January 2022 FINAL

LOUISIANA
MUNICIPAL REVIEW
Published by the Louisiana Municipal Association
Published by the Louisiana Municipal Association
VOL. 87, 86, ISSUE 16
JANUARY JUNE 2021 2022
America
Municipal Redistricting, A Long
Legislative Session, Infrastructure
Funding, and more...

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
of ideas and information for municipal officials in Louisiana. With a circulation of over 3,200, this publication is read by employees of
Louisiana municipal governments, sheriffs, parish presidents, state government officials, and members of the state legislature and
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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.
MUNICIPAL REVIEW STAFF
Executive Director: John Gallagher jgallagher@lma.org
Managing Editor: Karen Day White kwhite@lma.org
Editor: Anita Tillman atillman@lma.org
Production Coordinator: Baton Rouge Press, Inc.
LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW
(USPS 832-560) (ISSN 0164-3622)
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2021-2022 LMA EXECUTIVE BOARD (non-affiliate, non-advisory)
President – Michael Chauffe – Mayor, Grosse Tete
District J Vice President – Rodney Grogan, Mayor, Patterson
First Vice President – Jennifer Vidrine – Mayor, Ville Platte
LMA Past President – Barney Arceneaux, Mayor, Gonzales
Second Vice President – Derrick Johnson – Mayor, Cheneyville LMA Past President – Johnny Berthelot, Councilman, Gonzales
Immediate Past President – Jimmy Williams – Mayor, Sibley LMA Past President – Glenn Brasseaux, Mayor, Carencro
District A Vice President – Kim Gaspard, Mayor, Haughton
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
LMA Past President – Harry Lewis, Mayor, Rayville
District E Vice President – Nathan Martin, Councilman, Pineville Vice President at Large – Mark Piazza, Mayor, Abbeville
District F Vice President – Charles James, Mayor, Sunset Vice President at Large – Darnell Waites, Mayor, Baker
District G Vice President – Robert Hardey, Mayor, Westlake Vice President (< 1K) – Kevin Colligan, Mayor, Cankton
District H Vice President – David Toups, Mayor, Addis
Vice President (1K – 2.5K) – Randal Rodgers, Mayor, Stonewall
District I Vice President – Jean Pelloat, Mayor, Madisonville Vice President (2.5K – 5K) – Ed Reeves, Mayor, Plaquemine
Page 2
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Inside the LMA
Director’s Viewpoint
WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Happy New Year and welcome to
2022! I hope you all enjoyed a safe
and memorable holiday season with
family and friends. As I begin my
fifth year as your Executive Director,
I want you to know that it has been my honor and
privilege to guide the operations of the LMA and to lead
a team of staff members whose professionalism and
dedication rivals any in the country. I am humbled by the
opportunity to serve you as we enter our 96th year of
education, advocacy, and service for Louisiana’s municipalities,
bringing us one step closer to our centennial
anniversary in 2026.
I bring exciting news for the LMA family! After much discussion
and deliberation among our Executive Officers,
Building Committee, Executive Committee, and Executive
Board, the decision was made to move the LMA to a new
home, which we purchased shortly before Christmas.
The new building, located at 6767 Perkins Road in Baton
ENVIRONMENTAL
TECHNICAL SALES, INC.
7731 Office Park Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
(225) 295-1200 (225) 295-1800 (fax)
Ronnie Hebert, Chairman
Daniel Hebert, President
Brady Sessums, Vice President
Joseph Hebert
Christian Primeaux
Chad Robinson
www.etec-sales.com
Water … Wastewater … Sludge
Odor Control…Pumping
Equipment Systems
Solutions…Water Meters
Rouge, is nestled in a serene setting under live oak trees
on five acres in a vibrant area of the city. Our new headquarters
reduces our current footprint by 10,000 square
feet, enabling us to streamline expenses while still providing
outstanding service and fulfilling our threefold mission
to you. Our subsidiaries, RMI and LaMATS, will relocate
as well, ensuring seamless synergy within the LMA family.
We hope to be fully moved in by mid- to late March of
this year 2022 following renovations and updating. Please
stay tuned for more exciting details on our new space.
As we forge into this new year, we are diligently monitoring
developments related to the Omicron strain of
COVID-19 in partnership with state and national leaders,
and we are hopeful that this next wave will be less severe
than the Delta strain. Please check our weekly e-newsletters
and our website for any essential information.
Registration is open for the 2022 LMA Mid-Winter Conference,
which will be held on February 22 and 23 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge. Despite the current
coronavirus threat, the conference is still slated to be an
in-person event. Again, we will continue to monitor the
situation and notify you immediately if any of our plans
change. The theme this year is “Building Resiliency.” From
leveraging federal and state funding to accomplish legacy
projects, to gaining critical knowledge on redistricting
and best practices, we have designed a workshop lineup
to empower you to strengthen the foundations of your
municipality against future threats and challenges. We
have already received confirmation from several congressional
leaders, who will discuss infrastructure plans and
other federal goings-on in Washington, DC. Also included
in the agenda are Governor John Bel Edwards, Lieutenant
Governor Billy Nungesser, Attorney General Jeff Landry,
Treasurer John Schroder, and LDOTD Secretary Shawn
Wilson, along with experts in other critical areas. A full
schedule of events is included in this issue.
We are eager to roll out additional educational opportunities
for our membership. We will once again partner
with the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office to provide
in-person regional trainings statewide on municipal
operations and fiscal best practices. Please refer to the
training schedule herein for more details. Additionally,
we are collaborating with the team at Louisiana State
University Online and Continuing Education to develop
one-day courses on timely topics such as grant-writing.
We will also feature a new series of webinars, which will
kick off soon.
Like many of you, we hit the ground running this month
and we expect this year to be incredibly busy. As we welcome
the new year, we welcome all of the opportunities
to serve you that 2022 brings.
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 3

President’s Message
A CONNECTED WORLD IS A BRIGHTER WORLD
BY MAYOR MICHAEL CHAUFFE, VILLAGE OF GROSSE TETE
Happy New Year! I hope everyone’s
holiday seasons were filled
with joy, and that those who are
struggling will be strengthened by
support and compassion to start fresh in 2022.
If the last two years have taught us anything, it’s that
we are more adaptable than we ever thought we could
be. We know that through our commitment and determination,
we can change directions quickly for the
betterment of our citizens, and sometimes on incredibly
short notice. The year ahead holds many unknowns,
but we’ve proven our ability to stay positive, to calm
fears, and to heighten understanding for the people
that we serve. So, I welcome 2022 and the possibilities
of a brand-new year in the certainty that we can overcome
any obstacle together.
As we look ahead to the promises of 2022, there is
a common theme: connectivity.
Bringing people together is one of
the most solemn duties of public
service and this year, municipal
leaders have unprecedented opportunities
to do so. State and local
allocations of ARPA funding, along
with the diverse funding options
provided by the IIJA, provide real
prospects for all of our communities
and all of our citizens to reap
benefits for years to come. Whether
it be broadband expansion,
road and bridge repair, shoring up
infrastructure, building resilience
to natural disasters, or combatting
the negative effects of COVID-19,
eligible uses for funding seem to
all relate to connecting (or reconnecting)
people. Better accessibility
to employment options, faster
and more secure communications,
access to virtual healthcare, safe
and reliable transportation infrastructure,
and top-notch essential
services – all of these improve the
quality of life for our residents and
empower people to be better connected.
It’s hard to imagine a better
way to start the new year than
by bringing people together for the common good.
The LMA is here to assist you as you choose projects
that will positively impact your communities and have
lasting effects.
It has been a roller coaster ride these past two years,
but I remain optimistic that this new year will witness
great works from our dedicated municipal officials.
The LMA’s Mid-Winter Conference on February 22 and
23 in Baton Rouge is a perfect chance to expand your
knowledge and learn how you can maximize connectivity
for your citizens. I look forward to seeing each
of you there and hearing what plans you’re making for
your communities.
I am so proud of the LMA family of local leaders. You
rose to every challenge that 2021 threw your way and
I have no doubt that whatever happens, we will remain
#LMAStrong.
Page 4
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Inside the LMA
Governor’s Column
HOW GREAT THOU ART
BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA
Happy New Year and many blessings
to you and your families. I can hardly
believe that it’s 2022. Looking ahead,
we have so many reasons to be excited
about what’s to come. Last year was a difficult one,
still by working together we were able to make many
accomplishments including: creating the first American
with Disabilities Act Coordinator within the Division of
Administration; establishing the Office of Human Trafficking
Prevention within my office; added workplace
accommodations for pregnant and postpartum workers;
protected voting rights; passed a budget that makes
significant investments in education at every level, provides
support for families on Medicaid, those living with
disabilities, foster families and adoptive parents working
with the Department of Children and Family Services.
These are all things that we will continue to build on
as we welcome new opportunities to continue helping
improve the lives of the people we’re privileged to serve
and thus improve our state.
As you know, we are still battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the increase of cases and hospitalizations
due to the Omicron variant, it is more important than
ever to make sure as many of our people as possible are
vaccinated and when eligible, receive their booster. As
the Louisiana Department of Health recently reported,
information is still emerging but Omicron includes multiple
mutations, is more transmissible than previous strains
and may carry an increased risk of reinfection compared
to other variants of concern. Current vaccines are expected
to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations
and deaths; however, breakthrough infections in people
who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. That’s why
LDH is urging everyone to mask indoors in all public and
private spaces and mask outdoors when not able to social
distance. In addition, work remotely if possible, limit
exposure to individuals outside your everyday household
and get tested for COVID-19 before and after traveling or
gathering with individuals outside your everyday household.
LDH recommends testing one to two days before
travel and three to five days after travel.
Thankfully, vaccines and masks are widely available. Near
the end of December, more than 2.3 million Louisianans
were fully vaccinated and more than 700,000 had received
their booster. We need those numbers to increase
and with your help, I’m confident it will happen. Anyone
with questions or needs to find a vaccine or testing location
can visit covidvaccine@
la.gov or call our Vaccine
Hotline at 1-855-453-0074.
Sadly, we have lost close to
15,000 Louisianans, the majority
of whom were not vaccinated. Let
us never forget them and keep their loved ones in our
prayers. I know that we’re all tired of dealing with this pandemic,
but if we do what it takes to slow the spread the
sooner we can live more normally.
Throughout the municipalities hardest hit by Hurricanes
Laura, Delta, and Ida many are still working to rebuild their
storm damaged homes. As part of the FEMA approved
state run program, we have been able to deploy more
than 2,500 trailers to those areas where shelter options
are limited. This program is the first of its kind in the entire
country. You may also be aware that not long ago I joined
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter to announce an $11.3
million housing rehab program for Lake Charles residents
affected by Hurricanes Laura and Delta or the May floods.
We are also focused on using a large portion of CDBG
funding recently allocated to the state for long-term
recovery, particularly unmet housing needs. Frankly, it’s
not enough, but everyone we’ve talked to in Washington,
D.C. has told us that it is only a “down payment” for the
recovery. We have drafted an Action Plan that covers both
Ida and the 2020 storms, and we continue to refine it.
As I’ve said before, with the more frequent severe weather
and major hurricanes it’s hard to deny the impact of
climate change on our state and nation. Louisiana is
poised to lead the nation in addressing climate change,
which is why I established the Climate Initiatives Task
Force and traveled with a delegation of Louisiana officials
to Scotland for the 26th United Nations Climate
Change Conference of the Parties. While there, we had
the opportunity to meet people from all over the world
representing different governments, corporations, and
sectors of the clean energy movement.
A reporter recently asked me what song I would choose
to sum up 2021. Thinking of all that we have been
challenged with, the pandemic, hurricanes, and natural
disasters, the song that came to mind was “How Great
Thou Art.” Because God is great. He is great in times of
triumphs and trials. And I know that He will continue to
keep us in this new year. Thank you for your partnership
and God bless you all.
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 5

Legal Briefs
YOUR RESOLUTION SOLUTION
BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL
It may not be surprising to see the
word “resolution” in a January magazine,
but the term as used here
connotes more than a commitment to
do something (though the traditional implication certainly
fits, too). It is my privilege to respond to thousands
of technical assistance questions from our membership
each year. Often, callers are seeking guidance for issues
involving interpersonal conflicts, uninspired leadership,
and the absence of mutual respect; and often, there are
no legal remedies for those inquiries. But that does not
mean that there are no solutions or that mastering such
skills isn’t a critical part of fulfilling public service.
Our dedicated municipal leaders spend hours each year
learning about operational best practices and effective
governance rooted in state law and the constitution,
not to mention the federal guidelines attached to grant
funding. They also fulfill the mandatory training requirements
in ethics, campaign finance, sexual harassment
prevention, and cybersecurity. While it may seem that
there is no room for additional educational content, I
humbly suggest that conflict resolution is a critical skill
that should be more than an afterthought or an ancillary
matter. Inspired leadership demands practice, just like
any other skill. If you are ready to advance your leadership
skills – no matter what your job title or position –
the LMA has a resource to help you do so.
For years, Ron Holifield, CEO of Strategic Government
Resources, has inspired LMA members at our Mid-Winter
Conference, Annual Convention, and affiliate events.
For over two decades, SGR’s singular mission has been
to empower local governments to succeed by developing
innovative,
collaborative,
authentic local
leaders. As a
result, SGR is
the nationwide
leader in providing
live and online
leadership
training to local
governments.
The LMA has
forged a partnership
with
SGR to provide live and online training for our members
on a range of topics designed to build skilled leaders, invested
employees, and enviable workspaces. Our collaboration
means that SGR is offering LMA members access
to exceptional training at an exceptionally low cost.
For members who want to sample the content first or
who love the feel of real-time interaction, SGR offers
live online trainings at least once a week for only $29
per person. We publish SGR’s live training calendar in
our weekly e-newsletter, but it may also be accessed
anytime at https://www.governmentresource.com/liveonline-training/live-training-calendar.
For members who want abundant choices and variety,
as well as the flexibility of on-demand access (like
your favorite streaming services, but without exorbitant
monthly fees), SGR has developed the Servant Leader’s
Resource Library, which features original content – from
pragmatic to motivational – from compelling speakers
nationwide. Because of our ongoing partnership, EVERY
one of your employees can enjoy 24-7, unlimited access
to every video for only $250 per year per municipality/
organization.
You can design a leadership training schedule for yourself
and/or your employees based on the enormous
library of entertaining online classes. While we cannot
overemphasize how much the benefits of these inspirational
and instructive classes outweigh the minimal cost,
the truth is that the value of having a team of invested
and motivated officials and employees cannot be
measured in dollars and cents. And the start of a new
year is the perfect time to take the steps to ensure that
employees want to come to work, even when there are
challenges at hand.
You can explore the titles and contributors now by
visiting https://www.governmentresource.com/live-online-training/servant-leadership-resource-library.
We know how to acquire the tactile skills that we need
for our careers: we train, we practice, and we repeat,
until we achieve the fluency that we want. Conflict resolution,
persuasive communication, inspirational management,
and other essential leadership skills are no different.
I encourage you to take advantage of the wealth
of resources that is available through the LMA-SGR
partnership to discover and nurture your municipality’s
leadership capabilities. Because it’s not about the next
election; it’s about the next generation.
Page 6
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Inside the LMA
2022 LLA / LMA
Collaborative Training
AGENDA
9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Lawrason Act & Municipal Official Authority
9:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Local Government Budget Act & Public Bid Law
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Public Records & Open Meetings
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. LUNCH (on your own)
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Essential Fiscal Best Practices
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Managing ARPA Funds
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. LLA & LMA Answer All Your Questions
Training Schedule
Tuesday, January 18, 2022 – Gonzales
219 South Irma Boulevard
Gonzales, LA 70737
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 – Carencro
5115 North University
Carencro, LA 70520
Monday, February 14, 2022 – Haughton
224 West McKinley Avenue
Haughton, LA 71037
Tuesday, February 15, 2022 – Ruston
401 North Trenton
Ruston, LA 71270
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 – Pineville
708 Main Street
Pineville, LA 71360
Register
NOW at
www.lma.org
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. To register, you’ll be asked to create a username
and password, login into your account, and
follow all instructions provided.
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 7

Executive Committee meetings:
• Thursday, January 13, 2022
• Thursday, March 10, 2022
• Wednesday, May 18, 2022
• Thursday, July 14, 2022
• Wednesday, September 7, 2022
• Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Executive Board meetings:
• Tuesday February 22, 2022
• Wednesday, April 27, 2022 (subject to legislative schedule
– in conjunction with Municipal Day and Crawfish Boil)
• Wednesday, June 15, 2022
• Wednesday, July 27, 2022 (LMA Convention Annual
meeting in Lafayette - time and place TBD)
• Wednesday, October 5, 2022
• Thursday, December 15, 2022
2022 LMA Calendar
Conferences:
• LLA/LMA Regional Trainings, January 18-March 8, 2022
• LMA Mid-Winter Conference, February 22-23, 2022
• Municipal Day Crawfish Boil and Meeting, TBD subject to
legislative schedule)
• BOAL Spring Conference (Baton Rouge), March 13-15, 2022
• NLC Congressional Cities (Washington DC), March 14-16,
2022
• LA Municipal Clerks Association, TBD
• LA City Attorneys Association Spring Conference, TBD
March 2022
• SMC Leadership Conference, TBD April 2022
• LMA District Meetings (10), June – July 2022
• 85 th LMA Convention (Lafayette), July 28-30, 2022
• Louisiana Municipal Clerks Institute, TBD
• LA City Attorneys Association Fall Conference, TBD October
2022
• LRPA Annual Conference (Baton Rouge), November 14-18,
2022
• NLC City Summit (Kansas City, MO), November 16-19, 2022
Attorney General’s Opinions
BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL
Elected Chief of Police
Opinion: 21-0064 Once the funds
have been budgeted, the decision
on whether the appointed employee
will be employed as a part-time or
full-time employee of the police
department lies with the chief of
police. The Town Council may not convert the elected
position of chief of police to an employee position. The
Town Council may increase the compensation as the
chief of police of the Town. Released: 12/17/2021
Firefighters
Opinion: 21-0037 Discusses annual leave for Firemen
under La. R.S. 33:1996. Released: 12/15/2021
Dual Officeholding
Opinion: 21-0134 The provisions of the Dual
Officeholding and Dual Employment Law do not
prohibit a member of the Lafourche Parish Council from
serving as a full-time employee of the Terrebonne Parish
Consolidated Government. Released: 12/15/2021
Opinion: 21-0148 The provisions of the Dual
Officeholding and Dual Employment Law do not
prohibit an employee of the Transportation Security
Administration from serving as a member of the City of
Shreveport Council. However, it may be prohibited by the
Hatch Act.
Opinion: 21-0093 The part time Fire Chief of Homer Fire
Department is prohibited from serving as the mayor
of the Town of Homer pursuant to the “incompatible
offices” provision of La. R.S. 42:64(A)(1), La. R.S.
42:64(A)(5), and La. R.S. 42:64(A)(6). Released:
11/30/2021
Contingency Fee Contracts
Opinion: 21-0135 State law does not prohibit the Town
of Jean Lafitte from entering into a contingency fee
contract with private attorneys. Released: 12/8/2021
Naming Public Property
Opinion: 21-0124 Louisiana Revised Statute 42:267 does
not prohibit the naming of a sculpture trail, which is
part of median improvements on Veterans Memorial
Boulevard and North Causeway Boulevard, for a living
person, a living couple, or a living family. Released:
11/30/2021
Page 8
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Municipalities
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 9

-R E GISTRAT IO N FORM -
Louisiana Municipal Association
Mid-Winter Conference for Municipal Officials
February 22 - 23, 2022
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
DISCLAIMER
In registering for and attending this event, I agree to abide by state and local health mandates as well
as any rules put in place by the Louisiana Municipal Association or event venues. I understand that by
attending this event in person, it is possible that I may be exposed to coronavirus, and I hereby assume
that risk.
Yes, I agree
No, I do not agree
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
22, 2022. Check-in time is 4:00 p.m. and checkout
time is 11:00 a.m., unless special
arrangements are made in advance.
For accommodations, the suggested arrival is
Tuesday, February 22 and departure on Thursday,
February 24. Registration will open at 11:00 a.m.
with the first session beginning at 1:00 p.m. on
February 22.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION
ENDS FEBRUARY 7
$135 per delegate/official
(includes one guest & reception)
LATE REGISTRATION
BEGINS FEBRUARY 8
$150 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 8 , 202 2 .
Make Checks Payable To:
Louisiana Municipal Association
Mid- Winter Conference
P.O. Box 4327
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
REGISTER ONLINE
WWW.LMA.ORG
REFUNDS
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
8, 2022 (two weeks prior to the start of the
event).
Refunds will be issued only if the LMA office
receives 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 8,
2022. Telephone requests for refunds will not be
accepted. There will be no exceptions to this
policy.
NOTE: The LMA will offer one hour of required
ethics training on Wednesday, February 23, at
no additional charge. Class on The Code of
Governmental Ethics will begin at 4:00 p.m.
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
Page 10
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Municipalities
President Biden Appoints Leslie Durham as Delta
Regional Authority Alternate Federal Co-Chairwoman
DURHAM TO BECOME FIRST FEMALE, FIRST LOUISIANAN PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT TO DRA
President Joseph R.
Biden appointed Leslie
Dandridge Durham as
Delta Regional Authority
(DRA) Alternate
Federal Co-Chairwoman.
Durham is the first
Louisianan and the first
woman appointed to
DRA by a President of
the United States. As
the Alternate Federal
Co-Chairwoman,
Durham will serve in the
absence of a Federal
Co-Chairperson to
lead the Authority’s
operations and vote on
strategic investments
that promote economic
development in the 252
counties and parishes
throughout the eightstate
region.
“I have had the privilege to serve on the Delta Regional
Authority board with every Federal Co-Chairman and
Alternate Federal Co-Chairman since DRA’s creation over
20 years ago, all during some of the most difficult times
for the Delta region and my own state, Louisiana,” said
Durham. “I’m humbled that President Biden would consider
this little girl from Tensas Parish to represent him
in such an important role, and I am thankful for everyone
who supported and encouraged me along the way, especially
Governor John Bel Edwards. We have a lot to do in
the DRA footprint, and I’m ready to get to work.”
Born and raised in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, Durham attended
the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and since
January 2016 has served as Louisiana Governor John
Bel Edwards’s DRA Designee. She previously worked
for Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco as Director of
Renewal Communities and Delta Regional Authority Designee,
during which she was named the 2007 Louisiana
Planning and Development District’s Person of the Year.
Durham is a double graduate of DRA’s Delta Leadership
Institute Executive Academy, both in its inaugural year
of 2006 and again in 2017, in which she also completed
the Authentic Leadership Executive Education Program
at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard
University. On July 31, 2021, the Louisiana Municipal
Association awarded Durham with the LMA President’s
Award for her years of commitment to Louisiana Local
Governments.
“I am so excited for Leslie; she has worked very hard for
the rural communities in Louisiana and will be dearly
missed,” Governor John Bel Edwards stated. “I know she
will be a great asset to President Biden’s team, the DRA,
and the people of the 252 counties and parishes.”
In addition to her role as Louisiana Designee to the
Delta Regional Authority, Governor Edwards appointed
Durham to serve on the following:
• Broadband for Everyone in Louisiana (BEL) Commission,
Chairperson
• Rural Water Infrastructure Committee (RWIC), Chairperson
• Rural Revitalization Commission (RRC)
• 4.9 GHz Spectrum Task Force
• Jobs for American Graduates Louisiana Board of
Directors (JAG-La)
• Delta Agriculture Research and Sustainability District
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 11

Municipal Redistricting in 2022
With the Louisiana Legislature poised to convene a special
session for the purposes of conquering the challenge
of redistricting in the wake of the 2020 Census, now is a
perfect time to discuss what the Census numbers mean
for municipal government leaders when it comes to their
own election districts.
The Louisiana Revised Statutes use the term “reapportionment”
when discussing the local obligation to adjust
their election districts, but it is more property described
as “redistricting.” Apportionment means assigning a proportional
number of seats to a given geographic area
based on population. So, reapportionment is the process
of re-assigning the number of seats according to population
following the Census (the number of Congressional
seats for a given state, for example).
By contrast, redistricting is the redrawing of district
boundaries in the wake of the Census to achieve equal
populations within each. For the purposes of discussing
Louisiana’s legal mandates for local governments, though,
please know that those terms are used interchangeably
(which can sometimes lead to confusion).
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To the point: is redistricting mandatory for municipal
governments? YES. Broadly speaking, there are federal
mandates that are rooted in the 14 th Amendment to the
US Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with
the overarching concept being, “One Man, One Vote.”
Louisiana law distills the obligation down to its local governments.
Municipalities have a mandatory duty to examine
the populations within their district and to make any
necessary adjustments under three state statutes: La.
R.S. 33:382, La. R.S. 33:1371, and La. R.S. 18:1922.
These statutes each provide slightly different guidance,
which, in a normal post-Census year, would not amount
to much. However, as you will see herein, the delay in the
issuance of the 2020 Census numbers has thrown everything
into turmoil and left our members struggling with
impossible or impractical deadlines.
We start with La. R.S. 18:1922(A), which provides that regardless
of any other deadlines, municipalities shall complete
its redistricting (if required) by the end of the year
following the year in which the population of the state is
reported to the President of the United States for each
decennial census. The 2020 Census data was reported to
POTUS on April 26, 2021, which means that the outside
date for municipalities to redraw district lines is December
31, 2022. That sounds eminently do-able, right? Well,
it gets complicated from there.
The two other statutes at issue provide two mandatory
periods relating to municipal redistricting:
• one for the governing body to examine the current
apportionment within municipal election districts to
determine if there is any substantial variation in the
representation of the districts; and
• the other for completion of the redrawing of new
district lines if the governing body determines that
unequal apportionment of the municipal population
exists.
La. R.S. 33:1371 provides that legislative charter municipalities
must examine their current districts to determine if
the boundaries of the districts continue to divide the municipality
into districts of nearly equal population (defined
as being within a 10% deviation) within one year after
the official release of every decennial census. Home rule
charter municipalities may provide different examination
deadlines. Lawrason Act municipalities, however, must examine
their districts for proportionality within six months
following the official release of census data (a fact that is
echoed in La. R.S. 33:382(F)(1)).
The date of the official release of census data in Louisiana
is September 16, 2021. For legislative charter municipalities,
that means the deadline to examine current districts
is September 16, 2022, with the December 31, 2022, still
Page 12
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Feature
being the deadline to complete any required redistricting.
While home rule charter municipalities may provide
for their own deadline for examination of their voting districts,
they still must comply with the December 31, 2022,
deadline for any necessary redrawing of those districts.
For Lawrason Act municipalities, the deadline for examination
of current of current districts for proportional representation
is March 16, 2022, and technically, the deadline
to complete district redrawing would be December 31,
2022. But hang on - here is where there is another twist.
La. R.S. 33:382(E), which governs Lawrason Act municipalities,
provides that no change in a municipal district for
alderman/councilman may be made within one year of the
date of an election for alderman/councilman. For those
Lawrason Act municipalities who don’t have elections until
November of 2023 or later, the one-year moratorium deadline
does not present any substantial challenge. For them,
the deadline to examine their districts is March 16, 2022,
and the deadline to pass an ordinance effectuating any
necessary change in voting districts is November 18, 2022.
But what about Lawrason Act municipalities who have
elections in March of 2022, November of 2022, or March
of 2023? Again, the date that starts the shot clock here is
September 16, 2021. For those with elections this upcoming
spring (March 20, 2022), it is utterly impossible to do
any redistricting in advance of those elections, since according
to La. R.S. 33:382(E), it would have to have been
done by March 20, 2021, over six months prior to receipt
of the census data.
For Lawrason Act municipalities with elections on November
8, 2022, the task is nearly equally impossible.
They would have had only 1 1/2 months to complete examination
of their districts and redrawing (by November
8, 2021.)
Lastly, for those Lawrason Act municipalities with elections
on March 25, 2023, their task of examination and redrawing
must be fast-tracked in order to accomplish both
by March 25, 2022 – one year prior to those elections.
Given the fact that we live in a litigious society and there is
a very real possibility of elections being challenged under
the “One Man, One Vote” precept, the late submission of
the 2020 Census data is bound to cause problems for our
municipal members. We continue to seek guidance from
the Secretary of State’s Office regarding these matters.
We have secured one of the state’s preeminent experts
on the Census and redistricting, Dr. William Blair, to speak
at our 2022 Mid-Winter Conference this year and we encourage
you to attend to learn more about how you can
comply with federal and state mandates regarding redistricting
in your municipality.
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LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 13

Grassroots Advocacy is Key to Legislative Success
Because of practical, fiscal, and ethical constraints, local
government advocates at the State Capitol do not have
the luxury of wooing legislators in the same manner that
non-governmental lobbyists can. Instead, those of us who
fight for municipal government autonomy harness technology,
seek creative advocacy partners, and, most importantly,
secure the legislative engagement of our municipal
leaders. Interacting with your state representatives
and senators is important year-round but is especially so
just before and during a legislative session; and this year,
the stakes are high.
The 2022 Regular Session will gavel in on March 14 and
adjourn no later than June 6, the even year making this a
non-fiscal session. These longer legislative sessions usually
host hundreds more bills than their odd-year fiscal
session counterparts, which in itself is challenging for the
LMA legislative advocacy team. Given the fact that 2023
is an election year, this session is the last practical chance
that stalwart legislators will have to hash out several controversial
matters. We expect to see many of the same
measures that we wrestled with in 2021, with the caveat
that certain tax reform measures are off the table because
of the general subject matter of the 2022 session.
As our team prepares to march once more unto the
breach (shameless appropriation of Shakespeare admitted),
our message to you is two-fold: (1) THANK YOU for
faithfully engaging with your legislative delegation during
prior sessions; and (2) your voice in the ears of legislators
will be critical to the success of local government advocates
this year.
As we carefully monitor the progress of bills of interest,
we will send out requests for action, providing you with
all of the details necessary when you contact your legislators.
But there are a few issues that we can discuss now
to better position you for such discussions when the time
comes and when opportunities arise for interaction with
your delegation.
Preemption of Local Authority
We often invoke our well-worn, but eminently true, creed
that, “All politics is local.” Municipal leaders are the closest
to the people and locals know best how to run their
affairs and tailor solutions for their issues. We contend
that restoring local control should be a bipartisan goal, no
matter the topic.
Yet every year, there are several bills that seek to preempt
local authority in some manner – from limitations on planning
and zoning ordinances, to prohibiting regulation of
environmental and public safety threats, to preempting
local control over new technologies, and more. This message
cannot be overemphasized: your capable team of local
leaders is better positioned to make hard choices than
a detached group of legislators debating an instrument in
the Capitol building during a legislative session.
We expect that there will be another attempt to remove
the permit requirement for persons who wish to carry a
concealed weapon, a measure that drew nearly unanimous
opposition from municipal police chiefs statewide.
We encourage municipal officials to discuss the matter
with their police chiefs and with other law enforcement
professionals and to engage with their legislators accordingly.
It also seems inevitable that there will be heated discussions
about private businesses and local governments
enacting mitigation measures to counteract the threats
from COVID-19. This is a highly divisive issue that engenders
passionate opinions. Given the fact that local leaders
know their citizens and their community ethos better
than anyone else, should such decisions be made locally?
As legislators consider preemptive legislation, they sometimes
cite local dependence on state general fund dollars
as justification for the state commanding local actions.
Yet they fail to note that any such dependence is a legislative
creation. Prior legislative bodies imposed unfunded
mandates and chose to enact a system whereby local
governments are constrained from providing for their
own needs (two examples being taxation caps and the
hundreds of mandatory sales tax exemptions/exclusions).
Page 14
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Membership Directory
Under the current system, upon local approval, ITEP offers
an 80% property tax abatement for an initial term of five
Advertising Space Contract
Feature
Pub Code LWR-R0018
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It is important that as you speak with your legislative delegation,
they understand that municipal officials are ca-
years
years Adv with Code the possibility 179697of a renewal for five additional
Official Publication of the
S.
at
Rep:
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Jason
LED
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has developed
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pable of guiding the destinies of their communities without
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those local governments affected by ITEP applications
Louisiana Rural Water Association
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Industrial Tax Exemption Program
believe that applicants Gainesville, have Florida, not 32607 demonstrated sufficient
We also expect that there will be attempts to codify in justification Tel:(800) for exemption, 369-6220, (352) or whose 332-1252cost-benefit calculation
demands denial, Fax: (352) may 331-3525 reject the ITEP application per-
state statutes the rules pertaining to the Industrial Tax Exemption
Program (ITEP), an ad valorem tax abatement taining to their portion of property taxes.
, &Bellemin AD COPY
program administered by Louisiana Economic Development
(LED) that is meant to spur economic development.
Although these are local property taxes and although
for use in the following issues: LWR-R0018
over 90% of all ITEP applications since 2016 have been
The incentive program is available to manufacturers new
Authorized Signature: approved, opponents to local input assert that the current
to Louisiana and to existing manufacturers in Louisiana
system is just too burdensome and unpredictable. Many
who engage in new investments to existing facilities.
Date:
favor a return to when Louisiana was the outlier in the
For decades, local governments had no input or Artwork authority Contact: nation as the only state in which those local governments
regarding the abatement of their own property taxes and had no say-so in whether the exemption was granted.
had to shoulder the increased demands on infrastructure
Most other southern states have far more restrictive programs
for granting such an exemption. Arkansas general-
without the possibility of any tax offset to assist in that
regard. Then, the program provided 100% exemption of ly caps exemptions at 65% and only allows more for extremely
competitive projects, and neither Mississippi nor
CONSULTANTS local property taxes for 10 years. Even the Tax Foundation
described Louisiana’s ITEP as, “unusually generous.” Alabama allow for school district property taxes to be exempted
under their programs. In Texas, the property tax
In 2016, Governor Edwards used his executive authority
to grant local governments a definitive voice in granting limitation on school millages requires review by the State
property tax exemption under ITEP, while simultaneously
ensuring that locals would receive at least 20% of the property tax limitation is approved for school millages,
Comptroller before local consideration; and when the
property taxes owed by ITEP applicants.
counties are made whole for lost property tax revenues
by the state through reimbursement claims made through
the Texas Education Agency.
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The LMA has worked with LED to
develop guidelines for local governments
to vet ITEP applications
and we are likewise dedicated to
collaborating with legislators in
that regard. But it is important
that you let your legislators know
that when it comes to the abatement
of your property taxes, your
local governing body should have
the authority to approve or reject
ITEP applications. Returning to
the days when the state (through
the Board of Commerce and Industry)
waved off your local property
taxes for 10 years will gut the
ability of local governments to
control their own fiscal health.
You Are Our Most Valued
Advocacy Partners
Legislative advocacy is a core
mission of the LMA, and we are
committed to educating both
LMR | JANUARY 2022 8/21/14 8:33 PM
Page 15
707693_Thornton.indd 1

legislators and the public on
the importance of municipal
government and the challenges
faced by local leaders. The engagement
of our members with
their legislators, however, is a
crucial part of our success at the
Capitol.
Again, throughout the year – but
particularly during legislative
sessions – you may receive Call
to Action emails from the LMA
legislative advocacy team. We
sincerely appreciate your response
and immediate contact
with your representatives and
senators, and the results of your
participation are tangible. If you
are at the Capitol on a legislative
matter, please let any member of our team know, so that
we can visit with you and acknowledge your participation.
Each week during session, our team will compile a recap
of that week’s legislative action. You can view these reports
and see which instruments we are tracking under
the “Legislative Advocacy” tab at www.lma.org and access
all legislation online at the Louisiana Legislature’s
website, www.legis.la.gov.
2022 Regular Session Reminders
Term: up to 60 legislative days during period from 12:00
p.m. on Monday, 3/14/22 through 6:00 p.m. on Monday,
6/6/22 (Const. Art. III, §2(A)(3)(a)).
Subject Matter: General (non-fiscal); no levying or authorizing
a new state tax, increasing existing state taxes, or
legislating regarding state tax exemptions, exclusions, deductions,
or credits (Const. Art. III, §2(A)(3)(b)).
Prefiling Deadlines:
• Retirement Bills (including CAs affecting retirement):
REQUESTED by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, 1/26/22
(House Rule 7.2(F)), and PREFILED by 5:00 p.m., Friday,
1/28/22 (Const. Art. III, §2(A)(2)(c))
• Constitutional Amendments (non-retirement): RE-
QUESTED by 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, 3/2/22 (House
Rule 7.2(F)), and PREFILED by 12:00 p.m., Friday,
3/4/22 (Const. Art. XIII, §1(A))
• All Other Prefiled Bills: REQUESTED by 5:00 p.m.,
Wednesday, 3/2/22 (House Rule 7.2(F)), and PRE-
FILED by 5:00 p.m., Friday, 3/4/22 (Const. Art. III,
§2(A)(2)(b))
Bills Introduction During Session: up to five additional
bills per legislator after session begins; REQUESTED by
6:00 p.m., Monday, 4/4/22 (House Rule 7.6(A)(3)), and
INTRODUCED by 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, 4/5/22 (Const. Art.
III, §2(A)(2)(a) and (3)(a)); five-bill limit does not include
appropriation bills, capital outlay, omnibus bond authorization,
revenue sharing, or ancillary funds
Mandatory Bill Publication:
• Retirement Bills (including CAs): publication in The
Advocate on two separate days at least 60 days prior
to introduction; notice for prefiled bills submitted
to The Advocate by Thursday, 1/6/22; notice for bills
introduced during session submitted to The Advocate
by Friday, 1/28/22 (Const. Art. X, §29(C))
• Security Districts: publication in official journal of the
locality on three separate days at least 30 days prior
to introduction; notice for prefiled bills submitted to
journal by Wednesday, 1/12/22; notice for others depends
on circumstances with local newspaper (Const.
Art. III, §13(B))
• Local Bills: publication in official journal of the locality
on two separate days at least 30 days prior to introduction;
notice for prefiled bills submitted to journal
by Wednesday, 1/19/22; notice for others depends
on circumstances with local newspaper (Const. Art.
III, §13(A))
• Compensation of Certain Local Officials: publication
on two separate days at least 30 days prior to introduction
(sheriffs, school board members, Registrar of
Voters and confidential assistants, Assessors, and Assessor’s
expense allowance
Full details on deadlines and publication requirements
are included in the House Information Bulletin at https://
house.louisiana.gov/Agendas_2022/2022%20RS%20
Information%20Bulletin.pdf.
Page 16
LMR | JANUARY 2022

LaMATS Honors Mayor Vidrine’s Service
At the December 15, 2021,
meeting of the LaMATS
Board of Directors, LaMATS
President, Rayne Mayor
Chuck Robichaux, and LMA
Executive Director John Gallagher
presented Immediate
Past-President Mayor Jennifer
Vidrine with a beautifully
appropriate red colored
award for her exemplary
Subsidiary and
Affiliate News
and much appreciated service.
The award reads: “The
Honorable Jennifer Vidrine,
LaMATS President 2019-2021,
With sincere gratitude for
your selfless service to the
LaMATS Board of Directors.”
At this meeting, the board
also appointed the following
officers: Councilman Nathan
Martin as Vice President and
Mayor David Butler as Secretary/Treasurer.
Rayne Mayor Chuck Robichaux and LMA Executive Director John Gallagher present
LaMATS Past-President Mayor Jennifer Vidrine with her award.
Mayor Vidrine’s Award could only be
red, of course!
LaMATS Vice President, Councilman
Nathan Martin.
LaMATS Secretary/Treasurer, Mayor
David C. Butler.
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 17

LaMATS Partner Helps Livingston Residents
Step Safely Into 2022
Hard as we may try, not every potential hazard in the
coming year will be eliminated by a LaMATS partnership
program.
But the Town of Livingston, at least, will enjoy a little
more peace of mind in 2022 as citizens walk down sidewalks
made safer by LaMATS vendor partner, Precision
Concrete Cutting of Louisiana & Mississippi.
With a patented process and technology—and special
pricing for LMA’s local government members—Precision
can quickly effect lasting repair to pedestrian walkways
that have buckled or broken and present a clear danger
to local residents.
Livingston Mayor JT Taylor recognized this potential
hazard and saw the unique opportunity to efficiently
address the issue through LaMATS.
“The improvements made to our sidewalk system
by Precision Concrete Cutting are truly remarkable,”
explained Taylor. “Nearly twenty serious trip hazards
have been eliminated and made safe for pedestrian
traffic. The process was fast and clean and cost a
fraction of what breaking and re-pouring the concrete
would have cost our city.”
Following an assessment of the town’s affected sidewalks,
Precision presented Mayor Taylor with a proposal
for repairs that would save money and possibly even
lives.
“Precision Concrete Cutting works to create safe, walkable
communities,” said company President, Cathy LeBouef.
By keeping municipalities in compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, the company’s service
helps avoid both accidents and their costly legal consequences.
Sidewalk maintenance, affirmed LeBouef, is an
important part of extending the life of costly infrastructure
investment made by towns and cities around the
country.
“Offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly
solution to such a common problem has been a rewarding
part of our LaMATS partnership,” said LeBouef.
To engage Precision Concrete Cutting on behalf of your
community at affordable, pre-negotiated rates, contact
Cliff Palmer, LaMATS Executive Director, at cpalmer@
lamats.net.
Page 18
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Subsidiary and
Affiliate News
CLERK’S CORNER
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE LOUISIANA MUNIC-
IPAL CLERKS ASSOCIATION
The Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association Spring Conference
will be held April 7-8 in Lafayette. At that time,
the LMCA Executive Board will have five vacant seats to
fill. The LMCA Certification Committee is now seeking
nominations for the following positions:
Public Relations (1-year term)
Three Trustee positions (3-year term)
One Deputy Clerk (3-year term)
Candidates for the office of Public Relations must have
served at least one full term (three concurrent years) as
a Trustee of the Executive Board and must be an active
member of the LMCA. Candidates seeking the Trustee
positions must have been a member of the LMCA for not
less than three years and must have attended at least
two annual spring conferences. Members interested in
applying for these positions
should submit a letter of interest
stating your qualifications
for the office to Phyllis
McGraw at the following
address:
Phyllis McGraw, MMC
City Clerk
Bossier City
P O Box 5337
Bossier City, LA 71171-5337
Applications for Certification
The deadline for receipt of the application for certification
is Monday, January 31, 2022. Applications must
be received by mail by that date, not emailed, faxed, or
postmarked.
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 19

LRPA Installs New Board Leadership
Michael King, Director of the Ascension
Parish Recreation Department was installed
as President of the Louisiana
Recreation and Park Association
(LRPA) on Thursday, November
11, during the LRPA annual
conference at the Hilton
Baton Rouge Capitol Center.
Also installed Thursday
were Monroe Director
of Community Affairs
Doug Seegers, as LRPA
President-Elect, BREC
Conservation Manager
of Outdoor Adventure
and Extreme Sports Cody
Albright, as LRPA Treasurer,
and Ponchatoula Area
Recreation District 1 (PARD1)
Programs/Event Coordinator
Latisha Smith, as LRPA Recorder.
Michael King,
LRPA President
Michael King succeeds
Randy Albarez,
Executive Director of Parks and
Recreation for the City of Walker, as
LRPA’s highest ranking officer. As
president, Michael King will serve
as the state’s leading advocate for
parks, playgrounds, and recreation
commissions during 2021-2022. He
will lead the LRPA Executive Board
and chair the LRPA Executive Committee.
Randy Albarez, as LRPA
Immediate Past President, will continue to serve on the
LRPA and LMA Executive Board.
“I have had an exciting time serving as the president of
LRPA,” said Albarez. “I’m looking forward to working
with Michael King and I know he will do an excellent job
as president.”
“The City of Walker is very fortunate to have Randy Albarez
as Executive Director of Parks and Recreation and
I am grateful to be able to follow someone like him,” said
King.
There is an excellent group of people running the LRPA
and I want to support them in keeping this organization
moving forward and empowering our members to continue
to do great things in our communities.”
Michael King is currently serving as Director of Recreation
for the Parish of Ascension where he oversees the
recreation planning, programming, facilities,
grounds maintenance and parks for
the Parish. He comes to the Parish
from BREC in Baton Rouge
where he spent five years as
the Program Coordinator of
Evaluation and Partnership
Development. He holds a
bachelor’s degree in recreation
and sports management
from Coastal
Carolina University and a
master’s degree in parks,
recreation, and tourism
management from North
Carolina State University.
Douglas A. (Doug) Seegers
is currently serving as Director
of Community Affairs for
the City of
Monroe since
August 2020
when appointed to
the role by Mayor Friday Ellis.
Before joining the City of Monroe,
Seegers had more than 11 years of
experience as Director of Parks,
Recreation, and Special Events for
the City of West Monroe’s facilities.
Six district Chairs, who will serve on
LRPA’s Executive Board in 2021-
2022, were introduced. They are:
Doug Seegers,
LRPA
President-Elect
• District 1: Amie Hebert, Parks and Recreation Superintendent,
Gretna
• District 2: Peter Kirsch, Director of Recreation, Crowley
• District 3 Sarah Soltau, Program Coordinator, BREC
• District 4: Margie Lewis, Executive Director, Recreation
Dist. 1/Pelican Park
• District 5: Patience Talley, Community Center and
Programs director, Monroe
• District 6: Doug Rainwater, Assistant Director, Caddo
Parish
Two district Co-Chairs, who will serve in the absence of
their district Chair, were introduced. They are:
• District 1 Larry Barabino, CEO, New Orleans Recreation
Development Commission
• District 2: Javon Charles, Chairman, Bayou Vista
Community Center
Page 20
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Partner Insight
Every year, mainly in October and November, we receive
new Unclaimed Property money. So far, in this fiscal year,
we have received almost $85 million in additional money.
This means
that hundreds
of thousands of
new items have
been added to
our database for
Louisiana residents,
businesses,
non-profits, and
other entities.
Treasury
Notes
Unclaimed Property is for
Local Governments Too
BY STATE TREASURER
JOHN M. SCHRODER
Treasurer Schroder with KTBS anchor/reporter
Jef Beimfohr and Santa Maria Wholesale
Produce co-owner Jodie Glorioso. Glorioso
received an unclaimed property check for
her business for $5,803.06. As a result of this
promotion, we had 342 calls, resulting in 492
checks issued for a total of $241,901.83.
Treasurer Schroder stopped by Sunrise Baptist
Church in Shreveport to deliver a $420.12
unclaimed property check.
Unclaimed Property
is not just
for people. We
also return a lot
of money to local
governments. In
fact, we returned
$1.1 million to
municipalities all
over the state
in 2020. That
includes cities,
towns, parish
governments,
and various
subdivisions of
parish governments.
Now that
all of the new
money is in for
2021, it’s a great
time to search for
money owed to
your municipality.
We have a team working on outreach to local governments
currently, so if they haven’t gotten to you yet, don’t
hesitate to search our website or call our office.
As a reminder, Unclaimed Property is lost money sent to
the Louisiana Treasury to return to you. This could be for
an individual, business, church, or nonprofit group. Often,
Treasurer Schroder with WAFB’s Cali Hubbard, promoting Unclaimed
Property Christmas Cash. There were 1,563 phone calls resulting in
3,295 claims and $110,432.61 paid in time for Christmas.
Treasurer Schroder with NBC 33/FOX 44 Zach Labbe promoting Christmas
Cash. As a result of this early morning TV show promotion, our Unclaimed
Property division received 1,370 calls, 2,192 new claims were
added to our system, and we paid out $90,351.84 in time for Christmas.
money ends up in Unclaimed
Property because
of bad mailing addresses.
We hold onto your money
until you claim it.
Even if we paid your
municipality last year, we
could very well have more
money for you. Search at
www.latreasury.com. You
should be able to do the
entire claim online. If you
have any questions, give
us a call at 225-342-0010.
We want you to claim your
money.
Unclaimed Property employee,
Harry Oneal, taking calls during
early morning television shows for
Christmas Cash promotion.
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 21

Rural Development
$1.15 BILLION AVAILABLE FOR RURAL HIGH-SPEED INTERNET
BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTING STATE DIRECTOR DIANA SMITH
Recently, U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Secretary Tom
Vilsack announced a significant
expansion of access to high-speed
internet, health care and educational
services for millions of rural Americans nationwide.
He stated, for too long, the ‘digital divide’ has left too
many people living in rural communities behind unable
to compete in the global economy and unable to
access the services and resources that all Americans
need. This announcement continues to move forward
President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda by prioritizing
economic growth in rural America and investing
in the backbone of our country – the middle class.
To be eligible for ReConnect
Program funding, an applicant
must serve an area without
broadband service at speeds
of 100 megabits per second
(Mbps) (download) and 20
Mbps (upload) and commit
to building facilities capable
of providing broadband
service at speeds of 100
Mbps (download and upload)
to every location in its proposed
service area. In making
funding decisions, USDA will
prioritize projects that will
serve low-density rural areas
with locations lacking internet
access services at speeds of at
least 25 Mbps (download) and
3 Mbps (upload). In making
funding decisions, USDA will
also consider, among other
things, the economic needs of
the community to be served;
the extent to which a provider
will offer affordable service
options; a project’s commitment
to strong labor standards;
and whether a project is
serving tribal lands or is submitted
by a local government,
Tribal Government, non-profit
or cooperative.
Applicants can easily apply
through the RUS on-line
application portal until 11:59
a.m. Eastern on February 22,
2022. Applications will not be
accepted after February 22,
2022 until a new application
CONTINUED PAGE 24
Page 22
LMR | JANUARY 2022

Partner Insight
Louisiana Municipal Association buys
Perkins Road office building for $6.9 million
BY TIMOTHY BOONE | STAFF WRITER | THE ADVOCATE
The Louisiana Municipal Association has purchased a
building on Perkins Road for nearly $6.9 million and
plans to move its offices there.
The organization bought the property at 6767 Perkins
Road in a deal filed Tuesday, December 21, 2021 with
the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court’s Office.
The seller was Perkins Properties LLC, represented by
Curtis Soderberg.
The property includes 5 acres and a 32,000-squarefoot
building, said Hank Saurage, of Saurage Rotenberg
Commercial Real Estate, who represented the LMA.
The space had been occupied by CSRS; the engineering
firm recently relocated to the IV United Plaza office
building. The other tenant is the Louisiana State Medical
Society.
George Kurz of Kurz & Hebert represented the seller.
The LMA is an advocacy organization for cities, towns
and villages across the state. Its offices have been at
700 N. 10th St. for about 30 years.
The LMA’s move bucks the recent trend of statewide
associations relocating offices downtown to be closer
to state government offices and the Capitol. Since 2015,
the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, the
Louisiana Realtors Association, the Louisiana State Licensing
Board for Contractors and the Louisiana School
Boards Association have all made the move downtown.
John Gallagher, executive director of the LMA, said
the organization decided to make the move because it
doesn’t need as much space as it used to. The current
offices are about 10,000 square feet larger than the
Perkins Road property.
“It’s a good fit. We have a lot of employees who live in
Prairieville and Dutchtown, so this cuts down on their
LMA President Michael Chauffe
LMR | JANUARY 2022 Page 23

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22: RURAL
opportunity has been opened with the publication of
an additional FOA in the Federal Register.
The USDA Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes
loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction,
improvement, or acquisition of facilities and
equipment needed to provide broadband service in
eligible rural areas. Of the $1.15 billion available through
this program, over $650 million will be available in
grants and $550 million in loans. During FY 2020 USDA
invested in 105 projects in the second round of the
ReConnect Program which allotted over $54 billion in
grants across the country.
To learn more about the USDA ReConnect Program
visit https://www.usda.gov/reconnect or contact
Monroe Area Office 1
2410 Old Sterlington Road, Ste. C
Monroe, LA 71203
(318) 343-4467 / 844-325-6976
Natchitoches Area Office 2
6949 Hwy 1 Bypass, Ste. 103
Natchitoches, LA 71457
(318) 352-7100 / 844-325-6963
Lafayette Area Office 3
905 Jefferson Street, Ste. 320
Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 262-6601 / 844-325-6964
Amite Area Office 4
805 West Oak Street, Ste. 3
Amite, LA 70422
(985) 748-8751 / 844-325-6975
LMA Executive Director John Gallagher
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23: BUILDING
commute,” he said. “And it will help cut down on our
expenses.”
The LMA has just under 50 employees, but the only
staffers who need to regularly be at the Capitol are Gallagher
and a few lobbyists.
The LMA hopes to move into the new offices by late
March, Gallagher said. It plans to sell its current office.
PRESORT
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BATON ROUGE, LA
PERMIT #319
Page 24
LMR | JANUARY 2022