LMR_Feb_2019

Louisiana Municipal Review 

PUBLISHED BY THE LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION 

VOL 84, NO. 2 

FEBRUARY 2019 

Mid-Winter 

Conference 

Agenda 

Page 22

Don’t leave procurement to chance! 

Let LPS manage every aspect of your local 

government purchasing needs, large or small. 

SEALED BIDS 

REVERSE AUCTIONS 

SURPLUS PROPERTY SALES 

PUBLIC PROJECT FINANCING 

EXPERT CONSULTATION 

LAMATS.NET/LPS | 225.344.5001 

The Louisiana Municipal Review, the official publication of the Louisiana Municipal Association, serves as a medium for the exchange 

of ideas and information for municipal officials in Louisiana. With a circulation of over 3,200, this publicationis read by employees of 

Louisiana municipal governments, sheriffs, parish presidents, state government officials, and members of the state legislature and 

Congressional delegation, among others. Subscription rate: $24 per year; Single copy: $2. Louisiana residents, add 9% sales tax. Rates 

for display, professional-listing, and classified advertising available upon request at editor@lma.org. 

Statements or expressions of opinions appearing herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Louisiana Municipal 

Association. Publication of any advertisement shall not be considered an endorsement of the product or service involved. No 

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 - 

4327, editor@lma.org, www.lma.org, (225) 344-5001, (800) 234-8274, FAX (225) 344-3057. 

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW 

MUNICIPAL REVIEW STAFF 

(USPS 832-560) (ISSN 0164-3622) 

Executive Director: John Gallagher jgallagher@lma.org 

3 rd class postage paid at Baton Rouge, 

Managing Editor: Karen Day White kwhite@lma.org 

Louisiana. 

Editor: Anita Tillman atillman@lma.org 

Postmaster – Send address changes to: 

Production Coordinator: Baton Rouge Press, Inc. 

LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW 

Post Office Box 4327 

Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4327 

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

President – Harry Lewis – Mayor, Rayville 

District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson 

First Vice President – Jimmy Williams – Mayor, Sibley 

Second Vice President– Michael Chauffe – Mayor, Grosse Tete 

Immediate Past President – Lawrence Henagan, DeQuincy 

District A Vice President – Peggy Adkins, Mayor, Sarepta 

District C Vice President – 

, Mayor, 

District D Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville 

District E Vice President – Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville 

District F Vice President – 

, Mayor, 

District G Vice President – Kenneth Stinson, Mayor, Vinton 

District H Vice President – David Toups, Mayor, Addis 

District I Vice President – Donald Villere, Mayor, Mandeville 

LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro 

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth 

LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle 

LMA Past President – Clarence Fields, Mayor, Pineville 

LMA Past President – Norman Heine, Councilman, Baker 

Vice President at Large – Derrick Johnson, Mayor, Cheneyville 

Vice President at Large – Jennifer Vidrine, Mayor, Ville Platte 

Vice President (< 1K) – Johnnie L. Natt, Mayor, Mangham 

Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – William D'Aquilla, Mayor, St. Francisville 

Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – Robert Hardey, Mayor, Westlake 

Page 2 

LMR | February 2019

Inside the LMA 

Director’s Viewpoint 

LOOKING FORWARD TO MID-WINTER 

BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

February is here and like many 

of you, I am still reeling from 

the heartbreaking loss felt 

by our beloved New Orleans 

Saints. Camille and I were in 

that number in the Superdome that fateful Sunday 

afternoon, and it was tough to watch, but we know 

our Saints are resilient and will make another run in 

2019! There is a silver lining: Mardi Gras season is 

upon us and many of Louisiana’s municipalities are 

beginning a month-long preparation for celebrations 

and parades, which culminates on Fat Tuesday, March 

5. February is also National African-American History 

Month and the theme for 2019 is “Black Migrations,” 

which focuses on tracking the continuous movement 

of African-Americans from the American south to 

the industrialized north during the 20th century. 

Please join me in reflecting on the contributions of 

generations of African-Americans, including our 

diverse membership of elected and appointed officials 

throughout the state. 

We will host our 2019 Mid-Winter Conference on 

February 19 and 20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in 

Baton Rouge. I urge you to register for this event - 

especially the newly-elected officials - as it promises 

to be a highly informative conference. This year’s 

curriculum centers on funding opportunities from 

the state and federal government. You will hear 

about funds available for a variety of purposes from 

the USDA Office of Rural Development, Louisiana 

Department of Transportation, and the Louisiana State 

Office of Community Development. The second day 

of the conference will feature operational basics of 

municipal government, including expert teachings 

on the Lawrason Act, open meetings, public records, 

and municipal finances. We are thrilled to announce 

an all-star cast of speakers for this event, including 

Governor John Bel Edwards, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, 

Congressman Garrett Graves, and other statewide 

elected officials. We will also have Louisiana 

Department of Transportation and Development 

Secretary Dr. Shawn Wilson and State Director of 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural 

Development, Dr. Carrie Castille.1 You may also 

fulfill your mandatory one-hour of training under the 

Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics. I want to 

remind newly-elected officials that you must complete 

the ethics training within 90 days of taking office. 

Please see the agenda in this issue of the Louisiana 

Municipal Review and look for the LMA’s weekly 

e-newsletter for updates on the conference. A very 

special thank you goes out to our generous sponsors 

and exhibitors - your support makes this conference a 

success. 

Members of the Municipal Employees Retirement of 

Louisiana (MERS), the Firefighters Retirement System 

(FFRS), or the Municipal Police Employees Retirement 

System (MPERS), please note that there will be a 

meeting this month of the Public Retirement Systems 

Actuarial Committee (PRSAC) during which they 

will set the contribution rate for member employers. 

We have informed our members about the concerns 

regarding the potentially dramatic increase in the 

employer contribution rate, depending on which 

actuarial calculation is adopted. As of this writing, 

the meeting date has not been announced, but the 

committee must meet before the end of February. 

Please know that we are working with all three systems 

to monitor this issue and we will keep you informed 

through email calls to action, our e-newsletter, and 

targeted memoranda. 

The fall election cycle created vacancies on the 

LMA Executive Board, prompting three special 

district meetings to fill those vacancies. Join me in 

congratulating and welcoming to the LMA board Mayor 

Ronny Walker (Ruston) from District B, Mayor Adam 

Holland (Oak Grove) from District C, and Mayor Charles 

James (Sunset) from District F. The LMA staff and I 

look forward to working with these district leaders, and 

we look forward to seeing you at the 2019 Mid-Winter 

Conference! 

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 

LMR | February 2019 Page 3

President’s Message 

EVENTS GALORE 

BY MAYOR HARRY LEWIS, TOWN OF RAYVILLE 

We are entering the second month 

of the new year, and it is packed 

with so many events. Mardi Gras 

parades and parties will soon be 

in full swing, especially in New Orleans and the southern 

parts of the state. This is always a festive, fun-filled time, 

but please exercise caution and awareness. Be safe. 

Additionally, February is the month when we celebrate 

Black History. This year’s theme is “Black Migration”. 

Schools, churches and communities across America will 

recognize the rich history, as well as the struggles and 

achievements of African-Americans. On a personal note, 

I am proud to be an African-American president of the 

Louisiana Municipal Association, a diverse and inclusive 

organization. Please plan to participate in the Black 

History activities your community may have. 

Please, gentlemen (and ladies), mark your calendars! 

Save the date! February 14, 2019 is Valentine’s Day. Don’t 

forget to show your love and appreciation for those 

special people in your life. Don’t forget to show love 

and appreciation for your constituents, your staff and 

employees. 

Congratulations are in order to the new District 

Vice-Presidents elected to fill vacancies in several 

municipalities. We welcome you and are eager to serve 

with you. 

Our biggest and most exciting event this month is the 

LMA Mid-Winter Conference on February 19-20 at the 

Crowne Plaza Hotel, Baton Rouge. We have carefully 

selected topics that reflect issues and concerns facing 

many municipalities. Speakers will share information on 

aging infrastructures, transportation, grants and funds 

availability. 

Newly elected members will have the opportunity to learn 

about open meetings, the Lawrason Act, capital outlay, as 

well as participate in mandatory ethics training. This is a 

great time for new members to meet LMA staff members, 

make new friends and share ideas. Vendors will also have 

displays of products that may benefit both seasoned and 

new members. 

February is filled with events galore. I hope you will enjoy 

all the events available in your community. We are looking 

forward to seeing you at the Mid-Winter Conference. 

Page 4 



Governor’s Column 

SESSION SNEAK PREVIEW 

BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA 

Carnival Season is here and there are plenty of 

parades, balls and king cake to go around for everyone. 

From North to South to Central Louisiana, all of our 

communities play host to some of the best the season 

has to offer. I hope that you and your families are able 

to enjoy them all. 

The partnership we’ve been able to build between 

the LMA and my administration is something we can 

both be very proud of. Together, we have been able 

to help make important improvements that have had a 

direct impact on the people of our great state. Thanks 

to a strong bipartisan effort, we have stabilized our 

budget for the long-term, instead of facing deficits 

we now have a surplus, and we have given our people 

a net tax reduction of $600 million. More people are 

working than ever before, we have attracted major 

economic development projects to the state that are 

producing more than $30 billion in capital investment 

that’s resulting in thousands of new jobs and retaining 

thousands of jobs across Louisiana. But as much as we 

have accomplished, our work is not done, and I look 

forward to continuing this journey with you. 

We all know the importance of a good education, but 

it is not enough to talk about it; we must put action 

behind those words. Giving teachers and school 

support personnel a pay raise is my top priority during 

the upcoming legislative session in April. Long overdue 

and well deserved, it has been nearly 10 years since 

educators have seen a pay increase. The facts are 

clear: Louisiana has reported shortages in nearly every 

subject since 2004 and at least 35 percent of children 

are being taught by out-of-field or uncertified teachers. 

We know that pay increases will help recruit talented 

teachers and make Louisiana more competitive with 

other states. While there may be different ideas on 

how to get there, I have not spoken to anyone of any 

political party who does not want to do the same. I 

know this is something we can make happen. 

Increasing the minimum wage is supported by an 

overwhelming majority of our people. That is why I 

will continue to advocate for a modest but meaningful 

increase to the minimum wage. This year, 20 states 

are giving their workers a higher minimum wage. Yet, 

Louisiana remains one of only five states that has not 

adopted a state minimum wage. The last time the 

federal minimum wage was increased was in 2009. 

Congress has made it pretty clear that they are leaving 

this issue up to the states. I will 

advance legislation to establish 

a state minimum wage at $8.00 

per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2020 

and $8.50 per hour beginning 

on Jan. 1, 2021. This is exactly what was approved in 

our neighboring state of Arkansas, which has already 

passed another increase beyond this. 

As leaders, you understand how vital it is to have 

affordable and accessible health care for our 

communities. We’ve been able to make that a reality 

for more than 480,000 working families and individuals 

through Medicaid expansion. Unfortunately, health 

insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions 

across this country could be in jeopardy. That is not the 

way it should be and I am determined to ensure that 

doesn’t happen here. Pre-existing medical conditions 

should not determine someone’s ability to receive care, 

which is why I will support legislation that protects the 

850,000 Louisianans who are at risk of losing coverage. 

We’ve made great strides in the fight against the opioid 

epidemic that affects so many in our state and country. 

Through legislative achievements and policy change, 

we have saved lives through limiting prescriptions of 

opioids. I will support efforts to establish enhanced data 

reporting of fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses where 

opioids were suspected or present. This legislation will 

create mechanisms for real-time surveillance of fatal 

and non-fatal overdoses in our state. These enhanced 

capabilities will lead to data-driven decisions for 

targeted prevention, intervention, and treatment in 

areas of the state with the most prevalent challenges. 

These efforts are key to ensuring that we make progress 

towards a healthier and more prosperous Louisiana. 

Thank you for making our state a great place to live, 

work and play. Donna and I wish you and those you 

love a happy and safe Mardi Gras. 

Searching for the right fit? 

THAT IS OUR SPECIALTY. 

Comprehensive Executive Recruitment 

focused on matching professional skills, 

management style and core values to fit your 

organization’s specific requirements. 

waters-company.com 800.899.1669 


Legal Briefs 

NEW SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION MANDATE 

BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL 

Since 2013, there has been a legislative mandate on the 

books compelling public servants to attend at least one 

hour of training in sexual harassment prevention every 

year (SCR 107 by Senator Erdey). Yet it was the national 

media spotlight, and #metoo and #timesup movements, 

that prompted the Legislature to adopt a new chapter 

of law that would make non-compliance punitive. In fact, 

Act 270 of the 2018 Regular Session, initially authored 

by Representative Barbara Carpenter, was ultimately 

co-authored by 99 representatives and 38 senators – a 

clear indication of the gravity legislators afforded to the 

subject matter. Titled, “Prevention of Sexual Harassment,” 

and codified in La. R.S. 42:341-345, the new law became 

effective in January of 2019, and it provides several 

mandates for municipalities (as well as all governmental 

bodies) of which our members should be aware. 

The first mandate is that every municipality must 

formulate and implement a policy that complies with the 

following requirements: (1) a clear statement that sexual 

harassment will not be tolerated, (2) a description, with 

examples, of behavior that is considered unacceptable 

under the policy, (3) a detailed description of the 

grievance protocols, including alternative persons to 

whom complaints may be made, (4) a clear statement 

that retaliation against those who file complaints or 

assist in an investigation shall not be tolerated, and (5) 

a description of the applicable federal and state law 

regarding sexual harassment. Even if you already have a 

policy regarding sexual harassment, now is the time to 

revisit and review that policy to ensure that it complies 

with these necessary elements. Courts historically do 

not favor employers who either have no policy, have 

an inadequate policy, or have a policy that they do not 

enforce – so compliance with all of the above is essential 

to guard against municipal liability for inappropriate 

conduct by an employee. The statute also requires that 

the sexual harassment policy be posted on the municipal 

website and posted conspicuously in each municipal 

building. 

The second element relates to training and it pertains 

to every public servant as defined by the statute, 

which basically amounts to everyone employed by the 

municipality. Each full calendar year of employment, 

every public servant must have at least one hour of inperson 

or online training on sexual harassment. Though 

Louisiana Civil Service is developing interactive CD’s 

to accomplish the training, it must be noted that the 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) 

has clearly enunciated a preference 

for in-person training over online or 

CD training. Beyond the minimum 

one hour of training, supervisors 

and agency designees for reporting and investigation 

of sexual harassment claims must receive “additional 

education and training.” The statute does not provide 

what that training is or even how much of it should be 

obtained. It is suggested that under the 2013 mandate 

and national standards, one additional hour of training 

on matters such as identifying potential harassment, 

investigating claims of harassment, and cultivating a 

workplace of respect and safety would be appropriate 

for those who are charged with receiving reports and 

investigating harassment claims, such as supervisors, HR 

specialists, department heads, and mayors. 

The third component mandates record-keeping and 

preparation of an annual report. Each municipality is to 

maintain some kind of record that evidences training 

and, starting February 1, 2020, every municipality 

shall compile a report by February 1st of each year 

summarizing the following from the previous calendar 

year: (1) the number and percentage of public servants in 

the body who have completed the training requirements; 

(2) the number of sexual harassment complaints 

received by the body; (3) the number of complaints 

which resulted in a finding that sexual harassment 

occurred; (4) the number of complaints in which the 

finding of sexual harassment resulted in discipline or 

corrective action; and (5) the amount of time it took 

to resolve each complaint. At this point, there is no 

directive on what to do with that report, other than 

to timely prepare it and maintain it as a public record 

for disclosure upon request or as part of the auditor’s 

agreed upon procedures. 

As newly elected officials are now settling into office 

and calendaring training, now is a great time to ask your 

municipal attorney to review and, if necessary, revise 

your harassment policy, and to make plans for training 

municipal officials and employees under the new laws. 

Editor’s Note: the information provided in this column is not a 

replacement for consultation with your own municipal attorney, 

and it should not be considered legal advice for any particular case 

or situation. You are encouraged to use the contents of this column 

as a platform to have meaningful discussions with your municipal 

counsel regarding possible litigation issues. 

Page 6 



2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature Reminders 

2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature 

Reminders 

Important Dates & Deadlines: The 2019 Regular Session will 

convene for 45 legislative days during a 60 calendar-day period at 

12:00 noon on Monday, April 8, 2019 and will adjourn no later than 

6:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2019 (Const. Art. III, §2(A)(4)(a)). 

Subject Matter: 

Limited to the following 3 classes of bills: 

Class I: Measure to enact a general appropriation bill: enact 

the comprehensive capital budget; make an appropriation; 

levy or authorize a new tax; increase an existing tax; levy, 

authorize, increase, decrease, or repeal a fee; dedicate revenue; 

legislate with regard to tax exemptions, exclusions, deductions, 

reductions, repeals, or credits; or legislate with regard to 

issuance of bonds. 

Class II: Local or special bills (those which are constitutionally 

required to be and have been advertised) 

Class III: Any other subject matter not covered by Class I or Class 

II. 

Note: ALL Class III bills MUST be PREFILED, and no member may 

prefile more than 5 such bills. There is no limit for prefiling Class 

I or Class II bills, but only 5 such bills may be introduced after 

session begins (Const. Art. III, §2(A)(4)(b)). 

Prefiling Deadlines: 

• Retirement: Any retirement bill (including any retirement 

bill that is also a Constitutional Amendment) that is to be 

prefiled must be REQUESTED before 5:00 PM, Wednesday, 

February 20, 2019, and PREFILED before 5:00 PM, Friday, 

February 22, 2019 (Const. Art. III, ‘2(A)(2)(c) and House 

Rule 7.2(F)). However, see 6(a) below regarding retirement 

notice. 

• Constitutional Amendments: ALL other Constitutional 

Amendments must be REQUESTED before Noon, 

Wednesday, March 27, 2019, and PREFILED before Noon, 

Friday, March 29, 2019 (Const. Art. XIII, ‘1(A) and House 

Rule 7.2(F)). 

• Other Bills: Any other bill that is to be prefiled must be 

REQUESTED before 5:00 PM, Wednesday, March 27, 2019, 

and PREFILED before 5:00 PM, Friday, March 29, 2019 

(Const. Art. III, ‘2(A)(2)(b) and House Rule 7.2(F)). 

Bills for Session Introduction: 

• A member may introduce not more than five additional 

bills after session begins. Such bills must be REQUESTED 

by 6:00 PM, Tuesday, April 16, 2019, and INTRODUCED by 

6:00 PM, Wednesday, April 17, 2019 (Const. Art. III, ‘2(A)(2) 

(a) and (4)(a) and House Rule 7.6(A)(3)). The following bills 

are not subject to this five-bill limit: general appropriation 

bill, judicial branch appropriation, legislative branch 

appropriation, capital outlay bill, omnibus bond 

authorization bill, supplemental appropriations bill, 

revenue sharing bill, and ancillary funds bill. 

Constitutionally Required Advertisement: 

• Retirement Bills - Publication in The Advocate on two 

separate days at least 60 days prior to introduction. Notice 

for a retirement bill to be introduced on the first day of 

session must have been submitted to The Advocate by 

Thursday, January 31, 2019. For Session introduction, a 

retirement bill must be submitted to The Advocate by 

Monday, February 11, 2019 (Const. Art. X, ‘29(C)). 

• Security Districts: Publication in the official journal of 

the locality on three separate days at least 30 days prior 

to introduction. To be safe, for first-day introduction, local 

bills to create security districts should be requested by 

Wednesday, February 6, 2019; thereafter, opportunity to 

publish local notice is dependent on circumstances with 

local newspaper (Const. Art. III, ‘13(B)). 

• Local Bills: Publication in the official journal of the locality 

on two separate days at least 30 days prior to introduction. 

To be safe, for first-day introduction, local bills should be 

requested by Wednesday, February 13, 2019; thereafter, 

opportunity to publish local notice is dependent on 

circumstances with local newspaper (Const. Art. III, ‘13(A)). 

Statutorily 

• Required Advertisement of Bills Affecting 

Compensation of Certain Local Officials: Publication on 

two separate days at least 30 days prior to introduction 

(Sheriffs (R.S. 13:5521(E)); School Board members (R.S. 

17:56(D)); Registrar of Voters and confidential assistants 

(R.S. 18:55(B) and 59(D)); Assessor’s salary or other 

emolument notice and Assessor’s expense allowance 

notice (R.S. 47:1907.1 and 1908(D)). Deadline for notice 

to parishes and school boards of change to assessors’ 

expense allowance: Thursday, March 28, 2019 (R.S. 

47:1908(D)). 

To view specific instructions concerning advertising 

requirements, you may download the 2019 Regular Session 

Information Bulleting issued by House Legislative Services on 

August 1, 2018 at https://legis.la.gov/legisdocs/19rs/19RS_ 

House_Bulletin.pdf. 

For more information, be sure to visit the LMA website 

(Legislative Advocacy Section) at www.lma.org or the Louisiana 

State Legislature’s website at www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx. 


Foresight is 2020: 

Coming Reassessment Presents a Call for Action 

BY MATT MULLENIX 

While next year promises to be a blockbuster for big 

decisions in the public sphere, 2020 marks an important 

four-year milestone for Louisiana municipalities and 

their citizens. The mandatory statewide reassessment 

of property values and millage rates occurs next year— 

which makes 2019 your municipality’s last opportunity to 

levy, collect, and secure the maximum authorized rates. 

The Louisiana Constitution mandates that all taxable 

property be reappraised at least once every four years, 

a process affecting both the aggregate value of homes 

and businesses as well as the millage rates levied by 

state taxing districts and local governments. 

These rates rise and fall according to assessed property 

values, so that collected revenues remain neutral. In 

theory, this system strikes a balance between individual 

taxes and municipal coffers that sustains a level of public 

service benefitting all. 

But in practice, the process is fraught with the specter 

of a perceived tax increase, an often unfounded fear 

that nonetheless prevents many local governments from 

taking simple steps to maintain the legally approved 

maximum rate. As a result, nearly half of all Louisiana 

municipalities may leave additional revenue uncollected. 

According to property tax consultant Kristyn Childers 

of Millage Management LLC, municipal councils may 

(and should) vote to preserve millage rates at the legal 

maximum. This can be done in any year prior to the next 

reassessment by following the legal procedure known 

as a “roll forward,” which establishes the authorized 

maximum millage rate, typically the same rate as the 

previous reassessment. 

But this opportunity—crucial to preserving many 

public services from year to year—may disappear for 

municipalities that fail to roll forward prior to the 2020 

reassessment. 

According to Childers, this happens because 

municipalities that levy less than the maximum rate 

stand to lose additional revenue now and in the future. 

As the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office confirms, 

the “prior year’s maximum” millage is lost if the taxing 

authority chooses not to roll forward during the 

appropriate time frame. 

What can elected officials do to preserve revenues and 

maintain standards of public service their constituents 

expect? 

“Take stock of 

your current 

millage rates 

and note 

trends in your 

municipality’s 

tax revenue 

over time,” 

says Childers. 

Local 

governments 

that fail to 

preserve their 

maximum 

LaMATS recommends municipalities begin 

the Roll Forward process no later than March 

1, 2019, to assure all legal requirements are 

properly met prior to the 2020 Reassessment. 

millage rates in periods of relatively high property value 

can find themselves at a loss for options should values 

fall in subsequent reassessments. 

Childers recommends rolling forward but cautions that 

the process takes approximately three months, so the 

sooner a municipality begins, the better. “Don’t let your 

community’s chance for additional revenue wither on the 

vine.” 

LaMATS and Millage Management have partnered 

to provide free consultations to any Louisiana local 

government seeking advice on how to accurately levy ad 

valorem taxes from year to year and how best to prepare 

for the 2020 statewide reassessment. To schedule an inperson 

meeting with Kristyn Childers, contact LaMATS at 

(225) 344-5001. 

Page 8 


A Word from 

Our Affiliates 

Clerks Corner 

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 

The LMA and the LMCA (Louisiana 

Municipal Clerks Association) 

know the hardships of new 

administrations. It is because of 

this that the two associations 

have engineered the Technical 

Assistance Program (TAP). TAP is 

designed to help guide municipal 

clerks by providing them with 

the information, education, and 

training necessary to help elected 

officials focus on municipal 

business. 

The LMCA TAP Committee 

will pair a certified municipal clerk with a new clerk. 

The pairing is based on compatibility in municipal 

population, charter and location. The certified clerk will 

come to your town hall to provide guidance to your 

new clerk. Some of the information provided includes: 

public records, policies, taxes, 

utility procedures, mayor’s court, 

and open meetings. Through 

the TAP program, training is 

available throughout the year. 

This program was put into 

place because both the LMA 

and the LMCA, want to help all 

municipal officials and clerks 

make informed decisions, thrive 

at making our municipalities the 

best that they can be, and focus 

on the importance of community 

and good leadership. As an 

added bonus - IT’S FREE! 

For more information on this great program, call Kelly 

Drone, LMA Membership Services Coordinator at 

225-344-5001 or Sherry McCann, MMC, LMMC, TAP 

Chairperson at 318-377-0345. 

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 


- 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 

5 9 t h A n n u a l S p r i n g C o n f e r e n c e 

H o r s e s h o e C a s i n o H o t e l 

B o s s i e r C i t y 

M a r c h 7 - 8 , 2 0 1 9 

NAME 

BADGE NAME 

TITLE 

MUNICIPALITY 

EMAIL 

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 Thursday? Yes No 

• Will you attend Friday night’s Annual Banquet? Yes No 

o Do you require a Lenten meal? Yes No 

$150 Delegate fee 

$25 Tour Guest fee 

$50 Banquet Guest fee, Lenten meal? Yes No 

HAVE A QU ESTIO N? 

Contact: LMA Membership Services Coordinator Kelly Drone at (225) 344-5001 or 

kelly@lma.org 

ACCOMMODATIONS: 

A block of rooms has been reserved at Horseshoe 

Casino Hotel at a rate of $8 9/night for Wednesday, 

March 6th and Thursday, March 7th and $ 1 59/ night for 

Friday, March 8th. Please call (800) 895- 0711 to make 

your reservations and mention that you are with L M C A 

S p r in g C on f e re n ce to secure this special rate. 

R eservations cut- off date is 5:00 p.m., February 14 , 

2019 . Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and check- out is 11:00 

a.m. Recommended arrival is Thursday, March 7th and 

departure Saturday, March 9 th. 

Horseshoe Casino Hotel Bossier City 

711 Horseshoe Boulevard 

Bossier City, LA 71111 

(800) 895-0711 

 

 

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE . TO: 

Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association 

P.O. Box 4327 

Baton Rouge, LA 70821 

REMINDERS: 

• Bring a door prize to participate in a drawing 

• Bring your municipal lapel pins to exchange 

• SERVICE AWARD Eligibility: 

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

Page 10 


A Word from 

Our Affiliates 

TENTATIVE AGENDA 

THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2019 

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. REGISTRATION 

1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Visit to the East Bank District 

Departure at 1:30 p.m. 

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION 

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019 

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. REGISTRATION 

9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. WELCOME AND OPENING SESSION 

9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m 

CANDIDATES’ FORUM 

Your chance to hear from candidates running for positions on the LMCA Executive Board 

SPONSOR INTRODUCTION 

9:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Discover the variety of products and services offered by this year’s conference 

contributors! 

9:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. BREAK 

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 

MOTIVATIONAL SESSION 

Merlyna Valentine, Motivational Speaker & Consultant, Merlyna Valentine Consulting 

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT 

Karen White, Executive Counsel, Louisiana Municipal Association 

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION OF 2019-2020 OFFICERS AND BOARD TRUSTEES 

12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. LUNCHEON 

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 

PUBLIC – PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP 

Justin Haydel & Ben Rauschenbach, Bossier City P3 

2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. BREAK 

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

BLIGHTED PROPERTIES/ZONING 

Neil T. Erwin, JD, Attorney, Neil Erwin Law, LLC 

PARTNERING TO IMPROVE IMAGE 

Lisa Johnson, President/CEO, & Jessica Hemingway, Director of Marketing/Communications, 

Chamber of Commerce 

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. EVENING RECEPTION 

7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 

Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association 

59 th Annual Spring Conference 

Horseshoe Casino Hotel 

Bossier City, LA 

March 7-8, 2019 

LMCA ANNUAL BANQUET 

BOARD INSTALLATION 

AND SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTATION 


Who Dat Comin’ to LAMSA? 

BY MARLAINE PEACHEY, LAMSA CONFERENCE COORDINATOR 

The Louisiana Association of Municipal Secretaries and 

Assistants are proud to announce their 30th Annual 

Spring Conference which will be held in Metairie, LA on 

March 20 – 22, 2019. 

The festivities will kick off with a tour of the New Orleans 

Saints Training Facility on Wednesday, March 20th. 

Special guests are being invited and will be announced 

soon. The visit to the training facility will be followed by 

a bus tour of New Orleans. Upon returning to the hotel, 

Copeland Towers, a reception will be held to celebrate 

the organization’s 30th Anniversary. On Thursday, LAMSA 

President Myra Streeter will open the conference and 

Jefferson Parish President Michael Yenni will welcome 

the participants, followed by a host of speakers, including 

such topics as mandatory sexual harassment prevention 

training, FEMA, Municipal Bonds, Fraud and Identity 

Theft, Financial Planning and Retirement, Long Term 

Care Planning, Dealing with Conflict and Communication, 

and How to Prevent and Treat Addictions that are 

rampant today. During the conference luncheon, the 

annual business meeting will be held and elections 

for two Directors-at-Large will take place. Awards for 

certifications and recertifications will be presented at 

that time, as well as an educational scholarship. On 

Friday, a Mayor’s Panel will inform the members on their 

city’s history, revenues and issues they are facing. The 

conference will close with inspirational speaker, Deputy 

Susie Cambre of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

Two conference scholarships are being offered as well 

as an educational scholarship. If you are interested in 

applying, or running for the two positions available, 

please contact Marlaine Peachey at 985-630-1798 or 

lamsaconference@att.net. All applications must be filed 

30 days prior to the conference. Conference brochures 

were mailed out on February 1 to all LAMSA members and 

Mayor members of LMA. 

Page 12 


Partner Insight 

Send Reinforcements… 

L. Gordon King, Government Consultants, Inc., Municipal Advisor 

Last year, the Legislature considered HB 900 which 

would have created a Louisiana Capital Outlay Revolving 

Loan Bank. Despite strong support from the LMA and 

Police Jury Association, the bill did not make it through 

the legislative process for various reasons; however, it 

will be introduced again this year. Its time is here!! 

Every week it seems, we hear of failing water systems 

or a fiscal administrator being discussed or locals don’t 

have enough funds to pay for construction/repairs of 

failing water or sewer systems, or drainage or road 

projects. This is particularly the case for the smaller units 

of government - those with the lack of funds or tax base 

to pay for the necessary repairs. Remember, out of the 

306 incorporated municipalities in this state, 250 of 

them have a population of less than 5,000. And, without 

getting into the perennial debate over how small is too 

small to provide services, these systems were built to 

provide services to the municipalities’ constituents and 

should be fixed!! 

GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC. 

Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing 

Again, I would urge the passage of legislation to create 

a revolving loan fund - like Treasurer John Schroder 

and others championed in the ’18 session. Sounding 

like a broken record, the LMA had legislation (Act 

813) enacted in 1991 to create the Louisiana Local 

Government Environmental Facilities Authority to help 

local governments finance local water and wastewater 

projects. This predecessor to the Louisiana Community 

Development Authority (LCDA) was patterned after 

the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) 

SEE REINFORCEMENTS PAGE 14 

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. 


(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! 


Treasury Notes 

State Government Can Benefit from a Different Perspective 

By State Treasurer John M. Schroder 

You may remember when 

“privatization” was a buzzword 

when it came to state government 

operations. As a legislator, I would 

often be the first one to argue 

that government was a bloated organization with out 

of control spending. I knew from my experience as an 

entrepreneur and business owner that government could 

operate more efficiently. 

I’ve been Treasurer for a little over a year and I still believe 

that government spending is out of control and there 

are many areas for improvement. But the sad truth is 

we are not going to fix everything overnight. One only 

has to look at the constant gridlock in Washington, 

D.C. to recognize these issues are ingrained in the 

system. However, with a little creativity and a different 

perspective, we can make some positive changes in a 

relatively short timeframe. 

I may sound overly confident, but it’s because I’ve seen 

this firsthand at the Department of Treasury. In our 

office, we are fostering an atmosphere of innovation and 

cooperation. When I first started, I told my staff that I 

didn’t want to hear “that’s the way we’ve always done it,” 

unless it could be proven that the old way was the best 

way to do something. If it was, great, but if not, we’d find 

a way to do it better. 

We hold regular education and training sessions and 

encourage our staff to reach out to other state agencies 

and the private sector for assistance on various projects 

that can benefit taxpayers. One example of how we did 

this was with our Unclaimed Property program. 

My office’s Unclaimed Property Director Kathleen Lobell 

shared an idea with me that several other State Treasury 

Offices were doing in partnership with their state Revenue 

Departments. They were finding tremendous success 

in clearing out unclaimed property backlogs by sharing 

updated address information for the sole purpose of 

returning more unclaimed money to citizens. 

We reached out to the Louisiana Department of Revenue 

and worked with them to pass a bill in the Legislature to 

allow us to try this approach in Louisiana. Now, I know 

what you are thinking, and yes I did just say two agencies, 

with different government roles and functions worked 

together in a true partnership for the benefit of Louisiana 

taxpayers. There were no turf battles or drama, and no 

one cared about who would get credit for the project’s 

success. We worked together every step of the way, and 

the citizens we serve are better for it. 

The preliminary results are in and the numbers are pretty 

remarkable. This July, the Department of Treasury plans 

to mail our third batch of checks, bringing the total 

amount returned to citizens to $20 million. By embracing 

innovation and cooperation, we’ve increased the number 

of checks issued over 6 months by 500 percent and 

increased the amount of funds returned by 83 percent. 

Now here’s the best part. While increasing the amount of 

money returned, we reduced the amount it costs to issue 

each unclaimed property check from $46.65 to $9.14. 

This is just one small example of how we’ve been able 

to improve state government operations with new ideas 

and teamwork. Imagine what we could accomplish if we 

did this across state government. We are working on 

some other great initiatives in the year ahead and, like any 

good business, we welcome your suggestions as we are 

constantly looking for ways to be the best at what we do. 

After all, as public servants, we answer to one boss – you 

the taxpayer. 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13: REINFORCEMENTS 

which was created in the 1980’s and has provided 

millions in loans to smaller units of local government. In 

Georgia, the federally-created revolving loan funds were 

transferred to GEFA - something that was NOT done 

in Louisiana. Then, in 1999, the LMA pushed SB 907 by 

Senate President John Hainkel - that would have created 

a Capital Outlay Revolving Loan Fund. That bill was not 

successful. 

So, we know the need is here - let’s roll up our sleeves 

and create this entity that can fund low-interest loans for 

those local governments in need. Let’s also look at some 

form of grants for those that cannot afford to pay the 

loans back. There must be some form of a state capital 

injection for this program to work, and the interest rate 

can be blended down with these state dollars - just like 

what has been done with the DEQ SRF program with 

federal funds and a state capital match. 

Just think…had we done this in 1991 (28 years ago) 

or 1999 (20 years ago), we would not be having this 

discussion or problems of this magnitude. Let’s put aside 

our issues and join hands to get this done!! 

* Note - The author served as Deputy Director/General 

Counsel and then Executive Director of the LMA from 

1988 – 2000. 

Page 14 


Municipalities 

LOUISIANA 

RISE & SHINE & RISE The benchmark fed funds rate is now at its highest level since October 2008, with further increases 

expected through 2019. This means higher daily returns for the hundreds of government entities that 

invest with the Louisiana Asset Management Pool. Find out how our consistent, conservative portfolio 

management can help you take advantage of today’s financial environment. 

LOUISIANA ASSET MANAGEMENT POOL Call 800-249-LAMP or visit www.lamppool.com to learn more. 

No transaction fees | Same-day access to your entire investment | Rated AAAm by Standard & Poor’s 

JOHN M. SCHRODER, SR. 

Louisiana State Treasurer 

LAMP, Inc. President 

LMR | February 2019 Page 15 

00874-LAMP 25th Anniversary Muni Assoc Mag ad 2019-01-23.indd 1 

1/23/19 9:27 AM

Attorney General’s Opinions 

BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL 

Dual Officeholding 

Opinion: 18-0154 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding and 

Dual Employment Law do not prohibit a member of the Board of 

Commissioners of the Sixth Ward and Crowley Drainage District 

from serving as a member of the Board of Aldermen of the City 

of Crowley. Opinion Released: 11/27/2018 

Legislative Charters 

Opinion: 18-0131 The authority and control over the agenda for 

City Council meetings for the City of St. Martinville rests with the 

City Council. Opinion Released: 12/6/2018 

First CITAP Install of 2019 

The LMA acknowledges that some 

of our members have no, or at best, 

severely limited technology assets 

including computers, municipalityspecific 

software programs, web sites, 

and internet access. The Computer 

Information and Technical Assistance 

Program (CITAP), managed through 

the LMA IT Department, was designed 

to help municipalities with the greatest 

need acquire computer hardware and 

software, and internet access. CITAP 

has a goal of creating a state-wide 

computer network whereby every 

municipality would have, among 

other things, equal and unlimited 

access to the internet, user-friendly 

Utility Rates 

Opinion: 18-0182 The Town of Cotton Valley 

may make a reasonable classification 

of its customers based upon such factors 

as the cost of the service, the purpose 

for which the service is received, the 

different character of the service provided, or any other matter 

which presents a substantial difference as a ground of distinction 

and charge a different rate according to that classification. 

Opinion Released: 1/16/2019 

website development tools, and 

easier access to LMA, state, federal, 

and foundation programs and 

assistance. CITAP also assists 

mid- to large-size municipalities 

by serving as a clearinghouse and 

technical advisor on more advanced 

e-government applications. 

The Village of Mangham was the 

first CITAP install of 2019. They have 

received a computer to help with 

their accounting and water systems. 

They are also in the queue to start 

the process of a new website for 

their village. Please see the LMA 

website for information. 

Mangham Mayor Johnny Natt and acting 

clerk Kristi Fleming. 

LHC is offering a 20% discount to all LMA members. Register at https://louisianahousingconference.com/register/. 

Contact connections@lhc.gov for the discount code. 

For three days, 400 housing professionals will convene for 

a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded, 

mission-driven peers to examine, learn, and discuss how to 

improve the lives of Louisiana residents recognizing 

affordable housing as the cornerstone of the community. 

Together, we will build stronger connections and communities. 

APRIL 2-4, 2019 

HILTON HOTEL, BATON ROUGE 

Page 16 

Community Organizers & Non-profit Leaders 

will learn how to: 

LMR | February 2019 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: 

• Accountants 

• Housing Providers

Municipalities 

Small Towns, Big Ideas: 

White Castle’s Splashpad & Pavilion 

In September 2016, the Town of White Castle 

began Phase I of their Splashpad & Pavilion 

project. Their main purpose for developing 

this splash pad was to serve the children in the 

community who cannot afford to travel to water 

parks in nearby parishes or states such as Liberty 

Lagoon, Blue Bayou, or Schlitterbahn. Most of 

the town’s children come from single parent 

homes and the administration felt it was their 

responsibility to make sure their community 

received all necessary resources. 

Splash pads have recently become popular 

destinations for families all over the country. The 

park-visiting experience is multi-generational, White 

Castle’s splash pad serves the full range of users that 

a pool might not be able to accommodate and offers a 

fun water experience for kids of ages. It enables them 

to serve the narrower demographic that requires a 

variety of gentle, non-intimidating sprays and mists for 

younger users and higher-volume sprays with dumping 

elements for older users. Construction of Phase I was 

completed on June 1, 2017. 

The pad was built a base bid of $225,000 for Phase I 

and $75,000 for its second phase. It was partly funded 

Healthy Communities Grant 

The Keep Louisiana Beautiful Healthy Communities Grant 

provides funding to support local projects and programs 

that will bring about behavioral changes needed to improve, 

preserve and protect the natural beauty of Louisiana. 

This year, applying for a Healthy Communities Grant will be a 

little bit different. The first step in the process is to submit a 

Letter of Intent, telling us all about your proposed program or 

project. Based on the quality of the letter and program, KLB 

will issue invitations to apply for the Healthy Communities 

Grant. If you don’t submit a Letter of Intent, you will not be 

able to apply for the Healthy Communities Grant. 

The Letter of Intent Deadline is February 12, 2019. 

Go to https://keeplouisianabeautiful.org/healthycommunities-grants/ 

to view the Letter of Intent Guidelines. 

What you need to know: 

Keep Louisiana Beautiful seeks to fund projects that have 

strong, measurable outcomes in one or more of the identified 

with $60,000 from Iberville Parks and Recreation 

District (IPRD) and the rest from the town’s general 

financial budget. Alternatives were added ranging from 

$30,000 to $75,000. The town recently completed the 

final phase (Phase II) of its splashpad. 

Phase II includes the restrooms (men and women) and 

changing stations along with a pavilion to accompany 

any festivities that may take place while kids are at 

play. This phase was completed on April 2, 2018. 

The Town’s administration is dedicated to serving 

their community and will continue to strive to uplift, 

improve, and serve with excellence, dignity, and pride. 

focus areas: litter and waste reduction; recycling; reusing; 

litter enforcement; and environmental education. 

This is a reimbursement grant for projects budgeted between 

$2,500-$8,000. 

The Letter of Intent will be accepted by mail or email from 

until February 12, 2019. 

Keep Louisiana Beautiful will issue invitations to apply for the 

grant by Feb. 19th. 

The Healthy Community Grant period runs from August 1, 

2019 to May 1, 2020. 


Bossier: 1 

Ouachita: 2 

Tensas: 1 

Avoyelles: 1 

Rapides: 1 

Lafayette: 2 

Calcasieu: 1 

Baton Rouge: 10 

Tangipahoa: 1 

New Orleans: 1 

Mississippi: 1 

• Potable and Wastewater Treatment 

• LDH Certified Operator Training 

• LDH Certified Management Training 

• LDH Certified, Licensed Operator Staffing 

• LDH Certified, Licensed Management 

• Long, Short and Emergency Staffing/Management 

• Administrative Order and Compliance Assistance 

• Certified Lab Testing and Compliance Sampling 

www.tmbwater.com (800) 762-9104 

Page 18 


Feature 

Know Your Risk! 

Risk Management, Inc. (RMI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the 

Louisiana Municipal Association. The organization became fully 

operational on January 1, 1987 and functions as the service agent 

for the LMA inter-local risk pools. The primary purpose of RMI is 

to effectively market and administer the self-funded indemnity 

programs, which have been developed to serve the municipalities 

of Louisiana, and to assist in the development of new programs 

to meet the needs of municipal government. To date, 64% of 

Louisiana municipalities have some type of indemnification 

coverage through RMI. 

WHO OPERATES RMI? 

The day to day functions of Risk 

Management, Inc. are carried on by 

an able staff of Risk Management 

professionals led by Jerry Cronin who 

has served as General Manager since the 

formation of the corporation in 1986. 

The operational management team of 

RMI has collectively over a century of 

experience. 

• Ron Reibe - Workers Compensation & Liability Claims 

Manager 

• Stacy Parker – Membership & Billing Manager 

• Ann Phillips – Administrative Assistant to the General 

Manager 

• Mike Collins – Marketing Director 

• Oscar “Buddy” Couvillion – Applications Manager 

This operational management team functions under the 

direction of a Board of Directors, which is made up of mayors of 

participating Louisiana municipalities. This structure assures that 

the unique needs of municipal government are capably addressed. 

WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE? 

The Louisiana Municipal Risk Management Indemnity Programs 

currently available through RMI are: 

• General Liability 

• Automobile Liability 

• Law Enforcement Professional Liability 

• Public Official Errors and Omissions 

• Workman’s Compensation 

• Dental 

Additional benefit programs available through Risk Management 

Insurance Agency Inc. include: 

• Cyber Liability 

• Accident and Health 

• Automobile Collision/Comprehensive (Physical Damage) 

• Airport Commercial General Liability 

• Fire and Property 

• Personal Automobile 

• Inland Marine 

PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION 

RMI was established to serve the municipalities of Louisiana. We 

are not an insurance company. We are a part of the Louisiana 

Municipal Association and as such, the efficient servicing of your 

benefit program is the primary goal of RMI. 

WHY CHOOSE RMI? 

Risk Management, Inc., the Louisiana Municipal Association, and 

Louisiana municipalities have a common goal - to stabilize and/ 

or reduce the financial impact of coverage on municipal budgets 

while keeping vital protection available. 

RMI’s experienced, thorough service provides these advantages: 

• Competitively Priced Products 

• Access to Loss Control and Safety Training 

• Financial Support to the Municipal Association for 

Additional Services 

We assist you in reducing claims, thereby increasing potential for 

premium stabilization. 

• Quick and Efficient Claim Handling 

• Variable Premium Payment Plans 

• “Front Office” Level Accountability by Simply Dialing 

1-800-843-0931 

SEE RISK PAGE 20 


LMA Mid-Winter Conference 

Show Me the Money: Keys to Essential 

Government Funding Opportunities 

The LMA Mid-Winter Conference for Municipal 

Officials has been set for February 19 and 20 at the 

Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. Registration is 

now available by check with the registration form or 

by credit card at www.lma.org. Please email registration@ 

lma.org to request a username and password or if you 

need assistance registering online. The purpose of 

this conference is to provide pertinent education on 

current issues in local government, as well as providing 

an environment for networking with Louisiana elected 

officials and vendors. 

Late registration begins on February 6, 2019. 

Join us in learning from experts in fields related to 

municipal government and in exploring your resources 

for efficient management of Louisiana’s villages, towns, 

and cities at the upcoming Mid-Winter Conference! 

Refund Policy 

An administrative fee of $45 will be charged for all 

cancellations of the LMA Mid-Winter Conference, 

including medical emergencies. No refunds will be 

given after Tuesday, February 5, 2019 (two weeks 

prior to the start of event). 

Refunds will be issued only if the LMA office received 

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 February 5, 2019. Telephone requests 

for refunds are not acceptable. There will be no 

exceptions to this policy. 

P.O. Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821 

Fax (225) 344-3057 • Email nsamrow@lma.org 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19: RISK 

WHY LOSS CONTROL MANAGEMENT? 

As top management, safety director, or the employee responsible 

for safety for your municipality, you are aware of the need for an 

effective on-going safety program. With our full line of Loss Control 

Services, we can help you implement a new safety program and/or 

improve your existing one. 

Realizing that claims costs are at an all-time high, and continuing to 

increase, and knowing that the availability of excess insurance is at 

a minimum, municipalities are constantly seeking ways to manage 

their cost. Today more than ever before, the bottom line is saving 

money. One solution, often overlooked, is the implementation of a 

workable safety program - and here’s where we can help. 

LOSS CONTROL EXPERTS 

Risk Management, Inc. can provide the expertise to evaluate 

safety programs and provide online training to meet your needs. 

Whatever your municipality’s needs, Risk Management, Inc. Loss 

Control Services can assist you in making safety an integral part of 

your big picture. 

HERE’S HOW WE WORK WITH YOU 

With our loss control services, we can help you implement a new 

safety program or improve your existing one. 

We provide on-site review of the effectiveness of the current safety 

program, including: 

• Safety/Health Training Programs 

• Motor Vehicle Safety Programs 

• Safety Awards Programs 

• Employee Safety Awareness 

• High Risk Areas (Such as Hot Pursuit Procedures) 

• Hiring Procedures 

Upon completion of our review, the findings are presented with 

workable recommendations, in the form of a summary report of 

findings. 

Customized Safety Guidelines for Your Operations Include: 

• Safety Plan 

• Safety Policy 

• Guidelines for Safety Awards Programs 

• Guidelines for Conducting Safety Inspection, Safety 

Meetings and Accident Investigations 

• Guidelines for Forming Safety Committees and New 

Employee Orientation 

• Development of Safety Training Aids 

RMI provides more than just indemnification – it provides 

outstanding legal representation and counseling that gives members 

peace of mind. It cannot be overemphasized that the attorneys 

retained by RMI are specialists in municipal defense. Defending 

Louisiana’s municipalities against a broad scope of liability is not 

part of RMI’s legal indemnity’s focus – it is their sole focus. This 

empowers municipalities with powerful tools to avoid liability in the 

first place. It also provides the benefits of specialized knowledge 

regarding immunities and defenses. 

Municipalities are tasked with managing so many aspects of our 

residents’ daily lives, so the potential for liability is unfortunately 

broad. You do not have to navigate municipal defense alone. We 

strongly suggest that you contact Risk Management, Inc. to discuss 

your liability needs and what they can do for you. 

Page 20 


Feature 

- R E G I S T R A T I O N F O R M - 

Louisiana Municipal Association 

Mid-Winter Conference for Municipal Officials 

February 19 – 20, 2019 

Crowne Plaza Baton Rouge 

4728 Constitution Avenue, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

NAME 

BADGE NAME 

TITLE 

GUEST NAME 

MUNICIPALITY 

ADDRESS 

(STREET OR P.O. BOX) (CITY) (STATE) (ZIP CODE) 

TELEPHONE ( ) FAX ( ) 

EMAIL 

! Is this your first Mid-Winter Conference? Yes No 

ACCOMMODATIONS 

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Crowne 

Plaza Hotel at a rate of $109 Single/Double. Please 

call (225) 925-2244 to make your reservation and 

mention that you are with 

Louisiana Municipal 

Association’s Mid-Winter Conference to secure this 

special rate. The reservation cut-off date is 

Saturday, January 19, 2019. Check-in time is 4:00 

p.m. and check-out time is 11:00 a.m., unless special 

arrangements are made in advance. 

For accommodations, the suggested arrival is 

Tuesday, February 19 and departure on Thursday, 

February 21. Registration will open at 11:00 a.m. 

with the first session beginning at 1:00 p.m. on 

February 19. 

NOTE: The LMA will offer one hour of required 

ethics training on Wednesday, February 20, at no 

ADVANCE REGISTRATION 

ENDS FEBRUARY 5 

$100 per delegate/official 

(includes one guest & reception) 

LATE REGISTRATION 

BEGINS FEBRUARY 6 

$110 per delegate/official 

(includes one guest & reception) 

REGISTER BY MAIL 

Complete this form and return with your 

registration fee payment, in full, no later than 

February 14 , 2019 . 

Make Checks Payable To 

Louisiana Municipal Association 

Mid- Winter Conference 

P.O. Box 4327 


additional charge. Class on The Code of 

REGISTER ONLINE 

Governmental Ethics will begin at 4:00 p.m. in the 

Premier Ballroom. 

www.lma.org 

HAVE A QUESTION? 

Contact Nikki Samrow, P.O. Box 4327, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, (225) 344- 5001 Phone, (225) 344- 3057 Fax, nsamrow@lma.org 

LMR | February 2019 Page . 21

REMINDER 

STATE OF LOUISIANA ETHICS 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ELECTED 

PUBLIC OFFICIALS 

According to the Louisiana Ethics 

Administration, all newly-elected 

public officials must complete one 

hour of Ethics training within 90 days 

of taking office. This requirement 

affects those who have changed 

elected positions, as well as first-time 

elected officials. 

All elected public officials and public 

servants (employees) must complete 

one hour of training during this year. 

Remember, online training and 

certification for all elected officials 

and public servants can be obtained 

through the Louisiana Ethics 

Administration Program website, 

http://eap.ethics.la.gov/EthicsTraining/login. 

aspx. (Register, create a username 

and password, login, and follow all 

instructions provided.) 

PERSONAL FINANCE DISCLOSURE 

REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ELECTED 

PUBLIC OFFICIALS 

If you were in office or held an 

elected position in 2018, you must 

file a Personal Finance Disclosure 

Statement with the Louisiana Ethics 

Commission no later than May 

15, 2019. The population of your 

district, or service on boards and 

commissions, dictates which tier your 

disclosure statement must be filed in: 

Tier 2 – Election district with 

population over 5,000 

Tier 2.1 – Board or Commission that 

spends more than $10,000 annually 

Tier 3 – Election district with 

population under 5,000 

Questions? Contact Karen White, 

LMA Executive Counsel at (225) 344- 

5001, (800) 234-8274 or kwhite@lma. 

org. 

LMA MID-WINTER CONFERENCE 

FEBRUARY 19- 2 0 , 2019 

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL 

BATON ROUGE 

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2019 

“ FUNDING THE FUTURE OF YOUR MUNICIPALITY” 

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

REGISTRATION 

Atrium 

EXHIBITS 

Cypress II 

1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. 

Welcome 

Honorable Harry Lewis, Mayor, Town of Rayville, LMA President 

Keynote Speaker 

Congressman Garret Graves, U.S. House of Representatives, 6 th District 

Premier I & II 

1:45 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. BREAK 

1:50 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. 

Managing Aging Water Infrastructure 

Dr. Carrie Castille, State Director, USDA 

Leslie Durham, Special Assistant to Governor, Governor’s Designee to the Delta Regional Authority 

As Louisiana’s infrastructure continues to age, the number of water systems in peril increases. This 

workshop will reveal the current initiatives to assist municipalities in addressing their water system issues, 

from fiscal assistance to guidance on setting rates and continued maintenance. 


2:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. BREAK 

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Transportation Issues 

Dr. Shawn Wilson, Secretary, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development 

Marie Walsh, PhD, Director, Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program 

One of the biggest challenges facing local government leaders is wrestling with aging roadways and 

infrastructure. We are thrilled to host these distinguished leaders who will provide updates on state 

projects and critical links to state and federal funding resources. 


4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. BREAK 

Page 22 

Broadband Opportunities 



4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 

In this age of technology, creating infrastructure to support the increasing demand of smart devices is

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

Marie Walsh, PhD, Director, Louisiana Local Technical Assistance Program 

Feature 

One of the biggest challenges facing local government leaders is wrestling with aging roadways and 

infrastructure. We are thrilled to host these distinguished leaders who will provide updates on state 

projects and critical links to state and federal funding resources. 


4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. BREAK 

Broadband Opportunities 


4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. 

In this age of technology, creating infrastructure to support the increasing demand of smart devices is 

becoming more and more essential to economic development. This workshop will assist those seeking to 

explore the options for launching broadband coverage in their community. 


4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. 

Louisiana Main Street Program 

Ray Scriber, MArch, MBA, Director, Louisiana Main Street, Office of Cultural Development 

Come to explore the tools that are available to boost tourism in your municipality through Act 331, a 

measure that allows municipalities to collaborate on promotion of local goods and services. 


5:15 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. 

Show Me the (Grant) Money! 

Traci Watts, Director, LCDBG/LGAP/CWEF Programs, Office of Community Development 

Last year, the legislature funded the Local Government Assistance Program and the Community Water 

Enrichment Fund at $5 million each. How can municipalities maximize these funds to complete essential 

projects? This workshop will tell you how, along with providing information on Community Development 

Block Grant programs. 


5:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

VENDOR RECEPTION 

Cypress II 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 

“CONGRATULATIONS, YOU’VE BEEN ELECTED! NOW WHAT?” 

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

REGISTRATION 

Atrium 

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

EXHIBITS 

Cypress II 

8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 

Welcome 

Honorable Sharon Weston Broome, Mayor-President, City of Baton Rouge, Parish of East Baton Rouge 

USDA Funding and Available Programs 



10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. BREAK 

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 

Avoiding Fiscal Administration 

Michael G. Battle, MPA, CIA, CGAP, CRMA 

Advisory Services Manager 

Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office 

This session will provide participants with an 

overview of what Fiscal Administration is; the 

processes and participants involved; examples of 

practices that have resulted in fiscal 

administration; and tips on how to avoid fiscal 

administration. 

Premier III 

11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. VENDOR NETWORKING 

We’ve Got You Covered: RMI Programs and 

Services 

Jerry Cronin, General Manager, Risk Management, Inc. 

RMI provides essential services, including a broad 

spectrum of affordable indemnity programs to 

shield members from legal liability, as well as safety 

and loss control services. This session will provide 

sound practices in risk management, along with 

current trends and available training to prevent 

loss. 

Cypress I 

LUNCHEON 

LMR | February 2019 Page 23 

Keynote Speaker:

practices that have resulted in fiscal 

administration; and tips on how to avoid fiscal 

administration. 

Premier III 

11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. VENDOR NETWORKING 

LUNCHEON 

Keynote Speaker: 

and loss control services. This session will provide 

sound practices in risk management, along with 

current trends and available training to prevent 

loss. 

Cypress I 

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 

Public Records and Open Meetings 

Luke Donovan, Assistant Attorney General, 

Louisiana Department of Justice 

Lauryn Sudduth, Assistant Attorney General, 

Louisiana Department of Justice 

Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., United States Senator 


This session provides an overview of these two 

essential “sunshine” laws, including public notices, 

electronic communications, executive sessions, and 

compliance with requests to copy and inspect public 

records. 

Premier III 

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. BREAK 

LaMATS Programs and Services 

Cliff Palmer, Executive Director, LaMATS 

This presentation will provide an overview of each 

service and program offered by LaMATS, with an 

emphasis on their two newest programs — LaMATS 

Purchasing Services and Millage Management. 

Cypress I 

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 

The Lawrason Act 

Jerry Guillot, Chief of Staff, Louisiana State Senate 

This session’s focus is to provide a working 

knowledge and understanding of the Lawrason Act 

and an overview of recent developments including 

Attorney General opinions and case law. 

Premier III 

The Nuts and Bolts of Financing and Capital 

Outlay 

Government Consultants, Inc. 

This session will provide valuable guidance to assist 

municipalities in accessing funding for capital 

outlay projects through several resources. 

Cypress I 

GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS 

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Honorable John Bel Edwards 

Governor, State of Louisiana 


4:00 p.m. - 4:10 p.m. BREAK 

The Code of Governmental Ethics 

Brett Robinson, Attorney, Louisiana Ethics Commission 

4:10 p.m. - 5:10 p.m. Have you met your one hour of ethics training for this year as required under LA law? If not, come to this 

session to check that item off your “To Do” list. This ethics training will meet that requirement and comes 

complete with the mandatory forms for submission to receive your credit. Attendees must arrive on time 

and remain for the entire session to be eligible. 


5:10 p.m. ADJOURN 

PRESORT 

STANDARD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

PERMIT #319 

Page 24 


1/25/2019

LMR_Feb_2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?