04 April 2024 Final

04.24Louisiana Louisiana 

MUNICIPAL 

REVIEW 

VOL. 89 

ISSUE 4

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Derrick Johnson, LMA President Rick Allen, First Vice President Ray Bourque, Second Vice President 

Mayor, Cheneyville Mayor, Leesville Mayor, Broussard 

Page 2 

Immediate Past President Michael Chauffe, Grosse Tete 

Immediate Past President – Michael Chauffe, Grosse Tete 

District Vice President Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton 

District A Vice President – Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton 

District Vice President Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston 

District B Vice President – Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston 

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

District 

District 

C 

D 

Vice 

Vice 

President 

President 

– Staci 

Howard 

A. Mitchell, 

“Keith” Lewing, 

Mayor, 

Mayor, 

West Monroe 

Anacoco 

District E D Vice President – Rich Howard Dupree, “Keith” Mayor, Lewing, Pineville Mayor, Anacoco 

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

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

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

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

Mayor, Plaquemine 

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

District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson 

LMA Past President Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales 

LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales 

LMA Past President Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales 

LMA Past President – Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales 

LMA Past President David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

LMA Past President David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle 

LMA 

LMA 

Past 

Past 

President 

President 

– David 

Harry Lewis, 

Camardelle, 

Mayor, 

Mayor, 

Rayville 

Grand Isle 

Vice LMA President Past President at Large – Harry – Julius Lewis, Alsandor, Mayor, Mayor, Rayville Opelousas 

Vice President at Large – Belinda Julius Alsandor, Constant, Mayor, Mayor, Opelousas Gretna 

Vice President at Large – Kevin Belinda Kately, Constant, Mayor, Mayor, Parks Gretna 

Vice President at Large – David Kevin Kately, Toups, Mayor, Parks Addis 

Vice President at Large – Darnell David Toups, Waites, Mayor, Addis Baker 

Vice President at Large – Darnell Waites, Mayor, Baker 

LMR | APRIL 2024

LMR | APRIL 2024 Page 3

DEPUTY DIRECTOR’S LETTER 

April Showers Bring Legislative Powers 

No foolin’ – we are now a third 

of the way through 2024. On 

a personal level, April brings 

the celebration and saving 

grace of Easter. On a work 

level, April brings the excitement 

of working with Barney 

Arceneaux, our new LMA 

Executive Director, and the 

continuation of the Louisiana 

legislative session. 

No foolin’ – we need YOU. 

Since its inception in 1926, 

the LMA has been promoting 

local governments by shaping 

legislation, providing education 

on municipal issues, 

and exchanging ideas and 

experiences among elected 

official leaders throughout the 

state. The voice of municipal 

government cannot be overlooked 

at the State Capitol. 

And YOUR voice speaks the 

loudest to your Representative 

and Senator. Please call 

them and let them know your 

thoughts on the various legislative 

instruments making 

their way through the process. 

The LMA’s success is contingent 

upon the support and 

engagement of the LMA 

membership. On May 15, we’ll 

again be hosting our annual 

Municipal Day event, and 

with 305 member municipalities, 

we’re hoping to see many 

of you there. We’ll begin the 

day by meeting at the Crowne 

Plaza for a legislative briefing. 

It’s a great time to find out 

what bills are piquing your 

interest, and those of the LMA 

membership as a whole. 

We’ll set off to the State Capitol 

together as a group. 

There’s strength in numbers, 

so showing up strong is how 

we like to do it! A unified front 

has more propensity for success, 

and we all know the ripples 

of a single voice can become 

waves when that voice 

is a larger, collective one. For 

that reason, showing up as a 

united front works best. 

When we arrive at the Capitol, 

it’ll be all systems go! We’ll 

network with legislators and 

have the opportunity to see 

the legislative process in action. 

Our LMA Lead Lobbyist, 

Paulette Bailey-Wilson has 

penned an excellent article 

this month that I encourage 

you all to read before we go. 

One of the many benefits of 

networking is the opportunity 

it affords to build hearty relationships 

with your legislators. 

There will be many times a 

piece of legislation will impact 

only you - or you and your surrounding 

municipalities. Attending 

Municipal Day gives 

you an advantage in setting 

the stage for how a productive 

relationship can help move 

things forward. What better 

than to have that familiarity 

already in place if you need to 

call upon someone quickly? 

No foolin’ – we have crawfish! 

We will end the day with a 

chance to unwind and speak 

to each other about the experience 

at the Capitol, as 

we head to Drusilla Seafood 

for a crawfish boil from 6 

p.m. until 9 p.m. Coca-Cola 

has kindly agreed to sponsor 

our event, and we couldn’t 

thank them enough. 

I’ll see you all in May and 

am excited to be joined by 

our incoming Executive Director, 

Barney Arceneaux, 

who takes the helm on May 

1. It’ll be a great time to also 

talk with him about plans 

he has moving forward. He’s 

also been featured by Charlotte 

Smith in our cover story 

this month, so you can read 

Richard Williams 

Deputy Director 

more about his plans prior to 

Municipal Day. 

I look forward to seeing you 

all in May at Municipal Day. 

Apart from the impact you 

can make at the Capitol, it’ll 

also be a great opportunity to 

talk with our leadership team, 

board members, and staff 

about all we’re planning at the 

LMA. 

See you soon! 

Page 4 


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 

Positive Change on the Horizon 

The search is over, and we 

couldn’t be more excited to 

announce Gonzales Mayor 

Barney Arceneaux as our incoming 

Executive Director. 

We had so many applications 

from excellent candidates, 

and our interview process 

was thorough. Based on 

those outcomes, we feel Barney 

brings with him many 

years of dedicated municipal 

service and leadership that 

will progress the LMA even 

further into the future. He’ll 

begin his role on May 1, and 

I feel I speak for us all when 

I say we greatly look forward 

to working with him and 

learning from him. 

Municipal Day is right around 

the corner on May 15, so I 

felt this was an appropriate 

time to use my platform 

and discuss one of the LMA’s 

three missions – Advocacy. 

The LMA’s efforts in Legislative 

Advocacy are strong, 

and many hours are put into 

providing you with beneficial 

training opportunities and 

resources. Our advocacy efforts 

endeavor to introduce, 

execute, and then emphasize 

particular pieces of legislation. 

Individually, this can involve 

what may seem simple 

things, like putting in a call to 

a legislator or building a professional, 

cordial relationship. 

But on a larger scale, help is 

often needed. That’s where 

we come in. 

Mobilizing our membership 

allows us to be seen and 

heard on that larger scale. 

By attending our Municipal 

Day event as a collective, 

we stand a better chance 

of making some noise, and 

making noise is necessary if 

we want to advance our mission. 

That unified front allows 

our views on important 

issues to be better communicated. 

And as we all know, 

better communication leads 

to better outcomes. I encourage 

you all to join us 

by being a part of securing 

those outcomes. A positive 

Louisiana future is important 

to us all, and being a part of 

making that happen should 

be of equal importance. 

Turning to LMA operations, 

last year we began Phase One 

of our HVAC Upgrade Program 

by spending $87,000 on the 

building of an Automation 

Control System. With summer 

fast approaching, we’ve made 

plans to begin Phase Two by 

enhancing our HVAC system 

and making it far more efficient. 

We’ll be swapping out 

our 40 and 50-ton chillers for 

a 90-ton unit. This increase in 

Derrick Johnson, Sr. 

LMA President 

Cheneyville 

efficiency will lead to lower 

overall usage costs, so spending 

the $150,000 it’ll take now 

in order to save for many years 

to come makes sense. Maintaining 

and operating a building 

the size of our LMA offices 

can be pricey, so cutting costs 

where we can is important to 

us. Lower bills mean we can 

constructively utilize the remaining 

funds - some of which 

come from your membership 

fees - where they’ll work best. 

And who doesn’t like a more 

effective cooling system when 

the Louisiana heat bears down 

on us all? We’ll be making a 

decision on Phase Three later 

this year. 

I look forward to seeing you 

all at our Municipal Day event 

in May, and I encourage you 

to speak to our Lead Lobbyist, 

Paulette Bailey-Wilson 

when there. She’s actively 

looking to add members to 

our Legislative Committee, 

and you may find it’s the right 

fit for you. 

Have a great April, everyone. 

And remember to reach out if 

you need me. 


An Insurance Renaissance in Louisiana 

Since I took office earlier this 

year, the Louisiana Department 

of Insurance has enacted 

significant regulatory 

changes aimed at fostering 

a more stable insurance 

marketplace in our state. 

Now that we have entered 

the 2024 Legislative Session, 

I am taking the next step by 

supporting reforms that will 

attract insurance companies 

to Louisiana and provide 

competition that benefits 

our consumers. 

Insurance is increasingly unavailable 

and unaffordable 

here because we are struggling 

to compete with other 

states for the investment 

dollars of insurers and reinsurers. 

We must show insurance 

companies that doing 

business in Louisiana is at 

least as worthwhile as doing 

business in states like Texas, 

Mississippi, Alabama, and 

Florida. As it stands now, 

Louisiana is an outlier in all 

the wrong ways. 

Though hurricane exposure 

will always be a factor 

insurance companies consider 

when determining 

where to write policies, we 

can create an environment 

that positively impacts the 

affordability and availability 

of insurance by supporting 

reforms that stimulate our 

market. 

The property reform legislation 

I am supporting this 

year is tailored to making 

the claims process more 

transparent so insurers can 

pay claims quickly while 

reducing the number of 

lawsuits filed against insurers 

operating in good faith. 

Claimants who have been 

mistreated by their insurers 

deserve to be fairly compensated 

through the legal process, 

but I believe litigation 

should not be a substitute 

for the ordinary process 

of adjusting 

claims. 

We also aim 

to amend the 

“three-year 

rule,” which 

prohibits insurers 

from 

dropping policyholders 

if they have 

been with the insurer for 

three or more years, so that 

it does not apply to new 

policies and is phased out 

over time for existing policies. 

Louisiana is the only 

state that so drastically prohibits 

insurers from making 

changes to ensure they are 

effectively managing their 

risk. The three-year rule is a 

major deterrent for insurers 

considering Louisiana, and 

eliminating it indicates that 

we are serious about reshaping 

our market. 

Other bills I’m supporting 

would modernize the rate 

and form-filing process by 

replacing our prior approval 

system with a more streamlined 

file-and-use approach 

and would provide guidelines 

for the appraisal process 

to better protect all 

parties that use it as an alternative 

to litigation. 

We will continue to 

strengthen the Louisiana 

Fortify Homes Program by 

eliminating its sunset date 

this session and identifying 

a longterm 

funding 

source in next 

year’s fiscal 

session. The 

commitment 

to strengthening 

the resiliency 

of our homes 

and businesses is a 

long-term project that is vital 

to securing Louisiana’s 

future and the safety of our 

residents. 

Louisiana’s claims to litigation ratio 

and bodily injury statistics are the 

worst in the nation, and it’s clearly 

preventing insurers from doing 

more business in Louisiana. 

In addition to property insurance 

reform, I am supporting 

several proposals 

that will reign in our skyhigh 

personal and commercial 

auto rates. Louisiana’s 

claims-to-litigation ratio 

and bodily injury statistics 

are the worst in the nation, 

and it’s clearly preventing 

insurers from doing more 

business in Louisiana. 

I’m supporting legislation 

that would address those 

problems, including bills 

that add transparency to 

third-party litigation financing, 

repeal direct action and 

put Louisiana in line with 47 

other states, disclose what 

plaintiffs actually paid for 

medical expenses instead of 

only what they were billed, 

Tim Temple 

Commissioner, Louisiana 

Department of Insurance 

and extend the prescription 

period to two years. 

The Louisiana Department 

of Insurance is a consumer 

protection agency, and that 

mission will not waver on 

my watch. However, it is also 

my job to create a competitive 

and stable insurance 

marketplace that will stimulate 

availability, access, 

and affordability. As Commissioner 

of Insurance, I will 

not support any regulatory 

or legislative change unless 

I believe it will ultimately 

benefit the consumer. 

I am confident that Louisiana’s 

best days are ahead 

and excited to make a positive 

impact on the lives of 

our state’s residents and 

business owners. The governor 

and our legislative leaders 

have been very supportive 

of insurance reform, and 

we are working together to 

ensure we take advantage 

of the opportunity to make 

a real difference. Please join 

me in this effort by contacting 

your legislators and 

speaking up at the Capitol 

this session in support of insurance 

reform. 

Page 6 



Attorney General’s Opinions 

Public Funds 

Opinion: 23-0115: The 

Greater Alexandria Economic 

Development Authority does 

not have the authority to provide 

a grant through a cooperative 

endeavor agreement 

which covers lease payments 

on property that is located 

outside the territorial boundaries 

of the development authority 

and does not further 

the renovation, restoration, 

and development of property 

within the City of Alexandria. 

Released: 3/6/2024 

Dual Officeholding 

Opinion: 24-0009: The provisions 

of the Dual Officeholding 

and Dual Employment 

Law do not prohibit 

a member of the Board of 

Commissioners of the St. 

John the Baptist Housing 

Authority from serving as a 

member of the St. John the 

Baptist Parish Democratic 

Party Executive Committee. 





Law do not prohibit a 

full-time employee with the 

Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office 

may serve as a member 

of the Lafayette City Council. 





Law prohibit the Director of 

the St; Helena Parish Office 

of Homeland Security and 

Emergency Preparedness 

from serving as the State 

Representative for District 72. 





Law do not prohibit a 

member of the Washington 

Parish Library Board of Control, 

who also serves as a 

member of the Washington 

Parish Fire Protection District 

No. 7, from serving as a State 

Representative. Released: 

2/14/2024 

Parishes 

Opinion: 23-0100: The La- 

Salle Economic Development 

District is a public entity that 

is required to hold its funds 

with a fiscal agent. Each fiscal 

agent must provide security 

in the form of an instrument 

set out in La. R.S. 39:1221(A). 


Municipal Fire & Police Civil 

Service 

Opinion: 23-0122: Due to its 

population size, the general 

statutes on minimum wages 

and maximum hours found 

in La. R.S. 33:2211, et seq., 

do not apply to the Village 

of French Settlement. Released: 


Sheriffs – Constables & 

Marshalls, including Ex-Officio 

Tax Collectors, rights, 

powers & duties, in general 

Opinion: 23-0126: Pursuant 

to the Town of Homer’s Charter, 

the position of Chief and 

position of Marshal are the 

same position. The Marshal 

is entitled to the compensation 

detailed in section 7 of 

the Charter if the Mayor and 

Council have fixed sums for 

these duties. If sums have not 

been fixed by the Mayor and 

Council, the Marshal is not 

due any additional compensation 

and cannot receive 

retroactive compensation 

should the Mayor and Council 

establish such sums going 

forward. Should the Mayor 

and Council fix sums going 

forward, those sums should 

be allocated to the Marshal 

in connection with the duties 

as they are performed, 

and he should receive them 

as compensation in addition 

to his salary. As the positions 

of Chief and Marshal are the 

same position, it does not violate 

Dual Officeholding Law 

for the Chief to receive sums 

due to the Marshal pursuant 

to the Charter. Released: 


LDAF Accepting Grant Applications 

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture 

and Forestry (LDAF) is now accepting 

grant applications for the Resilient Food 

Systems Infrastructure program (RFSI). 

The LDAF will work in partnership with the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to 

award $4.6 million for equipment and infrastructure 

projects to Louisiana food and 

farm businesses, as well as other eligible 

entities including nonprofits, local government 

entities, tribal governments, schools, 

and hospitals. 

You can apply until April 15. For more information, 

visit www.ldaf.la.gov. 

Retirement 

Liz Murrill 

Attorney General 

Opinion: 23-0120: Under 

the facts alleged, La. R.S. 

13:5554(Y)(3), rather than 

La. R.S. 13:5554(G)(1), applies 

such that the Webster Parish 

Sheriff’s Office is responsible 

for paying 50% of the cost of 

this particular deputy’s insurance 

premiums if the deputy 

retires from the Webster Parish 

Sheriff’s Office in 2024. 


Special Districts 

Opinion: 23-0132: The time 

periods contained in La. R.S. 

33:130.865.1 are not required 

to be exhausted by New Orleans 

Office of Economic Development 

or the New Orleans 

City Council in order for the 

approval or disapproval of a 

PILOT proposal. Released: 


Page 8 



The LMA family is saddened by the loss of former 

Winnsboro Mayor and LMA Past President Billy 

Cobb, who departed from this life on March 18, 

2024. Cobb served on the Winnsboro Town Council 

for many years before being elected as the first fulltime 

Mayor of the Town of Winnsboro in 1986. He 

served his town with pride in this role for 12 years. 

During that time, he was very active in the Louisiana 

Municipal Association, and proudly served as LMA 

President during 1990 - 1991. He worked overseas 

as a contractor for Halliburton after his tenure with 

the town. 

We offer our sincerest condolences to the Cobb family 

and the Town of Winnsboro. 

Notice to Those Seeking LMA Office 

In accordance with Article 3 of the Constitution of the Louisiana 

Municipal Association, we give the following notice: 

All individuals who intend to run for Executive Office (President, 

First Vice President, and Second Vice President) of the 

LMA must provide a written Letter of Notification to the 

LMA Executive Director by May 1 of the year in which they 

are running (must be postmarked by May 1). Published reminders 

of “Notice of Office Seeking” with the specified May 

1 qualifying date will be broadcast to the LMA membership 

via three sources: email, the Louisiana Municipal Review, and 

also by general mailout beginning in March/April of each 

year. A copy of each qualifying letter received will be published 

within the July issue of the Louisiana Municipal Review. 

All said individuals are strongly encouraged to attend 

at least 7 of the 10 LMA District Meetings in that year. Any individual 

who will not be attending any specific LMA District 

Meeting is asked to place a courtesy call to the LMA President 

and hosting District Vice President in order to allow for 

appropriate accommodations at that meeting. After May 1, 

no nominations from the floor will be allowed at the Annual 

Business Meeting except under extreme circumstances and 

specific criteria including but not limited to: Death, Resignation, 

Non-Reelection, Health Issues, Vacancy in Office Legal 

Matters: Pending Indictments, On-Going Investigations, 

and/or Criminal Activity. In the event an officer Candidate 

should find themselves or be found to be in a questionable 

position regarding their eligibility as the Annual Convention 

approaches, the LMA Active Past Presidents will approach 

said officer or candidate to discuss their situation. The LMA 

Active Past Presidents shall then report to the LMA Executive 

Board at its meeting at the Annual Convention (prior to 

the Annual Business Meeting) if nominations from the floor 

will be opened or not for that given year. If more than two 

individuals run for a position and one does not receive more 

than 50 percent of the vote for that office, then there shall 

be a run-off between the two top candidates with the most 

votes. 

If you have additional questions, please contact the LMA 

staff at (225) 344-5001. 

Page 10 


Barney 

Arceneaux 

New Role, 

Same Drive 

On April 30, long-serving 

Gonzales Mayor 

Barney Arceneaux will 

bid a fond farewell to 

being the City’s highest-ranking 

official. As 

he walks out of the City Hall doors and 

ventures down Irma Boulevard, pointing 

his direction to home, it will undoubtedly 

be a moment of great reflection for 

the four-term mayor. After all, he’s spent 

the majority of his working life championing 

for the people of Gonzales, so his 

heart and soul are stepped deeply into 

his beloved Jambalaya Capital. But as 

the saying goes, “All good things must 

come to an end.” And for Arceneaux, it’s 

been more than good. 

“What an absolute honor to have been 

given the many opportunities I was 

given during my time in Gonzales as 

a public servant. I hope I’ve made the 

people there as proud as they’ve made 

me. I don’t think I could have asked for 

a better place to do some good. I’m excited 

about this new opportunity, but 

it comes at a cost. My heart is heavy in 

leaving my role in Gonzales, but it’s time 

Barney Arceneaux will begin his new role as LMA Executive Director on May 1. 

“ 

I have been so blessed to 

have many excellent support 

systems along my journey. 

They have allowed me to step 

back and critically analyze a 

situation and know what’s right 

for the majority, not for the few. 

” 


to do some good on a larger scale!” 

But never fear, Arceneaux may be ending his mayoral responsibilities, 

but he isn’t going anywhere too far. It’ll just 

be a quick commute for him as he makes his way up Highway 

30 and steps into his new role as the LMA’s Executive 

Director on May 1. It’s a job very few saw coming, as Arceneaux 

has made numerous productive strides for his 

Gonzales community. If the old adage of “if 

it ain’t broke why fix it” is to mean anything, 

why leave? 

“I think that’s best answered 

by rephrasing that adage a 

little. To me, it’s more of 

an ‘If it ain’t broke, then 

it’s working, so why 

not share that working 

knowledge for 

the greater good’ 

type of thing. I 

have been so 

blessed to have 

many excellent 

support systems 

along my journey. 

They have allowed 

me to step 

back and critically 

analyze a situation 

and know what’s 

right for the majority, 

not for the few. They’ve 

allowed me to recognize 

that it’s not about me. I’m 

not a naïve man, and I know 

that there has to be give and take, 

so ensuring work is being done on behalf 

of people – healthy and productive 

work – is what’s allowed me to shine in 

Gonzales. You’re right - Gonzales ain’t 

broke! And it has been one of the ultimate feathers in my 

cap to have been a part of making Gonzales a wonderful 

place to do business and to call home. If I can do that on a 

state-wide level – if I can truly work to fix it on a state-wide 

level - for member municipalities that need those wins, then 

I should. I owe it to myself, and I owe it to them.” 

So, who is Barney Arceneaux? Seems a bit of an easy question 

to answer, as he’s been an active and proactive member 

of the LMA for many years, serving on Boards and even as 

LMA President in the 2016/2017 term. But what isn’t always 

so clear is how Arceneaux came to be the man he is today; 

a man so sure of his desire to assist people across our state. 

Arceneaux has been a resident of Gonzales and a public servant 

for over 40 years. He has worked in different facets of 

local and federal government. While serving in the U.S. Marine 

Corp Reserves as a Military Police Officer for six years, 

Arceneaux and his wife, Betty, are familiar 

faces within the LMA. 

Arceneaux became interested in the field of law enforcement 

and devoted his early life to that career. With a strong 

drive and passion for the job, he worked his way up the 

ranks in the Gonzales City Police Department as Patrolman, 

Detective, and Assistant Chief. He was eventually elected as 

the Chief of Police of Gonzales for his last eight years with 

that department. 

But a change is gonna do you good, right? 

So, Arceneaux eventually found his 

passions changed. He became 

more and more interested in 

the role that government 

plays in the lives of everyday 

residents and communities. 

He began 

changing his focus, 

set a goal to assist 

in improving the 

city, and proudly 

will have held the 

role of mayor of 

the City of Gonzales 

from 2009 

until his April 30 

departure date. 

He’s a man who 

prides himself on 

three key traits: integrity, 

dedication, 

and the ability to gain 

knowledge quickly and 

effectively. Ready for yet 

another change, Arceneaux 

feels these attributes are what 

have made him an excellent choice 

for leading the Louisiana Municipal Association 

into the future. 

“I feel so positive about this change, even 

though it was an unexpected one for me. 

I’m very proud of my ability to use my skills to have effective 

working relationships with elected officials of any party affiliation. 

I genuinely feel that’s critical if you want to impact 

change in a productive manner. No one is always right, so being 

able to honestly hear – and listen to – all sides of a story 

can be the greatest asset someone has. I’m very honored to 

have realized that early on in my career.” 

Arceneaux is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in 

Quantico. When retiring from law enforcement, he took a 

role at the Ascension Parish President’s Office in the Planning 

and Development Department, serving with two Parish 

Presidents and as Director of Planning and Development 

for five years. He was responsible for approximately 

one hundred personnel in major departments including 

Planning and Zoning, Economic Development, IS/GIS, Recreation, 

Building Maintenance, and Inspections and Permits. 

Page 12 


Arceneaux’s resume shows his ability to speak up when a voice is needed. 

“I’ve learned so much about good and solid leadership, and 

the fair and healthy management of people, throughout my 

journey. I’m excited to apply all I’ve learned to the Executive 

Director role.” 

After leaving Parish 

Government, 

Arceneaux worked 

for the Federal 

Government as 

Operations Manager 

for S.A.R.T.A. (Southern Anti-Terrorist Regional Training 

Academy). His responsibilities included developing and 

maintaining anti-terrorist training and coordinating training 

activities with other S.A.R.T.A. divisions. His role was considered 

a crucial one after 9/11. 

“ 

No one is always right, so being able to honestly 

hear – and listen to – all sides of a story can be 

the greatest asset someone has. I’m very honored 

to have realized that early on in my career. 

” 

Arceneaux also had 

the honor of being 

District Director for 

Congressman Charlie 

Melancon, 3rd 

U.S. Congressional 

District, representing 

him in his 13 

parishes while he was in Washington, D.C., and managing four 

offices throughout his district. During this time, Arceneaux also 

aided constituents in coordinating relief support after the dev- 


Arceneaux is seen with LMA leadership and members of his Gonzales City Council, as they secure one of their many Community 

Achievement Award wins. 

astating effect of hurricanes in Louisiana 

during 2005. 

“One of the aspects of the Executive 

Director role that stood out to me was 

knowing that things can change on a 

dime. I thrive on that ability to change 

direction quickly, and in a state like Louisiana, 

we can be impacted by weather 

events like few other states have ever 

seen. And those impacts can hit hard 

and fast. Knowing how to coordinate 

quickly, and manage effectively, makes 

a tremendous difference. I can do that 

well, and there’s something incredibly 

special to me about knowing I can do it 

for so many municipalities across Louisiana 

if necessary.” 

Enough about the past, though! What 

about the future? What does Arceneaux 

see as he prepares to wear a new 

hat, albeit in a familiar setting? 

“I wish I had a crystal ball and could say 

with certainty exactly how this pans 

out, but none of us can do that. All I can 

say is that I go into this new role all in. 

I will dedicate myself to the promotion 

and betterment of the LMA with our 

membership always at the forefront of 

my mind. I will be approachable. I will 

listen. I will speak on your behalf when 

you feel your voice has been silenced. 

I am ready, willing, and able, and I 

couldn’t be prouder of this most welcome 

opportunity.” 

Arceneaux is sure to be missed by the 

people of Gonzales. He’s sure to be 

missed by those who have worked with 

him in the past. And that can be sad. 

There’s no disputing that. But I suppose 

I see it differently as I wrap up speaking 

with him. I see how wonderful it’ll be 

for all those next in line to work alongside 

him. I see all the knowledge they’ll 

gain, and I see all the soul-nurturing 

feelings that come with doing some 

good. You see, I earned my Louisiana 

political wings by working for Arceneaux 

as the City of Gonzales Public Information 

Officer for a number of years. 

I’ve seen firsthand what he’s capable of, 

and I’ve seen firsthand the passion he 

has for what he does. It is 100% genuine, 

and it is 100% rewarding. The LMA 

is in for a treat – believe you me! 

by Charlotte 

Smith 

Editor 

Smith is a Senior Communications 

Consultant for AMCorp and is the Editor 

of the Louisiana Municipal Review. 

Contact: charlotte@teamamcorp.com 

Page 14 


Community First: 

EPA’s $2 Billion Grants Program Targets 

Community-Based Organizations 

For too long, communities across America have suffered 

from pollution, extreme weather, unaffordable 

energy costs, and disinvestment that erodes quality of 

life and locks in decline. Rising waters endanger aging 

homes, and toxic sites sit neglected. 

What could your hometown become if seniors in aging 

homes no longer had to flee floodwaters or children no 

longer suffered the effects 

of asthma and contamination? 

What could it look 

like if abandoned factories 

gave way to affordable 

housing and community 

gardens and parks gave 

us fresh food and cooler 

summers? Increasing 

energy efficiency and 

stormwater management 

can reconnect fractured 

neighborhoods, open 

economic opportunities, 

reduce healthcare costs, 

and strengthen resilience 

when disasters strike. The 

benefits also build workforce 

skills, local leadership, 

and faith that the 

government can deliver results. A deep commitment to 

long-marginalized communities lifts everyone through 

cleaner air, stronger neighborhoods, local jobs, and increased 

equity. Now is the time to ensure historic infrastructure 

investments reach communities in need first 

to catalyze their vision for a brighter future. 

EPA’s $2 Billion Community 

Change Grants Program 

Environmental justice ensures that every person, regardless 

of background or circumstances, has a fair say 

in decisions affecting their environment and health. This 

includes protection from harmful pollution and climate 

change and increased access to a healthy, sustainable, 

and resilient environment for all aspects of life. It is about 

The Community 

Change Grants focus 

on projects addressing 

climate resilience, 

reducing pollution, 

and strengthening 

community capacity. 

overcoming historical injustices and systemic barriers to 

create equitable and healthy living conditions for all. 

As communities grapple with environmental and climate 

injustices, The U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency’s recently opened $2 billion Environmental and 

Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program 

(Community Change Grants) opens a lifeline to empower 

community-based 

organizations (CBOs) and 

local governments in their 

fight for a healthier, more 

sustainable future. This 

program can award up to 

a $20 million grant to a 

partnership between two 

CBOs or a partnership between 

a CBO and one of 

the following: a federally 

recognized Tribe, a local 

government, or an institution 

of higher education. 

The Community Change 

Grants focus on projects 

addressing climate resilience, 

reducing pollution, 

and strengthening community 

capacity. Unlike 

traditional grant programs, this initiative is geared towards 

projects that have a long-lasting, transformative 

impact on communities, especially those historically 

underserved. 

While the primary beneficiaries are underserved communities, 

the program’s outcomes will reverberate 

across entire regions, fostering a healthier, more resilient 

environment for everyone. Projects funded under 

this program will address immediate environmental 

concerns and contribute to long-term community development 

and sustainability. 

This is a chance to envision what thriving, resilient 

neighborhoods could look like - then make that vision 

real. Transformative investments will expand greenspaces, 

weatherize homes, install solar, clean up contaminat- 


ed land, upgrade transit systems, and more. Residents 

will guide decisions, prioritizing non-profits working in 

partnership with local governments and tribes. 

Community-Based Organizations 

Drive Meaningful Change 

The Community Change Grants program, as outlined 

in EPA’s Notice of Funding Opportunity, underscores 

CBOs’ vital role in spearheading environmental and climate 

justice initiatives. Unique to this program is the 

ability for CBOs to be lead applicants without mandating 

local government partnerships, offering them direct 

access to substantial resources. This approach acknowledges 

the deep understanding CBOs have of 

their communities’ needs and their ability 

to drive meaningful change. 

However, the challenge for 

many CBOs lies in their limited 

capacity and inexperience 

with applying for 

and managing largescale 

grants. To address 

this, the Southeast 

Sustainability Directors 

Network’s (SSDN) 

Local Infrastructure 

Hub (LIH) Regional 

Cohorts program provides 

essential technical 

assistance and 

capacity building in the 

Southeast. SSDN helps 

CBOs prepare competitive 

grant applications, ensuring 

they can effectively navigate the 

complexities of the application process 

and leverage these opportunities to 

their fullest potential. This support is crucial in 

empowering CBOs to enact transformative environmental 

improvements within their communities. 

In East Harris County, Houston, a region long plagued 

by neglect and underinvestment, the East Harris County 

Empowerment Council (EHCEC) stands out for its 

commitment to community-led transformation. This 

CBO, known for its engagement with diverse stakeholders 

and innovative solutions, sought SSDN’s aid to 

develop a grant strategy, fund an organizational financial 

audit, and enhance its capacity for federal funding 

acquisition. Through support from Impact Energy and 

Sustainable Strategies, the team provided resources 

to help EHCEC and partner agency Achieving Community 

Tasks Successfully (ACTS) develop the project 

and the technical assistance required to apply for the 

Community Change Grant. This support kindles hope 

that federal funds, steered by the community’s voice, 

will catalyze much-needed growth and infrastructure 

development in East Harris County. 

Embracing Partnerships and 

Building Capacity to Address 

Environmental Issues 

“If we 

learn to solve 

for those most 

vulnerable, the 

rest comes 

easy.” 

EPA grant dollars, with its multi-year focus, can lead 

to lasting changes in communities. However, successfully 

securing and managing federal awards takes 

next-level capacity. That is where the SSDN’s 

direct assistance steps in. SSDN offers 

a range of services to assist community-based 

organizations 

and local governments. 

These include: 

Grant Strategy Development: 

Helping organizations 

identify 

and align community 

needs with federal 

funding opportunities. 

Community Engagement 

Support: Facilitating 

stakeholder 

ownership in proposal 

planning and project development. 

Technical Expertise: Providing 

specialized knowledge in areas 

like energy efficiency and sustainable 

infrastructure. 

Federal Proposal Assistance: Supporting the drafting 

and submission of proposals for federal funding. 

These services provided by experts like Pamela Fann, 

Co-owner/Principal of Impact Energy, enhance the capacity 

and efficacy of organizations in accessing and 

utilizing federal funds for community development. 

Successful projects require a deep understanding of 

multiple layers of environmental challenges, like air 

and water quality, industrial impacts, and health concerns 

that are often uncovered through community 

engagement. Fann emphasizes the need for comprehensive 

solutions integrating federal programs and local 

resources, creating job opportunities and sustain- 

Page 16 


able improvements. She advocates 

for collaboration between CBOs, 

local governments, industries, academia, 

and other stakeholders, 

ensuring all voices are heard and 

resources are effectively leveraged 

for maximum community benefit. 

As Fann says, “If we learn to solve 

for those most vulnerable, the rest 

comes easy.” This holistic approach 

addresses immediate concerns 

and fosters long-term community 

development and resilience. 

There are no silver bullets against 

complex challenges, but historic 

investments like the Community 

Change Grant and the wealth of 

resources and expertise offered by 

SSDN at no cost to CBOs and local 

governments are a huge start and 

a giant step in the right direction. 

The Community Change Grants 

application period is open now 

and closes on November 1, 2024. 

SSDN recently hosted a webinar on 

the Community Change Grant and 

how they could support CBO efforts 

to apply. A recording of that webinar 

is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gD3w9NHOYOynreZYAEmd66isZHep26EI/view. 

Application details and additional 

information about the program 

can be found on SSDN’s website 

at https://www.southeastsdn.org/ 

programs/ssdns-federal-programs/ 

local-infrastructure-hub-cohorts/. 

For more information, contact Nick 

Deffley at nick@southeastsdn.org. 

by Anita 

Tillman 

CEO of AMCorp 

International 

Anita is the CEO of AMCorp International 

and has served as the LMA’s Communications 

Consultant since 2016. She 

can be reached at anita@teamamcorp. 

com or by phone at 225-324-5444. 

Now Accepting Submissions for 2023 Community Achievement Awards 

Did your municipality undertake an award-worthy project in 

2023? If so, we would love to recognize your great work and 

award bragging rights as a winner of our annual LMA Community 

Achievement Awards competition. This year’s competition 

recognizes municipalities for outstanding projects promoting 

progress in municipal services and operations in 2023. 

For a full list of categories and rules, along with information on 

how to enter, visit www.lma.org, click on our Membership Services 

tab, and choose Community Achievement Awards from 

the dropdown menu. 


LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND TECHNICAL SERVICES 

Opening A Weather Eye on Louisiana 

Municipalities Assist ULM MESONET Program to 

sharpen the focus of Louisiana’s weather data. 

With an active hurricane season forecasted 

for 2024, Louisiana residents have 

good reason to expect the best information 

from their state and national weather 

services. For their part, professional 

meteorologists, emergency planners, 

and local leaders depend on the accurate 

collection of real-time environmental 

data to fine-tune their predictions and 

planning. 

Thanks to a new, grant-funded 

program managed by the University 

of Louisiana Monroe, municipalities 

and private landowners statewide 

will soon host a network of dozens of 

Example of LSM site construction and features. 

Page 18 


local weather stations, 

with full technical 

and financial support 

provided at each site, 

so that Louisianans 

can have access to the 

best meteorological 

data available. 

Called the Louisiana 

State Mesonet (or 

LSM), the program 

joins several similar 

efforts underway 

across the country, all 

designed to fill gaps 

in the current array of 

local weather stations. 

According to LSM Program 

Manager Emily 

Newby, Mesonets are 

interconnected systems 

of multiple instrumented 

weather 

and environmental 

monitoring stations. 

Their chief benefit 

comes from the real-time 

connections 

between each station, 

and the combined 

Pinpointing weather hotspots across the state. 

data from hundreds of instruments 

operating around 

the clock. 

“The Mesonet is basically a 

big weather station, is how I 

like to look at it,” said Newby. 

“And it can measure everything 

from air and soil temperatures, 

to relative humidity, 

cloud cover, wind speed 

and direction, precipitation, 

etc., across an entire region.” 

“Then all the data are sent 

back here to ULM where 

Mesonet Manager Emily Newby 

cites her love of helping people 

as part of the appeal of her 

position: “I wanted to find a 

way to build better warning 

systems and improve weather 

awareness,” she said. “Simply 

helping the community be better 

prepared for severe [weather] or 

even just your average Saturday 

afternoon thunderstorm.” 

we’ll make sure [the system] 

runs properly,” she continued. 

“The goal is filling the 

coverage gaps in environmental 

data across the state 

of Louisiana, and to help the 

National Weather Service’s 

forecasting mission.” 

These critical weather eyes 

will also share data with program 

grantor, the National 

Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 

as well as other 

interested parties across 

several sectors. This will help 

inform not only local weather 

and environmental crisis 

forecasting, but aid efforts 

in homeland security and 

emergency management, 

aviation, energy and renewables, 

agriculture, transportation, 

and education. 

Thanks to support from Louisiana’s 

Congressional del- 

CONTINUED PAGE 20 


RISK MANAGEMENT, INC. 

RMI News and Updates 

West Monroe Mayor Joins RMI Board 

We are pleased 

to announce 

that West Monroe 

Mayor Staci 

Albritton Mitchell 

has secured a 

seat on the RMI 

Board. She joins 

Chairman and 

Woodworth 

Mayor David 

Butler, Vice 

Staci Albritton Mitchell 

Chairman and 

Rayville Mayor Harry Lewis, Secretary/ 

Treasurer and Gonzales Mayor Barney 

Arceneaux, Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree, 

Grosse Tete Mayor Michael Chauffe, 

LMA President and Cheneyville Mayor 

Derrick Johnson Sr., and LMA First Vice 

President and Leesville Mayor Rick Allen. 

We look forward to working with Mayor 

Mitchell on our future endeavours to assist 

Louisiana’s municipalities. 

Kennedy Promoted to Liability Claims 

Supervisor 

It is our pleasure 

to announce 

that Sharron 

Kennedy has 

been promoted 

to the position 

of Liability 

Claims Supervisor. 

Sharron has 

been with RMI 

since January Sharron Kennedy 

2015, handling 

AL (Auto Liability), GL (General Liability), 

LEO (Law Enforcement Officers Liability), 

and E&O (Errors and Ommissions Liability) 

claims. She has a proven track record 

of providing prompt and detailed claims 

services to our Fund member municipalities, 

and we are confident that she’ll be 

successful in her new role. She holds adjuster 

licenses in auto, property/casualty, 

and workers’ compensation. 

Her professional designations include 

CPCU (Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter), 

AIC-M (Associate in Claims 

Management), AIDA (Associate in Insurance 

Data Analytics), and CWCP (Certified 

Workers’ Compensation Professional), 

and she is currently working on her 

Bachelor of Business in Risk Management 

and Insurance degree at the University 

of Louisiana/Monroe. 

The staff of RMI congratulates Sharron 

on this well-deserved promotion. 

by Patrick 

Cronin 

General Manager, 

RMI 

Cronin leads Risk Management, Inc. (RMI) 

- a subsidiary of LMA. He can be reached at 

pcronin@rmila.com. 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19: WEATHER 

egation, especially Fifth District Representative 

Julia Letlow whose office 

applied for the NOAA grant, ULM has 

secured funding to support the installation 

and operation of fifty initial Mesonet 

stations. Municipalities are invited 

to inquire about cost-free placement 

of weather stations in available locations. 

LaMATS will be assisting outreach 

to specific state regions determined to 

be in need of better data coverage. 

ULM Chief Innovation and Research Officer 

and institutional contact, Dr. John 

Sutherlin, described site selection as a 

“collaborative effort,” where ULM and 

LaMATS partner to provide crucial municipal 

technical services, similar to existing 

partnerships for local Brownfield 

remediation and drone imaging. “La- 

MATS is going to help raise awareness, 

get the word out, and provide opportunities 

for municipalities around the 

state to participate in this program,” 

said Sutherlin. 

One benefit to communities choosing 

to host a site is free access to the 

collected data. ULM reports that a fee 

structure is in development for access 

to live data streams and archived datasets. 

However, parishes, cities, townships, 

or private landowners that agree 

to host a LSM site will receive their local 

site data (live or archived) free of 

charge. Some real-time data will also 

be publicly available from the program 

website, according to managers. 

To see if your city or region is on the 

list for potential Mesonet site development 

or to inquire about the program 

and its benefits, contact LaMATS Executive 

Director Cliff Palmer at (225) 

316-7157, or Mesonet Manager Emily 

Newby, at newby@ulm.edu or (318) 

342-1835. 

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. 

Page 20 


LEGISLATIVE LOOP 

How to Make Your Legislative Journey a Success 

We are excited to bring you a new 

addition to this Louisiana Municipal 

Review. “Legislative Loop” will 

do just what it says – it’ll keep you 

in the loop in terms of our Louisiana 

Legislature. The legislative 

process can be harrowing at times, 

so we felt sharing the process, and 

tips for success, could make it all a 

whole lot easier. For our first column, 

we’ll be providing you with 

an overview. 

As the May 15 Municipal Day 

draws near, the Louisiana Municipal 

Association Advocacy Team 

is using this opportunity to give 

our members a refresher on ‘news 

you could use’ in conjunction with 

the Louisiana Legislature. Coming 

up in future articles, we will share 

more on what public citizens should expect 

when coming to the Capitol, and as 

mayors (and other elected officials), the 

best practices you can use when testifying 

at a public hearing – including key 

steps to make your process a success for 

your cause. 

Here are some highlights: 

Louisiana’s state government looks quite 

like our federal government in Washington, 

D.C. In Louisiana, we too have three 

branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. 

The Legislative branch makes all 

the laws that we advocate for or against 

at the Capitol. The Executive branch 

enforces laws passed by the State Legislature. 

And the Judicial branch works 

to make sure both the Legislative and 

Executive branches aren’t violating our 

state or federal constitutions. In this article, 

we’ll be focusing on the Legislative 

Branch in terms of what happens there, 

how bills are passed, and the best ways 

to advocate on behalf of your municipality 

when you have important concerns. 

Let’s start with the two chambers at the 

Capitol that make up the Louisiana Legislature. 

One is the House of Representatives, 

and the other is the big house with 

more decorum - the Louisiana Senate. 

There are (105) State Representatives 

and (39) State Senators. They are elected 

to represent us every four years and 

can only serve a term of 12 years per 

chamber. As you know, every year, the 

Legislature meets at our State Capitol in 

Baton Rouge to make laws, debate new 

ideas, repeal existing laws, and amend 

the constitution by a vote of the people 

in an election. If a legislator is successful 

in moving a bill from one chamber to the 

other, gets an okay from both chambers, 

and the Governor likes it enough to sign 

it, it becomes law. 

In even-numbered years, the Louisiana 

Legislature convenes for a Regular Session. 

At that time, all kinds of bills focusing 

on many topics are introduced and 

debated for a period of not more than 85 

days. In an odd-numbered year, the Legislature 

will convene for a Fiscal Session 

that serves as a call for money matters 

only. These concerns can be discussed 

for a period of 60 days. Legislators may 

prefile (before the session begins) no 

more than five bills that are not about 

money matters. Legislative members 

also may prefile an unlimited number of 

local or special topic bills (meaning bills 

that do not affect the entire state) and 

five more fiscal or local bills once session 

begins. 

In addition, we can have Special Sessions 

in our state. If the Legislature is not 

in session, and something happens 

that needs to be discussed 

(for example, national disaster or 

crime-related issues among others) 

by both chambers, the Governor, 

or the Legislature itself, can 

then call a Special Session to convene 

in Baton Rouge. 

The State Capitol is a beautifully 

designed, historical, and magnificent 

building standing as a symbol 

of pride for us all in Louisiana. 

It is the tallest Capitol in the United 

States at 450 feet, boasting 

thirty-four floors. The front staircase 

is engraved with the names 

of the nation’s fifty states in the 

order they were admitted to the 

Union. It took 14 months to build 

our State Capitol, and it stands 

on a 27-acre lot of property, and it cost 

(according to records by the Legislature) 

five million dollars to build when it was 

completed in 1932. If you ever want to 

tour the State Capitol, tours are offered 

by appointment and are available seven 

days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

Do you think you would want to be a 

State Representative one day? 

Well, there are a few requirements necessary 

that you’ll need to know. You must 

be at least 18 years old and a registered 

voter, you must have lived in Louisiana 

for at least two years, and you have to live 

in the district you want to represent as a 

State Representative. All bills that focus 

on funding must be filed in the House 

of Representatives, so they begin in the 

House. The House crafts the HB 1 operating 

budget, as Senators can’t write those 

kinds of bills. Needless to say, the House 

is highly important to our state. 

As you know, each legislative session 

addresses hundreds of bills, resolutions, 

etc., that the House of Representatives 

must consider in order to make them 

laws. It would take our legislators forever 

if all those bills were debated and heard 

in a hearing. Therefore, the House is split 

into important committees that hear 

most of the bills. The committee reviews 

CONTINUED PAGE 27 


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE – RURAL DEVELOPMENT 

USDA Offering Home Purchasing/Building/Repairing Options 

Well built, affordable housing is essential 

to the vitality of communities in rural 

America. Rural Development’s Single 

Family Housing Programs give families 

and individuals the opportunity to buy, 

build, or repair affordable homes located 

in rural America. Eligibility for these loans, 

loan guarantees, and grants is based 

on income and varies according to the 

average median income for each area. 

Through the program options below, 

USDA Rural Development offers qualifying 

individuals and families the opportunity 

to purchase or build a new single 

family home with no money down, to repair 

their existing home, or to refinance 

their current mortgage under certain 

qualifying circumstances. There are also 

programs to assist non-profit entities in 

their efforts to provide new homes or 

home repair to qualifying individuals 

and families. For more information, call 

our offices or visit rd.usda.gov/LA. 

Single Family Direct Home Loans 

Also known as the Section 502 Direct 

Loan Program, this program assists lowand 

very-low-income applicants in obtaining 

decent, safe, and sanitary housing 

in eligible rural areas by providing 

payment assistance to increase an applicant’s 

repayment ability. Payment assistance 

is a type of subsidy that reduces 

the mortgage payment for a short time. 

The amount of assistance is determined 

by the adjusted family income. 

Several factors are considered when 

determining an applicant’s eligibility 

for Single Family Direct Home Loans. 

At a minimum, applicants interested in 

obtaining a direct loan must have an 

adjusted income that is at or below the 

applicable low-income limit for the area 

where they wish to buy a house, and 

they must demonstrate a willingness 

and ability to repay debt. 

Loan funds may be used to help low-income 

individuals or households purchase 

homes in rural areas. Funds can 

be used to build, repair, renovate or relocate 

a home, or to purchase and prepare 

sites, including providing water 

and sewage facilities. 

Single Family Housing Repair Loans & 

Grant 

Also known as the Section 504 Home 

Repair Program, this provides loans to 

very-low-income homeowners to repair, 

improve, or modernize their homes, 

or grants to elderly very-low-income 

homeowners to remove health and 

safety hazards. 

Like the 502 Direct Loan, there are a 

number of factors to considered when 

determining an applicant’s eligibility 

for 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants. 

At a minimum, applicants interested in 

obtaining a direct loan must have an 

adjusted income that is at or below the 

applicable very-low-income limit for the 

area where they wish to repair a house, 

must be the homeowner and occupy 

the house, and they must demonstrate a 

willingness and ability to repay the debt. 

If at the age of 62 or above, they qualify 

for a grant not to exceed $10,000.00. 

Loan funds may be used to help verylow-income 

individuals or households 

repair homes in rural areas. Loan funds 

can be used to repair, improve, or modernize 

homes, or remove health and 

safety hazards. Grants must be used to 

remove health and safety hazards. 

Single Family Housing Guaranteed 

Loan 

The Section 502 Guaranteed Loan Program 

assists approved lenders in providing 

low- and moderate-income households 

the opportunity to own adequate, 

modest, decent, safe, and sanitary 

dwellings as their primary residence in 

eligible rural areas. Eligible applicants 

may purchase, build, rehabilitate, improve, 

or relocate a dwelling in an eligible 

rural area with 100% financing. The 

program provides a 90% loan note guarantee 

to approved lenders to reduce the 

risk of extending 100% loans to eligible 

rural homebuyers – so no money down 

for those who qualify! 

This program helps lenders work with 

low- and moderate-income households 

living in rural areas to make homeownership 

a reality. Providing affordable 

homeownership opportunities promotes 

prosperity, which in turn creates 

thriving communities and improves the 

quality of life in rural areas. 

Rural Housing Site Loans 

Rural Housing site loans provide loans to 

purchase and develop housing sites for 

low- and moderate-income families. Site 

Loans are made to acquire and develop 

sites for low- or moderate-income families 

with no restriction as to the method 

of construction. Low-income is defined 

as between 50-80% of the area median 

income (AMI); the upper limit for moderate 

income is 115% of the AMI. 

The building site may be sold to lowor 

moderate-income families utilizing 

USDA’s Housing and Community Facilities 

Program’s (HCFP) loan programs, or 

any other mortgage financing program 

which serves low- and moderate-income 

families. These loans are available 

to private or public non-profit organizations. 

The non-profits that have the 

legal authority to operate a revolving 

loan fund and have the financial, technical, 

and managerial capacity to comply 

with relevant federal and state laws and 

regulations. 

By Deidre 

Deculus 

Robert, Esq. 

USDA Rural 

Development 

Louisiana State 

Director 

Director Robert can be contacted by 

emailing Deidre.Robert@usda.gov. 

Page 22 


PFAS: What it is and How Your Municipality 

Louisiana Rural Water Association 

May be Entitled to Recovery 

r use in the following issues: 

Recent studies show that 

PFAS have serious adverse 

impacts on human health. 

Exposure to PFAS, even at 

low levels, is associated with 

various cancers, decreased 

immune system function, 

Official Publication of the 

Date: 

Per and Polyfluorinated Substances, 

and fertility is- 

often referred to as sues. PFAS also 

&Bellemin 

“PFAS”, are a group of manmade 

migrate easily, 

“forever chemicals” and because 

LWR-R0018 

characterized by their strong of their persistence, 

chemical bond. Due to their 

can 

unique chemical structure, 

PFAS are extremely stable 

and are highly resistant to 

oil, grease, water, and heat. 

travel far from 

where they were 

released into the 

environment. 

As a result, PFAS have permeated 

many aspects of our 

One major use of 

PFAS is in aqueous 

film-form- 

everyday society, including 

ONSULTANTS food packaging, pesticides, 

adhesives, clothing, furniture, 

automotive parts, and 

non-stick pans. 

ing foam (AFFF), 

which was commonly 

used for 

decades to suppress 

fuel fires at locations 

such as airports, military 

bases, industrial facilities, 

and fire training centers. 

AFFF contains extremely 

high levels of PFOS or PFOA, 

two PFAS compounds, and 

Authorized Signature: 

Artwork Contact: 

Custom Water 

Treatment Programs 

Designed by Professionals Since 1990 

POTAB 

ABLE 

WASTE 

WA 

ATER 

Ad Order # 1636839 

Adv Code 179697 

S. Rep: Jason Zawada (C) 

Corrosion Inhibition Iron & Manganese Control Enhanced Disinfection NSF Certified 

EPA Approved Chlorine dioxide for Stage 2 compliance assurance DBP reduction 

Sludge Dewatering Polymers Dechlorination Technical Support/Service Testing 

FAX: (225)654-9533 

P. O. Bory, 

Naylor, LLC - Gainesville 

5950 NW 1st Place 

Gainesville, Florida, 32607 

Tel:(800) 369-6220, (352) 332-1252 

Fax: (352) 331-3525 

AD COPY 

were manufactured or distributed 

for decades by large 

corporations such as 3M, Du- 

Pont, Chemours, Tyco, Corteva, 

Kidde Fenwal, BASF, and 

Dynax. AFFF use is banned 

in Louisiana and by the U.S. 

government at military bases, 

subject to emergency exceptions. 

PFAS from AFFF released 

into the environment has 

migrated into public drinking 

water sources, and given 

its strong chemical bonds, is 

difficult to remove and requires 

complex and expensive 

treatment solutions. 

The EPA has also proposed a 

new maximum contaminant 

limit of four parts per trillion 

(ppt) for PFOS and PFOA, 

which public water systems 

will be required to meet under 

the Safe Drinking Water 

Act. Estimates from the 

American Water Works Association 

project PFAS treatment 

costs to be upward of 

$100 billion dollars for public 

water systems across the 

country. 

As a result, public water systems 

in Louisiana and across 

the county have filed lawsuits 

against the companies 

that manufactured and distributed 

AFFF for the recovery 

of costs associated with 

removing PFAS from drink- 

707693_Thornton.indd 1 

8/21/14 8:33 PM 


ing water. In 2023, historic settlements 

were reached with 3M and DuPont that 

will collectively pay up to approximately 

$14 billion to participating public 

water systems. The settlements provide 

funding for public water systems with 

any amount of PFOS or PFOA in any 

of their water sources, even if below 

the proposed four ppt limit, and systems 

are not required to demonstrate 

that the PFOS or PFOA originated from 

any particular AFFF use in the area. 

The funds are also general funds that 

are not tied to any specific abatement 

measures. 

The deadlines for public water systems 

to opt out of these settlements have 

now passed, meaning that all systems 

who have not opted out are part of 

the settlements and must affirmatively 

make timely settlement claims; otherwise, 

their right to recovery will be forfeited. 

Information on the settlements 

and deadlines may be found at www. 

pfaswatersettlement.com. As many as 

over 250 public water systems in Louisiana 

may be eligible for recovery under 

the settlements. 

It is crucial that public water systems 

consult with experienced legal counsel 

to take necessary action and protect 

their right to recovery. Additionally, litigation 

remains ongoing against many 

of the remaining AFFF defendants, and 

public water systems should speak 

with counsel regarding their rights as 

to these defendants. 

Although much has already been won, 

there is still far more PFAS news on the 

horizon. Staying up to date with the 

status of PFAS litigation is an important 

step in ensuring that your municipality 

recovers the funds it deserves. 

If you have any questions, feel free to 

contact us. 

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, 

LLC is a national environmental 

and toxic tort law firm that represents 

public water systems in Louisiana and 

across the country in the PFAS water contamination 

litigation. 

by John Gallagher and 

Tristan Duarte 

John Gallagher is a Senior Counsel 

with Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips 

Grossman and retired Executive Director 

of the Louisiana Municipal Association. 

His email is jgallagher@milberg.com. 

Tristan Duarte is a law clerk with 

Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips 

Grossman and a 3L student at the 

Temple University Beasley School of 

Law in Philadelphia, PA. 

Annual Parks & Rec Day 

at the Capitol 

April 30, 2024 

LOUISIANA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION 

Page 24 

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Registration 

9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Rotunda 

Lt. Governor’s Apartment 

1051 N 3 rd Street, Baton Rouge 

LMR | APRIL 2024 

Louisiana State Capitol 

Rotunda Lobby and

7 

- REGISTRATION FORM- 

L o u i s i a n a M u n i c i p a l C l e r k s A s s o c i a t i o n 

6 3 r d A n n u a l S p r i n g C o n f e r e n c e 

D o u b l e t r e e H o t e l 

L a f a y e t t e 

A p r i l 2 4 - 2 5 , 2 0 2 4 

NAME 

MUNICIPALITY 

EMAIL 

TITLE 

TELEPHONE 

Please help facilitate conference planning by answering the following questions: 

Is this your first LMCA Spring Conference? Yes No 

Will you attend the group tour on Wednesday? Yes No 

Will you attend Thursday night’s Annual Banquet? Yes No 

$175 Delegate fee 

$225 Non-Delegate fee 

$25 Tour Guest fee 

$50 Banquet Guest fee Guest Name: 

DISCLAIMER 

In registering for and attending this event, I agree to abide by state and local health mandates as well as any rules put in 

place by the Louisiana Municipal Clerks’ Association or event venues. I understand that by attending this event in person, 

it is possible that I may be exposed to coronavirus, and I hereby assume that risk. 

ACCOMMODATIONS 

A block of rooms has been reserved Doubletree at a rate 

of $134 Single/Double, $154 King. Please call (800) 222- 

8733 and identify the group as 'LA Municipal Clerks 

Association' or give the code 'LMC' to secure the 

discounted rate. The reservations cut-off date is April 9, 

2 024. Hotel check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and check-out is 

12:00 p.m. Guests checking out prior to the departure 

date will result in a $50.00 early departure administrative 

fee. Recommended arrival is Tuesday, April 23rd and 

departure Friday, April 26th. 

REMINDERS: 

Email Ginger Eppes if you are 

eligible for a service award: 

5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, etc. 

Bring a door prize to participate 

in a door prize exchange! 

Exchange your municipal lapel pins. 

QUESTIONS? 

Ginger Eppes (225) 344-5001, geppes@lma.org 

REGISTER ONLINE 

WWW.LMA.ORG 

or 

REGISTER BY MAIL 

Complete this form and return with your registration 

payment in full no later than April 10, 2024. 

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: 

Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association 

P.O. Box 4327 

Baton Rouge, LA 70821 

REFUNDS 

An administrative fee of $45 will be charged for all 

cancellations of the LMCA Spring Conference including 

medical emergencies. 

Refunds will be issued only if the LMA office receives your 

cancellation request in the form of a letter on your official 

letterhead mailed, emailed, faxed, or delivered to our 

office with a postmark date no later than 04/10/2024. 

Telephone requests for refunds will not be accepted. 

There will be no exceptions to this policy. 


LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTS 

LAMSA Visits Margaritaville, Elects New Directors at Large 

The Louisiana Association of Municipal 

Secretaries and Assistants (LAMSA) held 

their 34 th Annual Conference from March 

20 - 22 at Margaritaville Resort and Casino 

in Bossier City. Members were 

treated on Wednesday with a tour of the 

“Official State Theatre of Louisiana,” (The 

Strand) which opened in 1925, along 

with the Louisiana State Exhibit Building. 

After the tours, members got a chance 

to stop by the historic Municipal Auditorium 

and take a group photo in front of 

the Elvis Presley statue. 

On Thursday, LAMSA President Constance 

Barbin opened the meeting 

to ninety-six attendees and eighteen 

first-timers. All were welcomed by Bossier 

Mayor Thomas Chandler. Morning 

sessions included Effective Communication 

(presented by LMA Deputy Director 

Richard Williams), and Excel & Artificial 

Intelligence (Steven Kraemer with LLA 

Advisory Services). 

The Annual Business Meeting was held 

during lunch, where three open board 

positions were filled. Mary Carroll (Cameron 

Parish Police Jury) will serve as a 

Two-Year Director-At-Large, and Constance 

Auzenne (Lafayette Consolidated 

Government) along with Tiffany Reitzell 

(Village of Creola), will serve as a One- 

Year Director-At-Large. Welcome to the 

board ladies! 

Four members received their CMA designation, 

Mary Carroll (Cameron Parish 

Police Jury), Valisa King (Town of 

Many), Dana LeJeune (City of Zachary), 

and Kelsey Murray (City of Walker). In 

addition, eight members received their 

recertifications: Constance Barbin (City 

of St. Gabriel), Latoicha Jones (City of 

Shreveport), Yvonne Lewis (City of Tallulah), 

Glenna Luther (City of DeRidder), 

Elsie Lindon (City of Lafayette), and Leseley 

Smith (Town of Lutcher), Courtney 

Tell (Town of Haynesville), and Patricia 

Gaudet Thibodeaux (Town of Brusly). 

Congratulations ladies and thank you for 

proudly representing LAMSA! 

Our generous sponsors then took the 

podium, including Ambetter, Cenla Environmental, 

Columbia Southern University, 

Kincade Recreation, Quick PD, and 

Prison Enterprises. Thank you all for your 

friendship and continued support of our 

organization. 

Starting our afternoon sessions was Mr. 

Matthew McKey, Program Director for 

the Louisiana Cybersecurity Assurance 

Program with the Governor’s Office of 

Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. 

He proctored our mandatory 

cybersecurity training and led a discussion 

about the state’s assurance plan. Following 

a short break, Ms. Donna Frazier, 

with the Caddo Parish Attorney’s office, 

spoke on employment law, harassment 

in the workplace, and Human Resource 

policies. The afternoon was full of very 

informative and useful information! 

Wrapping up our day, LAMSA President 

Constance Barbin, explained one 

of LAMSA’s missions is to network and 

share our experiences and gather feedback 

to bring back to our cities so we 

can be a more valuable asset to our 

community. Members were asked to 

write down questions or topics they 

wished to address during our round 

Page 26 


table panel Friday morning. 

On Friday morning, the membership enjoyed 

an in-depth question and discussion 

session covering numerous topics 

we all experience in our municipalities. 

We soon came to realize that whether 

you are a small town or a big city, most of 

our challenges are the same. It was nice 

to hear suggestions from our counterparts 

that could be implemented in our 

workplace. 

After a brief gift exchange, our final 

speaker was introduced, Lt. Tony LeBlanc 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21: LOOP 

them, holds a required hearing, and 

votes the bill either up or down in committee, 

held in committee, deferred, or 

(as most would say) ‘killed.’ A bill can go 

through many ups and downs throughout 

the entire process, and it can even be 

duel referred to more than one committee 

as it goes through the legislative process. 

Just remember, all bills introduced 

will not necessarily make it through the 

whole process and become law. It takes 

a lot of work, a lot of advocating, and 

a lot of talking with your legislators to 

state your position on the matter to get 

enough votes to pass. 

Or maybe you’re aspiring to be a State 

Senator? 

If you become a State Senator, you get 

a staff, an office, and only thirty-eight 

colleagues in the Senate Chamber as 

opposed to 104 in the House. Each State 

Senator represents a district in a particular 

area of our state, he or she is elected 

by voters in that district. Most districts 

that Senators represent overlay and cover 

several parishes and/or municipalities. 

To become a State Senator, you must 

meet the same qualifying requirements 

as to be elected as a State Representative. 

As a State Senator, you will represent 

more constituents, since your geographical 

area will be larger. Each Senator 

represents about 108,000 people, and 

each State Representative represents 

about 40,000 people. That is a big difference 

in population! Another point to 

mention is that the difference between 

the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives 

is the special authority and 

responsibility of the Senate to confirm the 

with the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

Lt. LeBlanc discussed Homeland Security 

and Emergency Preparedness with 

us, along with Active Shooter Training. 

His main message to us was to be more 

aware of our surroundings in the event 

of a crisis. That concluded our conference 

and members went home with, we hope, 

some valuable information and tools to 

bring back to their municipalities. 

Our Fall Conference will be held October 

2 – 4 in New Iberia. LAMSA’s mission is to 

provide a forum where networking can 

appointment of persons to important 

Boards and Commissions appointed by 

the Governor, and even to high-ranking 

State positions. State Senators review 

the qualifications and backgrounds of 

each person, hold a hearing in the Senate 

and Governmental committee, and 

in a public vote decide whether or not to 

approve that individual. The Senate convenes 

for confirmations in the chamber 

on whether or not to approve or confirm 

an individual. This is known as final confirmations). 

More key points about the Senate are 

that they also have designated assigned 

committees to better discuss the hundreds 

of bills to be voted upon. Each 

Senate committee debates all bills on 

certain subjects (as in the House), and 

members of that committee must agree 

to let the full Senate consider the measure 

(before it moves to the floor). As a 

reminder, no bill can become a law unless 

both the House of Representatives 

and the Louisiana Senate approve it. 

Your Legislator’s Job 

The main job of your state legislator is 

to pass laws and to serve. It is the legislature’s 

responsibility to establish policy, 

levy taxes, appropriate, and otherwise 

decide how state funding is spent. It is 

also required to establish and review the 

activities of all governmental agencies 

and officials. Your Legislator is there to 

assist you as an elected official in a variety 

of ways: 

• Obtaining aid from public agencies; 

• Providing information about state 

programs; 

• Explaining current laws and pending 

legislation; 

take place, professionalism is enhanced, 

and members can count on us a valued 

educational resource. We offer members 

scholarships, certification programs, and 

educational opportunities through our 

annual spring and fall training conferences 

throughout Louisiana. 

For more information, call Kristine Scherer 

at 504-259-1068. 

By Kristine Scherer 

LAMSA Conference Coordinator 

• Discussing legislation filed that impacts 

your municipality; 

• Providing assistance at the State 

Capitol (Constituent Services); 

• Assisting with funding for urgent 

projects and programs in your community; 

• Aiding in problem-solving in both a 

state and local governmental matters; 

and 

• Serving as a mediator with state 

agencies on behalf of a constituent, 

local governing authority, and/or 

political subdivision. 

Be Your Local Government Public Servant 

If you want to connect with your 

Legislator, it is a very simple process. 

Simply contact the district office of 

your state legislator on any pending 

legislation or concerns, or just introduce 

yourself and your municipality. Give 

them your municipality’s list of needs 

well before the session begins and 

keep an open dialogue with the whole 

legislative delegation. 

Visit www.legis.la.gov for more details, or 

always feel free to contact your LMA Advocacy 

Team at pbaileywilson@lma.org 

or Richard Williams at rwilliams@lma.org. 

by Paulette 

Bailey-Wilson 

LMA Lead Lobbyist 

Paulette Bailey-Wilson is the LMA’s Lead 

Lobbyist. She can be reached by emailing 

pbaileywilson@lma.org. 


To register, visit our website at www.lma.org. 

PRESORT 

STANDARD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

Page 28

04 April 2024 Final

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