LMR_August2018

Louisiana Municipal Review 

PUBLISHED BY THE LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION 

VOL 83, NO. 8 

AUGUST 2018 

LMA’s 81st 

LMA Elects 2018-19 Leadership 

Annual Convention 

Town of Jean Lafitte wins 

Best of Show Award 

Page 23 

Lake Charles, 

81st Annual 

Convention 

Issue 

Louisiana 

Mayor Hunter’s 

Welcome 

Page 18

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material from this publication may be reprinted without the express permission of the editor. 

Editorial offices: Louisiana Municipal Association, 700 North 10th Street, Suite 400, Post Office Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821- 

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2018-19 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory) 

LaMATS 

President – Harry Lewis – Mayor, Rayville 

LMA Past President – Barry Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales 

First Vice President – Jimmy Williams – Mayor, Sibley 

LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro 

Second Vice President– Michael Chauffe – Mayor, Grosse Tete LMA Past President – Carroll Breaux, Mayor, Springhill 

Immediate Past President – Lawrence Henagan, Mayor, DeQuincy LMA Past President – Vern Breland, Mayor, Sterlington 

District A Vice President – Peggy Adkins, Mayor, Sarepta 

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

District B Vice President – Roy Lewis, Mayor, Homer 

LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle 

District C Vice President – Lucy Holtzclaw, Mayor Pro Tem, Sterlington LMA Past President – Clarence Fields, Mayor, Pineville 

District D Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville 

LMA Past President – Norman Heine, Councilman, Baker 

District E Vice President – Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville Vice President at Large – To Be Announced 

District F Vice President – Purvis Morrison, Mayor, Scott 

Vice President at Large – To Be Announced 

District G Vice President – Kenneth Stinson, Mayor, Vinton 

Vice President (< 1K) – To Be Announced 

District H Vice President CALL –(225) David Toups, 344-5001 Mayor, Addis 

Vice President WWW.LAMATS.NET/SERVICES 

(1K – 2.5K) – To Be Announced 

District I Vice President – Donald Villere, Mayor, Mandeville Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – To Be Announced 

District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson 

Page 2 

LMR | August 2018

Inside the LMA 

Director’s Viewpoint 

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT 

BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

Many thanks to everyone who attended the 81st Annual 

Convention in Lake Charles. If you are reading this, there 

is a good chance that you were in that number, as we 

had over 1,500 attendees, making this convention one 

of the largest gatherings in recent years. My sincere 

gratitude to Lake Charles Mayor Nicholas Hunter for 

hosting the event, and to the mayors and staffs of 

DeQuincy, Iowa, Sulphur, Vinton, and Westlake for cohosting. 

Without all of them, this convention could not 

have been the great success that it was. Over the course 

of the week, we heard from Governor John Bel Edwards, 

Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser, Secretary of State 

Kyle Ardoin, and Treasurer John Schroder. A very special 

thanks to Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields, Councilman 

Nathan Martin, and Chief of Staff Rich Dupree for hosting 

a fantastic prayer breakfast, complete with over 1,000 

attendees, which featured the incredible singing talent 

of Ben Waites and an inspirational message by two-time 

Olympic medalist and Shreveport native Hollis Conway. 

The convention culminated with the installment of 

Rayville Mayor Harry Lewis as the Louisiana Municipal 

Association President for 2018-2019. Congratulations 

to Mayor Lewis and the new LMA officers who will lead 

the association through the next year: Mayor Jimmy 

Williams of Sibley, First Vice President, and Grosse Tete 

Mayor Michael Chauffe, Second Vice President. The LMA 

staff and I are very excited to work with President Lewis 

and the entire 2018-19 LMA Executive Board to move 

the LMA forward this next year. I want to also express 

my deep appreciation to our outgoing President, Mayor 

Lawrence Henagan of DeQuincy, for his leadership on 

behalf of the association, and for his advice and counsel 

to me as Executive Director. We look forward to his 

Calendar of Events 

AUGUST 

14 BOAL Training. 2015 IBC Exterior Wall and 

Opening Protection (0.3 CEU) and 2015 IBC 

and IRC Safety Glazing Provisions (0.3 CEU). 

Training is from 9:00 – 4:30 p.m. in the firstfloor 

rooms of the LMA office building, 700 N. 

10 th St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 

15 LMGA Executive Committee Meeting starts at 

10:00 a.m. in the first-floor rooms of the LMA 

office building, 700 N. 10 th St., Baton Rouge, 

LA 70802 

continued service on the LMA 

Executive Board as the Immediate 

Past President. 

During the annual business meeting, 

I outlined several initiatives that 

the LMA staff has planned for 2018-19. We will be 

working with the LMA Building Committee to develop 

a master plan for the future development of the LMA 

campus, as the area around our offices is undergoing a 

construction boom. Next, the LMA staff will begin the 

development of a business continuity plan to ensure the 

operation of the LMA should the offices be affected by 

a natural or manmade disaster, a reality that has been 

experienced by another state municipal league. Our 

goal is to continue to service our membership without 

interruption. We will also update our marketing and 

promotional materials, as well as focus on our social 

media initiatives to improve our membership outreach. 

Further, we will work with state partners to provide more 

educational and training opportunities, including for 

mayors courts and human resource specialists. Lastly, 

we will continue to promote and grow the Louisiana 

Municipal Clerks Association’s clerk training assistance 

program for municipalities with new clerks who would 

benefit from mentorship. 

Proving that there is no rest for the weary, the LMA staff 

is already working with Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and 

his staff to plan for the 82nd Annual LMA Convention, 

which will be held on August 1-3 at the Monroe Civic 

Center. You will soon be receiving an electronic survey 

regarding the recent convention and I encourage you to 

please give us feedback, whether positive or negative. 

We need this information as we strive to bring you a 

convention that will meet your needs and expectations, 

while continuing to provide you with the service that is 

expected from the LMA. 

As always, if you are ever in Baton Rouge, please stop by 

the LMA offices to say hello. We always enjoy seeing our 

municipal officials, and our office is your office. 

Searching for the right fit? 

THAT IS OUR SPECIALTY. 

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LMR | August 2018 Page 3

President’s Message 

LMA IS A POWERFUL VOICE 

BY MAYOR HARRY LEWIS, TOWN OF RAYVILLE 

It is an honor and a privilege to 

serve as president of this great 

organization. I fully realize that 

I am standing on the shoulders 

of Mayor Henagan and past presidents who preceded 

me. Mayor Henagen has served this organization with 

excellence and skillfulness. It has been a joy to work with 

him and witness his dedication to the LMA. 

I look forward to partnering with our new first vice 

president, Mayor Jimmy Williams; and our newly 

elected second vice president, Mayor Michael Chauffe. 

Additionally, I am eager to serve with Executive Director, 

John Gallagher and his staff. They truly handle the 

affairs of LMA with passion and expertise. As well, I hope 

to get to know each of you. 

During the month of June, the executive board traveled 

to district meetings across the state. We witnessed, 

first-hand, the rich history and diversity of music, culture 

and food in each district. Take food for an example – in 

Scott and Mandeville, we dined on spicy gumbo, boudin, 

and cracklin’. As we inched closer to my hometown, 

Rayville, we were served mouth-watering barbeque 

in Arcadia and smothered beef in Pineville. However, 

the commonality that exists among each district was 

quite obvious. Each district strives for quality of life 

for its citizens. Improved infrastructure, economic and 

community growth, top notch schools, fire and police 

protection are priorities. Therefore, as president, I 

pledge to support legislation that supports our goal, 

causes, and policies, and will vigorously oppose those 

that do not. 

The Louisiana Municipal Association is a very powerful 

voice for municipal governments and has been since 

1926. It provides numerous benefits – including 

conventions such as our 81st Annual Convention in 

Lake Charles where I was installed. We have had great 

educational workshops and exchanged ideas with one 

another all over this state. Yet, not every municipality 

in this state is a member of this awesome association. I 

hope to change that. 

I will work diligently and faithfully with other leaders, 

stakeholders and you, to deliver the very best resources 

and services to our municipalities. Thank you for your 

support and prayers. 

Legal Briefs 

SMALL CELL TECHNOLOGY 

BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL 

Those who attended our annual convention had an 

opportunity to learn about this emerging industry. 

Some municipalities are proactively integrating this 

technology into their operations; others hear the term 

“small cell” and have no idea what it means. 

The easiest way to conceptualize it is to imagine the 

circles of coverage that emanate from cell phone 

transmitters. There are various sizes of towers that 

generate circles of coverage, but inevitably, there are 

gaps between those circles in which there is either no 

wireless service or insufficient service. This is generally 

because the area does not tolerate or is not appropriate 

for large tower installation, or because the demand on 

broadband usage is so high. 

Enter the small cell device. These transmitters require a 

power source and antenna, but are easily customizable 

for installation on utility poles, 

street lights, and other existing 

infrastructure. These devices can 

be tailored to local codes regarding 

appearance, shape, size, and more. These multiple 

devices then work in unison with other cell transmitters 

to provide adequate wireless coverage for an area. But 

why is this important? 

In previous articles, I have discussed the approach 

of emerging technologies such as autonomous 

(or unmanned) vehicles and smart infrastructure 

applications (such as street lights and traffic control 

devices). All of these technologies depend on 

wireless coverage to work effectively and efficiently. 

Furthermore, as the proliferation of smart phones, 

tablets, and other devices grows, the demand on 

SEE LEGAL BRIEFS, PAGE 6 

Page 4 


Inside the LMA 

Governor’s Column 

HELPING COMMUNITIES FIND SOLUTIONS 

BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA 

Ensuring that Louisianans have clean and safe drinking 

water has been a top priority of my administration 

since day one. Safe drinking water is one of the most 

basic necessities we need to survive. In learning more 

about water systems across our state, my team has 

discovered that over half of them are more than 50 

years old and in many cases are suffering due to 

improper maintenance. As a result, several water 

systems in our rural communities are now distressed. 

The Louisiana Section of the American Society of Civil 

Engineers (ASCE) estimates that Louisiana needs $5.3 

billion in drinking water improvements over the next 

20 years and another $4.46 billion for maintenance, 

repairs and improvements. Unfortunately, the state 

doesn’t have that kind of money. We know that it is 

always more cost effective to maintain a water system 

instead of replacing it, which is why proper, routine 

maintenance is so important. But we don’t want to 

wait for an emergency happens before addressing the 

underlying problems plaguing many of our rural water 

systems. 

In addition to maintenance, another problem that has 

come to my attention is the lack of certified operators 

who are necessary to making sure the systems run at 

their optimum capacity. If a problem arises, they are 

right there on the front lines to recognize an issue and 

find a solution. We need to encourage more citizens to 

take part in this honorable and important profession. 

Earlier this year I created the Rural Water Infrastructure 

Committee (RWIC) to look at existing water systems 

statewide, assess their issues and develop plans to 

help get these systems back on track. The Committee 

includes representatives from state and federal 

regulatory and funding agencies, as well as key 

stakeholders. The goal is to bring everyone to the table, 

educate and work with local governments and leaders 

on how to best address their most pressing problems. 

The RWIC is tasked with providing recommendations 

for funding sources, criteria for receiving funding, and 

providing local assistance. 

I’m proud to report that the RWIC has already hit the 

ground running. They have visited various communities 

and the emergency response team is in place ready to 

respond immediately should the need arise. We want 

to help communities find solutions so that citizens 

know their water is safe and reliable. We also want 

to help city and parish leaders 

understand how to sustain their 

water systems on their own. One of 

the ways we will be doing is this by 

incentivizing them to establish cash reserves dedicated 

to maintaining their water systems. The reason is 

simple- it is much more cost effective to maintain a 

system than to replace it. 

Like you, my administration understands that safe 

reliable drinking water is one of life’s most important 

necessities to live, and we are dedicated to ensuring all 

Louisianans have access to this basic need. Thank you 

for your continued hard work and God bless you all. 


Attorney General’s Opinions 

BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL 

Prohibited Donations 

Opinion: 18-0040 Liability for risks to 

health and safety occurring on private 

lands covered by public servitudes may 

be mitigated by the parish governing 

authority and public funds may be 

expended in these efforts. Opinion Released: 6/11/2018 

Opinion: 18-0052 The Town of Plain Dealing (“Town”) may not 

adjust a customer’s sewer bill due to a broken pipe caused by 

below freezing temperatures. The Town has no authority to 

set-aside, reduce or otherwise forgive a debt owed to the Town 

absent any error or misread meter on the part of the Town. 

Lastly, in order for the Town to adopt an ordinance that would 

allow for relief or adjustments to a customer’s sewer bill in the 

future, the ordinance would need to allow for billing based 

on the actual amount of water entering the sewer system 

and have an objective method in place for doing so. Opinion 

Released: 7/12/2018 

Dual Officeholding 

Opinion: 18-0033 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding 

and Dual Employment Law do not prohibit a member of the 

Caddo Parish School Board from serving as a member of the 

Shreveport/Caddo Metropolitan Zoning Board of Appeals. 

Opinion Released: 6/18/2018 

Opinion: 18-0042 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding and 

Dual Employment Law do not prohibit a full-time employee of 

the City of Rayne from serving as an Acadia Parish Police Juror. 

Opinion Released: 7/16/2018 


Dual Employment Law do not prohibit the Mayor of the Town 

of Stonewall from serving as the Vice-President of North Desoto 

Water Systems, Inc. Opinion Released: 7/16/2018 


Dual Employment Law do not prohibit the State Representative 

for District 86 from serving as a part time prosecutor for 

the Mayor’s Court of the Village of Tickfaw and as a contract 

attorney for the Town of Independence. Opinion Released: 

7/16/2018 

Assessors 

Opinion: 18-0022 A parish tax assessor does not have the authority 

to impose a handling fee on each parcel when preparing 

a tax roll on behalf of a municipality. Opinion Released: 

7/13/2018 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4: LEGAL BRIEFS 

existing coverage increases. 

Though it may seem trivial to someone outside of the 

digital age, sufficient wireless coverage is critical to 

attracting and retaining young professionals and has 

become an essential part of economic development 

initiatives. Wireless technology is not just a “big city” 

issue – it can be a valuable tool for smaller communities 

to remain competitive. 

The LMA has proactively worked with small cell 

providers to develop model language for ordinances 

and installation agreements, and we encourage you to 

consider adopting small cell measures now for a couple 

of reasons. 

One, there is currently a bill pending in Congress 

- S. 3157, the “Streamlining The Rapid Evolution 

And Modernization of Leading-edge Infrastructure 

Necessary to Enhance (STREAMLINE) Small Cell 

Deployment Act” – that would completely preempt 

any authority that states and locals governments have 

to adopt their own regulations. One of the primary 

arguments in favor of this legislation is that small cells 

are essential and that state and local governments are 

not addressing the issue themselves – thus, the need 

for federal preemptive legislation. The more that local 

governments proactively undertake implementation of 

small cell technology, the weaker that this argument 

becomes. We also encourage you to contact your 

federal legislator to oppose this bill. 

Second, now is the time to work with providers to 

tailor these agreements and ordinances to suit your 

community’s needs and desired appearance. Providers 

are generally willing to work with local governments to 

refine the look, size, and location of small cell devices 

so that their presence is barely noticeable. When 5G 

coverage is achieved without major disruption to the 

historical aesthetic, it is a win-win for everyone. Your 

municipality will become more attractive to emerging 

technologies without sacrificing the flavor of the village, 

town, or city that you love. 

Hometown Happenings 

Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival 

August 30 – September 3, Morgan City 

www.shrimpandpetroleum.org 

Page 6 


A Word from 

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The Modern-day Gold Rush! 

BY JERRY CRONIN, GENERAL MANAGER, RISK MANAGEMENT INC. 

If you, regardless of the time of day or night, spend any 

time watching television you will be exposed to injury 

lawyer commercials and if you ride on any highway 

in this state you will see endless billboards providing 

telephone numbers to contact injury lawyers. 

The particular injuries highlighted are those resulting 

from vehicular accidents. Thar’s gold in them thar 

hills!!!!! 

Don’t believe for one minute that the gold at risk is 

from insurance companies, because the insurance 

company gets its money from you, and the more (gold) 

they use paying claims the more they will come to you 

to replace it. 

None of the above is designed to infer that an individual 

should not be compensated for legitimate injury and/ 

or financial loss because of an accident but the best 

and surest way to stop this “gold rush” is a dedicated 

LAMATS AND LHC TO PARTNER IN BLIGHT FIGHT 

management program promoting driving safety to 

those who are operating your municipal vehicles and/ 

or operating their own vehicles in the conduct of 

municipal business. 

What we are highlighting here are careless “at fault” 

accidents that are the source of financial loss to your 

municipality. These, totally preventable, accidents 

cause bodily injury and/or property damage to a third 

party, likely one of your constituents, damage to your 

municipal vehicle and possibly causes bodily (on the 

job) injuries to your employee(s), which produces a 

workers compensation claim, loss of productivity and 

the need to employ replacement personnel. 

Unless the municipal vehicle is defective most of these 

accidents are the result of the vehicle operator’s failing 

to follow universal safety rules, by following too close, 

speeding, backing without observation of surroundings, 

SEE GOLD RUSH, PAGE 10 

More than 200 mayors and city officials 

gathered at a breakout session of LMA’s 81 st 

Annual Convention in Lake Charles to hear 

Louisiana Housing Corporation Executive 

Director Keith Cunningham and LaMATS 

Executive Director Cliff Palmer speak on 

blighted properties and how to improve the 

many lives and communities they affect. 

The sheer number of citizens packed in the 

room revealed the high level of concern 

shared for this issue statewide. 

“Communities are dying on the vine,” said 

Cunningham, whose agency supports home 

ownership, disaster recovery, solutions to 

homelessness and other housing-related 

needs in Louisiana. “We’re not content with 

letting communities languish. It’s important 

we come up with strategies that address 

blight in rural and urban communities alike.” 

After listing several measures communities 

typically employ, including stricter ordinances 

and tracking down absentee property owners, 

Palmer acknowledged it’s a complex problem, 

difficult even to define: “We know that one 

person’s ‘blighted property’ might be another 

person’s family home,” he said. “Solutions have 

to address a range of issues.” 

Starting immediately, LaMATS and LHC will be 

working together with interested municipalities 

to establish the framework for a pilot program 

in blight reduction. Defining terms and creating 

an inventory of affected properties are necessary 

first steps already underway. The ultimate goal 

of the partnership will be to create an effective, 

multi-faceted toolkit available to all 

municipalities seeking to reduce and eliminate 

blight in their localities. 

To include your community in this pilot effort, 

contact Cliff Palmer at (225) 344-5001. 

The Louisiana Municipal Advisory & Technical Services Bureau (LaMATS) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA). 

Page 8 


A Word from 

Our Affiliates 

Clerks Corner 

BY DOUGLAS SCHMIDT, LCMC 

MANDEVILLE CITY CLERK, LMCA PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER 

Summer is almost over and time 

to start thinking of Fall, football, 

and holidays! Likewise, the LMCA 

Institute planning is in full swing. 

The Committee has acquired some 

new speakers and is planning an 

interesting off site activity. The 43rd 

Annual Institute will be October 

21-26, 2018 at the Embassy Suites 

in Baton Rouge. Friday morning sessions have been 

added to receive more points toward certification. These 

classes will be held at the LMA office in downtown Baton 

Rouge. All Clerks who are eligible for certifications 

should be aware that applications must be received by 

the last Friday in August (in hand-not postmarked) and 

must be submitted on the updated application forms 

which are available on the LMA website. Completed 

applications with supporting documentation should be 

mailed to Kelly Drone at the LMA offices. Also, don’t 

forget about applying for the Gloria King Scholarships 

to help with the cost of the institute (information can be 

found on the LMA website under the LMCA section). The 

LMCA would like to welcome all new clerks and we hope 

to see you at the Institute. 

Additionally, the InternationaI Institute of Municipal 

Clerks Region IV Meeting will be held in Oklahoma City, 

OK on December 5-7. This is a great opportunity to meet 

LAMSA Conference 

It’s not too late to register for LAMSA’s fall conference in 

Baton Rouge to be held at the Embassy Suites in Baton 

Rouge September 14-16, 2018! Sessions will be held 

by the Louisiana Board of Ethics, the Louisiana Office 

of Financial Institutions, RiskWise, LaMATS, Executive 

Coach Debra Gould and Associates, Deputy Chief of 

Staff Drew Maranto of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy’s Office, 

Speaker Trainer Marlaine Peachey, Educational Leader 

Merlyna Valentine and best of all, our Friday morning 

Mayor’s Panel. We will kick off the conference with a tour 

of the Old and New Capitols. 

Join us to recharge your energy and advance your level 

of professionalism. You can find a copy of our brochure 

on the website, www.lma.org/LAMSA20, or contact 

LAMSA conference coordinator, Marlaine Peachey for 

more information at lamsaconference@att.net or 985- 

630-1798. Hope to see you there! 

and network with clerks from other states. 

The LMCA Spring Conference will be in March 6-8, 2019 

at the Horseshoe Casino in Bossier City. Please make 

an effort to attend since Phyllis is planning a wonderful 

convention for us! Speaking of conventions, I hope 

everyone had a great time at the LMA Convention in 

Lake Charles. I want to personally thank all who assisted 

with the LMCA booth. It was very much appreciated. 

LAGNIAPPE – August is American Adventures Month 

and Sandwich Month. Before Summer ends, have 

a family adventure in the U.S. and pack some good 

sandwiches for the trip!! 


Mayor’s Annual Prayer Breakfast 2018 

Congressman Garrett Graves was the special 

guest speaker for Baker Mayor Darnell Waites’ 

Annual Prayer Breakfast held on June 29th, 2018 

at 6:30 a.m. at the Baker Municipal Center. 

Mayor Waites’ and Congressman Graves’ 

messages of ‘Unity’ resonated well with all in 

attendance. City of Baton Rouge/East Baton 

Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston 

Broome, was asked to greet everyone on behalf 

of the mayors of surrounding municipalities, 

parish government and elected public officials. 

There were approximately 350 people in 

attendance from across the region. This prayer breakfast 

was a great success in promoting unity in prayer and 

purpose across party and racial lines. 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8: GOLD RUSH 

and distracted rather than defensive driving. When 

operating a vehicle, that should be the center of your 

attention. 

The court will hold the municipality vicariously liable for 

the carelessness of your employee in such cases, so it is 

imperative that you take the necessary steps to reduce 

and/or eliminate that liability. 

There is nothing wrong with making an employee, 

assigned a municipal vehicle, accountable for their 

actions, if you, as management have done what is 

necessary to properly train and supervise their activity. 

Following are elements of a safe driving program that 

should be considered, to eliminate costly “at fault” 

accidents: 

If an employee is assigned to operate a municipal 

vehicle and/or use their personal vehicle, to perform 

municipal business, policy should require proof that the 

employee possesses the proper license for the type of 

vehicle being assigned. 

If they are using their personal vehicle, for municipal 

business, the policy should require proof that they have 

adequate insurance coverage on their vehicle. 

The employee should be required to provide immediate 

notification if there is a change in the status of their 

license-revocation/suspension etc. 

The employee should be required to take available 

safe driving training, including the proper method 

of inspecting the vehicle for tires, brakes, mirrors 

,windshield wipers, and visual clearance prior to 

beginning daily operation. 

The employee should be held accountable for their 

involvement in an “at fault” accident, by the imposition 

of some form of penalty, and should also be periodically 

acknowledged for their safe operation. 

The employee’s attitude concerning the safe operation 

of your municipal vehicles comes from the top 

down. That can be clearly demonstrated by a sound 

municipal policy, that holds the employee accountable, 

promoted by the officers and department heads of the 

municipality. 

Page 10 


Rural Development 

AN URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM USDA 

Louisiana Rural Water Association 

APPLY NOW: MORE THAN $4 BILLION IN LOANS AVAILABLE FOR 

RURAL WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS 

BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATE DIRECTOR DR. CARRIE CASTILLE 

Partner Insight 

Not long ago, the United States was a world leader in and sanitary waste disposal systems 

Fax: (352) 331-3 

infrastructure Thornton, investments. Musso, Federal &Bellemin and private funding are vital not only to public health, 

helped even the most remote communities obtain electricity, 

but also to the economic vitality of 

Dr. Carrie Castille 

running I approve water this and ad access copy for use to in the following rest of issues: the world LWR-R0018 Louisiana. 

through telecommunications. 

Water districts and rural Authorized communities Signature: can apply for USDA 

However, recent years have not followed the same trend, 

and too many rural communities have been left behind. 

The need for improvement is great, especially for rural 

water and wastewater systems. 

loans electronically using the interactive RDApply tool on 

the USDA Rural Development Date: website (rd.usda.gov). With 

RDApply, you can create Artwork an application, Contact: upload attachments, 

and sign certifications, to name a few features. 

To put this in perspective, the American Water Works Association 

estimates that more than $600 billion is needed 

Contact the Rural Development Community Programs 

Department by emailing jared.hicks@la.usda.gov or (318) 

Index Listings 

over the next 20 years to upgrade our nation’s water and 

473-7940. 

wastewater systems. WATER TREATMENT Unfortunately, CONSULTANTS many operators of 

small and rural water systems lack access to affordable 

financing. 

Through strong partnerships, USDA is working to address 

ongoing issues with declining public water systems in rural 

communities throughout the state. Everyone should have 

But there is hope for the future. This year, USDA Rural 

safe drinking water and modernize water infrastructure in 

Development has more than $4 billion in direct loans available 

our state’s rural communities. 

now to help rural communities build or upgrade water 

infrastructure. This is a substantial increase from last year. 

In 2017, USDA helped more than 2.5 million rural residents 

get access to upgraded water and wastewater systems. I 

am excited to see how many more people we can help 

USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to 

help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in 

rural areas. If you have any questions, please contact me, 

carrie.castille@la.usda.gov or (318) 473.7921, to let us know 

how we can help. 

with this unprecedented funding opportunity. 

I encourage rural community leaders 

and water district operators 

to apply now for this assistance 

before the Sept. 30 deadline. 

USDA’s support for rural water 

infrastructure is already making a 

big impact here in Louisiana. Last 

month, my staff and I traveled to 

East Feliciana to present certificates 

to two small rural water systems 

in dire need of upgrades to 

aging water infrastructure. Through 

Rural Development Water & Environmental 

Grant and Loan Program, 

East Feliciana Rural Water 

System received $9.3 million and 

East Feliciana Water Works #7 received 

$2.1 million for water system 

improvements. The loan rates and 

terms make the note affordable for 

the system and less burdensome 

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Treasury Notes 

LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS AND NOW HARD WORK MUST BEGIN 

BY STATE TREASURER JOHN M. SCHRODER 

The legislative sessions are finally 

over. At the end of the day, whether 

everyone agreed on how we got 

there, we do have a budget. Higher 

education and other critical needs 

were spared from cuts, and the Legislature and the Administration 

together backed us off the fiscal cliff. 

This is all good news, for now. We may have solved today’s 

problems, but we’re still ignoring tomorrow’s. We’ve 

done nothing to make lasting, structural changes to our 

budget and how we operate state government. 

Before becoming State Treasurer I was a legislator for 10 

years and have gotten quite familiar with the spending 

habits of various administrations. Over the past two years, 

Louisiana’s expenditures have grown quite a bit. I believe 

government is on an unaffordable track, and I’m afraid we 

will outgrow any new cash faster than you can blink. 

One of the reasons government growth is unsustainable is 

because your income isn’t keeping up. Over the last two 

years, state government expenditures have grown by over 

24 percent, while income for Louisiana residents who go 

to work every day has grown by less than 1 percent. This 

is an unsustainable pace! 

One thing that is growing along with government spending 

is Louisiana’s individual per capita debt. It was $1,615 

in 2017 compared to $1,138 in neighboring states. We’re 

almost $500 a person higher than Alabama, Arkansas, 

Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee. 

We’ve got an unreformed tax structure; a state employee 

pension system that needs to be fixed; a Medicaid program 

that needs accountability; a capital outlay process 

that is broken; and our state savings account known as 

the “Rainy Day Fund” is grossly underfunded. In fact, last 

year $99 million was moved from the account to shore 

up a projected shortfall, only to have a surplus at the end 

of the year and not need the money. Instead of returning 

“ALL” of the money back to the account, most was spent 

on pet projects around the state. 

We know what’s broken, but how do we fix it? We have to 

improve our Rainy Day savings account, and I will continue 

to strongly push for this. We must also make structural 

changes to the way we budget. I encourage the Governor 

and the Legislature to consider reforms that bring our 

spending in line with what the taxpayers can afford. As 

revenues improve, we need to look at ways to spend less 

than what the Revenue Estimating Conference recognizes. 

This will create a savings every year and ensure we do not 

have mid-year budget cuts. 

There are some things Louisiana is doing right. The new 

state government transparency website is up and running. 

We’ve had very productive calls with the national Rating 

Agencies. Moody’s Investor’s Service has already upgraded 

the outlook on the state’s credit rating from negative 

to stable. Our cash position has improved greatly, and 

we’re hopeful for other improvements in our bond rating. 

We also continue to have a strong asset in the state’s 

Bond Security and Redemption Fund, which guarantees 

the state’s debt will be paid first. It’s one of the best in the 

nation, and few states have one. 

We may not all agree on how we got there, but now that 

the budget is done, we need to move on. One of the 

biggest questions moving forward will be to see where we 

can get everyone to agree. I just hope the same passion 

and effort that was used to raise your taxes will be dedicated 

to finding structural fixes to the state’s budget. 

Page 12 


Partner Insight 

New Tax Law: Is it a positive for Municipal Issuers? 

BY SHAUN TOUPS, GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS 

On May 15th, Cameron Parish was the first in the country 

to price Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) 

bonds with the assistance of Morgan Stanley (underwriter) 

and Government Consultants (Municipal Advisor). This 

GOMESA bond transaction which closed on June 12th was 

a huge success. The Parish realized benefits by leveraging 

their annual appropriation to get almost $12 million for 

shoreline protection NOW. All GOMESA recipients received 

their first GOMESA checks in April. There are 19 parishes 

and the state that receive GOMESA revenues, and those 

revenues for this FY ranged from $517,254 to $1,623,361 for 

the 19 parishes with the state receiving $66,271,724. 

GOMESA was signed into law in late 2006, and significantly 

enhances Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and 

gas leasing activities and increases the share that oil and 

gas producing states will receive from OCS revenues from 

GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC. 

Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing 

certain OCS leases. The first payments start in Federal 

FY 2018. GOMESA funds can only be used for: mitigation 

of effects from outer OCS activities through onshore 

infrastructure projects, coastal protection, mitigation of 

damage to wildlife or natural resources, implementation of 

a federally-approved conservation management plan, and 

associated planning and administrative expenses. 

When the bonds were offered, there was great interest 

among potential investors with a large number expressing 

an interest in the offer, and the offer being seven times 

oversubscribed on the date of pricing. This interest helped 

drive down the rate for the Parish. 

If you are you one of the 18 remaining parishes that qualifies 

for GOMESA funding you should contact Government 

Consultants, Inc. Together, we can make this revenue stream 

have a greater impact on solving your coastal needs. 

L. Gordon King 

Dede Riggins 

Nnamdi I. Thompson 

Shaun B. Toups 

David M. Medlin 

James R. Ryan 

Stephen Holley 

(MSRB Registered Municipal Advisors) 

700 North 10 th Street Annex Bldg. 

Baton Rouge, LA 70802 

(225) 344‐2098 (Phone) (225) 344‐5952 (Fax) 

gcla@gc‐la.net (email) 

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 grown 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 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. 

We Have The Experience! 


Cover Story: 

LMA ELECTS 2018-19 LEADERSHIP 

BY ANITA M. TILLMAN, LMA COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT 

Harry Lewis, Mayor of Rayville 

was installed as president of the 

Louisiana Municipal Association 

on Thursday, August 2, during the 

LMA’s 81st annual convention at the 

Lake Charles Center. Also installed 

Thursday night were Sibley mayor 

Jimmy Williams, as LMA First Vice 

President, and Grosse Tete mayor 

Michael Chauffe, as LMA Second Jimmy Williams 

Vice President. 

Mayor Lewis succeeds Lawrence Henagan, mayor of 

DeQuincy, as LMA’s highest ranking officer. As LMA 

President, Mayor Lewis will serve as the state’s leading 

advocate for villages, towns, and cities during 2018- 

2019. As LMA president, he will lead the LMA Executive 

Board and chair the LMA Executive Committee. Mayor 

Henagan, as LMA Immediate Past President, will continue 

to serve on the LMA Executive Board. 

“Harry Lewis is a 

stand-up guy and 

will make a great 

LMA President,” 

said Henagan. 

“He is a man of 

few words, but 

like E.F. Hutton, 

when he talks, 

people listen. He 

is well respected 

throughout the 

organization 

and LMA is in 

good hands with 

Harry leading. I’m 

looking forward to 

the great things 

that are ahead of 

us this year.” 

After serving 

two years in the United States Army, Lewis returned 

to Rayville and worked in the field of education for 29 

years. During his career in education, Harry Lewis was 

employed as a teacher, head basketball coach, assistant 

principal, and principal of Rayville High School - a 

position he held until retirement. 

He was elected to the Rayville Town Council and served 

for four terms. Lewis was recently re-elected as mayor 

and is now in his fifth term. Harry Lewis has served as 

LMA District C Vice-President, as well as Second Vice- 

President and First Vice-President. 

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as president of 

this great organization. I fully realize that I am standing 

on the shoulders of Mayor Lawrence Henagan and 

past presidents who preceded me,” said Lewis. “I look 

forward to partnering with our first vice president, Mayor 

Jimmy Williams; and our newly elected second vice 

president, Mayor Michael Chauffe. Additionally, I am 

eager to serve with Executive Director, John Gallagher 

and his staff. They truly handle the affairs of LMA with 

passion and expertise. I will work diligently and faithfully 

with other leaders, stakeholders and LMA members, 

to deliver the very best resources and services to our 

municipalities.” 

Jimmy Williams served on the 

Sibley Board of Alderman for four 

years and then won the mayor’s 

race in 2008. He has served as 

mayor for the Town of Sibley for ten 

years. In 2013, he was nominated 

and elected to the position of 

LMA District A Vice President and 

he also sat on the LMA Executive 

Board. Last year Mayor Williams 

Jimmy Williams 

resigned from his seat as LMA 

District A Vice President and was 

elected to LMA Second Vice President. 

In 1988, Michael Chauffe was 

elected as alderman for the Village 

of Grosse Tete, where he served 

four consecutive terms (16 years). 

In 2004 he was elected as mayor 

for the Village of Grosse Tete, 

and is currently serving his fourth 

consecutive term. Mayor Chauffe 

is also currently serving his second 

term as a Board Member for the 

Louisiana Asset Management Pool 

Michael Chauffe 

(LAMP), his second term as LMA 

District H Vice President, and his 

third term on the LMA Executive Committee. He also 

served a one-year term as LMA Vice President-at-Large. 

Page 14 


Convention 

2019 District Vice Presidents 

19 District Vice Presidents 

2018-19 District Vice Presidents 

trict vice presidents (DVP) have been 

to serve during 2018-2019. 

Ten district vice presidents (DVP) have been 

elected to serve during 2018-2019. 

Each DVP serves as a regional 

representative and voting member of the 

LMA Executive Board. 

VP serves as a regional 

ntative and voting member of the 

xecutive Board. 

LMA District A 

4 parishes, 34 municipalities 

LMA District B 


LMA District C 


LMA District D 


LMA District E 


LMA District F 


LMA District G 


istrict A 

hes, 34 municipalities 

istrict B 


istrict C 


istrict D 


istrict E 


istrict F 


istrict G 


LMA District H 


LMA District I 


LMA District J 

LMA District H 



LMA District I 


LMA District J 


trict A: 

or Peggy 

dkins 

arepta 

District A: 

Mayor Peggy Adkins 

Sarepta 

District A: 

Mayor Peggy 

Adkins 

Sarepta 

District F: 

Mayor Purvis Morrison 

Scott 

District B: 

Mayor Roy Lewis 

Homer 

District B: 


Homer 

District B: 


Homer 

District G: 

Mayor Kenneth Stinson 

Vinton 

District C: 

Mayor Pro Tempore 

Lucy Holtzclaw 

Sterlington 

District C: 

Mayor Pro 

Tempore Lucy 

Holtzclaw 

Sterlington 

District C: 

Mayor Pro 

Tempore Lucy 

Holtzclaw 

Sterlington 

District H: 

Mayor David Toups 

Addis 

District D: 

Mayor Rick Allen 

Leesville 

District D: 


Leesville 

District D: 


Leesville 

District I: 

Mayor Donald Villere 

Mandeville 

District E: 

Councilman 

Nathan Martin 

Pineville 

District E: 

Councilman 

Nathan Martin 

Pineville 

District E: 

Councilman 

Nathan Martin 

Pineville 

District J: 

Mayor Rodney Grogan 

Patterson 

District F: District G: 

District H: 

District I: 

District J: 

Mayor LMR Purvis | August 2018 Mayor Kenneth Mayor David Toups Mayor Donald Mayor Rodney Page 15 

Morrison 

Stinson 

Addis 

Villere 

Grogan 

Scott 

Vinton 

Mandeville 

Patterson

Government Officials Flocked to Lake Charles 

for the LMA Annual Convention 

Statewide and local elected officials and municipal 

employees, representing over 300 municipalities from 

every corner of the state, descended on the city of Lake 

Charles from July 31 – August 2 for the 81st Annual 

Louisiana Municipal Association Convention at the Lake 

Charles Convention Center. 

“Planning this year’s convention was completely a team 

effort,” said mayor of Lake Charles, Nic Hunter. “This was 

by no means just the City of Lake Charles. Every city in 

this parish came together and worked to welcome you 

all and really make you feel at home here. 

We [elected officials] get a bad rap sometimes, and 

sometimes the headlines will talk about the one or two 

percent out there that have done something wrong and 

we don’t hear about the 98 percent of us elected officials 

that every day, go to work and remember why we set out 

to do this wonderful job - to represent individuals and to 

serve the community.” 

Governor John Bel Edwards, Lt. Governor Billy 

Nungesser, State Treasurer John Schroder, and Insurance 

Commissioner Jim Donelon were among those attending 

the state’s largest gathering of municipalities. The 

opening session on Tuesday included an address from 

Eric Soileau, President of the Police Jury Association of 

Louisiana and Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin. 

Mayor Lawrence Henagan calls the Opening Session to order. 

Lake Charles Police Department Color Guard 

John Gallagher chats with Eric Soileau. 

Mayor Nic Hunter welcomes the delegation to Lake Charles. 

John Gallagher chats with Eric Soileau. 

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin 

Page 16 


Convention 

Prayer Breakfast 

The City of Pineville once again hosted an outstanding 

prayer breakfast. Vocalist Ben Waites served as the 

featured entertainment and gave a truly moving 

performance. Two-time Olympic medalist and 

motivational speaker, Hollis Conway, was the keynote 

speaker who delivered an entertaining and inspirational 

message to the hundreds of delegates gathered in the 

arena of the Lake Charles Convention Center. State 

Treasurer John Schroder shared closing remarks with the 

delegation. 

Mayor Clarence Fields (Pineville), Hollis Conway,Pineville Chief of Staff Rich 

Dupree (standing), Ben Waites, and Councilman Nathan Martin (Pineville). 

State Treasure John Schroder gives closing remarks. 

Ben Waites of Ben Waites Ministries 

Looking for 

Salary Data? 

Through a partnership with 

SurveyNavigator, LMA 

members can find salary data for 

more than 60 jobs commonly 

found in Louisiana local 

government. With an easy online 

interface, Louisiana’s elected and 

appointed officials can make 

hiring and advancement decisions 

with confidence in the most 

current and accurate data 

available in the market. 

Compare directly 

between munis 

Accurate and 

timely info 

Customized 

search and save 

LaMATS 

CALL (225) 344-5001 or VISIT WWW.LAMATS.NET/SERVICES 

Hollis Conway delivers the keynote address. 


Lt. Gov’s Beautification Awards Winners 

This year LMA presented 

the third annual Lt. 

Governor’s Beautification 

Awards. This program 

has been put in place to 

encourage cleanliness 

and beautification in our 

communities throughout 

the year. In order to 

qualify, municipalities must 

meet the criteria of both 

Keep Louisiana Beautiful 

and the Louisiana Garden 

Club Federation’s Cleanest 

Cities Contest. 

Keep Louisiana Beautiful is 

Louisiana’s premier organization 

in the fight against 

litter. Over the past decade, 

KLB has awarded millions 

in community grants to 

KLB affiliates, municipalities, 

and other non-profit 

organizations. 

The Louisiana Garden 

Club Federation’s Cleanest 

Cities Contest was started 

in 1958 as a means to 

promote a cleaner Louisiana. 

Louisiana is the 

only state to have such 

a program. To enter the 

contest, a city must be 

sponsored by a Federated 

Garden Club. The deadline 

for entries into the contest 

was February 1, 2018. A city 

must show evidence of the 

work that it has done to 

promote litter abatement. 

The following municipalities 

have participated in 

both the Cleanest City 

Program and Keep LA 

Beautiful for a full year and 

have completed the criteria 

for both programs. 

Congratulations to the 

following municipalities 

for winning the Lieutenant 

City of Abbeville 

Village of Florien 

City of Gretna 

Town of Homer 

City of Lake Charles 

Village of Loreauville 

City of Bogalusa 

Town of Grand Isle 

City of Hammond 

Town of Jean Lafitte 

Town of Lecompte 

CIty of Monroe 

Page 18 


Convention 

Governor’s Beautification 

Awards! 

• City of Abbeville 

• Town of Homer 

• City of Lake Charles 

• Village of Loreauville 

• City of Bogalusa 

• City of Rayne 

• Town of Grand Isle 

• City of Gretna 

• City of Hammond 

• Town of Jean Lafitte 

• Town of Lecompte 

• City of Monroe 

• Town of Pearl River 

• Village of Florien 

• City of Winnfield 

*Also seen in each photo 

is Susan Russell and Eligah 

Guillory of Keep Louisiana 

Beautiful, and Lena 

Bateman, State President 

of the Louisiana Garden 

Club Federation. 

Town of Pearl River 

City of Winnfield 

City of Rayne 

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser 

Over 800 delegates filled the Wednesday luncheon 


LMA Service Awards 

Each year, LMA pays tribute to elected municipal officials who 

have given their communities many years of public service. This 

year, 31 distinguished individuals have fulfilled the public duty 

of serving their citizens in every way. We recognize elected officials 

who have served for four, six, eight, and ten terms in office. 

The dedication of our recipients has earned our respect and admiration. 

These recipients have given Louisiana’s municipalities a 

collective total of 612 years of commitment to public service! 

Four-Star Silver Service Award: 

The Silver-Star Service Award represents four terms in office, or 

16 years of elected service. This year, we honored the following 

recipients, who are: 

Barry Bonner, Chief of Police, Sterlington 

Tommy Branch, Alderman, Jonesville 

Myron K. Brown, Alderman, Simmesport 

Abby T. Cochran, Alderwoman, St. Francisville 

Lloyd Gene Glascock, Mayor, Albany 

Gerald Hamilton, Mayor, Colfax 

Kim Harbison, Councilwoman, Slidell 

Rodney Hartman, Councilman, Lockport 

Ronald A. Hill, Alderman, Sterlington 

Loria Hollins, Alderwoman, Jonesville 

Sheila Johnson, Councilwoman, Natchez 

Kelvin McCoy, Alderman, Boyce 

Lloyd Bee Martin, Councilman, Albany 

Purvis Morrison, Mayor, Scott 

Lorraine Sapp, Alderwoman, Colfax 

Eugene Smith, Mayor, Arcadia (posthumous) 

Sandy J. Sonnier, Alderman, Loreauville 

Terry Speicher, Councilman, New Llano 

Wayne A. Rau, Councilman, Gretna 

Edwin M. Reeves, Jr., Mayor, Plaquemine 

Six-Star Diamond Service Award: 

The Six-Star Diamond Service Award represents six terms in 

office, or 24 years of elected service. This year, we honored the 

following recipients, who are: 

Josie Bullitts, Alderwoman, Jonesville 

Gary Carlisle, Councilman, Arcadia 

Betty C. Coleman, Alderwoman, Gramercy 

Jeffery Darby, Councilman, Bossier City 

Kenneth L. Marsh, Alderman, Simmesport 

Oscar S. Mellion, Councilman, Plaquemine 

Stephen R. Mophett, Alderman, Jonesville 

Kathy M. Richard, Mayor, Arnaudville 

Don “Bubba” Williams, Councilman, Bossier City 

Reggie Skains, Mayor, Downsville 

Mike Toft, Alderman, Downsville 


following recipients: 

Warren Pourciau, Councilman, Livonia 

Ten-Star Diamond Service Award: 

The Ten-Star Diamond Service Award represents ten terms in 


following recipient: 

James Rucker Leake, Alderman, St. Francisville 

We are also proud to honor LMA staff members for their years of 

dedicated service. This year, we presented awards to: 

Bettie Bean, Receptionist, for 10 years of services 

Amber Rodriguez-Jones, Membership Services Coordinator, 

for 10 years of service 

Councilwoman Kim Harbison 

Slidell 

4 terms 

Alderman Ronald Hill 

Sterlington 

4 terms 

Alderman Kelvin McCoy 

Boyce 

4 years 

Alderwoman Loria Hollins 

Jonesville 

4 terms 

Eight-Star Diamond Service Award: 

The Eight-Star Diamond Service Award represents eight terms in 

Councilman Rodney Hartman 

Lockport 

4 terms 

Councilman Wayne Rau 

Gretna 

4 terms 

Page 20 


Convention 

Councilwoman Sheila Johnson 

Natchez 

4 terms 

Mayor Edwin M. Reeves, Jr. 

Plaquemine 

4 terms 

Mayor Gerald Hamilton 

Colfax 

4 terms 

Mayor Purvis Morrison 

Scott 

4 terms 

Police Chief Barry Bonner 

Sterlington 

4 terms 

Alderman Myron K. Brown 

Simmesport 

4 terms 

Alderman Stephen R. Mophett 

Jonesville 

6 terms 

Alderwoman Betty Coleman 

Gramercy 

6 terms 

Councilman Oscar Mellion 

Plaquemine 

6 terms 

Mayor Kathy Richard 

Arnaudville 

6 terms 

Alderman Kenneth Marsh 

Simmesport 

6 terms 

Councilman Warren Pourciau 

Livonia 

8 terms 

Alderman James Rucker Leake 

St. Francisville 

10 terms 

Bettie Bean 

LMA Receptionist 

10 years 

Amber Jones 

LMA Membership Services 

Coordinator 

10 years 


President’s Awards 

Each year, the President of the LMA recognizes those special 

individuals who have made special “above and beyond” contributions 

to our organization. 

In recognition of meritorious service to municipal government 

in Louisiana, the following received the President’s Awards in 

recognition of their meritorious service 

to municipal government in Louisiana: 

Vern Breland 

• Mayor, Town of Sterlington 

• Term ends in December and will 

mark 20 years of service to the 

town 

• Former Sterlington Police Chief 

and served on the town’s Board 

of Aldermen 

• LMA Past President and Executive 

Mayor Vern Breland 

Board Member 

Carroll Breaux 

• Mayor of Springhill 

• LMA Past President and Executive 

Board Member 

• Lead the charge to establish the 

technical assistance program 

for clerks 

Eugene Smith (posthumous award) 

• We are all deeply saddened by the 

loss of Eugene Smith on April 

23, 2018 

Mayor Carroll Breaux 

• At the time of his passing, he was 

in his 4th term as mayor of the 

Town of Arcadia 

• Mayor Smith was one of the longest 

serving District Vice Presidents 

in LMA History and was 

the Immediate Past President 

of LaMATS. He served the Town 

of Arcadia as mayor for 15 years 

and leaves behind a legacy that 

will live on for generations. 

Mayor Eugene Smith 

Mayor Smith’s award was graciously accepted by his daughter, Sheri Ann 

Smith Taylor. 

Louisiana Development 

Ready Community 

Awards Winners 

The Louisiana Development Ready 

Communities (LDRC) Program 

encourages and supports selected 

Louisiana communities to become 

development ready, competitive 

and “open for business” by creating 

and implementing a strategic 

community and economic development 

plan. In 2009 and 2010, 

Louisiana Economic Development 

(LED) selected 19 Communities to 

participate in the LDRC 

Pilot Program. The Louisiana 

Development Ready 

Community program 

was officially launched in 

2011 with 8 communities. 

These municipalities are 

all more competitive because 

they have a written 

plan describing how they 

are going to leverage 

assets and address challenges. 

Additionally, they 

can show progress from 

year to year because of 

developed measurements 

identified in their plans; 

much like mile-markers on 

a roadmap. 

Each community’s plan 

includes strategies to 

address education, 

workforce development, 

infrastructure, leadership, 

and marketing/communications. 

The communities 

are in the process of implementing 

their tactics. 

Each community must 

implement six elements 

of their plan by the end of 

the first year. 

Louisiana’s newest LDRC 

Communities are: Amite 

City, Gonzales, and Ruston. 

Congratulations! 

LED Secretary 

Don Pierson 

Town of Amite City 

City of Gonzales 

City of Ruston 

Page 22 


Convention 

Community Achievement Awards 

Ten Louisiana municipal governments – White Castle, 

Plaquemine, Natchitoches, Bossier City, Sterlington, 

Grambling, New Llano, Patterson, Bastrop, and Monroe 

– took home Community Achievement Awards, 

the LMA’s most prestigious award for outstanding 

municipal improvements and accomplishments. 

The top honors of the night went to the Town of Jean 

Lafitte, who took home the LMA’s 17th Annual “Best of 

Show Award” for its “Phase III of the Fisher Basin Tidal 

Levee Protection Project.” This initiative completes 

the final phase in a ring protection levee that will 

protect almost all of the town’s government and civic 

buildings, schools, health center, fire department, 

police station, three churches and over 300 residential 

homes from tidal flooding. 

“The Community Achievement Awards show that 

these municipalities have put a lot of hard work 

and dedication into bettering their communities,” 

said Mayor Lawrence Henagan (DeQuincy), LMA 

Immediate Past President. “I commend the winners on 

their foresight and vision. The competition through 

the years has really gotten pretty tough and this is a 

nice reward for hard work.” 

The LMA’s annual awards program recognizes 

municipalities for outstanding achievement in basic 

services, community development, and economic 

development. Within these categories, awards are 

presented in four population subcategories. 

“The Community Achievement Awards mean a lot 

to the cities,” said John Gallagher, LMA Executive 

Director. “Many folks, when they develop their 

projects, do so with the idea of entering it into the 

Community Achievement Awards competition, 

so there is a lot of thought that goes into the 

development of projects with the hope of being 

recognized by the LMA. It’s like the Academy Award 

for Louisiana municipalities. These folks are very 

proud and we’re proud to recognize their efforts.” 

Safety Consulting and Programs 

16260 Airline Highway, Suite B 

Prairieville, LA 70769 

chris@riskwise.biz 

Chris Conti 

Board Certified Safety Professional 

Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter 

www.riskwise.biz 

O 225.313.4448 

C 225.413.7542 

F 225.313.4518 

Entries submitted were judged by a committee 

of judges from Louisiana Economic Development, 

Louisiana Industrial Development Executives 

Association, Capital Region Planning Commission, 

the Louisiana Main Street, and the Louisiana Office of 

State Fire Marshall. 

The award winners and honorable mentions in each 

category and population group are as follows: 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY 

Population 3,000 and under: 

Winner: 

• Town of White Castle – White Castle’s Splashpad & Pavilion 

Honorable Mention: 

• Town of Abita Springs – Renewable Energy Project – Solar 

• Village of Athens – Promotion of Community Projects 

Population 3,001 to 10,000: 

Winner: 

• City of Plaquemine – City Park Improvement Project 


• City of Tallulah – Fairgrounds Park 

• Town of Grand Isle – Ninety-West Park 


Winner: 

• City of Natchitoches – Rue Beauport Redevelopment, 

“Where New Meets Old” 


• City of Gretna – Gretna Comprehensive Plan – Leveraging 

Success for a more Sustainable and Resilient Future 

Population 25,001 and over: 

Winner: 

• City of Bossier City – Bossier City’s Re-Envisioning of 

Downtown Bossier 


• City of Alexandria – Frank O. Hunter Park Programming 

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 


Winner: 

• Town of Sterlington – Sterlington Sports Complex 


Winner: 

• City of Grambling – Legends Square Retail Development 


• Town of Vidalia – Development of Slackwater Mississippi 

River Port at Vidalia 

BASIC SERVICES 


Winner: 

SEE ACHIEVEMENT, PAGE 24 


CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23: ACHIEVEMENT 

• Town of New Llano – New Llano Water Well Construction 

Project 

Honorable Mentions: 

• Town of Sarepta – Updating Our Police Department 

• Town of Simmesport – Simmesport Police Department 

Upgrades 


Winner: 

• City of Patterson – The City of Patterson 1.5 MGD Compact 

Clarification Water Treatment Plant 


• City of Ville Platte – Mayor’s Voice to the Residents 

BEST OF SHOW 


Winner: 

• City of Bastrop – Blights Out Bastrop! 


• City of Ruston – Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) 

Population 25,001 and over: 

Winner: 

• City of Monroe – Water System Improvement Program 


• City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge – BRLA.gov 

Town of Jean Lafitte 

Economic Development 

Population 3,000 and under Population 3,001 to 10,000 

Town of Sterlington 

City of Grambling 

Page 24 


Convention 

Community Development 

Basic Services 

Population 25,001 and over Population 10,001 to 25,000 Population 3,001 to 10,000 Population 3,000 and under 

Town of White Castle 

City of Plaquemine 

City of Natchitoches 

Town of New Llano 

City of Patterson 

City of Bastrop 

City of Bossier City 

City of Monroe 


Workshops and Meetings 

Education is a key component of LMA’s mission, and this 

year, 18 workshops were offered during the convention. 

The delegates filled the rooms to soak up valuable 

information from topics ranging from tourism to the 

opioid crisis to small cell technology. 

Workshop topics included: 

Is Your Water System What It Should Be? 

Financing Capital Outlay Projects for Municipalities 

Blighted Property Challenges 

Tourism and Louisiana Main Streets 

Preparing for the 2020 Census 

Discrimination in the Workplace 

RMI Programs and Services 

The Opioid Crisis 

LGAP and CWEF Programs 

Ethics for Municipal Officials and Employees 

Mayor and Chief of Police Relations Panel 

Public Records 

Mosquito Abatement and Resources 

Storm Water: The Importance of Retention and 

Detention 

Small Cell Technology and Deployment 

Legislative Auditor’s Top 10 

Public Bid Law and Procurement 

Internet Security 

Page 26 


Convention 


Convention Workshops and Meetings 

Page 28 


Convention 

The Lake Charles Convention Center was 

filled to maximum capacity with exhibitors 


Exhibits 

Page 30 


Convention 

levels] 

Sponsors [Frank – please scale the logos according to the sponsor 

levels] Convention Sponsors [Frank – please scale the logos according to the sponsor 

Convention 

levels] 

Platinum 

Platinum 

The 81st Annual Convention was sponsored by: 

Platinum 

PLATINUM 

Gold 

Gold 

Gold 

GOLD 

Silver 

Silver 

Silver 

SILVER 

Bronze 

American Bronze Municipal Services, LTD 

American Municipal Services, LTD 

Atmos 

Bronze 

Energy Louisiana 

Atmos American Black Energy Belt Municipal Louisiana Energy Services, LTD 

Black Atmos American Belt Capital Energy 

One Municipal Louisiana Services, LTD 

Capital Black Atmos Cenla OneBelt Environmental Energy Energy Louisiana Science 

Capital Black Cleco Belt One 

Cenla Environmental Energy Science 

Cenla Capital Environmental One Science 

Cleco 

Cleco Cenla Environmental Science 

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. 

Cleco 

GameTime by Total Recreation Products 

Kel-Ar Energy Consulting, LLC 

Kincade Recreation 

BRONZE 

Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. 

LaMATS 

GameTime by Total Recreation Products 

Louisiana Ergon Kel-Ar Assistive Asphalt Energy & Technology Consulting, Emulsions, LLC Inc. Access Network 

Louisiana GameTime Ergon Kincade Community Asphalt Recreation by Total & Emulsions, Development Recreation Inc. Products Authority 

Material Kel-Ar GameTime LaMATS Resources, Energy by Consulting, Total Inc. Recreation LLC Products 

Kincade Kel-Ar Energy Recreation 

National Louisiana Networks Assistive Consulting, Technology LLC Access Network 

LaMATS Kincade Recreation 

Planet Recess, Inc. 

Louisiana LaMATS Assistive Technology Access Network 

Planet Recess, Inc. 

Louisiana Assistive Technology Access Network 

Reliant Investment Management, LLC 

Waste Pro USA 

Wastewater Treatment of Louisiana 


Transportation Asset Management & Disaster Recovery Training 

There has never been a combined training event like 

this anywhere in the country from state transportation/ 

emergency management along with FEMA and FHWA. 

This training will provide local agencies that own roads 

and bridges with tools and resources to conduct damage 

assessment and apply for emergency disaster funding 

through FEMA or FHWA. The new joint GOHSEP/ 

DOTD/FHWA/FEMA documentation guide and damage 

assessment checklists will be presented for the first time. 

For more information go to our website at lma.org or 

contact Brett Kriger at bkriger@lma.org. 

Reserve Your Seat At: 

gohsep.la.gov/resources/training-events-schedule 

Please Forward This Invitation To The 

Appropriate Individuals Within Your Organization 

REGISTER NOW! 

EMERGENCY DISASTER RECOVERY 

PROCESS FOR TRANSPORTATION ASSETS 

Presented in Cooperation with FHWA, GOHSEP, DOTD, LTAP, LMA, FEMA 

September 4, 2018 September 18, 2018 August 22, 2018 September 5, 2018 September 11, 2018 

Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Region 4 Region 5 

East Bank Library 

4747 W. Napoleon Ave. 

Metairie, LA 70001 

Lamar Dixon Expo Ctr. 

9039 S St. Landry Ave. 

Gonzales, LA 70737 

Terrebonne EOC 

101 Government St. 

Gray, LA 70359 

Abdalla Hall Auditorium 

635 Cajundome Blvd. 

Lafayette, LA 70506 

Calcasieu OHSEP 

901 Lake Shore Dr. 

Lake Charles, LA 70602 

09:00 AM - 1:00 PM 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM 

August 23, 2018 August 30, 2018 August 28, 2018 August 29, 2018 September 6, 2018 

Region 6 Region 6 (2 nd Offering) Region 7 Region 8 Region 9 

Red Cross 

Natchitoches Muni. Bldg. Caddo EOC 

Ouachita EOC 

Tangipahoa OHSEP 

425 Bolton Ave. 560 Second St. 

1144 Texas Ave. 1000 New Natchitoches Rd. 114 N. Laurel 

Alexandria, LA 71301 Natchitoches, LA 71457 Shreveport, LA 71101 West Monroe, LA 71201 Amite , LA 70422 

08:30 AM - 12:30 PM 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM 09:00 AM - 1:00 PM 09:00 AM - 1:00 PM 09:00 AM - 1:00 PM 

PURPOSE 

PRESORT 

Provide STANDARD local agencies that own roads and bridges with tools 

and U.S. POSTAGE resources to conduct damage assessment and apply 

for emergency PAID disaster funding through FEMA or FHWA. 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

TRAINING OBJECTIVES 

Identify roads, bridges and other assets according to eligibility 

for FEMA or FHWA emergency funding. 

Understand the process to initiate and complete the damage 

assessment and application processes for FEMA and FHWA. 

Understand the need for adequate documentation of pre-event 

conditions for FEMA and FHWA emergency funding. 

Properly manage and document the process of emergency 

work and permanent repairs. 

Page 32Better respond to FEMA and FHWA damage assessment 

and documentation requirements. 

Consider mitigation opportunities as part of the damage 

assessment and funding request process. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND 

Local agency and emergency operations 

personnel who have responsibilities related to 

transportation infrastructure that include: 

Pre-event inventory and condition documentation. 

Damage assessment and documentation after disasters. 

Gather information and provide documentation 

to prepare FEMA Project Worksheet or FHWA Detailed 

Damage Inspection Reports (DDIR). 

Provide liaison activity to the Federal and State 

ER personnel. 

Public works, engineers and road management 

personnel. 

Parish OEP Directors and local disaster recovery 

specialists. 

Administrative and Financial officers with 

LMR | August 2018 

emergency response/recovery related duties. 

Individual(s) responsible for their disaster 

reimbursement programs.

LMR_August2018

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