Bogalusa council looks at wide ranging ordinances

Published 5:13 am Friday, March 8, 2013

The Bogalusa City Council passed the annual resolution that authorizes the mayor to borrow money for operational expenses in advance of its coming in throughout the year, introduced six ordinances and held public hearings on five others during its meeting Tuesday.

The introduced ordinances would: repeal ordinance 931 on temporary employers; authorize Mayor Charles Mizell to enter into a contract for the sewer rehabilitation program; authorize him to enter into a contract for the removal of debris from 26 sites and for asbestos removal; authorize him to enter into a contract for removal of debris in Bogue Lusa Creek; authorize him to enter into a contract for lease of property in the Industrial Park and to enter into an agreement for a Web-based telephone system for inmates at the jail.

Public hearings were held on five additional ordinances, but the voting on them will take place at the next council meeting on March 19.

The first would place a moratorium on street name changes and billboards until further discussion and guidelines are put in place.

The second would authorize the levying of a fee for services or transactions at the local field office of the Office of Motor Vehicles.

Council President said that Governor Bobby Jindal was about to close the OMV facility located just south of Bogalusa and to keep the one in Franklinton open. But in order to keep local citizens, many of whom are elderly, from having to make the trip to the far side of the parish, the city has decided to provide a building in town.

A $3 fee per service or transaction, with the exception of renewals of motor vehicle registration licenses, would be levied by the city.

The third would authorize Mizell to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the state for disaster recovery assistance, and the others would authorize him to borrow $1,990,000 from its fiscal agent.

Councilwoman Oneita Graham said the city borrows “up to the amount it will bring in” every year to enable it to operate until the funds are collected.

“We get the money at the end of the year,” President Wendy Perrette said.