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Aug-Sept.23<br />
Louisiana<br />
MUNICIPAL<br />
REVIEW<br />
VOL. 88<br />
ISSUES 8 & 9
A Quarter-Century of Municipal<br />
Service!<br />
PURCHASING & BIDDING ASSISTANCE<br />
REVENUE RECOVERY (IPT, OLT, FRANCHISE AUDITS)<br />
BLIGHT & BROWNFIELDS REMEDIATION<br />
CAPITAL OUTLAY CONSULTING<br />
MILLAGE MANAGEMENT<br />
FLEET MANAGEMENT<br />
DRONE IMAGING<br />
...SO MUCH MORE!<br />
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The Louisiana Municipal Review, the official publication of the Louisiana Municipal Association, serves as a medium for the exchange<br />
of ideas and information for municipal officials in Louisiana. With a circulation of over 3,200, this publication is read by employees of<br />
Louisiana municipal governments, sheriffs, parish presidents, state government officials, and members of the state legislature and<br />
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Editorial offices: Louisiana Municipal Association, 6767 Perkins Road, Post Office Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821- 4327,<br />
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MUNICIPAL REVIEW EDITORIAL STAFF<br />
Editor-in-Chief: John Gallagher jgallagher@lma.org<br />
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<strong>2023</strong>-2024 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory)<br />
LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW<br />
(USPS 832-560) (ISSN 0164-3622)<br />
3 rd class postage paid at<br />
Baton Rouge, Louisiana.<br />
Postmaster – Send address changes to:<br />
LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW<br />
Post Office Box 4327<br />
Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4327<br />
Page 2<br />
President – Derrick Johnson, Mayor, Cheneyville<br />
First Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville<br />
Second Vice President – Ray Bourque, Mayor, Broussard<br />
District A Vice President – Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton<br />
District B Vice President – Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston<br />
District C Vice President – Staci A. Mitchell, Mayor, West Monroe<br />
District D Vice President – Howard “Keith” Lewing, Mayor, Anacoco<br />
District E Vice President – Rich Dupree, Mayor, Pineville<br />
District F Vice President – Charles James, Mayor, Sunset<br />
District G Vice President – Chuck Robichaux, Mayor, Rayne<br />
District H Vice President – Edwin “Ed” Reeves, Mayor, Plaquemine<br />
District I Vice President – Jean Pelloat, Mayor, Madisonville<br />
District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson<br />
LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales<br />
LMA Past President – Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales<br />
LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth<br />
LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle<br />
LMA Past President – Harry Lewis, Mayor, Rayville<br />
LMA Past President – Jimmy Williams, Mayor, Sibley<br />
Vice President at Large – TBA<br />
Vice President at Large – TBA<br />
Vice President (< 1K) – TBA<br />
Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – TBA<br />
Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – TBA<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 3
DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT<br />
Executive Director’s Report<br />
What a few months it’s been!<br />
In fact, what a year! I want to<br />
first express my appreciation<br />
to LMA Past President Jennifer<br />
Vidrine, President Derrick<br />
Johnson, and First-Vice President<br />
Rick Allen for providing<br />
leadership and stability last<br />
year that empowered our organization<br />
to thrive and pave<br />
the way for a successful future<br />
of the LMA.<br />
In a brief review of our<br />
LMA year, the LMA Annual<br />
Mid-Winter conference was<br />
held in February, our Municipal<br />
Day at the Capital in<br />
April, and in June, the hugely<br />
successful series of the<br />
ten statewide district meetings,<br />
where almost 900 LMA<br />
members were in attendance<br />
throughout the state.<br />
A mere three weeks from the<br />
conclusion of our 2022 annual<br />
convention, the LMA, RMI<br />
and LaMATS staffs boxed up<br />
over 30 years of LMA history<br />
as we prepared to move<br />
into the new LMA home. We<br />
made a seamless transition<br />
into the new headquarters. A<br />
32,000 square foot building<br />
and adjoining 2.5-acre lot are<br />
the centerpieces of the 5-acre<br />
property south central Baton<br />
Rouge near the LSU Campus<br />
on Perkins Road. Nestled<br />
among live oaks and pecan<br />
trees, the building houses the<br />
LMA, RMI, and LaMATS offices<br />
as well as the Louisiana Association<br />
of Chiefs of Police and<br />
Government Consultants.<br />
Among the highlights of the<br />
building are a state-of-theart<br />
executive board room,<br />
multiple conference rooms,<br />
and a noise-reduced webinar<br />
room. Our old headquarters,<br />
located on N. 10th Street<br />
in downtown Baton Rouge<br />
was sold for $3 million in<br />
mid-<strong>September</strong> 2022, greatly<br />
reducing the financial obligations<br />
remaining on the new<br />
headquarters.<br />
I am pleased to let you know<br />
that the Louisiana Infrastructure<br />
and Technical Assistance<br />
Corporation (LITACorp) is<br />
up and running full speed<br />
ahead. This historic joint-venture<br />
with the Police Jury Association<br />
of Louisiana has<br />
been funded by a $25 million<br />
appropriation by the state.<br />
The LITACorp Board, chaired<br />
by LMA President Derrick<br />
Johnson, Sr. was successful<br />
in hiring a familiar face and<br />
name, Leslie Durham, as the<br />
Executive Director. She came<br />
to us after serving at the pleasure<br />
of the President of the<br />
United States as the Federal<br />
Co-Chairwoman of the Delta<br />
Regional Authority (DRA).<br />
The board, with the guidance<br />
of Leslie and her staff, hired<br />
two consultants, Franklin &<br />
Associates and Hunt Guillot<br />
and Associates to serve as<br />
the “boots on the ground” to<br />
assist our rural municipalities<br />
and parishes with grant writing<br />
and other technical assistance<br />
as it relates to the 2021<br />
Infrastructure Investment<br />
and Jobs Act (IIJA).<br />
Season 3 of our Small Town<br />
Podcast series has also<br />
dropped. You can access the<br />
series through our website at<br />
www.lma.org or on the Small-<br />
Town Podcast website at<br />
www.smalltownpodcast.com.<br />
We are also excited to announce<br />
the LMA’s own podcast,<br />
From the Piney Woods to<br />
the Bayou where we will be<br />
featuring local stories from<br />
around the state under the<br />
banner of the LMA through<br />
our in-house communications<br />
team, AMCorp International.<br />
I want to thank Louisiana<br />
Economic Development<br />
Secretary Don Pierson for his<br />
continued generous support<br />
on all of our podcast ventures.<br />
Our wholly owned subsidiaries,<br />
RMI and LaMATS, saw<br />
positive growth this year.<br />
RMI General Manager Patrick<br />
Cronin and his team hit the<br />
road making a total of 225<br />
municipal visits in <strong>2023</strong> and<br />
realizing new annual premiums<br />
totaling $1,219,000<br />
dollars. LaMATS Executive<br />
Director Cliff Palmer and his<br />
team continue to see growth<br />
in their programs, including<br />
the growing procurement<br />
and surplus sales program as<br />
well as LACPC Joint Municipal<br />
Commission. Thank you<br />
also to RMI Chairman Mayor<br />
David Butler and LaMATS<br />
Chairman Councilman Nathan<br />
Martin for your leadership<br />
this past year.<br />
The LMA had another successful<br />
legislative session<br />
where we partnered with<br />
John Gallagher,<br />
Executive Director<br />
other local government associations<br />
to address a number<br />
of critical issues in the <strong>2023</strong><br />
Regular Session of the Legislature.<br />
Among the successes<br />
was the passage of SB 166<br />
which will allow - under certain<br />
circumstances - the waiver<br />
of a local match for capital<br />
outlay projects in municipalities<br />
under 6,000 in population.<br />
This will go a long way<br />
in helping those municipalities<br />
be able address their<br />
infrastructure needs without<br />
placing a burden on their<br />
budgets.<br />
The LMA continues to be in<br />
a solid financial condition.<br />
Despite the economic downturn<br />
faced in the last year and<br />
the continued resurgence we<br />
are seeing; our investments<br />
are solid and seeing continued<br />
growth. The LMA has<br />
been operating in a slight<br />
deficit for a number of years,<br />
and through the leadership<br />
of our officers and executive<br />
committee and actions being<br />
taken, we are very hopeful to<br />
be seeing a budget surplus in<br />
2024 and beyond.<br />
CONTINUED PAGE 6<br />
Page 4<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE<br />
To My LMA Family…<br />
I would like to give thanks to<br />
God first and foremost. Without<br />
him none of this would<br />
be possible. To LMA leadership<br />
and staff, and all our affiliates<br />
and subsidiaries, I also<br />
say thank you. As President, I<br />
appreciate your support and<br />
dedication, and I look forward<br />
to the work we will do together<br />
over the coming year.<br />
I also want to thank our 86th<br />
Annual Convention host city<br />
of Alexandria and Mayor<br />
Jacques Roy. Being able to<br />
share my inauguration with<br />
family and friends so close to<br />
home was the icing on the<br />
cake, and the City of Alexandria<br />
did everything to ensure<br />
a wonderful experience.<br />
When I first started my journey,<br />
after serving 11 years in<br />
the military, I never thought<br />
that I would be where I am<br />
today. I followed the lead of<br />
my father by joining the military.<br />
Little did I know I would<br />
be going to war a few years<br />
later. I moved to Cheneyville,<br />
as I saw quickly that I wanted<br />
to make a difference. So, I decided<br />
to run for councilman,<br />
then mayor. I attended law<br />
school and became an attorney,<br />
and now I am President<br />
of the Louisiana Municipal<br />
Association. I am proud, honored,<br />
and humbled.<br />
I would be remiss if I didn’t<br />
acknowledge the trailblazers<br />
that came before me and<br />
paved the way for me to be<br />
able to serve you in this capacity.<br />
Mayor Clarence Hawkins<br />
- the first Black President<br />
of the LMA, my mentor Mayor<br />
Clarence Fields who I am<br />
blessed to have had in my<br />
corner, Mayor Bobby Washington,<br />
Mayor David Riggins,<br />
and Mayor Harry Lewis, who<br />
appointed me to his board<br />
and guided me and has always<br />
been the voice I needed.<br />
And finally, LMA Past President<br />
Jennifer Vidrine. I will<br />
forever be grateful for their<br />
leadership and their guidance.<br />
It has been my honor.<br />
I couldn’t do anything without<br />
an excellent support system.<br />
To my councilmembers<br />
past and present, my clerk, my<br />
chief, my fire chief, my town<br />
attorney, my auditor, and my<br />
town engineers, I thank them<br />
for being supportive and<br />
holding down the fort and<br />
stepping up every time. I appreciate<br />
them all.<br />
To my employers and colleagues,<br />
I thank them for<br />
supporting me and allowing<br />
me to grow and thrive as an<br />
advocate.<br />
To my parents, my sister, and<br />
my brother, I thank them for<br />
always letting me know that<br />
it’s okay to fail as long as you<br />
get back up and try again,<br />
and for being my cheerleaders.<br />
I thank my entire family<br />
for encouraging me and rooting<br />
for me always.<br />
To Tiffany, thank you for your<br />
patience, love, and unwavering<br />
commitment to a strong<br />
foundation. To Skylar and<br />
Braylon, thank you for allowing<br />
me to be your hero.<br />
I have toured and visited<br />
many communities across<br />
Louisiana over the last two<br />
years. I’ve heard success stories,<br />
and I know individual<br />
needs. A number of us have<br />
the same problems in our<br />
municipalities, whether water<br />
and sewer, failing infrastructure,<br />
economic issues, or our<br />
children graduating and leaving<br />
the state. We all had an<br />
opportunity to listen to each<br />
of the candidates running for<br />
governor recently, and I hope<br />
close attention was paid. I<br />
can assure you as your LMA<br />
President that I plan to work<br />
closely and collectively with<br />
our next governor to alleviate<br />
many of the stresses that are<br />
put on local communities.<br />
My plan is to continue to work<br />
with the staff to educate all<br />
communities on the resources<br />
the LMA provides, along<br />
with those of the USDA, DRA,<br />
LITACorp, and many others.<br />
For too long funding information<br />
has been released on<br />
grants and low interest loan<br />
programs, but with large<br />
amounts of money being<br />
left on the table. Deadlines<br />
may have already passed, or<br />
our villages, towns, and cities,<br />
don’t have the people in<br />
place to complete the needed<br />
paperwork and requirements<br />
for approval. I plan on<br />
working to bridge that gap.<br />
Because those funds that aren’t<br />
coming to our communities<br />
are some of the reasons<br />
that our children are leaving<br />
this great state.<br />
Throughout my tenure as<br />
LMA President, I will continue<br />
to be passionate about our<br />
youth. Without them there is<br />
little hope for a positive and<br />
productive future. One of the<br />
first things I implemented as<br />
President of the Black Caucus<br />
was the Riggins/Sampson<br />
Scholarship Fund to help<br />
freshman and sophomore<br />
students with the cost of col-<br />
Derrick Johnson, Sr.<br />
LMA President<br />
Cheneyville<br />
lege. I want to thank the Black<br />
Caucus and President Darnell<br />
Waites for continuing that<br />
mission, and I will do all I can<br />
to support its advancement.<br />
I believed God puts each of<br />
us in leadership positions for<br />
a purpose, not so others can<br />
stroke our egos. We are here<br />
to inspire the youth to be<br />
great leaders themselves, so<br />
they can go out and do great<br />
things. We must show them<br />
that anything is possible. It<br />
doesn’t matter where you are<br />
from, be it a village of a handful<br />
of people or a metropolis,<br />
let’s leave our municipalities<br />
in a better position than we<br />
found them, so that when<br />
we pass the torch to the next<br />
generation, that person already<br />
has a leg up.<br />
Treat everyone’s problems<br />
like your own, and let’s work<br />
together to make this state<br />
great. And remember that if<br />
we find ourselves too big to<br />
do the small things, then we<br />
will always be too small to do<br />
the big things.<br />
God bless you. God bless<br />
Louisiana. And God bless the<br />
United States of America.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 5
GOVERNOR’S COLUMN<br />
Rising to the Challenge<br />
Happy fall, y’all! I hope everyone<br />
is doing well and is as<br />
excited about cooler weather<br />
and football season as I am.<br />
It’s been a busy two months<br />
since my last column, and<br />
I’m looking forward to sharing<br />
with you some exciting<br />
announcements we’ve made<br />
in Louisiana, from broadband<br />
to coastal restoration to energy<br />
investments.<br />
Congratulations on holding<br />
your 86th annual convention<br />
this year. It’s an event I always<br />
enjoy attending but unfortunately,<br />
could not be there.<br />
While I was able to send a<br />
proclamation congratulating<br />
LMA President Derrick Johnson,<br />
Sr. and board members,<br />
please know that I will forever<br />
treasure your partnership<br />
during my administration<br />
and am grateful for all of the<br />
things that we have been able<br />
to accomplish together for<br />
the people we are blessed to<br />
serve. Although my time in office<br />
is winding down, we have<br />
until the end of this year to<br />
continue our good work and<br />
I’m looking forward to it. In<br />
fact, I want to encourage you<br />
to reach out to Leslie Durham<br />
with LITACorp. She is doing<br />
great work and is available to<br />
assist you with information<br />
about funding opportunities<br />
for important projects.<br />
I recently testified before the<br />
U.S. Senate Budget Committee<br />
about the fiscal impact<br />
of extreme weather, sea level<br />
rise driven by climate change<br />
on our infrastructure, and<br />
the importance of building<br />
climate-resilient systems<br />
to mitigate damage to our<br />
economy and our people. The<br />
concept of resilience means<br />
doing everything we can to<br />
avoid the cost of disasters to<br />
our people, to our land, and<br />
to our way of life, and we are<br />
rising to the challenge.<br />
Here at home, I was proud to<br />
sign legislation authored by<br />
Rep. Jerome Zeringue that<br />
establishes the first statewide<br />
Chief Resilience Officer. It’s a<br />
high-level policy position designed<br />
to ensure that successive<br />
governors will keep Louisiana<br />
ahead in mitigating the<br />
impacts of climate change on<br />
our economies and ecosystems.<br />
And speaking of resilience, we<br />
recently broke ground on the<br />
largest ecosystem restoration<br />
project in our state’s history.<br />
The Mid-Barataria Sediment<br />
Diversion, the first project of<br />
its kind, that will restore and<br />
rebuild over 26,000 acres of<br />
coastal land and provide better<br />
protection to our most vulnerable<br />
communities and critical<br />
infrastructure. I’m grateful<br />
to the Coastal Protection and<br />
Restoration Authority and our<br />
federal, state, and local partners<br />
for their decades-long<br />
efforts to make this critically<br />
important project a reality.<br />
Others are taking notice of<br />
Louisiana’s role as a global<br />
leader in the energy transition,<br />
and it’s bringing good-paying<br />
jobs and historic investments<br />
to our state. Our talented<br />
workforce, and the embracing<br />
of lower carbon technologies,<br />
have attracted funding<br />
from the U.S. Department of<br />
Energy to create a commercial-scale<br />
direct air carbon<br />
capture facility in Southwest<br />
Louisiana. Dubbed Project Cypress,<br />
the facility is expected<br />
to create 2,300 good-paying<br />
jobs and remove one million<br />
metric tonnes of carbon dioxide<br />
emissions each year from<br />
the atmosphere—an amount<br />
equivalent to roughly 222,500<br />
gasoline-powered cars.<br />
Last month was also a historic<br />
month for broadband<br />
expansion in Louisiana. We<br />
broke ground on the largest<br />
GUMBO project to date that<br />
will bring highspeed affordable<br />
and reliable internet to<br />
9,140 households and 535<br />
small businesses in Avoyelles<br />
Parish. With the GUMBO<br />
grant program, along with<br />
the $1.3 billion awarded to<br />
Louisiana from the Bipartisan<br />
Infrastructure Law, we will<br />
continue to work toward our<br />
Gov. John Bel Edwards<br />
goal of high-speed, affordable<br />
internet for every home<br />
and business by 2029.<br />
Lastly, I want to encourage<br />
you and those in your municipalities<br />
to visit the newly-unveiled<br />
Louisiana Heritage<br />
Monument. This first of<br />
its kind monument is located<br />
in the Capitol’s Louisiana<br />
Veterans Memorial Park and<br />
is a truly stunning tribute to<br />
all of our African American<br />
veterans, from the formerly<br />
enslaved soldiers who fought<br />
in the Siege of Port Hudson<br />
during the Civil War in 1863<br />
through modern conflicts.<br />
It pays tribute to those men<br />
and women who have served<br />
our nation with distinction<br />
and bravery.<br />
I want to again express my<br />
gratitude for all your work to<br />
better the state of Louisiana<br />
every day. Thank you, and<br />
God bless.<br />
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4: DIRECTOR<br />
The mission of the LMA is to educate, advocate,<br />
and empower progressive and<br />
effective leadership through a united<br />
network of municipalities. My deepest<br />
appreciation goes to the staff members<br />
of the LMA, LaMATS, and RMI for their<br />
tireless dedication and teamwork. Their<br />
efforts have ensured that even during<br />
the most challenging times, including<br />
storms and pandemics, the LMA will<br />
succeed in fulfilling our calling to serve<br />
Louisiana’s municipal leaders.<br />
It was my pleasure to present this report<br />
in person at our 86th LMA Annual Convention<br />
in Alexandria in the presence of<br />
our delegates. It is with great humility,<br />
gratitude, and appreciation that I have<br />
the privilege of serving as your Executive<br />
Director. Thank you for your continued<br />
support through attending our events,<br />
engaging in legislative initiatives, and<br />
participating in our programs and services.<br />
Together we are #LMAStrong.<br />
Page 6<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
TREASURY NOTES<br />
LA Treasury Unclaimed Property, LA Wallet Team Up to<br />
Reunite Citizens with Lost Money<br />
I am a firm believer that priority<br />
should be placed on what<br />
is most convenient for taxpayers,<br />
not on what’s easiest<br />
for government. As elected<br />
officials and government employees,<br />
we work for them –<br />
not the other way around.<br />
Treasury is always on the<br />
lookout for ways to benefit<br />
citizens. I have long been calling<br />
for expanded electronic<br />
options for government to<br />
accept payments such as Paypal,<br />
Venmo, and Cash App. I’ve<br />
also advocated for responsible<br />
electronic meetings for<br />
boards and commissions as<br />
Building roadmaps from right now<br />
to what's next<br />
CONTACT<br />
ANITA TILLMAN<br />
800-920-9826 EXT 700<br />
WWW.TEAMAMCORP.COM<br />
We help you find your<br />
voice, own your<br />
narrative, and captivate<br />
the right audience.<br />
Messaging<br />
Crisis Communication<br />
Speechwriting<br />
Transition Management<br />
Social Media Management<br />
Strategic Planning<br />
Publication Development<br />
Outreach<br />
Process Improvement<br />
Communication Training<br />
legal for the conducting of<br />
business. This is not only more<br />
convenient for board members<br />
and savings for the state<br />
in terms of travel expenses,<br />
but it’s also about greater access<br />
and convenience for citizens<br />
who no longer must travel<br />
to Baton Rouge to attend<br />
meetings and participate in<br />
government. A bill this past<br />
Legislative Session will make<br />
this a reality once all the procedures<br />
are in place.<br />
I’m proud to announce that<br />
Treasury has found an additional<br />
way that Unclaimed<br />
Property can assist citizens.<br />
A groundbreaking partnership<br />
between the Louisiana<br />
Treasury Unclaimed Property<br />
Program and LA Wallet, the<br />
state’s leading digital identification<br />
platform, streamlines<br />
the process of reconnecting<br />
Louisiana citizens with their<br />
unclaimed property. The LA<br />
Wallet app, which is utilized<br />
by over 1 million Louisianans<br />
for driver’s license and<br />
identification purposes, now<br />
also features an easy-to-use<br />
Unclaimed Property search,<br />
enabling users to effortlessly<br />
check for unclaimed assets in<br />
their name.<br />
Nowadays people can run<br />
their households and sometimes<br />
even their businesses<br />
from their cell phones. An<br />
app-based solution for accessing<br />
unclaimed property<br />
makes perfect sense. The<br />
LA Wallet app with the Unclaimed<br />
Property component<br />
securely harnesses the power<br />
of technology in order to simplify<br />
the process for citizens,<br />
allowing them to reclaim their<br />
lost funds with ease.<br />
John Schroder,<br />
State Treasurer<br />
Envoc President Calvin Fabre,<br />
co-founder of LA Wallet,<br />
shared his thoughts on the<br />
collaboration, stating, “We are<br />
thrilled to be part of this process.<br />
Address discrepancies<br />
have historically been a major<br />
reason why unclaimed property<br />
remains uncollected. By<br />
incorporating the Unclaimed<br />
Property search feature in the<br />
LA Wallet app, we can assist in<br />
returning money to the rightful<br />
owners.”<br />
Unclaimed property includes<br />
uncollected funds from payroll<br />
checks, old bank accounts,<br />
royalties, utility deposits, interest<br />
payments, stock certificates,<br />
and life insurance proceeds.<br />
One in six individuals<br />
in Louisiana has unclaimed<br />
property, with average claims<br />
amounting to $900. There is<br />
currently $1 billion waiting to<br />
be claimed.<br />
Checking for your unclaimed<br />
property is easy through<br />
LaCashClaim.org, calling the<br />
Treasury’s Unclaimed Property<br />
Division at 888-925-4127<br />
(Monday through Friday, 10<br />
a.m. to 3 p.m.), and now by<br />
also checking within the LA<br />
Wallet app. There is no charge<br />
to utilize the LA Wallet app,<br />
which is available on both Apple<br />
and Google.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 7
Attorney General’s<br />
Opinions<br />
Open Meetings<br />
Law<br />
Opinion 23-<br />
0012: While it<br />
may be advisable<br />
that an<br />
agenda item<br />
contain notice<br />
of executive<br />
session,<br />
such a specific<br />
designation<br />
is not required<br />
by law.<br />
Jeff Landry,<br />
Attorney General<br />
A majority of the City Council is necessary<br />
to provide advice and consent to confirm<br />
the Mayor’s appointment of a City Attorney,<br />
and the Mayor does not have the<br />
authority to appoint an “interim” City Attorney<br />
without the advice and consent of<br />
a majority of the City Council. The Charter<br />
appears to allow a situation in which a City<br />
Attorney performs civil duties for Bastrop,<br />
while the City Prosecutor performs criminal<br />
duties. Released: 7/27/<strong>2023</strong><br />
Authority of Elected Officials<br />
Opinion 23-0073: The Mayor does not<br />
have the authority to install GPS devices<br />
on police department vehicles. The Mayor<br />
does not have the authority to install key<br />
loggers or spyware on police department<br />
computers. Released: 7/26/<strong>2023</strong><br />
Opinion 23-0035: The Board of Aldermen<br />
of the Town of Elton may not require<br />
the Mayor to work a certain number of<br />
hours, require a schedule of work hours,<br />
or require the Mayor to keep a timesheet<br />
and record hours worked. Released:<br />
6/19/<strong>2023</strong><br />
Mayor’s Courts<br />
Opinion 23-0068: The fine assessed for<br />
failure to appear should be deposited into<br />
the Town’s general fund. Before a court<br />
can determine that the defendant has<br />
committed a direct contempt, the defendant<br />
must be given an opportunity to be<br />
heard so that he can offer the court a defense<br />
or explain other mitigating circumstances.<br />
Released: 6/27/<strong>2023</strong><br />
Louisiana Housing Corporation<br />
Keys for Success<br />
The Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC)<br />
understands the unique challenges our<br />
heroes face when it comes to homeownership.<br />
With demanding schedules and<br />
added financial stress, saving for a down<br />
payment and closing costs can make<br />
the dream of owning a home seem out<br />
of reach. The Keys for Service program<br />
is here to bridge that gap and make it<br />
easier and more affordable for our Louisiana<br />
first responders, certified teachers,<br />
and essential workers, to purchase their<br />
dream homes.<br />
This program is designed to be simple<br />
and easy to use. LHC works with participating<br />
lenders and real estate professionals<br />
to ensure the process is as seamless<br />
as possible. Whether you’re a first<br />
time homebuyer or looking to move to<br />
your next home, LHC is here to help. With<br />
the Keys for Service program, Louisiana<br />
residents who meet one of the following<br />
criteria can receive 4% in down payment<br />
and closing cost toward purchasing their<br />
home.<br />
Qualifications:<br />
• The maximum annual household income<br />
for borrowers is $125,000<br />
• Activate, full-time employees of city,<br />
parish, or state law enforcement or<br />
emergency response agency<br />
• Active, full-time firefighters, licensed<br />
paramedics, or public safety telecommunications<br />
employees<br />
• Active, full-time teachers<br />
• Active, full-time employees of hospitals,<br />
physician offices, pharmacies,<br />
drug stores, outpatient care centers,<br />
nursing care facilities, and assisted<br />
living centers.<br />
For more information, visit www.lhc.<br />
la.gov/keysforservice.<br />
By Joshua<br />
McNemar<br />
Louisiana Housing<br />
Corporation<br />
McNemar is Chief of Staff for the<br />
Louisiana Housing Corporation. He can<br />
be reached by emailing JMcNemar@lhc.<br />
la.gov.<br />
Page 8<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
LEGAL BRIEFS<br />
Legislative Session Expands Sunshine Laws<br />
US Supreme Court Justice Louis D.<br />
Brandeis, a towering legal and judicial<br />
figure who largely shaped American<br />
jurisprudence, noted, “sunlight is said to<br />
be the best of disinfectants;” Dalai Lama<br />
opined, “A lack of transparency results in<br />
distrust and a deep sense of insecurity;”<br />
and Founding Father Patrick Henry famously<br />
declared, “The liberties of a people<br />
never were, nor ever will be, secure,<br />
when the transactions of their rulers<br />
may be concealed from them.”<br />
Louisiana’s Public Records Law and<br />
Open Meetings Law are rooted in these<br />
concepts, and flow from the principle<br />
articulated in Article XII, Section 3 of the<br />
Louisiana Constitution: “No person shall<br />
be denied the right to observe the deliberations<br />
of public bodies and examine<br />
public documents, except in cases<br />
established law.”<br />
Nearly every legislative session, there<br />
are bills that would alter aspects of one<br />
or both of these “Sunshine Laws,” but<br />
the <strong>2023</strong> Regular Session ushered in<br />
substantive changes of which municipal<br />
leaders should be aware.<br />
It has long been the case that a public<br />
records custodian may charge a requestor<br />
for making copies of public records<br />
and may also demand payment<br />
in advance of providing the responsive<br />
records to the requestor. Last year, the<br />
law was tweaked to specifically provide<br />
that such reproduction fees may include<br />
the transmission of electronic copies of<br />
public records (i.e., providing records<br />
via email, shared cloud-based apps, and<br />
more). Admittedly, the fee schedule for<br />
electronic transmission of electronic<br />
records can be hard to promulgate, as<br />
electronically stored data can be difficult<br />
to paginate. Nonetheless, the law<br />
empowers custodians to charge for<br />
both hard-copy and electronic reproduction<br />
of records.<br />
This year, the legislature again amended<br />
the Public Records Law to add a new<br />
mandate: “Any custodian who elects to<br />
establish and collect such fees shall establish<br />
a reasonable fee schedule and<br />
post the schedule where it can be readily<br />
accessed by the public.” (Act 247 of<br />
<strong>2023</strong>) This means that any municipality<br />
who wishes to charge a fee for the reproduction<br />
of records, whether by hard<br />
copy or electronic means, MUST have a<br />
clearly defined fee schedule, and must<br />
further make that fee schedule “readily<br />
accessible” to the public. This would<br />
certainly include having the fee schedule<br />
readily available at municipal buildings<br />
and on the municipality’s website.<br />
In short, use all reasonable diligence to<br />
make the fee schedule easy to find for<br />
anyone seeking to access public records.<br />
The Open Meetings Law sustained an<br />
even greater shift. Act 393 of <strong>2023</strong> added<br />
two new obligations for municipalities,<br />
both rooted in ADA-recognized disabilities.<br />
Every municipal government<br />
must now adopt rules, regulations, and<br />
procedures to accommodate participation<br />
in their public meetings by members<br />
of the public with disabilities recognized<br />
by the Americans with Disabilities<br />
Act; AND the municipality must also<br />
adopt rules, regulations, and procedures<br />
to allow any member of the municipal<br />
board of aldermen/council with an<br />
ADA-recognized disability to participate<br />
and vote via electronic means. Further,<br />
if a member of the body is participating<br />
remotely under this new provision, it automatically<br />
triggers a requirement that<br />
the municipality open up public participation<br />
via “electronic means,” which is<br />
broadly defined to include teleconferencing<br />
and/or video conferencing.<br />
To assist our members in complying<br />
with these new ADA-based open meetings<br />
requirements, the LMA will publish<br />
model guidance on our website<br />
under the “Publications” tab, which will<br />
be available starting <strong>September</strong> 1. The<br />
full text of both legislative acts may be<br />
found at www.legis.la.gov under the<br />
“Bills” tab.<br />
Editor’s Note: The information provided<br />
in this column is not a replacement for<br />
consultation with your own municipal<br />
attorney, and it should not be considered<br />
legal advice for any particular case or<br />
situation.<br />
by Karen Day<br />
White<br />
LMA Executive<br />
Counsel<br />
White is a member of the LMA Legislative<br />
Advocacy Team and can be reached at<br />
kwhite@lma.org.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 9
LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES<br />
LaMATS, LACPC Announce Developments, New Officers<br />
The Louisiana<br />
Municipal Advisory<br />
and Technical<br />
Services<br />
Bureau (La-<br />
MATS) and the<br />
LaMATS-administered<br />
Joint<br />
Commission for Cooperative Purchasing<br />
(LACPC) held productive concurrent<br />
meetings during LMA’s 86 th Annual<br />
Convention. The LACPC, which fosters<br />
cooperative purchasing agreements to<br />
LaMATS Procurement Consultant Paul<br />
Holmes addresses members of the LACPC<br />
and LaMATS Board at a meeting held in<br />
Alexandria, <strong>August</strong> 2, <strong>2023</strong>.<br />
lower costs on municipal services and<br />
materials, lists more than twenty mayors<br />
among its membership, with several<br />
also serving on the LaMATS Board.<br />
David Butler<br />
Woodworth Mayor,<br />
President<br />
LaMATS Procurement Consultant, Paul<br />
Holmes, led the LACPC meeting, the<br />
Commission’s second in-person convening<br />
since its inception. Holmes reported<br />
the LACPC will soon receive its incorporation<br />
as a 501(c) nonprofit organization,<br />
a best-practice that will assure<br />
transparency for the quasi-governmental<br />
entity and ease of operation on behalf<br />
of member municipalities. An initial<br />
Board of Directors for the new nonprofit<br />
will include current Commission Chairperson<br />
Suzanne Williams, grant writer<br />
for the Town of Many, along with Councilman<br />
Nathan<br />
Martin of Pineville,<br />
and Mayors Rick Allen<br />
(Leesville), David<br />
Butler (Woodworth),<br />
and Jimmy<br />
Williams (Sibley).<br />
Holmes also reported<br />
on the<br />
LACPC’s success to<br />
date in establishing<br />
seven cooperative<br />
contracts,<br />
now in use by numerous<br />
Louisiana<br />
municipalities to<br />
secure competitive<br />
pricing on items<br />
like utility tractors,<br />
boom trucks, street<br />
sweepers, police tasers, and certain bulk<br />
chemicals including quick lime. Holmes<br />
explained these contracts originated<br />
from Commissioner requests and were<br />
bid out on their behalf by LaMATS in<br />
accordance with state bid laws. “Our<br />
members felt it would be good to have<br />
cooperative contracts on these items in<br />
place for all to use,” he said. “We knew<br />
that cities would need and buy them if<br />
available, so that’s what we’ve done.”<br />
Following adjournment of the LACPC<br />
LMA Immediate Past-President and former<br />
LaMATS Board President, the Honorable<br />
Jennifer Vidrine, with commemorative gift<br />
reading, “Thank you for your years of loyal<br />
service to the LaMATS Board of Directors.”<br />
LaMATS Board of Directors<br />
Jimmy Williams<br />
Sibley Mayor,<br />
Vice President<br />
Michael Chauffe<br />
Grosse Tete Mayor,<br />
Secretary/Treasurer<br />
Incoming LaMATS President Mayor David Butler (center), with<br />
incoming Vice President, Mayor Jimmy Williams (left), present<br />
Immediate Past-President Councilman Nathan Martin with<br />
commemorative service plaque.<br />
Page 10<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
LaMATS and LPS Project Coordinator Claire Shaw welcomes visitors to<br />
“LaMATS Village,” the section of LMA Convention space dedicated to<br />
the LaMATS family of preferred vendors and partners.<br />
meeting, LaMATS called its regular quarterly Board Meeting to<br />
order. Among other items of business, members voted in a new<br />
slate of officers, to include Woodworth Mayor David Butler as<br />
President; Sibley Mayor Jimmy Williams as Vice President; and<br />
Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Chauffe as Secretary/Treasurer.<br />
In accepting his new role as Board President, Mayor Butler<br />
commended Immediate Past-President, Pineville Councilman<br />
G R E E T I N G S F R O M G R E T N A !<br />
GretnaLa.com<br />
Nathan Martin, for his “exceptional leadership on behalf of the<br />
LaMATS mission and a sterling example to follow.” Mayor Butler,<br />
along with incoming Vice President Mayor Williams, presented<br />
Councilman Martin a plaque commemorating his time in office<br />
and expressing the Board’s gratitude for his exemplary service.<br />
Councilman Martin, who will remain on the Board, thanked<br />
fellow members and LaMATS staff for their “support and outstanding<br />
dedication to serving Louisiana’s local governments<br />
and elected leaders.”<br />
Former LaMATS President and LMA Past-President, Jennifer Vidrine,<br />
also received a gift commemorating her leadership on both<br />
boards and accolades<br />
for her selfless<br />
public service<br />
in elected office.<br />
Incoming LaMATS<br />
President David Butler<br />
thanked Vidrine<br />
for her longtime<br />
friendship and generous<br />
support of the<br />
Bureau’s directors<br />
and staff alike.<br />
by Cliff<br />
Palmer<br />
LaMATS Executive<br />
Director<br />
Palmer leads the Louisiana Municipal<br />
Advisory and Technical Services Bureau<br />
(LaMATS) - a subsidiary of LMA. He can<br />
be reached at cpalmer@lamats.net.<br />
Mayor Belinda Constant is<br />
pleased to invite you to Gretna<br />
for this fall's Mid-Sized Cities<br />
Mayors' Conference. More<br />
information in the body of this<br />
email.<br />
Come for the conference, stay for<br />
Gretna Fest<br />
October 6-8<br />
Mid-Sized Cities<br />
Mayors' Conference<br />
October 4-6, <strong>2023</strong><br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 11
RISK MANAGEMENT, INC.<br />
What a<br />
Wonderful<br />
Convention<br />
It was wonderful seeing everyone at the<br />
LMA Convention in Alexandria. We enjoyed<br />
reconnecting with so many friends<br />
from the Louisiana municipal community,<br />
including mayors, clerks, police and fire<br />
chiefs, and everyone else involved in the<br />
service of our state’s cities, towns, and villages.<br />
We also enjoyed meeting new municipal<br />
officials and employees, and we are<br />
thankful for the new opportunities which<br />
we hope to enrich over the months and<br />
years ahead.<br />
We are grateful for the many friendships<br />
we’ve established with our municipal<br />
leaders and employees, and we sincerely<br />
appreciate the opportunity to serve the<br />
municipalities of the State of Louisiana.<br />
We also welcome our newest addition<br />
to our already existing wonderful and<br />
insightful <strong>2023</strong>-2024 Board of Directors,<br />
LMA First Vice President and Leesville<br />
Mayor Rick Allen. He will be joining Chairman<br />
and Woodworth Mayor David Butler,<br />
Vice Chairman and Rayville Mayor Harry<br />
Lewis, Secretary/Treasurer and Gonzales<br />
Mayor Barney Arceneaux, Pineville Mayor<br />
Rich Dupree, Grosse Tete Mayor Michael<br />
Chauffe, LMA President and Cheneyville<br />
Mayor Derrick Johnson, Sr., and Sibley<br />
Mayor Jimmy Williams.<br />
Rick Allen<br />
David Butler<br />
Harry Lewis Barney Arceneaux Rich Dupree<br />
Michael Chauffe Derrick Johnson Jimmy Williams<br />
by Patrick<br />
Cronin<br />
General Manager,<br />
RMI<br />
Cronin leads Risk Management, Inc. (RMI)<br />
- a subsidiary of LMA. He can be reached at<br />
pcronin@rmila.com.<br />
Louisiana811.com<br />
Call 811 or visit Louisiana811.com at least two full<br />
work days in advance before digging.<br />
That’s all it takes to notify Louisiana 811 members,<br />
so they can mark nearby utility lines and pipelines<br />
to prevent injury and costly accidents.<br />
CALL OR CLICK BEFORE YOU DIG. IT’S THE LAW. IT’S FREE.<br />
Page 12<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 13
LITACorp Attends First LMA Annual Conference<br />
At the LMA’s 86 th Annual Convention<br />
in Alexandria, Executive Director Leslie<br />
Durham and Senior Advisor Alex Holland<br />
of the Louisiana Infrastructure Technical<br />
Assistance Corporation (LITACorp) unveiled<br />
the organization’s Technical Assistance<br />
Thornton, Program Musso, to a crowded &Bellemin room of<br />
mayors, aldermen, and government staff<br />
eager to learn more about how they can<br />
work with LITACorp to tap into federal resources.<br />
I approve this ad copy for use in the following issues:<br />
LITACorp, a nonprofit organization, was<br />
established in October 2022 as a collaborative<br />
partnership between the LMA and<br />
the Police Jury Association of Louisiana<br />
(PJAL) to advance three key goals:<br />
1. Equip Index Listings political subdivisions located<br />
in rural and economically distressed<br />
WATER TREATMENT CONSULTANTS<br />
areas with the tools and resources<br />
they need to identify, apply for, and<br />
administer federal grants funded<br />
through the Infrastructure Investment<br />
and Jobs Act (IIJA).<br />
2. Minimize barriers for political subdivisions<br />
to access federal resources<br />
by assisting them with meeting local<br />
cost share requirements of federal<br />
grant programs funded through IIJA.<br />
3. Acquire federal grant funds through<br />
IIJA to construct, improve,<br />
or repair public infrastructure,<br />
ie. water and sewer<br />
systems, roads, bridges,<br />
railways, ports, broadband,<br />
etc. in rural and<br />
economically distressed<br />
communities throughout<br />
Louisiana.<br />
Ultimately, LITACorp’s mission<br />
is to advance the economic<br />
prosperity of Louisiana<br />
communities.<br />
LITACorp’s Board of Directors<br />
consists of local elected officials<br />
who can speak to the challenges<br />
Louisiana communities<br />
face when addressing their<br />
public infrastructure, which<br />
directly informs the development<br />
and implementation of<br />
LITACorp’s programs.<br />
LITACorp’s Technical Assistance<br />
Program provides various services<br />
at no cost to Louisiana<br />
2018 Roster Edition<br />
Official Publication of the<br />
Louisiana Rural Water Association<br />
Board of Directors<br />
(2022 – <strong>2023</strong>)<br />
Derrick Johnson, Cheneyville<br />
(Chairman)<br />
Eugene Olivier, Iberia Parish<br />
(Vice Chairman)<br />
Ray Bourque, Broussard<br />
Michael Chauffe,<br />
LWR-R0018<br />
Grosse Tete<br />
Harry Lewis, Rayville<br />
Rick Allen, Leesville<br />
Bob Brotherton, Bossier Parish<br />
John Marceaux, Jefferson Davis Parish<br />
Kenny Haymon, Vernon Parish<br />
Tony Guillory, Calcasieu Parish<br />
John Gallagher, Baton Rouge (LMA)<br />
Guy Cormier, Baton Rouge, (PJAL)<br />
communities including, but not limited<br />
to, strategic planning, project development,<br />
funding identification, grant writing,<br />
grant administration, technical services<br />
(e.g., engineering design) and more.<br />
Authorized Signature:<br />
Date:<br />
Artwork Contact:<br />
Ad Order # 1636839<br />
Adv Code 179697<br />
S. Rep: Jason Zawada (C)<br />
Before receiving technical assistance,<br />
interested communities must submit a<br />
Letter of Interest (https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=litacorp)<br />
to<br />
LITACorp. LITACorp will then match communities<br />
with the appropriate technical<br />
assistance provider.<br />
The latest information about LITACorp, including<br />
the Technical Assistance Program<br />
and its forthcoming Matching Funds<br />
Grant Program, can be found at www.<br />
LITACorp.org.<br />
Custom Water<br />
Treatment Programs<br />
Designed by Professionals Since 1990<br />
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ATER<br />
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Fax: (352) 331<br />
Page 14<br />
707693_Thornton.indd 1<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong><br />
8/21/14 8:33 PM
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LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 15
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
86th Annual Convention<br />
Over 1500 local elected officials,<br />
municipal employees,<br />
and special guests, representing<br />
303 municipalities<br />
and two parish governments,<br />
convened in Alexandria for<br />
the Louisiana Municipal Association’s<br />
(LMA) 86th Annual<br />
Convention<br />
The convention held at the<br />
Riverfront Center from <strong>August</strong><br />
3-5, <strong>2023</strong>, celebrated<br />
local achievements, facilitated<br />
knowledge sharing, and<br />
honored the commitment of<br />
Louisiana’s municipal leaders<br />
The convention served as a<br />
significant platform to address<br />
the state’s municipal<br />
concerns, celebrate local governance,<br />
and foster a shared<br />
sense of purpose among municipal<br />
leaders.<br />
Throughout the<br />
event, attendees<br />
echoed a common<br />
sentiment<br />
of collective<br />
growth, with a<br />
focus on innovation,<br />
community<br />
engagement,<br />
and sustainable<br />
development<br />
for the future of<br />
Louisiana.<br />
“Alexandria was<br />
honored to host<br />
the LMA this year<br />
and visit with all<br />
our Louisiana friends and, truly,<br />
municipal families,” said Alexandria<br />
Mayor Jacques Roy.<br />
“We are so excited about Louisiana’s<br />
future with the cadre of<br />
leaders across our state ready<br />
to take on serious problems<br />
and make Louisiana better.<br />
What is most important about<br />
this convention is what we<br />
learn from each other. Cities<br />
are incubators of the best of<br />
local government, and I hope<br />
other leaders will listen to the<br />
Page 16<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
innovative ideas<br />
coming from so<br />
many of them.”<br />
The convention<br />
kicked-off on<br />
Thursday with a<br />
gubernatorial candidate<br />
forum. This<br />
marked the first<br />
time that all seven<br />
gubernatorial<br />
candidates have<br />
appeared on stage<br />
together. Friday’s<br />
events emphasized<br />
learning and<br />
collaboration. Delegates<br />
took part in various workshops,<br />
panel discussions, and educational sessions<br />
designed to address the unique<br />
challenges and opportunities faced by<br />
municipalities. The convention closed<br />
on Saturday with welcoming new board<br />
leadership and honoring the achievements<br />
of municipalities across the state.<br />
LMA Executive Director John Gallagher<br />
expressed gratitude, noting, “I think<br />
we’ve had a great convention. My thanks<br />
to Mayor Roy and the entire City of Alexandria<br />
on fine-tuning a wonderful convention.<br />
We appreciate the hospitality,<br />
and they’ve been excellent hosts.”<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 17
A Year of New Leadership<br />
Mayor Derrick Johnson, Sr. of Cheneyville was inaugurated<br />
as the LMA President during the Annual<br />
Banquet with a blessing of the gavel by Reverend<br />
Cedric Brown with Second Edgefield Baptist<br />
Church. Leesville Mayor Rick Allen was also installed<br />
as First Vice President, and Broussard Mayor Ray Bourque<br />
as Second Vice President.<br />
Johnson, succeeding former Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine,<br />
will serve as the primary advocate for the villages, towns,<br />
and cities of Louisiana throughout his <strong>2023</strong>-2024 term, steering<br />
the LMA Executive Board and chairing the LMA Executive<br />
Committee.<br />
“This is a surreal moment, and I never thought when I first started<br />
this journey that I’d be here, or that I’d even want to be here,”<br />
shared Johnson. “But over time, I’ve been mentored by great<br />
leaders and I’ve learned that I have a calling, and that I do justice<br />
to myself and to others when called to serve. I hope to be able<br />
to make an impact this coming year on not only my own municipality<br />
but on so many others that need help across the state.”<br />
Allen, stepping into the First Vice President role, commented,<br />
“It’s difficult to describe the future of an organization that I<br />
personally feel is running remarkably well as it is. My plan is to<br />
contribute as much as possible to the next generation of leaders<br />
who are finding out about our services for the very first<br />
time. My hope is to find a way to blend old and new in such<br />
a way that the LMA continues to be progressive but holds<br />
steadfast to its history.” Allen is currently serving his third term<br />
as Mayor of Leesville, having first won the office in 2014. He<br />
also serves on the Governor’s Military Advisory Committee,<br />
the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors,<br />
and is Chairman of the Louisiana Armed Forces Alliance.<br />
Ray Bourque, taking on duties as Second Vice President, asserted,<br />
“The value of the LMA in terms of our missions of advocacy,<br />
education, and service, is that we help local elected<br />
officials achieve their goals. When we can assist our local communities,<br />
that knowledge travels statewide. And that causes<br />
ongoing change in a positive manner.” Bourque is currently in<br />
his second term as Mayor of the City of Broussard. Previously<br />
a city council member for eight years, he has focused on envisioning<br />
a future of healthy growth for Broussard.<br />
John Gallagher, LMA’s Executive Director, praised the new<br />
leadership, saying, “I’m very excited to continue working with<br />
Mayor Johnson in his new capacity as our LMA President, with<br />
Mayors Allen and Bourque in their roles, and the entire incoming<br />
board. This new slate of officers is going to be bringing<br />
a lot of energy and ideas, and I’m looking forward to a very<br />
productive year ahead.”<br />
Saturday night’s banquet also saw numerous honors bestowed<br />
on President Johnson from LMA partners and friends, an inspiring<br />
speech by Air Force Sustainment Center Commander and<br />
Materiel Command Lieutenant General Stacey T. Hawkins (introduced<br />
by his very proud father and former Bastrop Mayor<br />
Clarence Hawkins), a rousing National Anthem by Stephen Fontenot,<br />
and an emotional musical tribute by Zalah Vallien.<br />
The Pineville High School JROTC Program presented a touching<br />
display in the form of a POW-MIA Missing Man Table, taking attendees<br />
through the importance of each item’s placement and<br />
reminding the audience to remember our missing service men<br />
and women who have not yet returned home.<br />
Special thanks go to Pineville Councilman Nathan Martin for<br />
his head table introductions, LMA Communications Consultant<br />
Anita Tillman for serving as emcee, Dr. Brookie Allphin for<br />
presenting the Community Achievement Awards, and President<br />
Johnson’s children, Skylar and Braylon, for their Pledge of<br />
Allegiance recitation.<br />
The night was capped off by a stunning and energetic performance<br />
by national recording artist Cupid and the Dance Party<br />
Express, who certainly lived up to their name!<br />
Page 18<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 19
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Page 20<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
District Vice Presidents <strong>2023</strong>-2024<br />
Congratulations to all of our <strong>2023</strong>-2024 District Vice<br />
Presidents. We look forward to a fruitful year ahead.<br />
District A: Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton<br />
District B: Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston<br />
District C: Staci Albritton Mitchell, Mayor, West Monroe<br />
District D: Howard “Keith” Lewing, Mayor, Anacoco<br />
District E: Rich Dupree, Mayor, Pineville<br />
District F: Charles James, Mayor, Sunset<br />
District G: Chuck Robichaux, Mayor, Rayne<br />
District H: Edwin “Ed” Reeves, Mayor, Plaquemine<br />
District I: Jean Pelloat, Mayor, Madisonville<br />
District J: Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
District A:<br />
Mayor Kim Gaspard<br />
Haughton<br />
District B:<br />
Mayor Ronny Walker<br />
Ruston<br />
District C:<br />
Mayor<br />
Staci Albritton Mitchell<br />
West Monroe<br />
District D:<br />
Mayor<br />
Howard “Keith” Lewing<br />
Anacoco<br />
District E:<br />
Mayor Rich Dupree<br />
Pineville<br />
District F:<br />
Mayor Charles James<br />
Sunset<br />
District G:<br />
Mayor Chuck Robichaux<br />
Rayne<br />
District H:<br />
Mayor<br />
Edwin “Ed” Reeves<br />
Plaquemine<br />
District I:<br />
Mayor Jean Pelloat<br />
Madisonville<br />
District J:<br />
Mayor Rodney Grogan<br />
Patterson<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 21
The opening session included a warm, inspiring welcome<br />
from Alexandria Mayor Jaques Roy, and Alison Clarke, on behalf<br />
of the Secretary of State’s Office, spoke to participants on<br />
the importance of elections.<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Gubernatorial Candidate Forum<br />
And speaking of elections…what an honor to be the first gubernatorial<br />
candidate forum in this election cycle with all seven candidates<br />
in attendance. We thank Senator Sharon Hewitt, Attorney<br />
General Jeff Landry, Mr. Hunter Lundy, Representative Richard<br />
Nelson, Treasurer John Schroder, Mr. Stephen Waguespack, and<br />
Dr. Shawn Wilson, for their time and their candor.<br />
Page 22<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser was the keynote speaker for the<br />
association’s Leadership Luncheon. Stacy Duvic, LED Director<br />
of Community Competitiveness announced the LED Development<br />
Ready Community Awards recipients - Lafayette<br />
and Scott.<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Leadership Luncheon<br />
Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser once again delivered a spirited<br />
update on the Lt. Governor’s Office and the Department of<br />
Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Following his speech, the<br />
Lt. Governor was presented with a President’s Award for his<br />
tireless work promoting Louisiana that brings tourism into<br />
our municipalities.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 23
Prayer Breakfast<br />
The Annual Prayer Breakfast has become<br />
one of the most popular and well-attended<br />
events during the Convention.<br />
Since 2014, the City of Pineville has hosted<br />
the prayer breakfast and this year’s<br />
musical performance by Sally Cowan<br />
and Family did not disappoint.<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree presented<br />
the event, and former LSU baseball player/1996<br />
World Series hero and now motivational<br />
speaker, Warren Morris, gave the<br />
keynote address. Morris delivered an uplifting<br />
and inspirational message encouraging<br />
members to look within themselves<br />
in order to fine tune one’s character.<br />
A special thank you also to Reverend<br />
Frank Jackson for the invocation, Reverend<br />
and Pineville Councilman Nathan<br />
Martin for the musical introduction,<br />
and Father Chad Partain for the closing<br />
benediction.<br />
Page 24<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
Workshops<br />
We presented participants with numerous workshops aimed<br />
at giving them the information they need to effectively serve<br />
their respective communities. Information was provided on<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
grant funding, fighting blight, cybersecurity, tax sale processes,<br />
leak detection, economic challenges, Mayor’s Courts, municipal<br />
risks, surplus property solutions, and much more.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 25
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
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LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
Singing, and dancing, and an air show<br />
– Oh my! Who knew an air hanger at<br />
England Air Force Base could look so<br />
magical?<br />
We wish to thank the City of Alexandria,<br />
namely Mayor Jacques Roy, Director of<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Host City Reception<br />
Community Services Tonya Corley, Special<br />
Events Coordinator Angela Guillot,<br />
and Special Projects Coordinator Stacey<br />
West for such a phenomenal Host City<br />
Reception. Food was provided by Sweet<br />
Latte, 2 Reign Catering, Café Desoto, and<br />
Royal Indian Bistro, with DJ Tony Groove<br />
and the National WWII Museum Victory<br />
Belles providing entertainment. And<br />
what about that air show? The AeroShell<br />
Aerobatic Team did an outstanding job!<br />
Special thanks also goes to the Louisiana<br />
National Guard for their static display of<br />
military equipment.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 27
LMA Service Awards<br />
Created by the LMA Executive Board, these service awards honor<br />
elected municipal officials who have served sufficiently well<br />
to earn continual and repeated re-election to positions of authority<br />
in their respective municipalities. Indeed, election to a<br />
position of municipal authority is a great honor and privilege.<br />
But re-election is an extremely high honor reflecting the trust<br />
and confidence each long-term municipal official has earned<br />
through many years of dedicated public service. These service<br />
awards pay fitting tribute to such unparalleled achievement.<br />
Eight-Star Gold Award<br />
(serving or completed 8th term – 28 to 32 years of service)<br />
• Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales<br />
• Melvin L. Hasten, Councilman, St. Gabriel<br />
• Lionel Johnson, Jr., Mayor, St. Gabriel<br />
• Verna Smith, Councilwoman, Jean Lafitte<br />
Tom Banchie<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Nicholas Degueyter<br />
• Clarence A. Vappie, Mayor, Baldwin<br />
Six-Star Gold Award<br />
(serving or completed 6th term – 20 to 24 years of service)<br />
• Thomas “Tom” Bouchie, Councilman, Pineville<br />
• Nicholas Degueyter, Mayor, Leonville<br />
• Kevin “Frazier” Dorn, Councilman, Pineville<br />
• Irma T. Gordon, Mayor, Kentwood<br />
• Jimmy Holland, Councilman, Oak Grove<br />
• Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville<br />
• Mike Stephens, Mayor, Gilbert<br />
• Kerry Willingham, Councilman, Leonville<br />
Four-Star Silver Award<br />
(serving or completed 4th term – 12 to 16 years of service)<br />
• Christy Creppel, Councilwoman, Jean Lafitte<br />
• Calise Michael Doucet, Councilman, Rayne<br />
• Michael Hall, Councilman, Kentwood<br />
• Debra K. James, Councilwoman, Rayville<br />
• Lester Levin, Mayor, Franklin<br />
• Randy Lloyd, Alderman, Gilbert<br />
• Rex McCarthy, Councilwoman, Winnsboro<br />
• Donald Robin, Councilman, Port Barre<br />
• Jacques Roy, Mayor, Alexandria<br />
• Sarah Trahan, Alderwoman, Delcambre<br />
LMA Employee Service Awards:<br />
• Bettie Bean, Receptionist, 15 years<br />
• Donna Wilcox, Executive Assistant, 5 years<br />
• Richard Williams, Deputy Director, 5 years<br />
Kevin Dorn Irma Gordon Jimmy Holland Debra James<br />
Lester Levine Nathan Martin Rex McCarthy Mike Stephens<br />
Page 28<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Sarah Trahan Clarence Vappie Donna Wilcox Richard Williams<br />
President’s Awards<br />
Past President Jennifer Vidrine<br />
recognized individuals<br />
who she felt made special<br />
“above and beyond” contributions<br />
to the LMA throughout<br />
her presidency. In recognition<br />
of meritorious service<br />
to municipal government<br />
in Louisiana, the following<br />
received the President’s<br />
Awards:<br />
The Biden Administration<br />
and former New Orleans<br />
Mayor Mitch Landrieu for<br />
their work on IIJA funding,<br />
allowing Louisiana to make<br />
historic investments that will<br />
address infrastructure issues.<br />
Louisiana’s<br />
Congressional<br />
Delegation for the work<br />
they’ve done on behalf of<br />
local government to bring<br />
funding to Louisiana.<br />
ETEC and Sustainability Partners<br />
for being such dedicated<br />
and supportive sponsors<br />
of LMA’s mission and that of<br />
local government.<br />
LMA Deputy Directors Richard<br />
Williams and George<br />
Murphy, and RMI General<br />
Manager Patrick Cronin for<br />
the stellar work they do and<br />
commitment they show.<br />
Senator Gerald Boudreaux,<br />
LMA Contract Lobbyist Paulette<br />
Bailey Wilson, and Director<br />
of Intergovernmental<br />
Affairs for the Louisiana<br />
Governor’s Office Roderick<br />
Scott for advocating for and<br />
supporting our cities, towns,<br />
and villages.<br />
Patrick Cronin, RMI Daniel Hebert, ETEC Ronnie Hebert, ETEC Jason Hewitt, Sustainability Partners<br />
Roderick Scott, Governor’s Office Eric Street, Sustainability Partners Richard Williams, LMA Paulette BaIley Wilson, The Mirror Group<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 29
On Saturday, <strong>August</strong> 5 in Alexandria, 14<br />
Louisiana municipalities – Jean Lafitte,<br />
Cheneyville, Plaquemine, Broussard,<br />
Woodworth, Franklin, West Monroe, Cankton,<br />
Carencro, Baker, Lake Charles, Many,<br />
Patterson, and Gonzales won top honors<br />
at the Louisiana Municipal Association’s<br />
Community Achievement Awards for<br />
exceptional improvements and accomplishments<br />
for the 2022 calendar year.<br />
The prestigious awards, categorized under<br />
Community Development, Economic<br />
Development, Basic Services, and Technology<br />
& Connectivity, recognize the<br />
perseverance, dedication, and tireless<br />
efforts of elected municipal officials and<br />
their teams across various municipalities.<br />
“The Community Achievement Awards<br />
are very important because they give the<br />
municipalities the opportunity to showcase<br />
the projects going on in their cities,<br />
as well as other municipalities seeing<br />
what’s going on in neighboring communities,”<br />
said Past President Jennifer Vidrine.<br />
The pinnacle of the evening was the<br />
awarding of the Town of Jean Lafitte with<br />
the LMA’s 22nd Annual ‘Best of Show’<br />
Award for “The Rosethorne Tidal Levee<br />
Project” – the second win in a row for<br />
the town. A monumental endeavor, this<br />
$34 million dollar project spans across<br />
approximately 580 acres, encompassing<br />
150 homes, 5 businesses, and 4 government<br />
buildings. Started in 2022, this twophase<br />
project, set to conclude in 2024,<br />
marks a collaborative effort between<br />
numerous mayoral tenures and parish,<br />
state, and federal officials. Designed to<br />
safeguard against 10-year tidal or rainfall<br />
flooding, the project not only embodies<br />
the community’s resilience but also its<br />
commitment to ensuring long-term environmental<br />
protection and sustainability<br />
for its residents.<br />
“I want to congratulate all our Community<br />
Achievement Award winners,”<br />
said LMA Executive Director John Gallagher.<br />
“There were some creative and<br />
fascinating entries. I want to also give<br />
a special congratulations to Jean Lafitte<br />
on their second Best of Show win in as<br />
many The following is the list of honorable<br />
mentions and winners for each<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Community Achievement Awards<br />
category and division:<br />
Community Development Category<br />
• 3,000 and under population:<br />
Honorable Mentions: Town of Brusly<br />
(St. James Park) and Town of Port Barre<br />
(Splash Pad in Veterans’ Memorial Park).<br />
Winner: Town of Cheneyville (Park Revitalization).<br />
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:<br />
Honorable Mentions: Town of Ball (Children’s<br />
Playground) and Town of Richwood<br />
(Health and Resource Fair).<br />
Winner: City of Plaquemine (Development<br />
of Fort Area Park).<br />
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:<br />
Honorable Mentions: City of Natchitoches<br />
(Texas and Pacific Depot Rehabilitation<br />
Project) and City of Pineville (KEYS<br />
to the Renovation of KEES PARK).<br />
Winner: City of Broussard (Envision<br />
Broussard – Phase 1).<br />
Economic Development Category<br />
• 3,000 and under population:<br />
Honorable Mention: Village of Gilbert<br />
(Community Playground Project).<br />
Winner: Town of Woodworth (Glow Up!).<br />
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:<br />
Winner: City of Franklin (Franklin Loop<br />
Paddle Trail).<br />
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:<br />
Winner: City of West Monroe (Highland<br />
Park Property Re-use Project).<br />
Basic Services Category<br />
City of Carencro<br />
• 3,000 and under population:<br />
Honorable Mentions: Town of New Llano<br />
(New Llano Fire Department – Main<br />
Station) and Town of Sarepta (Updating<br />
Town Hall).<br />
Winner: Village of Cankton (Village of<br />
Cankton Water System Improvements).<br />
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:<br />
Honorable Mentions: Town of Franklinton<br />
(Varnado, 18th, and Alford Street<br />
Project) and Town of Iowa (Wastewater<br />
Treatment Pond Oxidation Repairs).<br />
Winner: City of Carencro (2015 Force<br />
Main and Sewer Infrastructure Upgrades<br />
– Phase II).<br />
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:<br />
Honorable Mention: City of Youngsville<br />
(Downtown Streetscape).<br />
Winner: City of Baker (LYNX Microtransit<br />
project).<br />
• 25,001 and over population:<br />
Winner: City of Lake Charles (Drainage<br />
Improvement Program).<br />
Technology & Connectivity Category<br />
• 3,000 and under population:<br />
Honorable Mention Town of Simmesport<br />
(Splash Pad).<br />
Winner: Town of Many (Automatic Reading<br />
Water Meters).<br />
• 3,001 to 10,000 population:<br />
Winner: City of Patterson’s (Town Hall<br />
Meetings Project).<br />
• 10,001 to 25,000 population:<br />
Winner: City of Gonzales (Gonzales Climate<br />
Action and Resilience Plan).<br />
Entries submitted were judged by a<br />
committee of judges from Louisiana Economic<br />
Development, Louisiana Industrial<br />
Development Executives Association,<br />
Capital Region Planning Commission,<br />
and the Louisiana Office of State Fire<br />
Marshal.<br />
LMA extends its warmest congratulations<br />
to all winners and honorable mentions<br />
for their commendable endeavors. The<br />
Community Achievement Awards Judging<br />
Committee also extends its gratitude<br />
to LMA for promoting and recognizing<br />
these exceptional municipal achievements.<br />
Page 30<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
BEST OF SHOW<br />
Town of Jean Lafitte<br />
City of Natchitoches<br />
City of Baker<br />
Town of Simmesport<br />
City of Gonzales<br />
Town of Many<br />
City of Patterson<br />
City of Youngsville<br />
Town of Port Barre<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 31
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Town of Woodworth<br />
Town of Ball<br />
City of Franklin<br />
City of West Monroe<br />
Town of Sarepta Village of Cankton Town of Franklinton<br />
Village of Gilbert Town of Brusly City of Broussard<br />
Town of Cheneyville<br />
City of Pineville<br />
City of Plaquemine<br />
Page 32<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
At this year’s Board Meeting, Past President<br />
Jennifer Vidrine was thanked<br />
for her year of service to the LMA and<br />
received a few nice surprises, affiliate<br />
and partner organizations were given<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
Board and Business Meetings<br />
the opportunity to share their end of<br />
year reports, and new LaMATS and RMI<br />
Boards were announced.<br />
Our Annual Business Meeting saw new<br />
LMA Leadership officially voted in with<br />
new President Derrick Johnson, Sr., First<br />
Vice President Rick Allen, and Second<br />
Vice President Ray Bourque, along with<br />
our ten District Vice Presidents being<br />
approved.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 33
Vendors<br />
Our incredible vendors bring such a wealth of information,<br />
knowledge, and opportunities to our members, and we thank<br />
86 TH ANNUAL CONVENTION<br />
them for all they do! We wouldn’t be who or where we are<br />
without their continued support.<br />
Page 34<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
The Louisiana Municipal Association expresses heartfelt gratitude to all of<br />
The Louisiana Municipal Association expresses heartfelt gratitude to all of<br />
our sponsors and exhibitors for their contributions and assistance which<br />
our sponsors and exhibitors for their contributions and assistance which<br />
have made the 86th Annual Convention possible.<br />
have made the 86th Annual Convention possible.<br />
Platinum Sponsors Sponsors<br />
Gold Sponsors<br />
Silver Sponsors<br />
Bronze Sponsors<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 35
Financial News<br />
Many municipalities struggle with the<br />
decision of how to pay for various capital<br />
projects (roads, water and sewer improvements,<br />
drainage, etc.). When grants<br />
and capital outlay from the cities aren’t<br />
enough, there are usually three options:<br />
Pay-As-You-Go (“PAYGO”) - The municipality<br />
pays for the capital project with<br />
funds on hand. Usually this is over a<br />
number of years.<br />
Bond Financing - The municipality issues<br />
debt to provide monies upfront to<br />
complete the project. The bond is paid<br />
for over a set number of years. Usually,<br />
the time is matched with the useful life<br />
of the project / asset.<br />
Do Nothing - The municipality doesn’t<br />
budget any money for capital improvements<br />
or replacements. This is the costliest<br />
as infrastructure and capital assets<br />
deplete.<br />
PAYGO<br />
Most governments cannot generate<br />
enough revenues from their current<br />
budget to finance all of the infrastructure<br />
projects that they want. However,<br />
current revenues can finance a significant<br />
portion of most government’s capital<br />
needs and may include designated<br />
revenues that have been specifically<br />
collected to fund capital projects. Cities<br />
should ensure that the annual revenues<br />
are enough for capital projects as well as<br />
operation of current expenses.<br />
The main advantages of pay-as-you-go<br />
financing (relative to debt financing)<br />
are as follows:<br />
• Reduced interest expense - The<br />
savings in interest costs payable on<br />
outstanding debt can be used to<br />
finance additional capital projects,<br />
reduce taxes, or expand services.<br />
• Increased flexibility - The absence of<br />
fixed annual debt costs provided for<br />
greater flexibility during economic<br />
downturns. Future revenues are not<br />
designated for debt service and can<br />
be used for other purposes such as<br />
saving up for future projects.<br />
• Enhanced debt capacity - If a city<br />
has zero outstanding debt it may<br />
find that future ability to borrow for<br />
“greater” capital needs is enhanced.<br />
If a city borrows now, it may not be<br />
able to borrow as much in the future.<br />
GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.<br />
Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing<br />
L. Gordon King<br />
Deatriz Riggins<br />
Nnamdi Thompson<br />
Shaun B. Toups<br />
James R. Ryan<br />
Jamie Holloway<br />
Benjamin Bankston<br />
(Consulting & Municipal Advisory Firm)<br />
OVERVIEW<br />
Modern day government has become a large financial<br />
enterprise, handling millions of dollars and facing<br />
service and revenue pressures. The governing<br />
authority and Administrator(s) face complex financial<br />
decisions ranging from the impact of property and<br />
sales taxes to the financing of capital improvements.<br />
As government finance has become more complex,<br />
the need for financial advice to base decisions upon<br />
has. The services of an expert Municipal Advisor are<br />
being used by more and more governmental units.<br />
A Municipal Advisor (or “MA”) serves as a<br />
consultant advising the governing authority on<br />
matters relating to the following:<br />
• Financial feasibility of projects;<br />
• Total cost analysis of financing alternatives;<br />
• Review of capital improvement financing<br />
programs;<br />
• Advice on the structuring and marketing of debt<br />
securities.<br />
The MA is an integral member of the governing<br />
authority’s management team, providing<br />
independent advice and analysis to assist in financial<br />
decision-making.<br />
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT<br />
FINANCE ANALYSIS<br />
• Analyzing available alternatives in relation to<br />
cost to the governing authority and providing<br />
financial guidance and recommendations;<br />
• Analyzing from a cost/benefit standpoint the<br />
use of incentives (free land, subsidy of bond<br />
issues, utility improvements) to attract<br />
industry;<br />
• Providing a detailed upfront and long-term<br />
financial analysis of costs to the governing<br />
authority versus benefits of the specific<br />
project; and<br />
• Serving as an economic development finance<br />
resource for the Governing Authority.<br />
6767 Perkins Rd., Suite #250<br />
Baton Rouge, LA 70808<br />
(225) 344-2098 (Phone)<br />
gcla@gc-la.net (Email)<br />
We Have The Experience!<br />
Page 36<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
The main disadvantages of pay-as-yougo<br />
financing (relative to bond financing)<br />
are as follows:<br />
• Insufficient funds - Current revenues<br />
are not likely to be sufficient to<br />
pay for significant capital outlays or<br />
infrastructure projects.<br />
• Higher cost of construction – Inflation<br />
may raise costs at a rate higher<br />
than the interest cost of borrowing.<br />
• Uncertainty of funding requirements<br />
- Unlike bond payments, the<br />
funds necessary for capital projects<br />
may be greatly inconsistent from<br />
year to year.<br />
• Depletion of reserves - Reserves<br />
may be reduced for other uses before<br />
they are sufficient to pay for the<br />
desired projects.<br />
Bond Financing<br />
Borrowing or bond financing is not a<br />
new source of revenue. Borrowing is a<br />
way of moving the completion of capital<br />
projects to the present and the payment<br />
for those projects into the future.<br />
However, the debt plus interest expense<br />
must be repaid from the current revenue<br />
sources. Nevertheless, the repayment of<br />
the bonds can be made over time as the<br />
project is used. Debt financing should<br />
not be viewed as a “last resort,” because<br />
it is often the best alternative available.<br />
The main advantages of bond financing<br />
(relative to pay-as-you-go) are as follows:<br />
• Acquisition as needed - Cities can<br />
enjoy prompt use and benefit of<br />
capital improvements. Immediate<br />
or rapid construction is limited with<br />
pay-as-you-go financing.<br />
• Repayment in cheaper dollars - With<br />
a positive inflation rate, repayment<br />
costs will be less burdensome than<br />
full payment at the time of acquisition.<br />
• Stability - Since debt service payments<br />
are known and predictable,<br />
wide fluctuations in required expenditures<br />
are avoided.<br />
• Reduced operating cost - Older,<br />
high-maintenance infrastructure<br />
is more quickly replaced by newer,<br />
low-maintenance projects.<br />
The main disadvantages of financing<br />
(relative to pay-as-you-go) are as follows:<br />
• Interest costs - The cost for the use<br />
of money must be added to the total<br />
cost of the capital project.<br />
• Encumbered future revenues - Potential<br />
revenues are dedicated to<br />
the repayment of debt and are thus<br />
not available for other uses.<br />
In summary, neither approach is inherently<br />
superior to the other. Usually, the<br />
best course of action is a combination of<br />
both approaches. For example: A municipality<br />
might utilize bond financing for<br />
the purchase, acquisition, or construction<br />
of a public building and PAYGO<br />
funding for the equipment and furnishings.<br />
The financing decision should be<br />
carefully considered as to which option<br />
the city is willing to embark.<br />
By Nnamdi<br />
Thompson<br />
Government<br />
Consultants, Inc.<br />
Government Consulting Inc, can be reached<br />
by emailing nthompson@gc-la.net.<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 37
Stop and Think – It Can Make All the Difference<br />
I came into my office this morning, sat down at my<br />
computer, and began reading emails. There was<br />
an urgent email from the Payroll Department,<br />
telling me to fill out a new document so they<br />
could get my check cut in a timely manner.<br />
Not thinking of anything but getting my<br />
paycheck, I clicked on the document. Nothing<br />
happened. I clicked again, and still nothing<br />
happened. I shrugged and walked over<br />
to accounting where I was told the email did<br />
not come from them. I walked back into my<br />
office and there was an image on my computer<br />
that looked like this:<br />
I panicked. I kept asking myself “what do I do?” Of course! Shut<br />
the computer down! That’s what IT always tells me, “Did you<br />
reboot?” So, I shut down my computer. I can keep going with<br />
this story because I have heard this so many times from so<br />
many different people. Everything that I did this morning had<br />
been planned, and is exactly what the criminals expected and<br />
wanted me to do. It worked mostly because of two words at the<br />
beginning of this story. Can you pick them out? NOT THINKING.<br />
So many times, we get caught up in what we are doing that<br />
we don’t STOP and THINK. Criminals count on this. They purposely<br />
try to take you off guard to trick you into acting without<br />
thinking. They will call and pretend to be someone you love,<br />
like a child or grandchild, and they’ll tell you they have been<br />
placed in prison and please send money. They may say they are<br />
the phone or utility company, and your services are going to be<br />
turned off immediately if you don’t give them your credit card<br />
number right now. They may even pretend to be your bank saying<br />
that your account was compromised and if you could just<br />
tell them your account numbers, they will take care of it. No one<br />
except criminals are going to send you an email asking you to<br />
buy gift cards for any reason. Places like the IRS, Medicare, and<br />
other companies are not going to send you an email asking for<br />
personal information. Criminals have a field day with Facebook,<br />
Instagram, and all social media outlets. Criminals are watching<br />
everything online and even reading obituaries. Leave<br />
maiden names and personal information out of<br />
obituaries. A lot of security questions to sites<br />
can be answered from these venues, like<br />
what’s your mother’s maiden name, your favorite<br />
pet, and in what city were you born.<br />
On a larger scale, cyberattacks have inundated<br />
the state with each year, growing<br />
more and more costly. While the bad actors<br />
are getting better and better, there are some<br />
simple things we can follow to help limit some<br />
attacks.<br />
1 If you think you have a virus, do not shut down<br />
your computer. Always unplug it from the network to prevent<br />
the damage from spreading to other devices.<br />
2 Call for help. If you are a victim of a cyberattack or cybercrime<br />
in Louisiana, contact the Louisiana Fusion Center at<br />
1-800-434-8007 or email lafusion.center@la.gov.<br />
3 STOP and THINK! If it sounds too good to be true, it probably<br />
is. Look for mistakes in the grammar of the email. Look at<br />
the time the email was sent. Make sure the email address<br />
matches the name of the person it’s supposed to be coming<br />
from.<br />
4 VERIFY VERIFY VERIFY! Never click on an unknown link or<br />
attachment, or use a phone number from the email of concern.<br />
Never change accounting documents because someone<br />
sent an email asking you to. Never go buy gift cards or<br />
purchase something for someone in an email without always<br />
verifying with a follow up phone call.<br />
5 Keep your computers and software up to date with security<br />
patches and updates.<br />
6 Do not work as a local or domain administrator on your<br />
computer. It will allow the criminals to install anything if<br />
they get into your system.<br />
7 Use Endpoint Protection on all systems.<br />
8 Backup your data. Know where and how it’s being backed<br />
up. Test periodically to make sure the backups are viable.<br />
9 Use Multifactor Authentication and strong passwords. Use a<br />
password manager.<br />
10 Be wise when posting on social media.<br />
I know technology<br />
can be overwhelming<br />
and is always<br />
changing, however<br />
it’s here to stay,<br />
and it’s only getting<br />
bigger. Following<br />
the above tips will<br />
make a difference<br />
at work and in your<br />
personal lives at<br />
home.<br />
by Tracy<br />
Melancon<br />
Louisiana<br />
Municipal<br />
Association<br />
Tracy Melancon is the IT Director for the<br />
Louisiana Municipal Association. She can<br />
be reached by emailing tmelancon@lma.<br />
org or calling 225-344-5001.<br />
Page 38<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>
LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTS<br />
LAMSA Fall Lineup Focuses on Education<br />
The Louisiana Association<br />
of Municipal Secretaries and<br />
Assistants will hold their<br />
33rd Annual Fall conference<br />
in Houma <strong>September</strong> 20-<br />
22 at the<br />
Courtyard<br />
by Marriott<br />
on Library<br />
Drive. Registration<br />
has begun.<br />
On Wednesday, we will have<br />
the mobile Finding Our Roots<br />
African American Museum<br />
parked outside our meeting<br />
room. The museum building<br />
was damaged during Hurricane<br />
Ida, and this 34-foot RV<br />
contains photos, memorabilia,<br />
and artifacts depicting<br />
different aspects of African<br />
American history in Terrebonne<br />
and Lafourche parishes.<br />
After touring<br />
the<br />
museum,<br />
the first 50<br />
paid registrants<br />
will<br />
participate in the Fine Arts<br />
Guild “Paint da Boot.” If you<br />
are not in this select number,<br />
those wishing to participate<br />
will be placed on a waitlist<br />
and notified if a spot becomes<br />
available.<br />
The fall lineup of speakers<br />
will cover a variety of educational<br />
topics on current issues.<br />
On Thursday, the agenda<br />
includes “How LITACorp<br />
Can Help Your Community”<br />
by LITACorp Executive Director<br />
Leslie Durham; “Parliamentarian<br />
Procedures” by<br />
Nicole Learson, RP; “Public<br />
Bid Law” by LAMATS Executive<br />
Director Cliff Palmer;<br />
“Mandatory Ethics Training”<br />
by Greg Thibodeaux of the<br />
Louisiana Board of Ethics;<br />
and “Active Shooter Training”<br />
by Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s<br />
Office First Lieutenant<br />
Jamie Trahan.<br />
After our conference concludes<br />
for the day, attendees<br />
are invited to attend a reception<br />
from 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. at<br />
Bayou Terrebonne Distillers.<br />
While touring the Distillers,<br />
you can enjoy music from<br />
Johnny Chauvin and the<br />
Mojo Band, and sample local<br />
cuisine from surrounding establishments.<br />
For everyone’s<br />
convenience, there will be a<br />
shuttle which will take members<br />
to and from the Distillers.<br />
Pick up will be in front of<br />
the hotel lobby and will run<br />
every 15 minutes.<br />
A Mayor’s Panel will be held<br />
on Friday morning, and the<br />
conference will wrap up with<br />
“The Key to Healing” by Mrs.<br />
Lisa Maggio, Author, and Life<br />
Coach.<br />
Membership in the Association<br />
shall be open to all Municipal<br />
and Parish Employees<br />
(non-contracted) performing<br />
the duties of a Secretary or<br />
Assistant, regardless of title,<br />
in any incorporated town,<br />
village, city, or parish government<br />
chartered under and in<br />
conformity with the laws of<br />
the State of Louisiana.<br />
Hope you will join us down<br />
in the Bayou! For more information<br />
or to sponsor, call<br />
Kristine Scherer at 504-259-<br />
1068 or email lamsa@currently.com.<br />
Visit explorehouma.com to<br />
plan your trip to Louisiana’s<br />
Bayou Country<br />
By Kristine Scherer<br />
Peachey<br />
LAMSA Conference<br />
Coordinator<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong> Page 39
PRESORT<br />
STANDARD<br />
U.S. POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
BATON ROUGE, LA<br />
PERMIT #319<br />
Page 40<br />
LMR | AUGUST/SEPTEMBER <strong>2023</strong>