LMR JUNE 2021

LOUISIANA

MUNICIPAL REVIEW

Published by the Louisiana Municipal Association

VOL. 86, ISSUE 6

JUNE 2021

America

BROWNFIELD

ASSESSMENT

LET LAMATS

CONDUCT A

SITE VISIT &

GIVE YOUR

COMMUNITY A

CLEAR PATH

FORWARD.

CALL TODAY

(225) 344-5001

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

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2020-2021 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory)

President – Jimmy Williams – Mayor, Sibley

District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson

First Vice President – Michael Chauffe – Mayor, Grosse Tete LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales

Second Vice President– Jennifer Vidrine – Mayor, Ville Platte LMA Past President – Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales

Immediate Past President – Harry Lewis – Mayor, Rayville

LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro

District A Vice President – Peggy Adkins, Mayor, Sarepta

LMA Past President – David Butler, Mayor, Woodworth

District B Vice President – Ronny Walker, Mayor, Ruston

LMA Past President – David Camardelle, Mayor, Grand Isle

District C Vice President – Adam Holland, Mayor, Oak Grove LMA Past President – Clarence Fields, Mayor, Pineville

District D Vice President – Rick Allen, Mayor, Leesville

Vice President at Large – Mark Piazza, Mayor, Abbeville

,

District E Vice President – Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville Vice President at Large – Darnell Waites, Mayor, Baker

District F Vice President – Charles James, Mayor, Sunset

Vice President (< 1K) – Kevin Colligan, Mayor, Cankton

District G Vice President – Kenneth Stinson, Mayor, Vinton

Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – Randal Rodgers, Mayor, Stonewall

District H Vice President – David Toups, Mayor, Addis

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

District I Vice President – Jean.Pelloat,.Mayor,.Madisonville

Page 2

LMR | JUNE 2021

Inside the LMA

Director’s Viewpoint

LMA’S SUMMER IS HEATING UP

BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The heat of summer is settling in

throughout our great state, signaling

the beginning of the LMA’s

annual summer events (which we

missed so much in 2020). I look forward to completing

our ten LMA District Meetings, which kicked off with District

F on June 2 in Sunset and will run through the end

of the month. I hope to see each of you at these meetings.

Planning is also well underway for our 84th Annual

Convention, which will take place July 29 - 31 at the Raising

Cane’s River Center in Baton Rouge. With COVID-19

event restrictions easing significantly, Mayor Sharon

Weston Broome and her staff are eager to roll out the

red carpet in Red Stick for you. We have a strong line

up of informative workshops and exhibitors, and are

thrilled to announce that once again, the City of Pineville

will coordinate the annual Friday morning Prayer Breakfast.

We have tentatively confirmed the participation

of Governor Edwards, Lieutenant Governor Nungesser,

Treasurer Schroder, and Clarence Anthony, the Executive

Director of the National League of Cities. Registration is

open now, so reserve your hotel rooms early as they are

going fast! Registration and accommodation information

is included this issue but may also be accessed on

our website at www.lma.org.

I am grateful that so many LMA members have engaged

in our calls and webinars regarding the American Rescue

Plan Act (ARPA) and I would like to thank the advocacy

staff of the National League of Cities for providing

regular updates on the usage of those ARPA funds.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and we at the

LMA are committed to providing guidance and support

to our members as you navigate through the process

of receiving, allocating, expending, and accounting for

ARPA funds. As a reminder, municipalities over 50,000

in population (“Entitlement Units” or “EUs”) will receive

their allocations directly from the U.S. Department of

Treasury; whereas those under 50,000 in population

(“Non-Entitlement Units” or “NEUs”) will receive their

allocations by way of the Division of Administration’s

Office of Community Development. The DOA is developing

an online portal that will be used to access the funds,

but in the meantime, you must complete the User Access

Form and return it to OCD. You should have received an

email from the LMA containing the form and other pertinent

information, but please contact our offices if you

require additional information.

Another perennial federal issue

that is currently resurfacing is

the National Flood Insurance

Program (NFIP), namely the

updating of the NFIP risk

rating methodology through

the implementation of a new

pricing approach known as

“Risk Rating 2.0,” which is set to

take effect on October 1, 2021. We

share the concerns of our fellow Gulf Coast municipal

leagues about this new methodology, which shifts focus

away from the mitigation of vulnerable properties

in favor of targeting homes outside of flood zones with

higher insurance premiums. According to U.S. Senator Bill

Cassidy’s office, the new risk rating methodology could

increase premiums for 80% of Louisiana policyholders,

some by hundreds of dollars annually. We will continue

to monitor this evolving issue and will work with Senator

Cassidy, Senator Kennedy, and our entire congressional

delegation to address these concerns.

As I write this column, the 2021 Regular Session of the

Legislature is winding down. Overall, we had a successful

session. Though we tracked 263 bills and spent many

long hours lobbying on relevant bills, much of our time

was dedicated to two instruments: HB 199 on streamlining

our current sales and use tax collection system, and

HB 648 whose stated purpose is to proliferate broadband

access statewide through allocation of state funding and

enabling the use of federal and other funding to install

critical infrastructure. You will hear more about both in

our district meetings this month.

Speaking of district meetings, we are all very excited

about resuming these important in-person gatherings

after our forced cancellation of the 2020 meetings due

to the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been such a pleasure to

see everyone again in person and I look forward to completing

our meetings as we travel the state this month,

updating our members on LMA activities, along with

legislative advocacy.

Thank you all for your leadership during the past year

as we all maneuvered our way through the COVID-19

issues. With meaningful funding not on the horizon,

please continue to monitor your emails so that you will

have the latest information on ARPA and other funding

opportunities.

LMR | JUNE 2021 Page 3

President’s Message

ADVOCACY FOR ONE IS ADVOCACY FOR ALL

BY MAYOR JIMMY WILLIAMS, TOWN OF SIBLEY

This issue of the Louisiana Municipal

Review is one that should stir

each of us, as municipal leaders, to

action. In 2018, many of us gathered

in Lake Charles for LMA’s 81st Annual Convention.

The LMR editorial board placed a beautiful sunset image

of Lake Charles with a welcome letter from Mayor Hunter

on the July 2018 cover. His warm letter to our membership

painted a vivid picture of “sparkling Lake Charles

next to our beautiful lakefront Promenade, Marina, and

our unique 9-11 Memorial.” We were

enticed to visit the “extraordinary

Millennium Park, built solely by

area volunteers,” and to “travel

a little to the north and stop by

our recently expanded Veterans

Memorial Park, commemorating

all branches of the United States

Armed Services.”

Mayor Hunter’s 2018 welcome

letter prepared us, while in southwest

Louisiana, “to sail, ski, swim,

sunbathe, game, ride in horse

drawn carriages, play golf, tennis

or beach volleyball, crab and fish,

dine on fine foods, and soak in the

friendliness of our people and the

southern hospitality so prevalent in

our area.” Lake Charles welcomed

us with open arms, and we had a

wonderful time. Now, in their time

of need, we can use our voices to

help usher this incredible region and its residents back to

their splendor.

Here we are nearly three years later, and Lake Charles is

on the cover of this publication again; but this time, the

image and message are starkly different. Still reeling

from an onslaught of natural disasters, this picturesque

American city on the lake now seems to be the city that

America forgot.

By the time you read this, it will likely have been over

300 days since Hurricane Laura hit in August 2020, and

there is still no supplemental disaster aid for this region

in sight. It is unthinkable that any American city would

be forsaken for so long – actually, for a record-setting

amount of time. Just recently, $46 million in funding

from FEMA for debris removal reimbursement was announced.

While we are grateful for every step forward,

that only scratches the surface for a storm that caused

an estimated $8 to $12 billion in damage, and which

left Lake Charles with a current housing need of over

$230 million. Considering the four additional federally

declared disasters that hit the region over the past 14

months, and it is not hard to see why federal aid is critical.

We should all be alarmed by this snail’s pace in providing

supplemental disaster aid and by

the lack of urgency from Washington

DC. As a Gulf Coast state

facing increasingly severe weather

events, this could happen to any

of us and we must ask ourselves:

Could my city survive 300 days after

back-to-back major hurricanes,

a winter storm, a 1,000-year flood,

and a global pandemic? Are we

fiscally secure? Do we know how

to get maximum reimbursement

from damage repairs? Do we have

a solid game plan?

We have now crossed into hurricane

season, and the warmer the

Gulf waters become, the less time

we have to get prepared. Be sure

to review and act on Brett Kriger’s

Hurricane Laura – Lesson Learned

or Just Noticed? article on page 12.

Also, make sure that you are taking

all the right steps to secure funding available for municipal

governments under the American Rescue Plan Act

as outlined on page 18. Lastly, it is critically important for

us to remember that our collective voices can extend beyond

the borders of this state. Our colleagues in southwest

Louisiana need us to rally DC for swift action. None

of us can afford to sit idly by while they fight to recover

with finite resources and growing needs.

John and the team at LMA have been working hard,

along with our national partners, to push for supplemental

federal disaster aid. Advocacy is our mission and now

is the time for all of us to take action - not only for the

recovery of Lake Charles and southwest Louisiana, but

for the future needs of our entire state.

Page 4

LMR | JUNE 2021

Inside the LMA

Legal Briefs

A VOTER’S GUIDE:

STREAMLINED SALES TAX COLLECTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL

Our legislative advocacy team started

sending information and updates on HB

199 by Speaker Schexnayder as soon as the legislative session

commenced. We relayed the history of the measure and the

Speaker’s intent to bring such a measure, with or without

local collaboration. Throughout, we have carefully honored

our commitment to work in good faith to develop a bill that,

should it pass, would accomplish the goal of streamlining tax

administration while preserving local authority and autonomy

as much as possible.

Ultimately, HB 199 unanimously passed both chambers.

Because this is a proposed constitutional amendment, there

is no possibility of a gubernatorial veto. So, you, the voter,

now have the power to determine what happens with this

measure. It will be on your October 9, 2021 ballot, along with

several other purported tax reform measures. We want your

choice of “yes” or “no” to be an informed one, so here is the

scoop.

What It Does

If voters approve, it will create an independent political

subdivision named the “State and Local Streamlined

Sales and Use Tax Commission,” whose governing board is

composed of 8 members: four local government appointees

(LMA, PJAL, LSA, and LSBA) and four state representatives (the

Secretary of the Department of Revenue, one appointee of

the Governor, one appointee of the Speaker of the House, and

one appointee of the President of the Senate). This mimics the

composition of the current Remote Sellers Commission.

To ensure local control over the internal policies and

operational rules of the Commission, as well as the external

rules and policies issued regarding taxpayers, we insisted that

the adoption of all internal and external rules require a

2/3 vote of board members. This means that in all matters, 6

out of 8 Commission members must agree. In addition, the

initial chairman of the Commission shall be one of the local

government members, so for the first critical year of the

Commission’s existence, a local representative will chair its

development. Chairmanship and vice-chairmanship will then

shift every calendar year, which also mimics the operation of

the Remote Sellers Commission.

Aside from mandatory voter approval this fall, there is another

event that must occur to breathe life into this new Commission:

the enactment of the statutory framework to flesh out the

details of the Commission’s duties. That enactment will

require a 2/3 vote of both chambers of the legislature and,

if passed, the Commission has up to one year to convene its

first meeting following that enactment.

The bill contains safe harbor provisions in the event

the constitutional amendment passes in the fall, but the

legislature fails to subsequently enact the companion

statutory provisions. If that happens, then local collection

shall remain as it currently is (by single parish collectors), and

state collection shall remain with the Department of Revenue.

If voter approval of HB 199 and enactment of the statutory

companion by 2/3 vote of the legislature both transpire,

then the Commission will be positioned provide a single

online location for the electronic filing, remittance, and

collection of all state and local sales and use taxes. Please

note, however, that single parish tax collectors may still allow

taxpayers to file in-person or via hard copy, and to remit

payments via other methods. The technology provided by

the Commission will be an attractive option for taxpayers

and most taxpayers will opt to use it, but it does not preclude

other means for those folks who prefer walk-in service from

their local collectors. The taxes collected by the Commission

shall remain the property of the respective taxing authorities

and shall be promptly remitted to each single parish collector,

along with the tax returns.

The Commission shall also Issue policy advice relative to

sales and use taxes levied by all taxing authorities within the

state, and shall develop rules, regulations, and guidance

to simplify and streamline the audit process for sales and

use taxpayers. Notice the careful language here. There was a

strong push by LABI and other non-governmental stakeholders

to have the Commission take over responsibility for all sales

tax audits, both state and local. This was a deal-breaker for

local stakeholders from day one of the HR 31 study group. The

Louisiana Uniform Local Sales Tax Board - the current board

comprised exclusively of local government representatives

that is charged with bringing uniformity to local sales tax

collection – is already developing such rules, regulations, and

guidance to address multi-parish auditing. We envision that

the Commission’s work will be substantially similar (see roll-up

explanation below).

The funding of the Commission is not specifically articulated

in this constitutional amendment. Instead, it provides that the

Commission shall be funded through a percentage of state

and local sales and use tax revenues collected. The common

CONTINUED PAGE 6


vision of the working group is that the administrative fees

that currently go to the Remote Sellers Commission for their

collection of internet sales taxes (from both the state and locals)

will continue and will become the funding mechanism for the

Commission. On average, the Remote Sellers Commission

has collected $30 million in internet taxes per month, and

they collect a 1% fee. If that funding source is confirmed via

statutory enactment, the new Commission would have an

annual operating budget of $3.6 million.

We have referenced above both the Louisiana Uniform Local

Sales Tax Board (LULST) and the Louisiana Sales and Use Tax

Commission for Remote Sellers (RSC), two existing boards

that are successfully performing their respective functions

within our current sales tax system. So, what happens to them

if this constitutional amendment passes and the legislature

enacts the statutory component by 2/3 vote? Both boards

will be rolled-up into this new Commission. One year

following the first meeting of the Commission, both boards

shall be abolished, and all of their powers, duties, functions,

and responsibilities shall be assumed by the Commission,

along with their outstanding work products. A few examples

of existing tools and programs that will be inherited by the

Commission include the technology that feeds the existing

Parish E-file site (which has collected nearly $25 billion in

sales taxes via its online portal to-date); the taxpayer matrix

developed by locals for the RSC; the voluntary disclosure

agreement protocols developed by the LULST, which has

brought in an additional $13 million in unreported tax

revenue to local government coffers in just a few months; and

the newest innovation of the LULST, the tax rate lookup tool,

which provides exact rates and exemptions by address (either

through individual or bulk inquiries).

Pros and Cons

Though Parish E-file currently enables taxpayers to file and

remit sales taxes online for the state and all 64 parishes, it

does not enable a single payment for all taxes due. This

proposed constitutional amendment gives the Commission

the standing to accept one single payment, which technology

will break out on the back end to send to the proper collectors.

The proposed Commission would also give the appearance

that Louisiana has simplified its sales tax system, which might

be attractive to some businesses seeking to locate here. Does

it actually simplify the system? No. Proponents also assert

that HB 199 would make Louisiana “Wayfair-compliant.” While

it may be said that the Commission would make us slightly

more compliant, it falls short of creating the system envisioned

by the U.S. Supreme Court in South Dakota v. Wayfair, Inc.

The Commission would represent an historic and foundational

change in sales tax collection, and some question, “What

will be gained by this sea change?” There are currently over

200 tax exemptions and exclusions scattered in our law and

constitution: some are mandatory for local governments,

some optional; some only apply to the state, some only to

local governments. Louisiana has the most convoluted sales

tax systems in the country (and our exemptions cost local

governments over $1.3 billion in lost tax revenue per year).

HB 199 will not simplify our system. The Tax Foundation,

who vocally supports HB 199, even admitted under oath that

centralizing sales tax collection will not improve our national

score/ranking whatsoever.

Similarly, HB 199 does not achieve Wayfair compliance. In

finding South Dakota’s tax scheme to be constitutional,

SCOTUS relied heavily on the fact that the state had adopted

the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (or SSUTA). One

of the core demands of the SSUTA is that the state must have

uniform state and local tax bases, along with simplified rates.

Louisiana has not adopted the SSUTA because our complex

system of exemptions and exclusions makes that impossible.

Without a statutory framework to accompany HB 199, many

question how it will all work and whether the Commission

would lay the groundwork for a direction in auditing that is

undesirable for locals.

But now, it’s up to you. Whether you ultimately support or

oppose what HB 199 proposes, we encourage you to speak to

your local collectors and to your local businesses, to learn as

much as you can about this unprecedented legislation, and to

vote on October 9, 2021.

LMA 2021 District Meetings

LMA is headed to a district meeting near you! For the first time since

2019, our officers and staff will be on the road in June for district

meetings.

These annual meetings allow the LMA membership to re-elect or

elect their representatives, in the form of District Vice Presidents, who

will sit on the LMA Executive Board for the upcoming year. These

meetings also serve as an opportunity to network with legislators and

state dignitaries, as they are also invited to attend.

Visit the LMA website at www.lma.org > Events to view the full

schedule or to find the meeting in your district.

Page 6

LMR | JUNE 2021

Inside the LMA

Letter of Intent

BY MAYOR MICHAEL CHAUFFE, VILLAGE OF GROSSE TETE

I am writing to state my intent of

running for the position of President

of Louisiana Municipal Association

Board and share my qualifications

for the office.

In 1988, I was elected as Alderman

for the Village of Grosse Tete. I served four consecutive

terms (16 years) jn that capacity. In 2004 I was elected as

Mayor for the Village of Grosse Tete, and I am currently

serving in my fourth consecutive term as Mayor. In addition

to my dedication to the Village of Grosse Tete, I am

currently serving my second term as a Board Member for

LAMP, second term as District H Vice President, and my

third term on the LMA Executive Committee. I have also

served a 1 year term as LMA Vice President at Large. I

have also served 1 year as 2nd Vice President.

Throughout my involvement with Local Government, I

have consistently attended business meetings, roundtable

discussions and events at both the local and State

level. I also attend and encourage my department heads

to attend the Annual LMA Convention each year. I have

enjoyed serving as 1st and 2nd Vice President and hope

that I can continue my service to the LMA as its President.

As President, I will continue to help advance the

work of the organization to grow its membership, and

expand educational opportunities for elected officials

within local government.

Please know that I am deeply committed to the work the

Louisiana Municipal Association does to provide essential

services for local municipalities within Louisiana, along

with the mission of educating and spreading awareness of

the work the LMA does to help municipalities.

It would be an honor to be elected as the Louisiana Municipal

Association’s Board President. I greatly appreciate

your consideration and welcome members to contact

me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Michael Chauffe

Mayor

Letter of Intent

BY MAYOR JENNIFER VIDRINE CITY OF VILLE PLATTE

It has been a true honor to serve

as the 2nd Vice-President of the

LMA’s Board of Directors during

the past two years. We have persevered

and learned so much about

each other throughout this unprecedented

pandemic. Personally, I have come to realize the

extraordinary value of the LMA to my city and our great

State of Louisiana. Therefore, I proudly announce my

candidacy for the office of 1st Vice-President of the LMA.

With a strong sense of dedication, passion and love for

the LMA, I reiterate my commitment to work diligently

with my fellow officers and each Member to move the

LMA forward and be a strong and unwavering voice for

all size municipalities – villages, towns and cities.

In addition to serving in my third term as mayor of my

beloved Ville Platte, my many years in various leadership

roles on different LMA and LMA-affiliated boards

have prepared me for this important position. If elected,

you can expect my years of experience and extensive

network of federal, state and local relationships to help

lead and promote the LMA. As I have said before, I feel

that I have walked in each of your shoes—and heels—and

taken on the greatest challenges our constituents expect

of us. To avoid being complacent, I am especially looking

forward to listening and learning about your unique issues

and needs during the upcoming LMA District meetings.

I hope you’ll agree, that WE ARE ALWAYS BETTER

WORKING TOGETHER!

The office of 1st Vice-President is more than an office to

me; it is a solemn responsibility to you. So I am prayerfully

and humbly asking my fellow elected officials for your

valuable vote and support. I welcome the opportunity

to talk with you about my candidacy, so please call me

anytime, (337) 831-0831 (cell).

Lord willing, we will see each other at the LMA’s 84th

Annual Convention scheduled for July 29 – 31 in Baton

Rouge.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Vidrine, MPA, ABD

Mayor


Letter of Intent

BY MAYOR BELINDA C. CONSTANT, CITY OF GRETNA

Due to the cancellation of the 2020 LMA

elections as a result of the Coronavirus

pandemic, I am writing to re-announce

my candidacy for the Louisiana Municipal

Association’s 2nd Vice President

election at the 2021 annual conference

in Baton Rouge. I am running to support

our Association’s mission to assist our State’s villages, towns and

municipalities.

Despite the special challenges that COVID-19 generated in 2020,

as Mayor, I am proud of the city that Gretna has become –a

community that is attracting young families who value proactive

local government. For the past eight years, I have worked

with our Council and Chief of Police to create a unified front that

supports our community’s future. Moreover, I have learned how

to build coalitions and to be a driving force for their cohesive

work to achieve specific goals – skills that are vital to the position

that I seek. In partnership with local, state and federal entities,

educational institutions, local businesses, and community organizations,

we have accomplished the following:

• established city-wide programs to tackle blight, encourage

revitalization in depressed neighborhoods and commercial

corridors, and expand historic districts

• deflected substantial threats from the railroad industry to

expand their operations in our community

• developed the City’s first small area plan – Gretna Downtown

2020 – and supported keystone downtown transformation

projects that are currently under construction

• created the City’s first comprehensive plan – Gretna Comprehensive

Plan – and adopted a supporting unified development

code

• completed the most extensive capital improvement program

in the City’s history, including the construction of drainage

projects, Gretna Police Department Headquarters, Gretna

Senior and Wellness Center, McDonoghville Fire Station, and

major roadways such as the 4th Street Extension – the largest

road construction project in the city of Gretna since its 1913

incorporation

• enhanced culture in the city of Gretna through the creation

of the Gretna Cultural Center for the Arts and its attendant

nonprofit association, which supports the arts without burdening

the taxpayer with the center’s operation and upkeep

• worked collaboratively with our diverse community interests

– nonprofits such as G-REDI (Gretna Revitalized Enhanced and

Developed, Inc.), The Post Backstage, and the Gretna Farmers’

Market, as well as city church leaders with whom we hosted

meetings to foster improved cultural awareness – generating

community buy-in for involvement in Gretna’s advancement

• established the Gretna Resilience District – one of the first

of its kind in the country – to address repetitive flood losses

using innovative flood mitigation interventions and positioning

$20 million in state and federal funds to support district

implementation

The endeavors listed above have generated a number of recognitions

for the City. The most significant of these was the 2018

accreditation of the Gretna Senior and Wellness Center by the

National Institute of Senior Centers – one of only two nationally

certified centers in the state of Louisiana, and one of only two percent

of centers in the country that are nationally certified. Other

honors include the Southern Economic Development Council

2016 Community Economic Development Award, the Signa Gamma

Rho 2018 Southwestern Region Community Icon Award for

Political & Civic Action, and Louisiana Municipal Association Community

Achievement Award recognitions for every year since I was

elected Mayor in 2013 – either in the form of honorable mentions,

or as the winning entries in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019.

Additionally, I am proud to offer my personal achievements as

further qualification for the position that I seek. Prior to becoming

Mayor, I was the first female elected official in the City’s history, serving

as Councilwoman for eight years. But my public service actually

began much earlier. Although I had a career as a small business

owner, I found more rewarding work as a court administrator of

alternative sentencing programs for the 24th Judicial District Court,

where I closely collaborated with the committee of individuals that

created one of the first alternative sentencing drug court programs

in the state of Louisiana – a program that continues to be successful

today. Since my election as Mayor, I have been honored to serve as

the Co-Chair of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative – a

100 mayor coalition working to renew federal and state attention

to America’s most important inland waterway. I have also had the

privilege of presenting at LMA conferences on the subject of adjudicated

property issues, specifically targeting blighted properties, and

I am delighted to have been recently appointed to work on the first

LMA Mayor’s Court subcommittee to reform local judicial practices.

Those who know me well will attest that my primary reason for pursuing

public service was and remains the opportunity to make my

community a better place. I am so gratified that the city of Gretna

is recognized today as one of the best governed places in Louisiana,

emphasizing the importance of a sustainable and resilient future.

Every day, I am reminded of how much our City has transformed –

thriving local businesses and revitalized neighborhoods have established

us as a community of choice. As your next 2nd Vice President

of the Louisiana Municipal Association, I will be committed to ensuring

that our Association works to support the diverse needs of our

communities, to be proactive about the future, and to enable the

transformation of all our Louisiana communities into places where

our children and grandchildren have the opportunity to thrive.

In closing, I would love the opportunity to meet with you personally

or via phone conference so that I may better understand

and appreciate the challenges that are specific to you and the

area that you represent. I am a firm adherent of Aristotle’s famous

quote, “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” I truly

believe that the mission of our Association as a whole can only be

accomplished by representing every part of Louisiana, and I hope

you will support me in my campaign to work toward this goal.

Sincerely,

Belinda C. Constant

Mayor

Page 8

LMR | JUNE 2021

Inside the LMA

Letter of Intent

BY MAYOR DERRICK JOHNSON, TOWN OF CHENEYVILLE

My name is Derrick Johnson, and

I am the Mayor of the Town of

Cheneyville. I am submitting this to

inform you and the members of the

Louisiana Municipal Association of

my intent to run for the Louisiana

Municipal Association seat of 2nd Vice President. As a

Mayor going into my 3rd term, I understand the challenges

and hardships our communities are facing daily, including

the unique challenges brought on by the pandemic along

with the recovery process.

I’d like to give you a little background on myself outside

my position as a Louisiana Mayor. I am a graduate of Louisiana

State University at Alexandria and the University of

LA at Lafayette with Bachelor’s degrees in Business Management

and Business Informatics, respectively. I am also

an Iraqi War Veteran having served 11 years in the United

States Military. My most recent educational achievement

includes having recently passed the Louisiana State Bar

Exam following the completion of my Juris Doctor degree

from Southern University Law Center.

My LMA experience includes having previously served on

the LMA board as Vice President at Large, and I currently

hold the office of President of the Louisiana Municipal

Black Caucus Association (LMBCA). I am a proud of the

work that we have done during my term as President

of the LMBCA. I consider starting a scholarship fund

to assist first year college students with the rising cost

of tuition as one of the most notable accomplishments

achieved during my time in this leadership role.

I intend to work for the small towns and villages of

Louisiana, the communities that need the most help

and increased access to resources. As the Mayor of a

smaller town, I understand those unique circumstances

all too well. I want to help the “part-time Mayors” who

are putting in full time hours to help their communities. I

want to work to ensure equitable access to resources and

support.

I intend to reach out to those mayors to speak with about

some of the challenges and obstacles that their communities

are facing and how the LMA may be of assistance.

I want to visit these communities and I look forward to

hearing from my fellow members of LMA about their

needs, ideas and goals.

Respectfully,

Mayor Derrick J. Johnson Sr., Esq

LMBCA Announces

Riggins/McClurie Memorial Scholarship

The Riggins/McClurie

Memorial Sponsorship

was started to honor

the life and legacy of

McClurie Sampson, David

Riggins and all past

presidents and members

of the Louisiana Municipal

Black Caucus Association. The purpose of

the scholarship is to assist 1st and 2nd year

undergraduate students with the burden of paying

for higher education while also encouraging them

to come back and promote their communities by

striving for greatness.

Requirements:

• Must be a 1st or 2nd year undergraduate

student in good standing. If an applicant is a

1st year student, a letter of acceptance must be

attached to application from the school of his

or her choice.

• The school must be in Louisiana.

• Applicants must submit an essay no more than

1000 words on a topic of concern within their

community, and upon completion of college

what steps will they take to improve their

community.

• Each submission must state the name of

the Caucus Member and/or Organization

that recommended them. One submission

per municipal organization. The Member/

Municipality must be in good standing.

• All applications must be electronically

submitted to djjohnson2431@yahoo.com by

July 31, 2021. The subject line should read: 2021

Riggins/McClurie Memorial Scholarship.


Lake Charles: The City that America Forgot?

From the story of the three little piggies and the big bad wolf,

to teachings of faith in the Book of Matthew, there is a universal

truth that a strong house, built on a solid foundation, may

be shaken by strong winds or may be deluged by floods, but

it will not be destroyed. In just over one year, the City of Lake

Charles has faced a series of weather-related events that rival

Biblical proportions. Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Winter

Storm Uri, and a 1,000-year flood - on top of a global pandemic

- have stretched this city and most of southwest Louisiana

to their limits. Though federal aid has been promised, the lack

of national attention and the painfully slow federal response

make it increasingly clear that the fierce winds of Washington

politics may prove to be the biggest disaster yet.

Hurricane Laura, which made a direct hit on Lake Charles, has

been officially declared by the National Hurricane Center, as

the strongest hurricane to hit the state of Louisiana in almost

150 years. This includes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike, and every

other storm that has impacted our state in our lifetime. Just

six weeks later, Hurricane Delta struck Lake Charles with more

flooding than Laura. Several months later, Winter Storm Uri

(the strongest to hit Lake Charles in 25 years) came knocking

on the city’s doors. The May 17 th flood was triggered by the 3 rd

heaviest rainfall event in Lake Charles’ recorded history. Parts

of the city received close to 15 inches of rain over a 6-hour period.

To exacerbate the situation, all these events happened

during a global pandemic.

If the plight of Lake Charles sounds a bit like a scene from the

movie The Ten Commandments, then you do not have to look

far to find who has been cast in the role of Moses.

Just months into his second term as mayor of Lake Charles, Nic

Hunter finds himself now leading his city through a proverbial

Red Sea of inaction, bureaucracy, dysfunction, partisanship,

broken promises, photo ops, and lip service.

How Did We Get Here?

“We sit here today, about 285 days post Hurricane Laura and

we still do not have a supplemental disaster aid package from

Washington DC,” said Hunter during a June 4, 2021, interview

with the LMR editorial board. “At this juncture it’s just unconscionable

for us to be where we are today without the proper

commensurate federal response to what has hit Lake Charles

over the last 14 months. We just got word [on June 2] that

the May 17 th flood is now a federally declared disaster. That

means this city has endured five federally declared disasters

over the course of 14 months. In the history of this country,

that has never happened to another city, yet we are languishing,

our people are suffering because for whatever

reason, Washington DC cannot muster the bipartisanship

needed to pass supplemental disaster aid. This type of aid

is extremely customary in the aftermath of natural disasters

the likes of which we have seen, even after one single natural

disaster. Hurricane Laura alone, would traditionally have been

enough to warrant a supplemental disaster aid package and

here we are with Laura, Delta, a winter storm, and now this May

17th 1,000-year flood, on top of COVID-19 and everything else

Page 10

LMR | JUNE 2021

Feature

that we are going through, and we do not

have the same federal response and federal

aid that dozens of other communities

have received over the last 20 years.

“It took 10 days to act after Hurricane Katrina.

It took 34 days to act after Hurricane

Andrew. The most recent example, which

admittedly was too long, was it took 233

days to act after Hurricane Michael yet,

we are here, and we are setting another

record on the amount of time it takes to

get supplemental disaster aid. We’re also

setting a record on the frequency and ferocity

of natural disasters to this city.”

It has been widely publicized that every

level of government - from the president

to our congressional delegation to the

governor - has been in touch with Mayor

Hunter about the status of this important

American city, which is an energy epicenter

in the United States. Lake Charles’

pipeline infrastructure, tourism, port infrastructure,

and industries are vital to the

rest of the country. The nation needs Lake

Charles to fully recover, yet for months,

Hunter has been getting pats on the back while everyone says,

“you’re doing a great job” and “don’t worry - help is on the way.”

But to-date, tangible results have not materialized. When President

Biden’s budget came out in late May, supplemental disaster

aid was not included in the budget, and to Hunter, “that was

recently a pretty big wake-up call that something’s not right.”

“Residents of southwest Louisiana are just as much American as

any other citizen that was affected by a wildfire or earthquake

or hurricane or a flood in the past. There’s real suffering in this

region that equates to the level of suffering that has been in

the aftermath of other natural disasters.” Mayor Hunter has

asked repeatedly about the delay in aid and lack of urgency

by the federal government. The answer that he has consistently

received is that Washington DC is now more dysfunctional,

more polarized, and more stagnant than it has

been in generations.

Built on a Strong Foundation

Reflecting on the city’s historical fiscal management, Hunter

has proudly set the record straight that despite the unfortunate

national narrative and partisan talking points, the current

request for disaster aid is not tantamount to a poorly run city

looking for a handout or trying to stuff coffers. Lake Charles

is quite the opposite, with decades of transparent accounting

to establish that it has been extremely well run – and yet, their

pleas for disaster aid still seem to fall on deaf ears.

“I invite anyone to look at our budgets over the last 20 years

and I include my predecessor Mayor [Randy] Roach in this

conversation,” said Hunter. “We don’t run deficits in the City

of Lake Charles. We are a fiscally responsible city. We manage

our business well. The help that we are requesting, the aid we

are requesting is not to make city government more resilient

or recover from any type of issue pre-Laura. This is absolutely

in response to natural disasters that have wreaked havoc upon

our population and our citizenry. We have healthy reserves. To

date, we have not had to raise taxes, go into amounts of unhealthy

debt, do mass layoffs of public safety or other agencies

- and that was in the wake of COVID-19 and these natu-

CONTINUED PAGE 12


ral disasters. Anyone that believes we are somehow a fiscally

irresponsible or mismanaged city, come look at our budgets.

Come look at the responsibility and fiscal philosophy of this

city over the last 20 years and you will see someone that has

their house in order.”

This leaves one to wonder if the outstanding fiscal management

of the city and their resiliency somehow mask the desperate

need of individuals, even though city residents, officials,

and leaders have been crystal clear on those profound needs.

It Could Happen to Any City

“These weather events are becoming more frequent and more

ferocious. I understand that climate change is an emotional

topic. You can pick another name for it if you want - call it a

terrible string of bad luck - just look out the window and see

what is happening. I do not know what the City of Lake Charles

could have done differently over the last 20 years to somehow

prevent these weather events from hitting us. All we can do

now is recover to be more resilient with the expectation that

these things could happen again and other cities should have

the same mindset and the same philosophy.

“The City of Lake Charles is geographically positioned the same

way on the Gulf Coast as dozens of other cities in Louisiana and

across other states. It could happen to another community

next year, so I just encourage everyone to be as prepared as

you can. Thank God we did have the reserves that we had and

thank God we have had the fiscal philosophy we have had in

the last 20 years. I don’t know where we would be in the aftermath

of what we have been through had we not had our fiscal

house in order.”

How Long Will It Take?

“Lake Charles will recover,” said Hunter when asked about the

Hurricane Laura – Lesson Learned or Just Noticed?

BY BRETT KRIGER, LMA DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR DISASTER RECOVERY

Since Hurricane Laura struck south and

west Louisiana, I have received many

calls from mayors and municipal leaders

seeking information and clarification on

FEMA disaster relief programs and how

to ensure maximum reimbursement

from damage repairs. The most common

concern that I have heard repeatedly

from mayors and municipal leaders was

some version of “What can we do about all the debris?” or

“I wish we had had a debris plan.” That is the top concern

after almost every catastrophic disaster and FEMA states that

debris removal accounts for 25-30 percent of the total cost

for storm-related disaster damage.

A catastrophic disaster storm event that affects a large

area, instantly overwhelms communities with vegetative,

construction, and even hazardous debris. Before any useful

short- and long-term future of the city without a swift federal

response. “These were punches to the gut, but we are a very resilient

population. We are going to survive what has happened

to us. The real question is the timeline for that full recovery.

The level of resiliency to which we are able to recover is dependent

on the proper, commensurate federal response.

The housing need alone, just in the city of Lake Charles, is upwards

of $230 million. Our city budget is $80 million a year. We

could shut down city government and offer zero other services

to our constituents for three years and maybe make a dent

in housing here in Lake Charles right now. That is why these

funds are needed for a full resilient recovery, not only for

Lake Charles, but for all of southwest Louisiana.”

What Can We Do?

Local governments statewide should view the plight of Lake

Charles as a cautionary tale about the expediency and efficiency

of federal disaster response. In taking their situation

to heart, we must realize that their struggles are our struggles,

and that meaningful recovery funding for southwest Louisiana

means that every Louisiana citizen benefits. The LMA is committed

to continuing our attempts to keep Lake Charles in the

spotlight and to keep insisting that “soon” is not good enough.

But the individual efforts of our members are also powerful

forces. Nearly every municipal leader has advocacy access

through their state legislators and members of the congressional

delegation. If we join our voices to those of Mayor Hunter,

Lake Charles, and other regional leaders from southwest Louisiana,

we can hopefully eliminate any further delay in the delivery

of promised federal aid, while also sending a message

to Washington that we will unite in solidarity to fight for the

well-being of Louisiana’s municipal governments.

recovery can begin, the initial debris has to be assessed,

organized, and pushed-back from roadways and critical

facilities. The first task to get electric, gas, water and sewer

utilities restored, is to clear the debris from transmission,

distribution, and service paths. Many municipalities

discovered that waiting for the parish to coordinate those

activities could be a slow process based on populationdensity

restoration priorities and first efforts focused on

those municipalities with debris plans in place.

Debris removal is a high priority following a disaster and is a

visible sign of action that helps to restore a sense of normalcy

to the affected population. Removal often represents the

first step toward recovery. The quantity and type of debris

generated, its location, and the size of the area over which

it is dispersed, will have a direct impact on the type of

collection and disposal methods utilized, associated costs,

CONTINUED PAGE 13

Page 12

LMR | JUNE 2021

City of Walker Moves

into New City Hall

Walker Mayor Jimmy Watson,

Mayor Pro Tem Scarlett

Milton Major, Councilman

Richard Wales, Councilman

David Clark and proud

members of the municipal

staff, welcomed the public

to view the new City Hall on

Friday, May 14th. The magnificent

new building is a result

of years of saving and planning

by city leaders. During

the ribbon-cutting ceremony,

Mayor Watson delivered

generous remarks to over 150

dignitaries giving much of

the credit to the city’s forefathers

for constructing an

extensive natural gas system

years before the city started

to realize its commercial and

residential growth. Walker

now has the second-largest

municipal gas system in the

state and ranks in the top 100

in the Nation. “We owe so

much of our financial success

to the prudent leadership

and careful planning by the

current Council and the city’s

leaders before us,” said Mayor

Watson. “We are so proud and

grateful to have this beautiful

and comfortable building

that will no doubt allow our

capable staff to better serve

the citizens of Walker,” added

Watson. LMA’s Deputy Director

Richard Williams and La-

MATS Executive Director Cliff

Palmer attended the ceremony

and took a few photos as

part of the LMA’s new Drone

Imaging Service.

A Word from

Our Affiliates

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12: HURRICANE

and how quickly the problem can be addressed. In a major

disaster, there may be difficulty in locating staff, equipment,

and funds to devote to debris removal. The amount of debris

could exceed the local government’s ability to dispose of it.

Having an approved and coordinated plan in place helps get

the removal process underway much more quickly.

While force account or existing day-to-day trash pickup can

be useful, private contractors specializing in disaster debris

are likely to play a significant role in the debris removal,

collection, reduction, and disposal process. Having a plan

in place that is coordinated and approved by the Governor’s

Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

(GOHSEP) as well as solid waste officials in the parish will

greatly speed the recovery process.

Just having anticipated the requirements for soliciting and

engaging a private debris removal contractor and putting a

monitoring and management system in place will help get

your recovery process started quickly and ensure the greatest

reimbursement from FEMA.

For additional information on putting a plan in effect for your

municipality, contact your parish emergency management

director or the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and

Emergency Preparedness.


LaMATS Invites Members to New Cooperative

Purchasing Joint Commission (LACPC)

The evolution of

LaMATS procurement

assistance

services

took a big leap

forward this

year with the

establishment of

the first municipal Cooperative Purchasing

Joint Commission (LACPC),

a member-controlled administrative

body designed specifically for Louisiana

municipalities and other local

governments.

Developed in accordance with the

Local Services Law (La. R.S. 33:1322

et seq.,), which allows political subdivisions

to cooperate and administer

purchasing of materials, supplies

and equipment through a joint

commission, the new LaMATS-administered

commission invites all

Louisiana local governments to

join, free of charge or obligation, by

passing the appropriate resolution

and appointing a commission representative.

“The benefits of joining the LACPC

are tremendous,” said Cliff Palmer,

LaMATS Executive Director. “Virtually

any commodity municipalities

need can be purchased more

cheaply on volume.” Cooperative

purchasing contracts, such as the

LACPC will create, provide outsized

benefit to smaller municipalities,

as their buying power grows with

every new member that joins. The

LACPC will also help alleviate the

strain placed on larger municipalities’

purchasing staffs. By creating

contracts that comply with the legal

requirements, LACPC will become

their “go-to” contract source.

The administrative burden normally

accompanying the establishment of

joint purchasing contracts between

political subdivisions

will be

borne primarily

by LaMATS with

the assistance

and direction

of the Commission.

“We’ll

do most of the leg-work of issuing

solicitations, establishing prices

and drafting contracts at no cost

to members,” explained Palmer,

“saving local governments in administrative

hassle

as well as annual

budgets.” LaMATS

will also assure

that all contracts

offered for cooperative

purchases

meet the requirements

of the public

bid laws and public

service laws, and

will assist participants

with any

necessary audit of purchases made

under contract through the LACPC.

A participant-accessible website

will list all available LACPC contracts

and serve as a portal for

sharing news and events related

to the Commission’s operations.

Use of any purchasing contracts

established by the Commission

is voluntary, and a participating

local government is free to withdraw

from the Commission with no

penalty.

“This is an historic opportunity

for Louisiana municipalities,” said

LaMATS Board President, Mayor

Jennifer Vidrine of Ville Platte.

“Finally our many small to midsized

communities will have the

joint purchasing power that our

larger cities have always enjoyed.

We hope every local government

will appoint a representative to the

LACPC and help make this a blockbuster

resource for all of us.”

A resolution for participating in the

Joint Commission and for appointing

a representative is available for

download at LaMATS.net and also

with the QR-code accompanying

this story. By the time of this publication,

the LACPC will be underway

with established founding member

municipalities, ready to enjoy cooperative

purchasing opportunities.

To inquire about this exciting leap

forward in Louisiana local government

procurement, contact Cliff

Palmer or Paul Holmes at LaMATS:

(225) 344-5001.

Page 14

LMR | JUNE 2021

LAMSA Conference Recap

BY MARLAINE PEACHEY, LAMSA CONFERENCE COORDINATOR

A Word from

Our Affiliates

The Louisiana Association of Municipal

Secretaries and Assistants

(LAMSA) held their 31st Annual

Spring Conference in Bossier City,

May 5-7. Everyone was thrilled to

reconvene and see their counterparts

from around the state. LAM-

SA is known for the close bond

members enjoy as well as new tools

they can take back from both spring

and fall conferences. Considering

travel restrictions by several cities,

82 members were able to attend

and 17 first timers. On Wednesday,

for Sexual Harassment Prevention

and Project Coordinator for the

City of DeRidder; Mr. Carl Qualls of

Shreveport, a Ziglar Legacy Certified

Trainer who spoke on “Building

A Better You”; Dr. Avius Carroll and

her team from Northeast Delta Human

Services in Monroe who spoke

on “Mental Illness in our Community”;

Mr. Casey

Tingle, Deputy

Director of LA

GOHSEP, who

covered information

on Cybersecurity

and

LAMSA Conference

Coordinator

Marlaine

Peachey who

spoke on “Discovering

the

Value of Time

Management”.

Cliff Palmer of

LaMATS closed

out the day

with his unforgettable

humor and

talents. He has truly become one

of LAMSA’s coveted speakers and

supporters.

The annual business meeting was

held prior to lunch and the current

(L to R): Mayor Lionel Johnson, Jr., St. Gabriel; Mayor K.W. Gaspard,

Haughton; LAMSA President Yvonne Lewis; Mayor Xanthe Seals, Homer;

Mayor Chester Coffman, Mooringsport; and Mayor Julius Alsandor,

Opelousas.

Brenda Dugas of Grand Coteau; Yvonne Lewis,

President; and Suzette Thomas of Terrebonne

Parish

members toured the Louisiana State

Exhibit Museum which is an affiliate

of the Smithsonian Institute.

On Thursday, President Yvonne

Lewis opened the conference, welcoming

everyone back and introduced

Bossier City Mayor Lorenz

Walker who welcomed everyone to

Bossier. The agenda included: Ms.

Janet Vincent, a Certified Facilitator

(L to R): Debra Ausbon and Constance Barbin,

St. Gabriel; Connie Auzenne, Lafayette Consolidated

Government; and President Yvonne

Lewis.

appointed board was elected by

acclamation, including Yvonne Lewis

of Tallulah, President; Constance

Barbin of St. Gabriel, Vice President;

Roxanna Richard of Gueydan, Secretary;

Joan Methvin of Maurice, Treasurer;

and Directors-At-Large: Jamie

Liner, Golden Meadow; Lynn Hebert,

Terrebonne Parish; Glenna Luther,

DeRidder; Suzette Thomas, Terrebonne

Parish; and Andrea Livings,

Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Two ladies received their Certifications

as Municipal Assistants: Brenda

Dugas of Grand Coteau and Suzette

Thomas of Terrebonne Parish. Three

were recertified, Connie Auzenne of

Lafayette Consolidated Government,

CONTINUED PAGE 16


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and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

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our jobs and ending on such a

high note of laughter was just

what we needed to bring back

to our cities, towns and villages.

LAMSA members enjoyed a

boost of confidence and renewal

and left better equipped for

times to come.

We sincerely thank all of our

Mayors for supporting LAMSA

with their “right hands” for a

short few days, and believe they

will gain a new level of professionalism

in their offices as a

result. President Lewis closed out

the conference, hoping to see

everyone again October 6 - 8 for

the fall conference to be held in

Pineville.

Membership in LAMSA is open

to all municipal secretaries and

assistants or persons performing

the duties of a secretary or

assistant, regardless of title, in

any incorporated village, town,

city or parish chartered under

and in conformity with the laws

of the State of Louisiana. We

hope more of you will come to

benefit from LAMSA, where professionalism

is our standard and

education our foundation.

For more information, contact

President Yvonne Lewis at the

City of Tallulah, 318-574-0964,

or Marlaine Peachey at 985-630-

1798 or by email, lamsaconference@att.net.

Look for us at the convention (in

pink camou) in LAMSA’s booth

for more information and giveaways.

See you there!

Page 16

707693_Thornton.indd 1

8/21/14 8:33 PM

LMR | JUNE 2021

Attorney General’s Opinions

BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL

Civil Service Activities

Opinion: 21-0048 Louisiana Revised Statute

33:2504 does not prohibit a member

of the Bossier City Municipal Fire

and Police Civil Service from acting as a

liaison between the police department

and the Mayor-Elect’s transition team.

Released: 4/26/2021

Appointed Chief

Opinion: 20-0142 The board of aldermen

may enact an ordinance restricting the use of municipal vehicles

to official business. Released: 4/29/2021

Elected Chief

Opinion: 21-0056 Answers questions related to psychological

evaluations for prospective and current employees of a

police department with an elected chief of police. Released:

5/17/2021

Tax Sales

Opinion: 21-0017 Discusses notice requirements of La. R.S.

47:2153. Released: 5/3/2021

Municipalities

Dual Officeholding

Opinion: 21-0024 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding

and Dual Employment Law do not prohibit a member of the

Board of Aldermen of the Town of Duson from serving as a

part-time paid fireman of the Fire Chief of the Duson Volunteer

Fire Department. Released: 5/7/2021

Opinion: 21-0034 The provisions of the Dual Officeholding

and Dual Employment Law do not prohibit the Fire Chief of

the Terrebonne Parish Fire Protection District #10 from also

serving as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the

Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District. Recalls La. Atty.

Gen. Op. No. 05-0209. Released: 5/19/2021

Prohibited Donations

Opinion: 20-0144 The Avoyelles Parish Police Jury’s expenditure

of public funds for the repair of a public bridge is proper

within the meaning of La. Const. art. VII, § 14, since the purpose

of the expenditure comports with the Police Jury’s governmental

purpose of repairing bridges and roads in the best

interest of the parish and supports a related utility servitude

through the property necessary to supply water to Avoyelles

Parish residents. Released: 5/12/2021

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Long-anticipated ARPA Funding Rules Issued

Since the enactment of the

American Rescue Plan on March

11, state and local governments

have been waiting for the federal

government to issue rules to

specify how the allocated funding

may be used. As a general

proposition, LMA members may

use ARPA funding to:

• Support public health

expenditures, by funding

COVID-19 mitigation

efforts, medical expenses,

behavioral healthcare, and

certain public health and

safety staff;

• Address negative economic

impacts caused by the public health emergency,

including economic harms to workers, households,

small businesses, impacted industries, and

the public sector;

• Replace lost public sector revenue, using this

funding to provide government services to the

extent of the reduction in revenue experienced

due to the pandemic;

• Provide premium pay for essential workers,

offering additional support to those who have

borne and will bear the greatest health risks

because of their service in critical infrastructure

sectors; and

• Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure,

making necessary investments to improve

access to clean drinking water, support vital

wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and

to expand access to broadband internet.

These broad categories of usage demand detailed implementation

rules, and on May 11, the US Department

of Treasury delivered on their promise, issuing a 151-

page interim rule, which provides in-depth explanations

on each usage type. While no rule can be expected to

address every situation, this long-awaited rule provides

critical information for our members to begin

planning their fund allocations in earnest.

To assist our members in sorting through the lengthy

rule provisions, a summary of the funding use portions

of the Treasury rule can be found on the LMA

website at www.lma.org.

Get Ready for Your ARPA Funding

Nearly all our members will receive their allocated

funding through the Louisiana Department of Treasury,

which is charged with developing rules for local governments

to submit their information to receive the

first tranche of funds. While we await the release of

that information, at treasury.gov, a detailed checklist

on what steps that your municipality can take to be

prepared for the moment when that portal is available,

including:

✓ Obtain or confirm your local government’s valid

DUNS number

✓ Gather your local government’s payment information:

• Local government name, Entity’s Taxpayer Identification

Number, DUNS number, and address

• Authorized representative name, title, and email

• Contact person name, title, phone, and email

• Financial institution information (e.g., routing and

account number, financial institution name and

contact information)

✓ Confirm your local government’s top-line budget

total (defined as your local government’s total annual

operating budget, including the general fund and other

funds, in effect as of January 27, 2020)

A step-by-step procedural summary of how funds will

be distributed is also available at treasury.gov, as well

as additional information on funding formularies, population

data, and more.

n the meantime, please stay tuned to our weekly

e-newsletters and email alerts for more information

about ARPA funding for municipalities. If you have any

questions, please do not hestitate to contact our office.

Page 18

LMR | JUNE 2021

Partner Insight

Take a Staycation

BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER

What are you waiting for?

Would you do me a favor, please?

I want to share some good news

with you. Then, I’d like you to pass

it along to your friends and loved

ones.

You’ve heard me mention time and again that 2019 was

the fourth consecutive record breaking year for tourism

in Louisiana as we welcomed 51.3 million visitors to

Louisiana. After a year-long shutdown and a pent up

demand for travel, people everywhere are looking to

explore. So we want them to come here. And, if you’re

already here, take a trip somewhere you haven’t been

in Louisiana.

If you need some ideas, just go to LouisianaIsATrip.com

and plan your next staycation.

I thought I’d tempt your travel taste buds and invite

you to Feed Your Soul with uniquely Louisiana experiences

coming up this summer.

On June 11-12, Shreveport is hosting the 6th annual Red

River Balloon Rally. The two-day

event is an affordable summer getaway

featuring live entertainment,

tethered hot air balloon rides, and

more.

On June 22, the 2021 Louisiana

Seafood Cook-Off is being held at

the Cajundome Convention Center

in Lafayette in conjunction with a Taste of Eat Lafayette.

Come sample come of the best restaurants in the

heart of Cajun Country and watch the best-of-the-best

chefs compete for the ultimate title in the Louisiana

culinary industry.

And on June 26-27, continue your culinary staycation

with a trip to the 4th annual Baton Rouge Soul Food

Festival. Dance to the blues, soul, R&B, and gospel music

all while tasting some the finest soul food cooking

in the state. You’ll want to stick around because chefs

from six different states will face off in the annual Soul

Food Cooking Competition.

5 Episode Series Featuring Louisiana Small Towns Launched

On May 10, Small Town Podcast

released the first of five

episodes in a series featuring

small towns in Louisiana. The

series is sponsored by Louisiana

Economic Development in

partnership with the Louisiana

Municipal Association. This

is the second series on small

towns in Louisiana, as seven

other Louisiana small towns

have previously been featured

on the Small Town Podcast.

The first episode focused on the Town of Vidalia, LA

through an interview with Mayor Buz Craft. Other

episodes in this series highlight St. Francisville,

Patterson, Westlake, and Grand Cane.

Small Town Podcast is an audio project designed

to shine the spotlight on small towns that are often

overshadowed in the media by the excitement and

activity of bigger cities. When small towns do get

attention, it is often for something less than desirable.

Small Town Podcast tells the

whole story of small town living

and its joys and challenges.

Small Town Podcast was

created and is hosted by Ocilla,

GA Mayor Matt Seale, who visits

other small towns and talks

face to face with local leaders.

The audience is given an

opportunity to learn about the

personalities of local officials

in small towns and then hear

about some of town’s unique

qualities and what it has to offer.

Small Town Podcast is available on Apple iTunes or

the Apple Podcast app, Stitcher and other podcast

applications. For the full list of podcast platforms

available or to listen to an episode on the web, visit

www.smalltownpodcast.com and go to the “Listen”

tab. Listeners can also follow Small Town Podcast on

Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to see photos of the

towns Mayor Seale features.


Making Lemonade During a Pandemic….

BY DEATRIZ “DEDE” RIGGINS, GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS

The past fifteen months have been one for the books.

For municipalities across our great state, the workload

of maintaining calm in their communities and making

financially sound decisions were a must during the

pandemic. Despite the financial strains of the pandemic,

there was some light for several municipalities. Rates

were historically low when COVID-19 penetrated our

world and many municipalities capitalized on the low

rates by refunding (“refinancing”) their outstanding

debt. Additionally, some municipalities had to place

capital projects and planning on hold.

Low interest risks and narrow credit spreads created

an opportunity for local municipalities to consider

entering the public market to refund their outstanding

debt. The Town of Leonville was presented with such

GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.

Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing

L. Gordon King

Dede Riggins

Nnamdi I. Thompson

Shaun B. Toups

David M. Medlin

James R. Ryan

Patrick Vice

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.

an opportunity and welcomed the idea of doing the

proposed refunding.

The Town’s main objectives were to shorten its debt

by at least ten years and optimize cashflow savings.

Let‘s just say the Town achieved their objectives PLUS

some. Leonville lowered their rate by over 125 bps,

achieved cashflow savings of over $2.8 million and had

net present value (“NPV”) savings of over 29 percent!

Please note, the outcome for this refunding was based

on market conditions on the day of pricing.

Next, I want to mention the City of Baker. The City really

took a hit after the August 2016 flood. However, Baker

viewed the post-flood era as a time to “revamp” its

utility systems. Water meters were installed, and various

CONTINUED PAGE 22

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!

Page 20

LMR | JUNE 2021

Partner Insight

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JOHN M. SCHRODER, SR.

Louisiana State Treasurer

LAMP, Inc. President

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Rural Development

USDA EXPANDS ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR

VERY SMALL RURAL BUSINESSES

BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTING STATE DIRECTOR DIANA SMITH

USDA Rural Development

implemented a series of actions

to make it easier for very small rural businesses to get

access to needed capital to thrive.

The Department published a final rule outlining

changes to the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance

Program (RMAP). This program provides loans and

grants to microenterprise development organizations

to help them establish revolving loan programs to

assist microenterprises, businesses with 10 or fewer

full-time employees. It also provides annual funding

to development organizations to conduct training and

provide technical assistance to microloan borrowers.

USDA made the improvements to implement changes

required in the 2018 Farm Bill and to make the program

more effective, more user-friendly, and more consistent

with other USDA business programs. Among other

things, these improvements:

• Allow microlenders to receive their initial technical

assistance grant in an amount up

to 25 percent of their new loan

amount. The maximum loan amount

remains at $500,000. The previous

grant limit was 25 percent of the

first $400,000 plus 5 percent of the

amount over $400,000.

• Allow a microlender’s

technical assistance funds to

be replenished annually to a

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20: LEMONADE

studies were performed to identify any abnormalities

in the water, sewer, and gas systems. Once Baker

crafted a financing plan to address the recommended

infrastructure improvement projects, COVID-19 hit, and

the momentum slowed down!

Now, things are back on track. To date, the City of

Baker was awarded the Community Development Block

Grant (“CDBG”) to finance various utility infrastructure

projects. In addition, the City is in the final stages of

obtaining a loan to financially cover the utility systems

improvements not covered by the grant.

I would like to thank the Town of Leonville and the City

minimum of 20 percent of its outstanding loans to

small businesses, not to exceed 25 percent of its loan

balance, subject to the availability of appropriated

funds. The maximum percentage is not changed.

Previously, there was no minimum percentage of

grant funds to a microlender.

• Give microlenders the discretion to request loan

funds more often than quarterly to meet the

microlender’s loan demand.

• Change the definitions of “close relative,” “Indian

tribe” and “rural or rural area” to match the

definitions in other USDA Rural Development

programs.

• Increase program eligibility by reducing the

minimum application priority score to be eligible for

program funding.

• Add clarifying language emphasizing that the total

outstanding loan balance from a lender to any one

microborrower may not exceed $50,000.

The changes take effect May 14, 2021.

For additional information, see page

26348 of the May 14, 2021 Federal

Register. Program applications are

accepted on a continuous basis. To

learn more about this opportunity,

please visit www.rd.usda.gov/la for

business contacts or call (318) 473-

9760. We are here to help. Follow RD

on Twitter @RD_Louisiana.

of Baker for allowing Government Consultants, Inc. the

opportunity to share their stories and for serving as

their Municipal Advisor. Both entities displayed tenacity

and resilience during a very unpredictable time in our

world.

If you have any questions or concerns about refunding

opportunities or need assistance with developing

a financing plan for capital projects, please do not

hesitate to reach out to Government Consultants, Inc.

(Editor’s Note: DeDe has 12 years of experience in

Public Finance, with over three years as a Registered

Municipal Advisor.)

Page 22

LMR | JUNE 2021

Partner Insight

Treasury Notes

Remember to Check Often for Unclaimed Property

BY STATE TREASURER JOHN M. SCHRODER

I was thrilled to visit with so many

LMA members at the crawfish boil in

Baton Rouge last month. In case you

missed it, Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer

Vidrine challenged me to a crawfish-eating contest. I had

a lot of fun, and it doesn’t really matter who won (I won).

The best part about attending the crawfish boil – in

addition to seeing you - was returning Unclaimed

Property to a ton of municipalities. We brought checks

for Anacoco, Athens, Boyce, Broussard, Central, Crowley,

Farmerville, Golden Meadow, Gonzales, Grand Isle,

Grosse Tete, Madisonville, Mamou, Maringouin, Pineville,

Plaucheville, Rayville, Rosedale, Rosepine, Sarepta, Sibley

and Vinton.

Unclaimed Property is simply lost money that’s turned

over to the Louisiana Treasury so it can be returned

to you. We get Unclaimed Property for all the entities

within a municipality, including the Sheriff’s Office, the

Registration for LMA’s 84th Annual Convention is Open!

You don’t want to miss our 84th Annual Convention in Baton

Rouge on July 29-31. Delegates and exhibitors may register

on the convention website at www.lma.org/convention.

Mayor’s Office, the water system, schools and the Clerk

of Court.

During the pandemic last year, my staff proactively

searched the Unclaimed Property database on

municipalities’ behalf. We returned several hundred

thousand dollars.

As quickly as we return Unclaimed Property, we get

more in. That’s why it’s a good idea to check often for

lost money at www.latreasury.com

A quick look at the database shows we have money for

lot of municipalities. The Unclaimed Property covers the

alphabet from Abita Springs to Zwolle and all the towns

in between.

We want to return this money to you. If you’re not sure

how to claim Unclaimed Property for your municipality,

give us a call at 225-342-0010. We’ll help you figure it

out. I’ll even deliver the check to you personally.

Community Achievement Awards packets and information

are on our website at www.lma.org > Membership Services.


LMA’s Community Achievement Award Competition

The LMA is now accepting submissions

for the Community Achievement Awards

Competition. These prestigious awards

recognize municipalities for starting or

completing an outstanding project or

accomplishment during the 2020 calendar

year.

The Community Achievement Awards are

presented each year at the LMA Annual

Convention to municipalities that had

outstanding projects promoting progress

in municipal services during the past

calendar year. Municipalities are eligible

to compete in four populations tiers from

3,000 and under; 3,001-10,000; 10,001-

25,000; and 25,001 and over. Winning entries are recognized

by the LMA, the Louisiana Department of Economic

Development, Louisiana Industrial Development Executives

Association, Capital Region Planning Commission, Louisiana

Association of Planning and Development Districts, Louisiana

Main Street, and Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshall.

Each entry must be within one of the four categories:

• Basic Services (water, sewer, streets, municipal

buildings, etc.)

LMA members are encouraged to review the LMA Bylaws

and consider amending them for the betterment of the

Association. If a LMA member is interested in proposing an

amendment, they must follow the proper procedures.

Article 17 of the LMA Constitution states that it “may be

amended at any meeting of the Association by a vote of

at least two-thirds of the municipal corporations present,

provided such amendment has been submitted in writing to

the Executive Director at least 30 days prior to the date of the

meeting. It shall be the duty of that officer to immediately

notify the Executive Board of the proposed amendment.”

Therefore, any amendment(s) proposed by a municipality for

consideration by the LMA membership which will meet on

• Community Development (public transportation,

main street improvements, public building, parks and

recreation, etc.)

• Economic Development (industrial parks, tourism,

community promotion, workforce development, etc.)

• Technology and Creativity (Broadband, marketing,

communication programs, proliferation of technology

essentials, etc.)

Congratulations to the 2020 ‘Best of Show’ Community

Achievement Award Winner -- GROSSE TETE!

Amendments to the LMA Bylaws are due July 1

Saturday, July 31st, in Baton Rouge – must be in writing and

received by the LMA office no later than 5:00 p.m. Thursday,

July 1st, and sent to:

Executive Director John Gallagher

Louisiana Municipal Association

P.O. Box 4327

Baton Rouge, LA 70821-4327

Officials of all member corporations are entitled to attend

the LMA Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, July 31, 2021.

This meeting occurs immediately after the LMA Delegates’

Luncheon. A municipality’s elected officials do not have to

register for LMA’s 84th Annual Convention if they wish to

attend the LMA Annual Business Meeting in Baton Rouge.

PRESORT

STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BATON ROUGE, LA

PERMIT #319

Page 24

LMR | JUNE 2021

LMR JUNE 2021

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