Two sections deleted while city reviews whether old ordinances would be repealed
– The St. Martinville .City Council adopted an ordinance to accept the recodification of its city ordinances under the Lawrason Act, but deleted sections 2 and 3 of the ordinances from that so that the city can determine if approving those sections would repeal any ordinances that the council wishes to remain in effect.
City attorney Allan Durand told the council that was his recommendation after Councilwoman Carol Frederick had questions about Section 2 of the ordinances.
“I am not sure that they included all of the ordinances that have passed in the last 10 or 15 years,” Durand said. “I would ask that you amend the ordinance to delete sections 2 and 3. What that section 2 and 3 says is that if there are any ordinances passed before 2023 and not included in what they did, they’re automatically repealed.”
Repealing those sections would give Durand time to go through the ordinances that he has prepared in his time with the council to make sure they are in the ordinances to be recodified. If not, the council can look at them to be sure what they deal with and to decide if they want to include those ordinances or repeal them.
“If it turns out it’s something that ought to be repealed, I’ll bring you the exact ordinance or ordinances, telling you what it is you’re repealing, and then you can decide at that time if you do want to take it out,” Durand said.
Adjudicated properties The council tabled a request from Councilwoman Flo Chatman to use $70,000 from its Opera House savings to begin demolishing dilapidated buildings on properties adjudicated to the city.
Durand said that his research indicated the city would have to go through an extensive procedure to acquire clear titles to properties adjudicated after 2009, and that the cost of getting the titles and tearing down the buildings would be higher than the value of the properties.
The city instead will list those properties for sale online through its deal with E&P Consulting.
Property
The council approved a motion to complete the paperwork to transfer ownership of the blue building located at the corner of Evangeline Boulevard and Catfish Alley.
Acadian celebration The council heard from Culture, Recreation and Tourism Director Danielle Fontenette about plans for La Fête Nationale de l’Acadie (National Day of Acadians) to be held on Aug. 15.
The city’s celebration will be from 6:30-10 p.m. and will include games, music by Chad Huval and friends, dancing, food and drinks.
Fontenette said the event begins with a tintamarre (noisy procession) to the Acadian Memorial.
Mayor’s report
Mayor Jason Willis reported that the city is planning a Splash Bash at the pool/splash pad from noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 9 in collaboration with the Hall of Fame Smokers group, along with a ribbon cutting for the pavilion.
The mayor also said that the slab and framework are in place for the pavilion at Adam Carlson Park and the fans for Magnolia Park are on back order. The city also has mulch for playgrounds at both parks ready to use.
Willis also said that four houses slated for demolition have been torn down so far.
Other business
In other business, the council approved two change orders for work being done at the Festival Grounds as additional lighting was added on the bayou side of the property.
The change orders for a additional $18,293.11 and $$17,448.20 will pay for an additional pole, a bigger transformer to accommodate the additional lighting, and an electrical panel for playground equipment for children with disabilities. The change orders will be paid for through a capital outlay grant for electrical work that the city has received, the mayor said.
The council also approved a resolution for the Safe Routes to Public Places Grant with the Department of Transportation and Development that will pay for, with no matching funds from the city, sidewalks from St. Martinville Senior High School to Magnolia Park.
The council tabled plans to negotiate its lease with Domino’s Pizza while it researches whether to increase the lease amount. Councilman Jonas Fontenette asked that the city look into how much Domino’s is making, noting that the city already lost the Pizza Hut on the other end of town.
The council also approved returning the property located at 604 Ledoux to its list of dilapidated structures to be demolished, at the request of owner Sharon Batiste.
The council discussed a lawsuit by the Foco family against the city to terminate the city’s right-of-way to the water treatment plant in executive session.
The council approved getting an accurate survey of the portion of Foco Road to which the city has right-of-way, along with an appraisal of the value of the property, so that it can defend against the lawsuit properly.
