into my office this morning, sat down at my 

computer, and began reading emails. There was 

an urgent email from the Payroll Department, 

telling me to fill out a new document so they 

could get my check cut in a timely manner. 

Not thinking of anything but getting my 

paycheck, I clicked on the document. Nothing 

happened. I clicked again, and still nothing 

happened. I shrugged and walked over 

to accounting where I was told the email did 

not come from them. I walked back into my 

office and there was an image on my computer 

that looked like this: 

I panicked. I kept asking myself “what do I do?” Of course! Shut 

the computer down! That’s what IT always tells me, “Did you 

reboot?” So, I shut down my computer. I can keep going with 

this story because I have heard this so many times from so 

many different people. Everything that I did this morning had 

been planned, and is exactly what the criminals expected and 

wanted me to do. It worked mostly because of two words at the 

beginning of this story. Can you pick them out? NOT THINKING. 

So many times, we get caught up in what we are doing that 

we don’t STOP and THINK. Criminals count on this. They purposely 

try to take you off guard to trick you into acting without 

thinking. They will call and pretend to be someone you love, 

like a child or grandchild, and they’ll tell you they have been 

placed in prison and please send money. They may say they are 

the phone or utility company, and your services are going to be 

turned off immediately if you don’t give them your credit card 

number right now. They may even pretend to be your bank saying 

that your account was compromised and if you could just 

tell them your account numbers, they will take care of it. No one 

except criminals are going to send you an email asking you to 

buy gift cards for any reason. Places like the IRS, Medicare, and 

other companies are not going to send you an email asking for 

personal information. Criminals have a field day with Facebook, 

Instagram, and all social media outlets. Criminals are watching 

everything online and even reading obituaries. Leave 

maiden names and personal information out of 

obituaries. A lot of security questions to sites 

can be answered from these venues, like 

what’s your mother’s maiden name, your favorite 

pet, and in what city were you born. 

On a larger scale, cyberattacks have inundated 

the state with each year, growing 

more and more costly. While the bad actors 

are getting better and better, there are some 

simple things we can follow to help limit some 

attacks. 

1 If you think you have a virus, do not shut down 

your computer. Always unplug it from the network to prevent 

the damage from spreading to other devices. 

2 Call for help. If you are a victim of a cyberattack or cybercrime 

in Louisiana, contact the Louisiana Fusion Center at 

1-800-434-8007 or email lafusion.center@la.gov. 

3 STOP and THINK! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably 

is. Look for mistakes in the grammar of the email. Look at 

the time the email was sent. Make sure the email address 

matches the name of the person it’s supposed to be coming 

from. 

4 VERIFY VERIFY VERIFY! Never click on an unknown link or 

attachment, or use a phone number from the email of concern. 

Never change accounting documents because someone 

sent an email asking you to. Never go buy gift cards or 

purchase something for someone in an email without always 

verifying with a follow up phone call. 

5 Keep your computers and software up to date with security 

patches and updates. 

6 Do not work as a local or domain administrator on your 

computer. It will allow the criminals to install anything if 

they get into your system. 

7 Use Endpoint Protection on all systems. 

8 Backup your data. Know where and how it’s being backed 

up. Test periodically to make sure the backups are viable. 

9 Use Multifactor Authentication and strong passwords. Use a 

password manager. 

10 Be wise when posting on social media. 

I know technology 

can be overwhelming 

and is always 

changing, however 

it’s here to stay, 

and it’s only getting 

bigger. Following 

the above tips will 

make a difference 

at work and in your 

personal lives at 

home. 

by Tracy 

Melancon 

Louisiana 

Municipal 

Association 

Tracy Melancon is the IT Director for the 

Louisiana Municipal Association. She can 

be reached by emailing tmelancon@lma. 

org or calling 225-344-5001. 

Page 38 


LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTS 

LAMSA Fall Lineup Focuses on Education 

The Louisiana Association 

of Municipal Secretaries and 

Assistants will hold their 

33rd Annual Fall conference 

in Houma September 20- 

22 at the 

Courtyard 

by Marriott 

on Library 

Drive. Registration 

has begun. 

On Wednesday, we will have 

the mobile Finding Our Roots 

African American Museum 

parked outside our meeting 

room. The museum building 

was damaged during Hurricane 

Ida, and this 34-foot RV 

contains photos, memorabilia, 

and artifacts depicting 

different aspects of African 

American history in Terrebonne 

and Lafourche parishes. 

After touring 

the 

museum, 

the first 50 

paid registrants 

will 

participate in the Fine Arts 

Guild “Paint da Boot.” If you 

are not in this select number, 

those wishing to participate 

will be placed on a waitlist 

and notified if a spot becomes 

available. 

The fall lineup of speakers 

will cover a variety of educational 

topics on current issues. 

On Thursday, the agenda 

includes “How LITACorp 

Can Help Your Community” 

by LITACorp Executive Director 

Leslie Durham; “Parliamentarian 

Procedures” by 

Nicole Learson, RP; “Public 

Bid Law” by LAMATS Executive 

Director Cliff Palmer; 

“Mandatory Ethics Training” 

by Greg Thibodeaux of the 

Louisiana Board of Ethics; 

and “Active Shooter Training” 

by Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s 

Office First Lieutenant 

Jamie Trahan. 

After our conference concludes 

for the day, attendees 

are invited to attend a reception 

from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at 

Bayou Terrebonne Distillers. 

While touring the Distillers, 

you can enjoy music from 

Johnny Chauvin and the 

Mojo Band, and sample local 

cuisine from surrounding establishments. 

For everyone’s 

convenience, there will be a 

shuttle which will take members 

to and from the Distillers. 

Pick up will be in front of 

the hotel lobby and will run 

every 15 minutes. 

A Mayor’s Panel will be held 

on Friday morning, and the 

conference will wrap up with 

“The Key to Healing” by Mrs. 

Lisa Maggio, Author, and Life 

Coach. 

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. 

Hope you will join us down 

in the Bayou! For more information 

or to sponsor, call 

Kristine Scherer at 504-259- 

1068 or email lamsa@currently.com. 

Visit explorehouma.com to 

plan your trip to Louisiana’s 

Bayou Country 

By Kristine Scherer 

Peachey 

LAMSA Conference 

Coordinator 


PRESORT 

STANDARD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

Page 40

August/September 2023

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