responded. “Everybody knows what they’re there for.”
The mayor refuted they were signs for his candidacy.
“Everybody knows all kinds of stuff,” Willis said.
Fuselier asked if the signs were going to stay up.
“No,” Willis said. “Take said.
Mayor Jason Willis then asked what political signs Fuselier was referring to, and Fuselier responded that “you have them all over town,” referring to signs that say “Jason” posted around the city.
Willis then asked if they said “Jason Willis” or “Elect Jason Willis,” then said his political signs would be out in about three weeks. Willis has qualified to run for re-eelection to the post he won in 2022, and will face the same three opponents he ran against then — former Mayor Melinda Mitchell, Lisa Nelson and Mark Pratt.
“Do you see any signs that say re-elect Jason Willis?” the mayor asked.
“I can’t believe it,” Fuselier
(See PARK, Pg. A-8)
St. Martinville – St. Martinville City Councilman Mike Fuselier used this past week’s City Council meeting to raise the issue of political signs being posted on city property and public rights of way.
Fuselier said the issue had come up in the last election and has arisen again, then read Louisiana Revised Statute 18:1470, which states that “no political campaign signs shall be erected, displayed, or posted on any publicly owned property or right of way, or on any public utility pole or stanchion.”
“We’re breaking the law, and we’re supposed to be making the law,” Fuselier
POLITICAL SIGNS – St. Martinville City Councilman Mike Fuselier raises the issue of political signs placed on public property during the Feb. 16 city council meeting. Fuselier raised similar issues at the previous election time.. (Chris Landry) them down. I never put them up.”
Park
“Everybody knows who Jason is,” Fuselier said. “He’s running for mayor. They put them out on the days that they went qualified. Come on. I cannot believe we’re going to have this discussion. It’s ridiculous.”
Councilwoman Carol Frederick asked Police Chief Ricky Martin why, if the signs were not political in nature, he had removed some as he said he had.
Martin said all the signs should be removed and he would handle it the same way, having the people who placed them remove them.
Police call responses
Martin also gave a presentation of crime statistics and call responses to the council.
The city emergency system received 5,539 calls in 2025, including more than 1,100 calls for medical response.
There were 140 calls regarding thefts, including shoplifting and auto theft, and 51 calls for burglary. Forty-nine calls were to report vandalism or property damage.
Martin said that the numbers for violent crimes were low for the most part.
The police dealt with three calls regarding a homicide, 16 for aggravated assault or battery, 43 firearm related calls, 109 domestic disturbance calls and 299 calls regarding suspicious activity.
There were 30 crisis intervention calls and 70 suicide attempt responses, and 53 calls related to juveniles including runaways and neglect investigations.
The city police and the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, which introduced its STAR program (Substance-Abuse Team for Addiction & Recovery), are working to increase crisis intervention, Martin said.
Dilapidated structures
The council dealt with five complaint issues for dilapidated structures or nuisance properties.
The property owners for 314 Lasalle St. and 126 Martin Luther King Drive were given 30 days to remedy their situations.
The owner of property at 440 S. Vivier was given two weeks to board up the house, which has seen people trespassing through the back door or by kicking in the front door, or the city would do the work and charge the owner for the labor and materials.
The owner of 215 Honore also was given two weeks to come up with a plan to get bids on clearing the property and making plans to do so.
The mayor said he was incorrect when he said at the last meeting that the property was too narrow to put a trailer on, and that it could be used for a trailer. The owner also said if a tiny home could be put on the property she knew of someone who would be interested in doing so. Fuselier said that as long as the home is rated for human habitation, and fit in the property site, it would be allowed.
An update on 2040 Gerard St. showed that the items that people complain about are picked up and placed under carports and on the porch after complaints are received, but within a couple of weeks the items are back around the property.
“This has come up multiple times with other people,” Frederick said. “People have a right to put all of their stuff, no matter what it is, all over their porch and under their carport. And my understanding is there’s nothing to be done about that. But this stuff is still all over the yard.
The police chief said the judge at city court had given the owner 30 days to clean the property up or spend five days in jail. That time comes at the end of the month, after which the judge can determine whether the owner goes to jail, Martin said.
The council decided to have the police chief write a citation if the property is not cleared and that would result in the owner spending time in jail.
In other business
The council granted permission to Rose Viltz of Kind Hearts Community Outreach the right to use the Sterling Center at no cost to hold Community Resource Workshop at an open date to be determined.
The council also approved allowing CSRS to begin working on Public Works Building renovation, planning and construction with capital outlay funds.
