October 2023

10.23Louisiana Louisiana 

MUNICIPAL 

REVIEW 

VOL. 88 

ISSUE 10 

Louisiana has already seen a 

750% increase in acres 

burned by wildfires just four 

weeks into a 30 week season. 

Should local governments be 

preparing for a new normal?

A Quarter-Century of Municipal 

Service! 

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BLIGHT & BROWNFIELDS REMEDIATION 

CAPITAL OUTLAY CONSULTING 

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LAMATS.NET 

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Editorial offices: Louisiana Municipal Association, 6767 Perkins Road, Post Office Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821- 4327, 

editor@lma.org, www.lma.org, (225) 344-5001, (800) 234-8274, FAX (225) 344-3057. 

MUNICIPAL REVIEW EDITORIAL STAFF 

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

Managing Editor: Anita Tillman atillman@lma.org | AMCorp International 

Editor: Charlotte Smith | charlotte@teamamcorp.com | AMCorp International 

Design and Production: AMCorp International 

Printing: Baker Printing Company, Inc. 

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

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW 

(USPS 832-560) (ISSN 0164-3622) 

3 rd class postage paid at 

Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 

Postmaster – Send address changes to: 

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW 

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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 | OCTOBER 2023

CONTENTS | OCTOBER OBER 2023 

DIRECTOR'S VIEWPOINT 

You Are At the Core of what we do 4 

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 

We are better together 5 

8 

WELCOME TO 

WILDFIRE SEASON: 

LASTING LONGER 

AND RAGING HARDER 

COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF 

JAMES LEBLANC 

GOVERNOR'S COLUMN 

continuing the work we started 6 

AG OPINIONS 

opinions issued by the state 

attorney general 7 

LAMP: LIGHTING THE 

WAY FOR FINANCIAL 

PROSPERITY 

LAMP works for LMA members 18 

TREASURY NOTES 

money in the newspaper: 

louisiana’s unclaimed property 7 

GETTING YOUR HOUSE IN 

ORDER 

a One-on-one with LITACorp’s Alex 

Holland 16 

LEGAL BRIEFS 

safeguarding public 

dollars 20 

27 

GUBERNATORIAL 

PRIMARY 

ELECTION 

SCHEDULE 

TECH TALK 

making informed decisions with 

data 22 

GOVERNMENT 

CONSULTANTS 

Is It time for ‘The fall’? 28 

LAMATS 

A Tallulah renewal: city receives 

substantial funds for brownfield 

remediation 24 

HOMETOWN HAPPENINGS 

November and december fairs and 

festivals 30 

lOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW EDITORIAL STAFF 

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

Managing Editor Anita Tillman | atillman@lma.org | AMCorp International 

Editor Charlotte Smith | charlotte@teamamcorp.com | AMCorp International 

Advertising: Ginger Eppes | geppes@lma.org | LMA CorporatE relations 

Publisher: Louisiana municipal association 

Editorial offices: Louisiana Municipal Association, 6767 Perkins Road, Post Office Box 4327, Baton Rouge, 

LA LMR 70821- | OCTOBER 4327, editor@lma.org, 2023 www.lma.org, (225) 344-5001, (800) 234-8274, FAX (225) 344-3057. Page 3

DIRECTOR’S VIEWPOINT 

You Are at the Core of What We Do 

What a fall season we’re heading 

into at the LMA! Our “i”s 

are being dotted, our “t”s 

are being crossed, and we’re 

steadily working to ensure 

our continued tradition of 

keeping you in the know. We 

are here for you to keep you 

updated on everything you 

need to assist in your roles as 

community leaders. 

We have some exciting news! 

After months of behind the 

scenes work and submissions 

of our publications, we have 

been accepted into the Louisiana 

Press Association (LPA). 

I’d like to commend our Communication 

Team of Anita 

Tillman and Charlotte Smith 

with AMCorp International, 

not only for the stellar work 

which now sees us in this 

prestigious group, but also for 

their patience and quick turnaround 

when information was 

required to see this process 

through. We are now recognized 

on a state-wide level as 

a credible outlet for factual 

and checked information, and 

we couldn’t be prouder. We’ll 

be eligible to submit pieces 

for peer evaluated award consideration, 

and we look forward 

to lining our shelves. 

With a state-wide burn ban 

in place, and wildfires still 

spreading across our very 

dry and hot state, Charlotte 

spoke with former State Fire 

Marshal Butch Browning, St. 

Amant Volunteer Fire Chief 

James LeBlanc, WAFB Meteorologist 

Jay Grimes, and others 

to try and pinpoint just 

what happened to make this 

wildfire season stand out, 

and how municipal leaders 

and citizens can work to be 

better prepared if this pattern 

of strength continues. 

It’s hard to believe that at 

this time last year, we were 

announcing a dream of ours 

that had become a reality. The 

Louisiana Infrastructure Technical 

Assistance Corporation 

(LITACorp) is already assisting 

our municipalities with 

assessing where IIJA funding 

should best go to meet their 

individual needs, and then advocating 

for, and working on 

behalf of, those municipalities 

in obtaining funding meant 

for them. We take a look back 

at LITACorp’s assistance in 

helping our municipalities 

understand the importance of 

compliance in terms of securing 

funding. Charlotte spoke 

with LITACorp Senior Advisor 

Alex Holland, who laid out 

exactly what municipalities 

need to remember to achieve 

application success. 

We also highlight the work 

of our good friends at LAMP. 

Their continued mission of 

assisting our members grow 

financially by means of pooling 

funding has proven successful, 

and we’re grateful for 

the relationship we have with 

them. Charlotte spoke with 

Theo Sanders recently to find 

out more in regard to what 

they can do to help you. 

I say this often, but it truly is an 

honor to serve as your Executive 

Director. I love this time of 

year. It’s festival season, football 

season, and reflection season 

all in one. It’s a time of year 

when we get on the road to 

see how information attained 

at our annual convention is 

being applied across the state, 

and I’m always moved by the 

innovative ways that’s being 

done. Each and every one of 

you is bringing something 

to the table in helping to ensure 

a better Louisiana across 

the board, and I thank you for 

that. It means that the LMA is 

doing something right in how 

we’re there for you. 

Our appreciation for your 

efforts and your belief in us is 

John Gallagher 

Executive Director 

always at the core of what we 

do. With the LMA leadership 

and staff here for you, and with 

each of you here for us, we will 

always be #LMASTRONG. 

Page 4 


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

We Are Better Together 

I am excited to write to you in 

this month’s LMR, and I look 

forward to the opportunity of 

not only joining you in person 

as I travel the state, but also 

speaking to you each month 

in the pages of this magazine. 

It’s a wonderful opportunity to 

let you know how things are 

going, and to get your feedback 

on what you may further 

need. I want to take this time 

to congratulate the Communications 

Team of John, Anita, 

and Charlotte for getting the 

LMA into the Louisiana Press 

Association. That’s a feather in 

the cap for any writer passionate 

about their craft, and we 

couldn’t have a more passionate 

team leading our charge. 

We’ve seen a lot of media coverage 

surrounding the wildfires 

across our state, so our 

cover story this month highlights 

the official wildfire season. 

Experts in their respective 

fields were spoken to in an 

effort to better assist our municipalities 

with preparation 

planning. Louisiana’s wildfire 

season runs for a total of 30 

weeks, and we haven’t paid 

much attention in the past. 

But, if as the years go by, we 

continue to see an increase in 

their number, we are going to 

have to step up our game of 

understanding not only their 

impacts, but also how to lessen 

them. 

A year ago, we joined with the 

Police Jury Association of Louisiana 

in the formation of an 

organization geared to assisting 

our Louisiana municipalities 

in acquiring grant funding 

to better assist their communities. 

LITACorp was founded, 

and with Leslie Durham at 

the helm, it’s already making 

an impact. LITACorp’s Alex 

Holland was interviewed this 

month, and she shines a light 

on how to ensure compliance 

is being maintained. If one 

thing is out of synch, or it’s not 

following the correct protocol, 

the holdups that can cause 

in terms of acquiring funding 

can seem insurmountable. So, 

making sure you’re in compliance 

is key. 

LAMP continues to assist our 

LMA members, and we took 

the time to recognize them 

this month. Pooling assets is 

an excellent way to see a positive 

ripple effect across multiplicities, 

and we look forward 

to continuing the partnership 

with Theo Sanders and his 

team. 

It’s still sinking in on my end 

that I am now your president. 

It’s an absolute honor, and one 

I won’t ever take lightly. There 

are so many things we can 

do together to combat issues 

plaguing Louisiana, and it’s an 

exciting time to be gathering 

those ideas and putting them 

into practice. We have several 

opportunities for grant fund- 

Derrick Johnson, Sr. 

LMA President 

Cheneyville 

ing, which means that projects 

many of us have had to 

put on hold may now come 

alive. That’s an enormous positive 

in this state, especially 

when it comes to keeping our 

citizenry here to see what they 

can make better in the future. 

I want to be there for this 

membership, and I welcome 

any feedback. I want to find 

out what you need to make 

your time in office the most efficient 

and as effective as it can 

be. Are there tools or resources 

we don’t offer that would 

allow you to better do that? If 

so, tell me. All of us at the LMA 

want to encourage and promote 

success across the board, 

so if there’s a way to assist with 

that, we want to know. 

We are better together; in 

fact, we’re at our best. When 

Louisiana is at its best, we’re 

a state to be admired and 

looked up to. It’s in the way 

we handle a crisis and come 

together for the betterment 

of all. It’s in the way we gather 

and celebrate in the good 

times and gather and comfort 

in the bad. Louisiana is our 

home, and together we will 

continue to show the world 

just what our home is capable 

of. We are #LMAStrong. 

LMR | OCTOBER 2023 Page 5

GOVERNOR’S COLUMN 

Continuing the Work We Started 

Is it October already? Time is 

truly marching on, and there 

is no shortage of work to do, 

as this busy month gets underway. 

While our state has 

been dealing with some very 

challenging weather related 

events recently, I could 

not be more proud to have 

a partner like the Louisiana 

Municipal Association to help 

protect our state and our 

people. It means more than 

words can express, which is 

why I want you to know that 

as I approach my final three 

months in office, you can be 

confident that my administration 

will continue the work we 

started together nearly eight 

years ago to leave Louisiana 

stronger and better for our 

children, grandchildren, and 

many generations to come. 

I will begin with the good 

news first. Fortunately, we 

have had some recent successes 

including achieving 

the lowest unemployment 

rate ever recorded in Louisiana. 

In addition, our record-low 

unemployment rate 

of 3.3% is well below the national 

rate of 3.8%. That is a 

testament to the talent and 

work ethic of our people. We 

have been able to work across 

party lines to invest in job creation 

and workforce training 

and bring us back from a 6% 

unemployment rate when I 

took office in 2016. That hard 

work is paying off. 

Since August, we have faced 

historic wildfires due to the 

extreme drought. To date, 

more than 60,000 acres of 

land have either been damaged 

or destroyed. Thanks to 

many dedicated firefighters 

from across Louisiana and 

other states, we have been 

able to make significant 

progress in controlling the 

fires. As a result, the State Fire 

Marshal’s Office and the Department 

of Agriculture and 

Forestry have modified the 

statewide burn ban. Parishes 

are now able to assess and 

determine whether to keep 

it in place or opt out. The 

abnormally dry conditions 

remain, so it is important 

that we all stay vigilant, encourage 

our constituents to 

adhere to guidance from the 

state and local officials, and 

exercise caution. 

Last month, we celebrated 

several historic investments 

in our state’s infrastructure. I 

joined local leaders in St. Tammany 

Parish to celebrate the 

completion of the first two 

phases of the I-12 widening 

project and the start of the 

third and final phase. Improving 

Louisiana’s infrastructure 

statewide has always been 

among my top priorities, and 

the widening of one of our 

most heavily traveled interstates 

is important for businesses, 

families, and visitors. 

Speaking of generational investments, 

continued investments 

in sustainable energy 

is why Louisiana is leading 

the global energy transition 

and creating good-paying 

jobs as a result. We recently 

broke ground on First Solar’s 

$1.1 billion investment in 

Iberia Parish for its newest 

solar panel production facility 

that will produce 700 new 

direct jobs with a total annual 

payroll of at least $40 million. 

These billion-dollar investments 

are proof positive 

that Louisiana’s ‘all-of-theabove’ 

approach to energy is 

growing and diversifying our 

economy. 

We have also been able to 

invest in our most precious 

natural resource that God has 

entrusted into our care– our 

children. Hungry children 

cannot learn, and I signed HB 

282 into law so that more of 

our children will not have to 

worry about whether they 

will have breakfast and lunch 

every day. While this is a great 

first step, I am hopeful that in 

future years the legislature 

will see fit to make breakfast 

and lunch free for all K-12 stu- 

Building roadmaps from right now 

to what's next 

John Bel Edwards 

Governor 

dents in Louisiana. 

No doubt, we are building a 

better Louisiana, and your 

dedication to Louisiana is 

making all the difference. 

Thank you and God bless. 

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 

Page 6 


TREASURY NOTES 

Money in the Newspaper: Louisiana’s Unclaimed Property 

In a world where we make 

financial transactions at every 

turn, it’s not uncommon 

for money to slip through 

the cracks. Forgotten bank 

accounts, uncashed checks, 

and overlooked insurance 

benefits often find their way 

into the Louisiana Department 

of Treasury Unclaimed 

Property Program, awaiting 

their rightful owners to reclaim 

them. 

In an effort to reunite Louisianans 

with their long-lost 

funds, the State Treasurer’s 

Office is preparing to publish 

over 80,000 names of 

individuals entitled to unclaimed 

property money, in 

local newspapers across the 

state. Watch your local newspapers 

for the lists in early 

October. 

These names are individuals 

whose money was received 

by our office during the past 

year. Combined with money 

from prior years, there is 

now over one billion dollars 

remaining to be claimed. 

Unclaimed Property is 

Cash 

The Louisiana Treasurer’s 

Office plays a crucial role in 

safeguarding and redistributing 

unclaimed property. 

Unclaimed property is money 

and not physical property. 

This money encompasses 

a wide range of assets, 

from unpaid life insurance 

benefits to dormant bank 

accounts, uncashed payroll 

checks, stock dividends, and 

utility deposit refunds. 

When the rightful owners 

of these assets cannot 

be located, the companies 

holding them are obligated 

to send them to Louisiana 

Attorney General’s Opinions 

Dual Officeholding 

Opinion: 23-0077: The provisions of the 

Dual Officeholding and Dual Employment 

Law do not prohibit the Deputy Director of 

the Lake Providence Port Commission from 

also being employed as the part time Chief 

of Governmental Affairs of the Northeast 

Louisiana Railroad Development District. 

Released: 8/30/2023 

Treasury’s Unclaimed Property 

Program for safekeeping. 

The most common reason 

the money becomes lost 

is because the holder of the 

money cannot locate the 

rightful owner due to an old 

address. 

Whether it’s a forgotten 

paycheck from several years 

ago or a long-lost life insurance 

policy from a decade 

past, this is your money, and 

you never lose your right to 

claim it. The Louisiana Treasury 

is dedicated to holding 

it in trust until it finds its way 

back to you. 

Easier than Ever to Reclaim 

your Property 

It’s easier than ever to claim 

your money thanks to advances 

in technology. In 

fact, you can claim your 

money online from LaCash- 

Claim.org or by calling Monday 

through Friday from 10 

A.M. until 3 P.M. to 888-925- 

4127. 

And, as of September, you 

Waterway Regulation 

Opinion: 23-0092: Parishes do not have the 

authority to establish “no wake zones” within 

their jurisdictions. They may, however, set 

speed limits on waterways within their jurisdiction, 

and parish presidents have the authority, 

during a properly-declared disaster, to 

establish temporary “no wake zones” in order 

to protect public health and safety. Recalls La. 

Atty. Gen. Op. 82-702. Released: 8/29/2023 

Prohibited Donations 

Opinion: 23-0065: Parish governments may 

not use public funds to conduct drainage 

operations on, or to acquire a right-of-way 

over, private property for the sole benefit of 

the owner of immovable private property, as 

this would amount to a gratuitous donation 

of public funds in violation of La Const. art. VII, 

§ 14(A). Released: 8/25/2023 

John Schroder 

State Treasurer 

can now claim your funds 

straight from the LA Wallet 

app from your smartphone. 

No matter which way you 

choose, it’s free and easy to 

make a claim. And it’s your 

money. 

In a world where money 

can often seem elusive, the 

Louisiana State Treasury is 

on a mission to ensure your 

money winds up where it 

belongs, with you! Don’t 

let your unclaimed wealth 

remain a lost treasurer any 

longer, it’s time to claim 

what’s rightfully yours. 

Jeff Landry 

Attorney General 


Welcome to 

Wildfire Season 

Lasting Longer and Raging Harder 

For a little over a month, Louisiana 

has been inundated with 

wildfires. People are shocked, 

as things like this only happen 

in places like California, 

right? Well, not anymore. 

Since August 22, more than 60,000 acres 

of Louisiana land has been scorched, 

some by blazes of more than 300 feet 

high. That’s 60,000 acres in just over a 

six weeks in a state normally seeing a 

much smaller fire loss of around 8,000 

acres annually. Just one of this year’s 

fires – Tiger Island – saw an acreage loss 

of more than half that 60,000 amount. 

Those numbers, as we leave our low level 

rainy season and enter a high impact 

dry season, aren’t good at all. On top of 

that, many families have been displaced 

due to the rapid strength of these wildfires. 

When we hear about devastation 

such as this during hurricane season, 

we do what Louisiana does best – we 

sit up, we take notice, and we ask how 

we can help. For some reason, however, 

that doesn’t seem to be on the radars of 

a lot of people across the state when it 

comes to wildfires. If someone doesn’t 

burn garbage in their yard, they feel this 

doesn’t affect them. But as we’re seeing 

now - how very wrong people can be. 

Louisiana has had wildfires in the past, 

but not to the extent we’re seeing them 

in 2023. There are numerous reasons for 

this sudden onslaught, with weather 

conditions and a lack of preparation being 

top of the list. For example, embers 

can travel in a dry wind, and when those 

embers drop, they act as additional fire 

starters with new epicenters. Greater 

Baton Rouge area meteorologist and 

trusted LMA friend Jay Grymes explains 

in more detail. 

“All you need is one spark or ember to 

travel ten or twenty yards, and you’ve 

got a new hotspot. That’s what’s making 

the containment of these fires so difficult. 

And the driving force this year is the 

near record 

drought. 

When you 

have this 

incredibly 

dry environment, 

particularly 

when 

you’re the 

wettest state 

in the lower 

48, it’s off 

Jay Grymes 

the charts 

abnormal. Add to that a record warmer 

than normal summer that’s the hottest 

ever on the record books, and everything 

in the environment is kindling just 

waiting to pop.” 

And the type of fire doesn’t matter when 

lives are on the line. 

“Although arson has happened, many of 

the fires have also been caused by lightning, 

for example Ascension and Livingston. 

The wind driven factor is also key 

Page 8 


ecause of how it all works together. All 

of the factors combined treat the wind 

as a sort of fuel. I saw a fire run up a tree 

and ignite a limb. Those embers were 

then blown by the wind. That caused 

the creation of another hotspot. Our 

pine trees are dropping needles due to 

the lack of water, which causes their sap 

to serve as a sort of kerosene in the heat 

and dry conditions. Embers only have to 

travel yards, not miles, to start another 

fire. Before fire trucks can get there, they 

become one-acre fires, and the firefighters 

have to start all over again. So, you’ve 

got a situation that’s incredibly unusual. 

The dryness we’re experiencing 

is going to get worse, as there’s 

no significant rain in the forecast, 

which is one thing 

that would really turn this 

around.” 

Commissioner of Insurance 

Jim Donelon understands 

that numerous 

insurance claims 

are set to come to light 

and reminds municipal 

leaders of steps they 

can take to make sure 

their municipalities don’t 

get caught in a never-ending 

loop of denials. 

“Municipalities should review 

their respective property policies 

to determine if a wildfire is a 

covered peril,” said Donelon. “From 

a liability insurance perspective, municipalities 

should further 

review 

their liability 

policy to 

determine if 

something 

may cause a 

wildfire and 

be a covered 

peril. This is 

important 

Jim Donelon to know because, 

for example, a public project such 

as electrical infrastructure work that is 

undertaken during an extremely dry 

season could spark a fire that spreads 

throughout a community. I also strongly 

encourage municipalities to remind 

their residents to review their personal 

and commercial insurance policies as 

well.” 

Not enough wildfire training on the part 

of volunteer fire departments specifically, 

and not enough public outreach on 

the devastating impacts that wildfire 

season can have, are also key components. 

And yes - Louisiana has a wildfire 

season, but it’s not something Louisianans 

hear much about. 

Wildfire season in Louisiana peaks in 

early September and runs for 30 weeks, 

taking the state into the end of March. 

Let’s look closely at the start date – the 

beginning of September. We’ve already 

seen over 

60,000 acres 

lost, with 

much of that 

loss taking 

place before 

the official 

wildfire peak 

season. And 

the length 

of time is 

important Butch Browning 

to note. If 

something runs for 30 weeks, should it 

lose its seasonal status? With something 

that can cause devastation 

for a majority of a calendar year 

starting even earlier than expected, 

why isn’t wildfire 

season more notable and 

year-round? And why aren’t 

we more aware? Former 

State Fire Marshal 

Butch Browning has 

some thoughts on that. 

“Wildland fires have 

been a common part of 

our fire threat for ages, 

and the methods to control 

them are much different 

than the conventional 

municipal fire departments 

are equipped and trained to 

do. When fire gets near inhabited 

areas it is called the ‘interface,’ 

and it is where your local fire department 

would be called to control and 

mitigate before structures and people 

are in danger. The key to prevention is 

limiting the vegetation and combustibles 

near your home (this includes a 10- 

foot space around your home), having 

screens that keep embers from blowing 

under patios and carports, and keeping 

gutters clean. When there is a threat, one 

can water lawns and soak rooftops in an 

effort to extinguish embers. We understand 

that dry conditions make wildland 

fires more frequent, but the factor that 

will quickly incapacitate firefighting ef- 


forts is the prevailing winds that have the right 

combustibles to burn.” 

“That interface is becoming more and 

more blurred by putting more of our 

people in, and on the edge of, nature. 

We’re invading space set aside for nature, 

and we have plans to do more of 

that. It’s the American working class 

dream to have land, and how cool is 

it when it backs onto a forest or waterway? 

But there are issues with that, 

and we’re seeing them now,” added 

Grymes. “A growth of suburbia into undeveloped 

landscapes has occurred, but 

they aren’t a problem as such until they start 

to infringe upon neighborhoods and the people 

We need more 

capabilities for local 

fire departments to expand 

their equipment to be able 

to fight these fires where they 

start, which is normally off 

the road and away from fire 

hydrants. Simply speaking, 

being able to put it out 

before it becomes 

large. 

within them. That threat will increase because 

we’re putting more developments on those 

undeveloped areas. So, the human threat 

becomes more significant than it used 

to be, as there’s no such thing as a natural 

disaster, as human factors play a 

big part. We see homes damaged and 

destroyed, and we see evacuations. 

That’s because humans are getting 

into Mother Nature’s path.” 

Although the Tiger Island fire is being 

reported as caused by arson, a fire’s 

a fire, and the effects don’t care how it 

started. It spread quickly, and with a fervor 

firefighters haven’t often seen. It was an 

enormous blaze with even bigger consequences 

Page 10 


for our Sportsman’s Paradise – namely 

a shift in seeing evacuations take place 

in more inland areas of the state. Could 

that be a new normal for many municipalities? 

“Evacuations and moving people to a 

safe area should be a practice and something 

municipalities plan for, because 

yes, this is the new normal. We only 

need to think about a hazardous materials 

release or an active shooter situation 

to see that. We should always be aware 

of our surroundings. Just as you need 

two ways out of a building, you should 

also have two ways out of a municipality 

in case of an emergency,” said Browning. 

I harped on training earlier, so let’s revisit 

that. The Department of Agriculture 

and Forestry boasts a Forest Protection 

Branch that “regularly conducts training 

programs for the agency’s fire crews, 

stressing safe and effective firefighting 

techniques. The agency also has the 

cooperation of the U.S. Forest Service, 

whose crews may support and back up 

the Office of Forestry’s fire suppression 

crews during extreme fire conditions. 

The specific objective of the branch is to 

keep the annual percent of burn at a level 

of no more than 0.25 of one percent 

(one-fourth acre for each 100 acres protected) 

in each parish in the intensively 

protected mixed pine areas of, primarily, 

north Louisiana parishes and to keep 

the annual burn at a level of no more 

than 0.50 of one percent (one half acre 

for each 100 acres protected) in flash 

fuel areas, 

primarily in 

southeast 

and southwest 

Louisiana. 

Overall, 

the aim is 

to hold the 

average size 

per fire to 

less than 

13.2 acres. 

James LeBlanc Records indicate 

that in 2016, the average size of 

Louisiana’s forest fires was 10.45 acres.” 

So, how does the role of a volunteer 

firefighter play into this in terms of that 

training? People tend to forget that in 

Louisiana, a vast number of our fires 

are being fought by volunteers. Many 

municipalities in our more rural regions 

of the state don’t have the funding for 

full-time fire departments, so they rely 

on the kindness and dedication of men 

and women willing to chip in and lend 

a hand when called upon. Well, those 

volunteers don’t always have what they 

need, and they are exhausted. That lack 

of training and resources, coupled with 

that exhaustion, can impact the abilities 

of people being called to tackle house 

fires or arson blazes when their time is 

taken up with wildfires. St. Amant Volunteer 

Fire Chief James LeBlanc explains. 

“Many times, while fighting the wildland 

fires here in Ascension Parish, we realized 

that Mother Nature was in the driver’s 

seat. Our volunteers worked so hard 

to make sure we were not in her way 


when she came through our parish. We 

are tired, and we’re working with few resources. 

There needs to be a better way 

to make sure we have what we need, as 

should be the case with all volunteer organizations. 

It’s clear that wildland fires 

are here, just as these dangerously dry 

conditions are far from over. As we head 

deeper into wildfire season, our volunteers 

are praying for a little rain, a lot of 

patience, and a tremendous amount of 

cooperation from our residents with the 

statewide burn ban and in understanding 

our limitations.” 

We all know that preparation in and of 

itself doesn’t negate all risks, but it does 

help. And the time to think about preventing 

wildfires is before they begin. 

So, what about the citizens themselves? 

Can Louisiana’s citizens prepare for wildfire 

season in an effort to diminish its effects? 

We prepare for hurricane season 

by ticking off checklists that ease our 

minds in case the worst case scenario 

becomes reality, because we feel better 

prepared. Can we do the same for wildfire 

season? According to the Louisiana 

Emergency Portal, we can: 

• Remove dry leaves, debris, and other 

combustible vegetation. 

• Examine the roof’s shingles or tiles 

and fix or replace damaged pieces 

to prevent ember penetration. 

• Use fire-resistant materials for repairs, 

renovations, or new construction 

around the property. 

• Use non-combustible materials for 

fences, walls, and landscaping to 

act as a fire barrier. 

• Install an outdoor water source and 

hose that can carry water to any 

part of the house. 

• Pack an emergency supply kit (similar 

to a hurricane kit) for every 

member of the household. 

• Obtain insurance coverage for personal 

belongings, the house, and 

even automobiles. The insurance 

policy coverage should be adequate 

to replace all valuables. 

• Install smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, 

and fire-resistant window 

coverings. 

• Create an evacuation plan that 

should be practiced until every 

member of the household is familiar. 

Browning and Grymes explain in more 

detail. 

“The threat of fire is with us every single 

day, and the interface is no exception, 

as a simple unattended trash fire can 

quickly ignite combustibles in the area 

like chairs, trees, etc., and quickly reach 

your home. We need more capabilities 

for local fire departments to expand 

their equipment to be able to fight these 

fires where they start, which is normally 

off the road and away from fire hydrants. 

Simply speaking, being able to put it out 

before it becomes large,” said Browning. 

“As with any threat, it’s important to 

be prepared, and awareness is the first 

step of preparedness. If you’re aware of 

Page 12 


a threat, the threat immediately goes down, so being aware 

of how unprepared Louisiana has been this year should be a 

wakeup call for the future,” stated Grymes. 

We’ve entered another season that could make or break 

us as a state when wildfires are on the rise – tailgating 

season. Louisiana can’t seem to get 

enough of tailgating, so the possibility of 

losing that as an outlet isn’t sitting too 

well with some. Grymes and LeBlanc 

feel tailgating can continue with safety 

measures in place. 

“If you’re going to set up in a spot, of 

which many people are in the same 

spot year in and year out, then take 

something along in case you generate a 

spark. It can take a while for a fire to take 

off, so evaluate your area for any potential 

flammable risks. Rake up any leaves around, 

and purchase a hand dispensed fire extinguisher. 

You can buy two small ones at a local hardware store for 

about $15. I carry two in my car and actually used one when I 

saw a grass fire on the side of River Road recently. Quite frankly, 

whether you create a grass fire on your site or not, it’s not a 

bad idea to have something on-site when you grill. Best case 

scenario is you never use them, but having one when you 

We should always 

be aware of our 

surroundings. Just as 

you need two ways out of 

a building, you should also 

have two ways out of a 

municipality in case of 

an emergency. 

need it is a simple safety measure anyone can follow.” 

“In my thirty-seven years as a Volunteer Chief here in Ascension 

Parish, I have battled many hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and 

other ‘natural disasters,’ but never did a dream I would be 

battling out of control wildland fires here in Ascension 

Parish because we did not adhere to 

our state-wide burn ban,” stated LeBlanc. “I 

sincerely hope the Louisiana population 

takes this ban seriously, including during 

tailgating. It’s not that anyone wants to 

dampen the spirit and the revelry of 

football season, but sometimes things 

are bigger than what we want, and they 

must be more about what we need to 

do collectively. Just be smart. That can 

go a long way in keeping everyone safe.” 

It seems a little cliché to remind everyone 

of Smokey the Bear, but he did teach many of 

us a thing or two about stopping, dropping, and 

rolling. He also taught us that we can prevent forest fires. 

Is that still applicable when it comes to fires of the wilder kind? 

Browning seems to agree with our caniform friend. 

“You bet prevention is the key, as is a constant awareness of 

safety when you are in control of any item that can cause a fire. 

Remember, prevention only happens when you live by it and 


teach others how to also prevent fires.” 

Both Browning and LeBlanc have dedicated much of their 

lives to putting out fires. It’s in their blood, but it’s also of the 

utmost importance to them that people and property are safe 

from the ravages of a blaze. I asked them both to tell us all 

something they wish we’d take more to heart when it comes 

to a continued, or even repeated, 2023 in terms of wildfires. 

“Your family’s safety and security starts with your own commitment 

to prevention and having a plan when disaster 

strikes. I encourage people to take this threat seriously, and 

to be on the lookout if where you live is near undeveloped 

land that could encourage a fire to rapidly come onto your 

property. Take action to ensure your home is wildland fire 

ready,” said Browning. 

“It’s simple - don’t burn anything. What’s not simple is having 

to battle blazes caused by disregard or unawareness of a 

state-wide burn ban. Our state has been adhering to rules prohibiting 

the burning of any item that will contribute to wildfires 

that continue to spread and are actively being fought by 

brave men and women here in Ascension Parish and across 

the state. It’s not acceptable for our volunteer firefighters to 

continue to fight hundreds of acres of wildfires simply because 

our residents continue to disobey the state-wide burn 

ban. As our service leaders continue to work to protect communities 

affected, you can help to stop the spread of future 

fire incidents by adhering to the burn ban,” said LeBlanc. “All 

outdoor burning is prohibited with no exceptions. This includes 

not just the burning of trash, but any open flames in 

fire pits, barrels, bonfires, and the like. Outdoor cooking is not 

a citable offense, but if your outdoor cooking does cause a 

fire that a fire department or volunteer agency must attend 

to, you will be issued a citation. And although mowing and 

yard work themselves aren’t banned, it is preferred that people 

not do those things in conditions that could ignite a spark. 

Many departments are receiving increased calls for brush fires 

stemming from farm operations. Please be conscious and try 

to avoid activities that can cause sparks until conditions have 

improved. Stay informed, and find a site that works for you to 

stay up-to-date on the burn ban and how to correctly follow it. 

There is no excuse for not understanding it or not following it. 

Your knowledge on this topic is crucial to remedying it.” 

It’s only October. We’re near the beginning of a season that’s 

taken much from us already. People are not prepared, and 

that needs to change. Department and volunteer firefighters 

are stretched to capacity when seeing a 750% increase from a 

‘normal’ wildfire season. Elected officials can do much to foster 

that change. First and foremost, each municipality should 

develop and implement an evacuation plan. Fires aren’t limited 

to uninhabited, dense woods, so ensuring that citizens 

state-wide know where to go in case a fire encroaches on 

their area is an important first step. Drive home the importance 

of defensible spaces. These would be buffers between 

buildings and nature, and they can minimize the speed of a 

fire, as well as give firefighters a safe space to work within. 

Take a look around your municipality and decide upon fire 

hazard severity zones. These can be parceled into high, medium, 

and low risk zones which allow for work to be done on 

improving them and keeping them safe. Remain conscious of 

building along the interface. Who doesn’t love progress, but 

to what degree if it means leaving your constituents unprotected? 

And pay attention to air quality reports and alerts. 

You’re an important line of defense when it comes to decision 

making for your community, so make sure you’re paying attention 

to health risks before they happen. 

We are adaptable people, but we must take care to pay attention 

when adaptability is required. We’re Louisiana, so we’re 

going to get through this, but it’s going to take us coming together 

as a village with a lot of pluckiness, luckiness, preparation, 

and motivation. We don’t make a habit of naming our fires 

like we do our hurricanes, but maybe we should. Maybe personalizing 

things 

somehow gives 

them more credence. 

But names 

shouldn’t matter 

when devastation 

is what should. 

Louisiana is burning, 

and we must 

come together and 

do what’s asked in 

order to ease her 

pain. 

by Charlotte 

Smith 

AMCorp 

International 

Smith is a Senior Communications 

Consultant for AMCorp and is the Editor 

of the Louisiana Municipal Review. 

Contact: charlotte@teamamcorp.com 

Page 14 



Getting Your House in Order 

By Charlotte Smith 

It’s been a year since the Louisiana 

Infrastructure Technical Assistance 

Corporation (LITACorp) burst onto 

the municipal assistance scene, 

and during that time, they’ve begun 

their mission of aiding municipalities 

in gaining much needed 

grant funding. The non-profit, a 

collaborative partnership with 

both the LMA and the Police Jury 

Association of Louisiana, is advancing 

the economic prosperity 

of Louisiana communities in an 

effort “to assist political subdivisions with competitive federal 

grant opportunities made pursuant to the Infrastructure Investment 

and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58).” 

Recently, LITACorp Senior Advisor Alex Holland gave a talk on 

all the organization can offer. She rounded out her talk on reminding 

attendees that being 

in, and staying in, compliance 

is a key factor in the securing 

of grant funding. Basically, if 

you aren’t doing what’s expected 

of you on a municipal 

level, no amount of perfect 

penmanship and correctly 

ticked boxes on your grant 

application will secure you 

the funding you need. 

After noticing how many 

municipal leaders sat up and 

began to take serious notice 

of Holland’s words, I chatted 

with her in an effort to find 

out exactly what she meant 

and what municipal leaders 

need to know. 

Alex, thanks for giving me 

your time. How important is 

staying in compliance when 

it comes to getting grant 

funding? 

It’s not only important to stay 

in compliance, but it’s necessary. 

Grantmaking agencies 

have an obligation to invest 

their funding into organizations 

who not only have 

the capacity to administer 

those funds and implement 

high-impact projects, but 

who can also demonstrate a 

Alex Holland 

Senior Advisor, LITACorp 

willingness to deploy taxpayer funding efficiently and effectively 

and within the parameters of established policies and 

regulations. 

What are the best places, or who are the best agencies, to 

use for municipal officials to stay up-to-date on matters of 

compliance? 

First and foremost, the Louisiana Municipal Association is an 

incredible resource for municipal governments throughout 

Louisiana. The Police Jury Association of Louisiana is too for parish 

governments, and we work closely with both. The annual 

events that these organizations host are a great way to bring 

elected officials and government staff together to exchange 

ideas, but their greatest value is in the training that is offered to 

attendees so that they can keep up with the important issues 

that impact local governments on a regular basis. 

State agencies and divisions, such as the Division of Administration, 

Department of Environmental Quality, and Ethics, are 

great resources for compliance issues. I think it important for 

Page 16 


and state funding today, or for those 

considering applying in the near future, 

it is essential that the grant 

award guideline and the policies 

and procedures are read 

Local governments need to make 

grant compliance a top priority when 

they begin to apply for, receive, and 

administer grant funding. 

municipal governments to keep open 

lines of communication with state regulators. 

Ultimately, regulatory agencies 

want local governments to be in a position 

to succeed, but that starts with understanding 

the policies and regulations 

that elected officials and local governments 

are responsible for upholding and 

abiding with. At that point, municipal 

officials make decisions that either keep 

their governing body in compliance or 

do not. When in doubt, ask for help! 

If you aren’t in compliance, and you 

get turned down for grant funding, 

does that cause further issues or delays 

even if you bring yourself back 

into compliance? For example, if I get 

refused due to an audit or other compliance 

related issue, am I ineligible 

for a certain amount of time, even if I 

fix things on my end? 

This is a difficult question because I imagine 

this will vary by funding agency and 

could even be approached on a case-bycase 

basis. I think the biggest takeaway 

here is that municipal officials need to 

make sure their house is in order before 

proceeding to apply for federal or state 

grants. In all practicality, local governments 

need to establish trust with grantmaking 

agencies and trust is built over 

time when local governments demonstrate 

a high level of accountability 

through proper financial administration 

and comprehensive reporting. 

How can LITACorp help with compliance 

related issues? 

At the local level, it is extremely important 

for municipal officials to work 

closely with legal counsel and department 

heads (e.g., Public Works) to ensure 

the government administration is 

operating in full compliance with state 

and federal laws. 

For municipalities administering federal 

in full and understood before 

proceeding with grant implementation. 

Municipalities should 

understand what they are on the 

hook for so they know how to proceed 

in a way that is compliant with all relevant 

laws and regulations. 

LITACorp can assist local governments 

with understanding grant guidelines 

pre-award (i.e., during the application 

phase) and post-award (i.e., during the 

grant administration phase) so municipal 

officials understand these compliance issues 

before they apply and after they are 

awarded. Ultimately, following these established 

procedures will ensure you as a 

local government are viewed as a strong/ 

high-capacity grantee to the grantmaking 

agency. We hope this results in future 

funding opportunities for compliant local 

governments in the future! 

So, let’s say I’m a local government. 

I’m now in compliance, and all is well. 

What’s next in terms of how LITACorp 

can assist me in a different way now? 

LITACorp can serve local governments 

in a variety of ways. Our Technical Assistance 

Team can assist with getting local 

governments registered to apply for federal 

grants, help prioritize projects based 

on need and readiness, identify potential 

funding opportunities, complete grant 

applications, assist with grant administration 

once awarded, and more. 

Most importantly, LITACorp can assist local 

governments with grant compliance 

once they are awarded a federal grant. 

We want to be good stewards of taxpayer 

dollars and we certainly do not want 

to find Louisiana local governments in a 

position to have to return the grants they 

rightfully receive. Local governments 

need to make grant compliance a top 

priority when they begin to apply for, receive, 

and administer grant funding. 

Why is it imperative that municipalities 

look into making sure things are 

in order now? 

There are historic levels of federal funding 

available today and for the next 4-5 

years through recent appropriations activity. 

Louisiana municipalities cannot 

delay their due diligence on these compliance 

matters because it could negatively 

impact their chances of benefiting 

from the wealth of grant funding available 

through the Bipartisan Infrastructure 

Law, Inflation Reduction Act, annual 

appropriations, and other supplemental 

appropriations (e.g., in response to natural 

disasters). 

So, there you have it – compliancy is key 

when it comes to securing grant funding 

you can use to improve upon your 

village, town, or city. Discussing any issues 

you may come up against with your 

administration, and working on ways to 

combat those issues as a team, can save 

you the heartache of finding out your application 

has been declined. If an approval 

is what you’re after, and I do believe it 

is, then there’s no better time to get your 

house in order than now. 

Author’s note: Alex Holland is Senior Advisor 

for LITACorp. She can be reached by 

emailing alex@litacorp.org. 


LAMP: Lighting the Way for Financial Prosperity 

By Charlotte Smith 

In 2024, LAMP will celebrate their 30 th Anniversary. 

That’ll be 30 years of assisting Louisiana 

municipalities in the pooling of their assets in 

order to affect change. That’s quite a feat, and 

the LMA is fortunate to have LAMP leading the 

way. 

LAMP’s objectives are the preservation of principle, 

daily liquidity, and competitive yield. 

What exactly does that mean to a novice, and 

how can it work to a municipality’s advantage 

when the protection of dollars is at stake? LAMP 

Chief Executive Officer Theo Sanders explains. 

“Since inception, LAMP’s first and foremost investment 

objective has been safety. The primary goal of the 

fund is to maintain a stable net asset value. To ensure this commitment 

to safety, LAMP has consistently earned a AAAm rating 

from Standard & Poor’s, the highest rating available to local government 

investment pools like LAMP. Standard & Poor’s limits 

LAMP’s Weighted Average Maturity (WAM), or the number of 

days an investment can mature, to 60 days or less and monitors 

the credit quality of the investments in LAMP on a weekly 

“By pooling funds, LAMP’s 

participants enjoy the level of 

professional money management 

otherwise available only to large 

institutional investors. 

Theo Sanders 

LAMP Chief Executive Officer 

Michael Chauffe. Both are proponents of the 

services LAMP provides, and both have served 

on board seats along with other past LMA 

presidents including former Gonzales Mayor 

Johnny Berthelot, former Ville Platte Mayor 

Jennifer Vidrine and current LMA president 

and Cheneyville Mayor Derrick Johnson, Sr. 

“The City of Gonzales has seen much success by 

working in conjunction with LAMP,” says Mayor 

Arceneaux. “Being able to reap the financial 

benefits while also being a part of something 

larger that’s helping other municipalities allows 

us to feel we’re doing something right. I’m 

grateful for the time spent with us to make sure 

we understand the process, and for LAMP being there for us as 

we navigate through it.” 

“The staff at LAMP is excellent to work with. Communication 

has been top notch, as the team is easily accessible,” added 

Mayor Chauffe. “I genuinely believe they are always looking for 

ways to improve returns on your investments. I give LAMP a Triple 

A rating!” 

basis. Daily liquidity offers LAMP participants same-day access 

to funds in their LAMP account via the online Participant Portal 

with no transaction fees.” 

“By pooling funds, LAMP’s participants enjoy the level of professional 

money management otherwise available only to 

large institutional investors. This generally results in higher 

yields and lower management fees for municipalities investing 

their funds with LAMP. “ 

LAMP works within a system called the ‘multiplier effect.’ It’s a 

respected system for getting a better return on investments. 

So, just how can municipalities benefit or help each other by 

pooling their assets? 

For nearly three decades, LAMP has grown from 20 municipalities 

that signed on to participate in the program to 114 

municipalities investing $1.1 billion in the pool. Together their 

investment is ¼ of the total pool. Two such participants are 

Gonzales Mayor Barney Arceneaux and Grosse Tete Mayor 

Reliability is of critical importance to Sanders, and one such way 

of ensuring that reliability is by closely monitoring state laws in 

regard to investing municipal securities. 

“LAMP strictly follows the state statute for local governments 

in Louisiana. Our investment advisors and consultants monitor 

the portfolio holdings on an on-going basis for compliance to 

state law.” 

LAMP participants can enjoy the benefits of immediate, fully 

secure online access to their accounts via the Participant Portal. 

Participants are able to process transactions, retrieve their 

monthly statements, and download up-to date account information 

24/7 thru the portal, as well as see daily rates, average 

7-year yield rates, average 30-day yield rates, and weighted average 

maturity on their homepage, www.lamppool.com. 

For more information, contact Theo Sanders by emailing 

tsanders@lamppool.com, or by calling 504.858.0885. 

Page 18 


ALWAYS ON 

FOR YOU. 

JOHN M. SCHRODER, SR. 

Louisiana State Treasurer 

LAMP, Inc. President 

Louisiana local government entities trust LAMP to protect their 

principal, deliver solid returns, and ensure same-day access to 

their funds from anywhere. We have guided our clients through 

challenging environments over the past quarter century — and 

we remain ready to serve you now. 

Find out how our consistent, conservative portfolio management 

can help your organization navigate uncertain times. 

THEODORE C. SANDERS, III 

Chief Executive Officer 

LAMP, Inc. 

LOUISIANA ASSET MANAGEMENT POOL 

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

No transaction fees | Same-day access to your entire investment | Rated AAAm by Standard & Poor’s 

You may incur fees associated with wires and/or ACH transactions by your bank, but there will be no fees charged from LAMP for such transactions. A ‘AAAm’ 

rating by S&P Global Ratings is obtained after S&P evaluates a number of factors including credit quality, market price exposure, and management. Ratings are 

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

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

LMR | MARCH 2021 Page 19

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A precedent-setting case 

from Gonzales considered 

this constitutional provision 

and produced the “Cabela’s 

Test,” which generally provides 

that if the municipality 

has an expectation of receiving 

something of commensurate 

value in return for its 

monetary investment, then it 

is not an unconstitutional donation. 

Further, there are numerous 

exceptions provided 

in the Constitution, including 

the use of public funds to aid 

the needy, the donation of 

abandoned/blighted property 

to non-profits, intergov- 

A contemplation of government 

Tel:(800) 369-6220, (3 

funding naturally leads 

Fax: (352) 331 

to a discussion about how 

Regardless of how a municipality realizes 

Thornton, Musso, &Bellemin 

those monies may be spent. 

revenue, once received, those monies 

Philosophically, we must remember 

that public funds become public funds subject to transparent 

I approve this ad copy for use in the following issues: LWR-R0018 

Authorized Signature: 

should be treated as sacred. 

President Grover Cleveland, accounting and strict expenditure rules. 

Date: 

who won as a reform candidate, 

put it bluntly: “Under ernmental exchanges, and 

Artwork Contact: 

our scheme of government the reduction of excessive 

the waste of public money is a water charges. Expenditures 

crime against the citizen.” of public dollars outside the 

Regardless of how a municipality 

realizes revenue, once 

received, those monies become 

public funds subject to 

transparent accounting and 

strict expenditure rules. A fundamental 

restriction is found 

in Article VII, Section 14 of the 

Louisiana Constitution: “Except 

as otherwise provided by 

this constitution, the funds, 

credit, property, or things 

of value of the state or of any 

political subdivision shall not 

be loaned, pledged, or donated 

to or for any person, 

association, or corporation, 

public or private.” 

realm of usual government 

operations should be carefully 

reviewed under the 

advice of counsel to ensure 

that they do not amount to 

unconstitutional dedications 

of money or property. 

Even when an expenditure 

does not trigger constitutional 

analysis, there are laws and 

regulations that control how 

public monies may be spent. 

For example, if a municipality 

is procuring goods or services 

that exceed certain thresholds, 

it must abide by the mandates 

of the Public Bid Law. The LMA 

offers a suite of purchasing 

services through our subsidiary 

LaMATS, most at no cost 

to LMA members. Please visit 

https://www.lamats.net/lps for 

more information. 

If the source of the public 

funding is a state or federal 

grant (including capital 

outlay, Water Sector, ARPA 

and IIJA), there are specific 

program guidelines that 

govern the expenditure of 

those dollars. These may include 

specific procurement 

requirements, limited eligible 

purposes for spending, and 

mandatory reporting. 

The mechanics of spending 

public money are also a consideration. 

Though there is 

some small variance depending 

on charter type, generally 

the governing board/council 

must allocate money for designated 

purposes, including 

maintaining a current bud- 

Page 20 

707693_Thornton.indd 1 

LMR | OCTOBER 2023 

8/21/14 8:33 PM

get ordinance. The Local Government 

Budget Act and the Open Meetings 

Law both contain mandatory steps that 

are designed to provide transparency 

in government spending so that the 

people’s constitutional right to observe 

and participate in their government is 

honored. Further, there are fiscal best 

practices and mandatory Agreed Upon 

Procedures that govern public expenditures. 

For more information on those, 

please visit the Legislative Auditor’s 

website at https://lla.la.gov/. 

The Louisiana Code of Governmental 

Ethics prohibits a municipality from providing 

money or things of value to certain 

persons because there is an assumed 

conflict, such as municipal officials, immediate 

family members of municipal 

leaders, corporate interests, and more. A 

summary of the Code is located in Chapter 

11 of the LMA’s Handbook for Municipal 

Officials (available at https://www.lma. 

org/) and further information may be obtained 

from the Louisiana Ethics Administration 

Program at https://ethics.la.gov/. 

As you can see, there is a comprehensive 

framework of rules that municipalities 

must follow when it comes to spending 

public money. The stakes are high, since 

fiscal missteps have historically led to 

public outrage, recall efforts, civil litigation, 

and sometimes criminal indictments. 

The good news is that there are plenty 

of resources to assist municipal leaders 

as they navigate this sea of regulations. 

Public expenditures are a clear example 

of instances in which it is better to ask for 

permission rather than forgiveness. 

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. 


Making Informed Decisions with Data 

About ten years ago, our team at the City 

of Baton Rouge began hearing terms 

we had never heard before – things like 

open data, performance management, 

data governance, and more. 

It isn’t that these were necessarily new 

terms. It’s that they were practices that 

the private sector primarily used, followed 

by larger cities with more resources. 

Like so many IT departments in 

cities our size and smaller, our Department 

of Information Services historically 

focused on the traditional IT needs of 

our internal customers – networking, 

I am sharing all 

these details not to 

brag or boast, but 

to encourage any 

municipality seeking to 

be more transparent 

in their government 

operations and use 

data to make more 

informed decisions 

to start down a 

similar path. 

computer and desktop support, and 

application development, among other 

functions. But we began learning about 

these practices that were new to us involving 

leveraging technology in new 

and exciting ways – to be a more transparent 

government, to drive innovative 

thinking in how we structure programs 

and services, and to use data more intentionally 

to make better decisions. 

I will admit that it felt overwhelming to 

start. Many larger cities had well-established 

data, transparency, and performance 

management programs, with a 

wealth of resources and infrastructure 

to guide their efforts. Not only were 

we lacking in the same level of resources, 

but we also knew it would involve 

a culture shift to help both 

our team and other departments 

realize the 

benefits of working 

differently versus 

the way we and 

they had always 

worked. We took 

our time studying 

other cities and 

borrowing best practices, 

where we had 

the benefit of learning 

from both their successes and 

challenges. We launched Open Data BR 

with ten priority datasets that we knew 

would add immediate value to both the 

Baton Rouge community and our internal 

departments, thereby building confidence 

and trust in our work. We built 

clear structures and defined processes 

for making data more accessible to the 

public and other departments without 

compromising protected information. 

And we engaged the community in this 

new approach, holding dozens of presentations 

with groups ranging from 

homeowner associations and retiree 

groups to college classrooms and app 

developers. 

We also focused on making data available 

in multiple formats, such as taking 

standard datasets and integrating 

them into a map-based platform we call 

Open Neighborhood BR, which allows 

residents to search and view details on 

what goes on around where they live – 

from public safety and fire incidents to 

new permitting activity. We also continued 

investing in our EBRGIS program, 

building maps and map-based tools 

that brought our data to life in helpful 

and engaging ways. 

Over the past several years, we have 

shifted from a heavy focus on establishing 

the structure for transparency 

and data-driven collaboration to using 

the data to make better decisions. For 

example, when our community experienced 

several public safety incidents 

involving local hotels and motels, we 

leveraged location-based data to inform 

new ordinances and direct 

enforcement plans in areas 

where these issues 

were most prevalent. 

We started using 

maps and tablets in 

the field to better 

coordinate how we 

efficiently responded 

to potholes or 

other complaints in a 

given geographic area. 

The foundation we set in 

Open Data BR enabled other 

tools like Open Budget BR, which digitized 

our 500+ page budget book into 

an easily searchable and viewable public 

resource, and Open Checkbook BR, 

which integrates with our budget platform 

and provides detailed information 

on real-time spending across City-Parish 

government. 

I am sharing all these details not to 

brag or boast, but to encourage any 

municipality seeking to be more transparent 

in their government operations 

and use data to make more informed 

decisions to start down a similar path. 

It takes time to do it right, and as you 

can tell, we are ten years down the road 

and continuing to build on our successes. 

But I will say confidently that it has 

absolutely been worth it. Our City-Parish 

operates more efficiently, our residents 

have greater access to our data 

and trust in our work, and other areas 

of our community are benefiting from 

the brand we are building for Baton 

Rouge in being a more digital city. 

by Eric 

Romero 

City of Baton 

Rouge/Parish of 

East Baton Rouge 

Romero is Director of Information Services 

with the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of 

East Baton Rouge. He can be reached by 

emailing eromero@brla.gov. 

Page 22 


2023 Annual Meeting 

November 3, 2023 

Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans 

REGISTER ONLINE! 

www.lamppool.com 

John M. Schroder 

Louisiana State Treasurer 

LAMP, Inc. President 

Events Include: 

Opening Welcome Reception 

Galatoire’s Restaurant Balcony Room 

Thursday, November 2, 2023 

6:00 – 8:00 p.m. 

Breakfast Buffet 

Hotel Monteleone 

Friday, November 3, 2023 

7:00 – 9:00 a.m. 

Annual Membership Meeting 



9:00 – Noon 

Annual Luncheon 



Noon 


LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES 

A Tallulah Renewal: City Receives Substantial 

Funds for Brownfield Remediation 

Like many communities of the 

Mississippi Delta, Tallulah’s 

thriving agricultural economy 

struggled in the years following 

the second World War. 

Changes to farming practices 

increased efficiency and productivity 

but left many traditional 

workers behind. Longtime 

residents began to seek 

their fortunes in larger cities, 

leaving scattered commercial 

and residential buildings quietly 

fading from disuse. 

On the corner of Mulberry 

and East Green Streets stands a two-story edifice once home 

to H&H Repair Service, Inc. Now closed and boarded, sadly 

attended by debris and broken glass, this former auto body 

shop earned a Five-star Yelp review just three years ago. 

“Had a blowout on the highway in Louisiana,” wrote a stranded 

motorist on her way home to Dallas. “This shop was closed at 

the time, [but] helped me anyway. I appreciate the hospitality.” 

Now, thanks to half a million dollars in new grant funding from 

the EPA, Tallulah’s spirit of hospitality—along with numerous 

local landmarks—stands to shine again in the heart of Madison 

Parish. 

“Brownfields” include 

a wide assortment of 

blighted or abandoned 

properties that may 

have been contaminated 

by industrial or 

agricultural pollutants. Remediation is typically difficult and 

costly, and disputes over ownership and responsibility can 

hamper efforts to return these properties to productive use. 

“It’s not just about pollution but also the perception of pollution,” 

notes Brownfields expert and LaMATS remediation program 

consultant, Dr. John Sutherlin of The CAID Group. While 

one property may look worse than it is, another might confirm 

our worst suspicions. “After air, soil, water, and building sampling,” 

he said, “we find it needs remediation.” 

That’s why Sutherlin and LaMATS, on invitation from Tallulah 

City Hall, began a preliminary assessment of local sites two 

years ago in anticipation of this summer’s successful request 

for brownfield remediation funding. Tallulah’s recent EPA 

award will support the series of detailed searches and sampling 

work the community will need just to learn what it’s 

dealing with. 

Brownfield funding, which is available to local governments 

through a robust grant process overseen by the Environmental 

Protection Agency and the Louisiana Department of Environmental 

Quality, can cover both the detailed assessment 

phase and later efforts at site remediation. LaMATS service, 

guided by Dr. Sutherlin, provides local governments cost-free 

initial property assessments and consulting help as communities 

undertake the grant application process. 

“We work particularly with communities that don’t have the capacity 

to submit an application on their own,” explained Sutherlin. 

“Our role is to facilitate that process; get the money they need 

to put those [certified brownfield] properties back into use.” 

Page 24 


Tallulah Mayor Charles Finlayson expressed gratitude for 

the opportunity to reclaim and repurpose some of the city’s 

blighted properties. “We’re excited to have these new resources 

and look forward to returning the use and benefit of these 

places back to the people of Tallulah.” 

Public input will be an important part of the remediation process 

and, in fact, has already begun. 

In mid-September, Mayor Finlayson 

joined Dr. Sutherlin and LDEQ Brownfield 

Program Coordinator, Rebecca 

Otte, in leading the first of several 

planned public hearings concerning 

the town’s pending brownfields work. 

With input from local residents, this 

money will fund the selection and 

assessment of seventeen potential 

brownfield sites. Both consultants and city officials agree that 

inviting and including public opinion just makes sense. 

“You may have ideas from the mayor, and you may 

have ideas from the council,” said Tallulah Executive 

Administrative Assistant Yvonne Lewis. “But a good 

idea can come from anywhere, and when the public 

buys into something, they’re more apt to support it.” 

Tallulah residents’ participation will continue 

throughout the project. “There are numerous opportunities 

made for public comment, and even ‘charrettes,’” 

explained Sutherlin, referring to interactive 

community events where locals can give direct feedback 

on published workplans and site renderings. 

In the case of the former auto repair shop on Mulberry 

Street, ideas for future use include its redevelopment 

as a new city fire station. The big bay doors 

and ample interior space suggest such use could be 

ideal once the building has been properly assessed 

and renewed. 

“This process takes time, money, imagination, and 

expertise,” said LaMATS Executive Director, Cliff Palmer. 

“It wouldn’t happen without the combined efforts 

and partnership of our host cities and dynamic champions 

like [DEQ’s] Rebecca Otte and Dr. Sutherlin.” 

The Tallulah project’s Phase 2, when remediation begins, 

will rely heavily on information gathered from 

the assessment phase, which is expected to last three 

to six months. Another six months may be needed for completion 

of the full workplan, funded in part by additional monies 

requested through state and federal agencies as part of the 

established brownfields application process. 

For now, at least seventeen abandoned properties await 

their chance for 

renewal and a return 

to the lives of 

local citizens. With 

forward-thinking 

leadership, partnership, 

and strong 

public participation, 

the future of 

historic Tallulah, 

Louisiana, looks 

brighter today. 

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. 

The true spirit of Tallulah. Brownfields remediation efforts underway will help this beautiful city to shine. 


New LMA Trainings Offer Deep Dive into PRL 

Part of working in municipal 

government is compliance 

with Louisiana’s Public Records 

Law. The legal mandates 

of the PRL are often 

misunderstood and the lack 

of fluency can result in unnecessary 

work and headaches 

for records custodians, not to 

mention lawsuits brought by 

PRL requestors. Though we 

try to provide PRL training at 

each of our events, there are 

always demands for more detailed 

and intensive training 

on the topic. 

We are sensitive to the needs of 

our members, so we are excited 

to announce that there will 

be two regional day-long training 

sessions to help municipal 

leaders master PRL compliance. 

Each “Public Records Law 

CONTINUED PAGE 29 

Page 26 


2023 Gubernatorial Primary Election Election Primary Schedule Schedule Election Schedule 

Early Voting Voting Ends: Ends: Saturday, Saturday, October October 7 7 

Deadline to to Request Request a Mail a Mail Ballot Ballot from from Registrar Registrar (other (other than Military than Military and and 

Overseas): Tuesday, Tuesday, October October 10 10 

Deadline for for Registrar Registrar to Receive to Receive Voted Voted Mail Ballot Mail Ballot (other (other than Military than Military and and 

Overseas): Friday, Friday, October October 13 13 

Election Day: Saturday, October 14 14 

Sample ballots, polling places places and and a full a full list list of candidates of candidates be can found be found on the on Secretary the Secretary of State’s of State’s 

website at www.sos.la.gov/ElectionsandVoting. 

2023 Gubernatorial Primary Election Statewide Candidates 

2023 Gubernatorial Primary Primary Election Election Statewide Statewide Candidates Candidates 

Governor Benjamin Barnes Independent Independent "Jeff" "Jeff" Landry Landry Republican Republican 

Patrick Henry "Dat" Barthel Barthel Republican Republican Hunter Hunter Lundy Lundy Independent Independen 

Daniel M. "Danny" Cole Cole Democrat Democrat Richard Richard Nelson Nelson Republican Republican 

Xavier Ellis Republican Republican John John Schroder Schroder Republican Republican 

"Keitron" Gagnon No No Party Party Frank Frank Scurlock Scurlock Independent Independen 

Sharon W. Hewitt Republican Republican Stephen Stephen "Wags" "Wags" Waguespack Waguespack Republican Republican 

Jeffrey Istre Independent Independent Shawn Shawn D. Wilson D. Wilson Democrat Democrat 

"Xan" John 

Republican Republican 

Lieutenant 

Governor Elbert Guillory Republican Republican William William 'Billy' Nungesser 'Billy' Nungesser (incumbent) (incumbent) Republican Republican 

"Tami" Hotard Republican Republican Bruce Bruce Payton Payton Independent Independen 

Willie Jones Democrat Democrat Gary Gary Rispone Rispone No Party No Party 

Secretary 

of of State State Gwen' Collins-Greenup Democrat Democrat Nancy Nancy Landry Landry Republican Republican 

"Mike" Francis Republican Republican Arthur Arthur A. Morrell A. Morrell Democrat Democrat 

Amanda "Smith" Jennings Other Other Clay Schexnayder Clay Schexnayder Republican Republican 

Thomas J. J. Kennedy, III III Republican Republican Brandon Brandon Trosclair Trosclair Republican Republican 

Attorney 

General Lindsey Cheek Democrat Democrat John John Stefanski Stefanski Republican Republican 

"Marty" Maley Republican Republican Perry Perry Walker Walker Terrebonne Terrebonne Democrat Democrat 

"Liz" Baker Murrill 

Republican Republican 

Treasurer John Fleming Republican Republican Scott Scott McKnight McKnight Republican Republican 

Dustin Granger 

Democrat Democrat 


GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS INC. 

Is it Time for ‘The Fall’? 

The fall season is always great here in 

Louisiana. First, fall signifies the start 

of FOOTBALL SEASON!!! Whether it’s 

rooting for your favorite college team 

or spending Friday nights under the 

lights of a local high school – you know 

it’s fall!!! Our Louisiana temperatures 

are more bearable, and gumbo is always 

on deck. Secondly, the beginning 

of fall marks the end of another season 

– summer!! And what a summer it has 

been – record-setting heat is just one 

statement describing the Summer of 

2023. While enduring these extreme 

weather conditions, we knew “the fall” 

was coming – the fall of the temperature 

and the humidity. We just had to 

hold out for cooler days. 

Now, let’s tie the previous paragraph 

into what we have been experiencing 

in the financial world: this past summer’s 

record-setting temperatures represent 

the high interest rates that have 

been invading our world. And let’s not 

forget the unstable inflationary season 

we have been navigating since 

2022. Taking just those two factors into 

consideration - the borrowing costs 

for families, municipalities, and businesses 

are much higher than just two 

years ago. When will the turbulent ride 

in our financial world stabilize? When 

will “the fall” happen for interest rates? 

Let’s look at the facts and trends of the 

Fed to see if we can predict “the fall”: 

• In 2022, the Federal Reserve increased 

interest rates seven times 

– four times with an increase of 

seventy-five basis points. 

• This year, the Fed continued to increase 

rates but at 25 basis points 

at each meeting. During the FOMC 

July 27th meeting, the Fed set the 

rate at 5.25% - 5.50%. 

• The inflation rate reached histor- 

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 28 


ical highs in 2022 but has been 

stabilizing since the beginning of 

2023. This year, the inflation rate 

was 6.4% in January and as of this 

writing, the current inflation rate is 

at 3.7%. 

Source: Board of Governors of The Federal 

Reserve System website; and U.S. Bureau 

of Labor Statistics 

So, do the previous bullet points indicate 

“the fall” of interest rates on the 

horizon? Financial experts and commentators 

are indecisive. But one thing 

we can agree on, local governments 

must continue to operate during these 

unpredictable times and should continue 

to use sound financial sense 

when working on your budgets, especially 

your capital improvement plans. 

Second, take into account how inflation 

may affect your expenditures and 

how rates may increase your borrowing 

cost. 

In addition, always stay up to date on 

grant opportunities and federal programs 

that may benefit your community. 

And let’s not forget your investment 

accounts – reach out to LAMP or your 

investment advisor to make sure you 

are taking advantage of these higher 

interest rates. 

Again, “the fall” of interest rates may 

or may not be on the horizon but Government 

Consultants, Inc. is here to 

address any concerns you may have. 

Whether it’s issuing bonds to upgrade 

your infrastructure, funding your financial 

match requirement or should you 

consider a budgetary loan – we are 

here to serve Louisiana municipalities. 

By Deatriz 

“DeDe” 

Riggins 

Government 

Consultants, Inc. 

DeDe has over 14 years of experience in 

Public Finance, with nearly five years as a 

Registered Municipal Advisor. 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26: PRL BOOT CAMP 

Boot Camp” will run from 8:00 

a.m. through 5:00 p.m., with 

attendees having one hour for 

lunch on their own. 

Thanks to our partnership with 

the Police Jury Association of 

Louisiana, these sessions are 

provided at no cost. However, 

registration is required for 

planning purposes, so please 

pick which date works best for 

you (or you can attend them 

both!) and REGISTER ONLINE 

TODAY by visiting the LMA 

website and searching under 

Events. Non-LMA members 

are welcome to attend the 

training as well and may register 

for the events by using the 

attached QR code. 

The first training will be held 

at the LMA Building in Baton 

Rouge on Wednesday, November 

8, and the second 

will take place in Pineville 

on Monday, December 11. 

Please note that if registration 

numbers require, the 

trainings may be moved to 

an alternate area venue to 

accommodate all registrants. 

These detailed PRL trainings 

are perfect for municipal 

clerks, municipal attorneys, 

other public records custodians, 

and interested municipal 

leaders, as well as their parish 

counterparts. The LMA has 

applied for Supreme Court 

approval of 7.5 hours of CLE 

credit for each session for attorney 

attendees. 

We look forward to seeing 

you there! 


Hometown Happenings: November 

November is certainly poised to be a month for exciting things to do across the state! From fairs to fests to 

omelets to Papa Noel making his first seasonal appearances, there’s bound to be something that piques 

your interest and lets you enjoy some of the best of the best in what Louisiana has on offer. Make sure to visit 

www.explorelouisiana.com for any October events you may have missed. 

Greater Baton Rouge State Fair 

October 26-November 5, Gonzales 

gbrsf.com 

The State Fair of Louisiana 

October 26-November 12, Shreveport 

statefairoflouisiana.com 

Harvest Festival on False River 

November 3-5, New Roads 

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/events/cultural-event 

harvest-festival-false-river 

Sabine Freestate Festival 

November 3-5, Florien 

toledobendlakecountry.com/sabine-freestate-festival 

Southdown Plantation’s Fall Marketplace Artisan Craft Show 

November 4, Houma 

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/events/festivals/ 

southdown-plantations-fall-marketplace-artisan-craft-show 

Giant Omelette Celebration 

November 4-5, Abbeville 

https://www.giantomelette.org/ 

In April of 1985, three members of the Abbeville Chamber of 

Commerce attended the Easter Omelette Festival in Bessieres, 

France, and were later knighted as the first of Abbeville’s 

Chevaliers. They returned home with the determination to 

bring Abbeville closer to its French heritage by hosting an 

omelette festival and joining the sisterhood of cities that 

celebrate the omelette - Bessieres, France; Frejus, France; 

Dumbea, New Caledonia; Granby, Quebec in Canada; 

Malmedy, Belgium; and Pigue, Argentina. Each year, foreign 

representatives from each of these cities are invited to 

Abbeville to be knighted as chevaliers (chefs) into Abbeville’s 

Confrerie (fraternity). On Concord Street, which stretches from 

the majestic moss-covered live oak trees in historic Magdalen 

Square to the live oaks in front of the Vermilion Parish 

Courthouse, they help to prepare the 5000 egg Giant Cajun 

Omelette. They also come to experience the area’s joie de vivre, 

share its rich culture, meet and mingle with its people, and 

to make memories and friendships which last a lifetime. The 

omelette is then given away freely to all in attendance. 

Battle of the Bows Cajun Accordion Competition 

November 4, Jennings 

https://jeffdavis.org/events/battle-of-the-bows-cajunaccordion-competition/ 

Camp Parapet Day Open House 

November 4, Jefferson 

https://jeffersonhistoricalsociety.com/Activities/parapet.htm 

Page 30 


BBQ, Bourbon and Blues Festival 

November 4, Thibodeaux 

https://www.lafourchearc.org/event 

On November 4, the lawn of the 

Harang Auditorium in Thibodaux 

will be the place to be! The smell of 

smokey barbeque, soulful sounds 

of blues bands, and smooth tasty 

bourbon will appeal to all the senses. 

Lafourche Arc is proud to present their 

newest event celebrating 60 years in 

service of the community: the BBQ, 

Bourbon, and Blues Festival. Lafourche 

Arc is a nonprofit organization that 

provides support for people with 

developmental disabilities of all ages 

across multiple parishes. They provide 

at-home services as well as locations 

around the community to help people 

with developmental disabilities learn 

skills, socialize, and more. The BBQ, 

Bourbon, and Blues Festival helps 

raise awareness across the community 

about people with developmental 

disabilities and the value they bring. 

Landry Vineyards Concert Series 

May 13-November 4 

https://landryvineyards.com/eventscalendar/ 

St. Francisville Food & Wine Festival 

November 10-12, St. Francisville 

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/ 

events/culinary-events/st-francisvillefood-wine-festival 

Big Boy’s Main Street Cook Off 


https://www.downtownthibodaux.org/ 

big-boys-main-street-cook-off/ 

51st Annual Fall Fest 

November 11-12, Destrehan 

https://www.destrehanplantation.org/ 

events/upcoming-events 

Thibodeaux Fall Fest 


https://www.lacajunbayou.com/ 

calendar-of-events/festivals-andevents/thibodeauxville-fall-festival 

Three Rivers Arts Festival 

November 11-12, Covington 

https://www. 

covingtonthreeriversartfestival.com/ 

Holiday Market at The Mill 

November 17-18, New Roads 

https://www.marketatthemillnewroads. 

com/ 

Logansport Christmas Festival 

November 18-December 31 

https://www. 

logansportchristmasfestival.com/ 

This rural town in Louisiana loves the holidays 

so much that a small group of local 

volunteers work months to prepare for 

the Christmas season. Visit the charming 

community of Logansport from late November 

through December to get a taste 

of the holiday spirit and experience the 

annual outdoor lighting event. Families 

can enjoy walking or driving through the 

displays under a sea of Christmas lights. 

Talk about a winter wonderland! You’ll 

enjoy the sounds of giggling and screaming 

children as they run from each exhibit 

or take a ride on the holiday train and 

visit with Santa. The large, lighted water 

tower will guide you to the destination. 

Fireworks, parade, entertainment, vendors, 

and Santa are all in attendance on 

the premiere night. Bring the entire family. 

No admission is charged. 

Christmas at Kiroli 

November 24-December 24, 

West Monroe 

https://www.monroe-westmonroe.org/ 

events/christmas-at-kiroli-2/ 

Fleur De Lis Arts & Crafts Market 

November 25, Natchitoches 

https://www.explorelouisiana.com/ 

events/festivals/fleur-de-lis-arts-craftsmarket 

Victorian Christmas at the 

Joseph Jefferson Home & 

Rip Van Winkle Gardens 

November 27-December 31, New Iberia 

https://ripvanwinklegardens.com/# 

Christmas Open House at 

The Biedenharn 

November 30-December 2, Monroe 

https://www.monroe-westmonroe.org/ 

events/christmas-open-house-2/ 


PRESORT 

STANDARD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

Page 32

October 2023

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