JUNE 2022

LOUISIANA
MUNICIPAL REVIEW
Published by the Louisiana Municipal Association
Published by the Louisiana Municipal Association
VOL. 86, ISSUE 6
VOL. JUNE 87, ISSUE 2021 6
JUNE 2022
LMA Salutes
Past President
Clarence R. Fields
America
Includes:
Municipal Day Recap
Constitutional
Changes
Annual Convention
Information

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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
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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
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LOUISIANA MUNICIPAL REVIEW
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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 – Vacant 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 | JUNE 2022

Inside the LMA
Director’s Viewpoint
NEW BEGINNINGS ON THE HORIZON
BY JOHN GALLAGHER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The sweltering heat settling in
throughout our great state signals
the beginning of our summer
events. I look forward to our ten district
meetings this month, which kicked off with District F
on June 1 in Sunset. I urge you to attend these meetings,
where you will hear from LMA leadership, receive a legislative
wrap up, and meet the candidates for LMA executive
office, as well as enjoy great food and networking
with your municipal peers.
Planning is well underway for our 85th Annual Convention
from July 28-30th at the Cajundome in Lafayette.
Mayor-President Joshua Guillory and his staff will roll out
the red carpet in for all attending. I am pleased to confirm
that Governor John Bel Edwards will be the keynote
speaker for our opening general session on Thursday
afternoon, July 28, and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser
will be featured at several Friday events. Please
make plans to arrive at the Cajundome early to check in
at registration and visit the exhibit hall. Online registration
is open, so please reserve your team’s attendance
via registration and book your hotel rooms early, as they
are going fast! Registration information is included in this
issue, and you can find out more information, including
accommodation suggestions, by visiting our website.
As I write this column, the 2022 Regular Session of the
Legislature is winding down. While we had a successful
session overall, there are key issues that are still in play,
including streamlining our current sales tax collection
system and facilitating local government access to infrastructure
funding for high-speed internet, roads and
bridges, and water and sewer.
In speaking with our members about federal funding, we
have heard the outcry for technical assistance to maneuver
the anticipated maze of applications for the varied
funding sources through the Infrastructure and Investment
Act of 2021 (IIJA). This deeply concerns me and
the LMA staff, as we do not want any of our members to
miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime funding opportunity
for infrastructure needs. I am excited to announce we are
embarking on an historic collaboration with the Police
Jury Association of Louisiana to form a non-profit entity,
the Louisiana Local Infrastructure Assistance Corporation
(LITAC), which, by design, will provide technical grant
consultation and grant writing assistance to those communities
who face staffing or other obstacles to access
IIJA funding. We are working to obtain funding to kick
start this effort from the Louisiana Legislature, as well
as other partners. I hope to
have more information on
this initiative to share at our
district meetings.
A slate of new municipal officials
will take office on July 1, some of
which are replacing retiring mayors and councilmembers.
One of those retiring mayors, one that I will miss tremendously,
is Mayor Clarence Fields of Pineville. Mayor
Fields was sworn in as Pineville’s mayor in 1999 - around
the same time that I came to work at the LMA - and is
completing his sixth term as mayor. I admire his leadership
and his patient mentorship of me and the entire
LMA staff. He worked his way through the chain of LMA
leadership, eventually becoming LMA President in 2007. I
will sincerely miss his wise counsel on the LMA Executive
Board, and moreover his diplomacy and integrity as longtime
chairman of the LMA Legislative Committee, where
his political insight helped to maneuver the LMA through
a number of complicated legislative issues over the years.
I am proud to call him a mentor and friend, and it is very
fitting that he occupy the cover of this month’s magazine.
June 1 unfortunately marked the beginning of Louisiana’s
“Fifth Season,” hurricane season. I pray that our state
is spared from any destructive storms, such as those
from the past two years. While we hope for the best, we
prepare for the worst, so I urge everyone to review their
emergency plans and protocols and ensure that prestorm
disaster agreements (such as debris removal, generator,
and mutual aid agreements) are securely in place.
Making these preparations now will make FEMA and
other reimbursements easier should a storm affect you.
If you have any questions or would like additional information,
please contact Brett Kriger, LMA Deputy Director
for Disaster Response, at bkriger@lma.org. Stay safe and
we’ll see you on the road this month!
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 3

President’s Message
BIG PROBLEMS DEMAND LOCAL SOLUTIONS
BY MAYOR MICHAEL CHAUFFE, VILLAGE OF GROSSE TETE
This month, we honor Mayor Clarence
Fields of Pineville, who is
leaving public service after decades
of faithful leadership to enjoy some
much-deserved time with his family.
Mayor Fields is the consummate diplomat, a peacemaker,
someone who seeks solutions when the opinions on
an issue are so diverse that there seems to be no middle
ground.
As I read the headlines and hear about the increasing gun
violence in our schools, I can’t help but reflect on Mayor
Fields’s years of friendship, mentorship, and guidance.
For years, the topic of guns in America has been a highly
divisive subject, one with inflamed opinions on both sides.
Each time that there is another tragic shooting, the talking
points and rhetoric flare up on both sides for a while,
and then another headline takes precedence with nothing
productive arising from the terrible loss of life. I am a
proud gun owner, have a concealed carry permit, and am
a shooting enthusiast. And still, I know that we have to do
better by our children and grandchildren.
Thanks to modern technology, school kids are already
faced with so many realities that threaten their innocence
and mental well-being: instant access to inappropriate
content, online bullying and cyber-targeting, and disconnection
from real, human contact. For them to be terrified
to go to school for fear of another school shooting
is unacceptable. No matter what your opinion may be on
firearm ownership, we can all agree on that.
There are certain consensus measures that can be implemented,
some of which are discussed in this issue:
increased security, investment in common-sense resources
to encourage the removal of firearms from volatile situations,
and partnering with schools to tackle the issue head
on through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.
These are all viable solutions. But there is one more
critical element to the success of any such program: local
government leadership.
No matter how inventive the idea, or its success rate
elsewhere, it takes boots-on-the-ground local leaders to
bring it to life in each community. We play a critical role in
identifying the workable solutions that defy partisan politics
and entrenched dogma. It is through local efforts that
solutions to perennial solutions will materialize.
We can make things better, and for the safety and welfare
of our children, we must. I ask that you join me not only in
prayerful reflection on this issue, but in taking action when
and where we can.
Page 4
LMR | JUNE 2022

Governor’s Column
GET A GAME PLAN
BY JOHN BEL EDWARDS, GOVERNOR OF LOUISIANA
June is here and that means summer
isn’t far behind. As we look forward
to picnics, vacations, and spending
time with family and friends, Louisiana
can be proud that our state
is moving forward because of all that we accomplished
during the recent legislative session. The budget we
passed by working together is not only responsible,
but it is transformative for our people and our state. I’m
thankful to the LMA and state lawmakers for making
this session successful. No, we didn’t get everything we
wanted, but we made some important advancements.
Not only have we made historic investments in education
at every level and infrastructure, but we have continued
our practice of not using one-time money on recurring
expenditures. Beginning with our youngest learners, the
budget includes $17 million for the LA-4 Early Childhood
Program and $27 million for Early Childhood Supports
and Services. There is a $1,500 pay raise for teachers and
$750 for support personnel, the fifth and largest teacher
pay raise during my administration. Yes, they deserve
more, and we will keep pushing for more. It also provides
for the best state reinvestment in higher education to
date at $159.2 million, which is a 12 percent increase - the
largest state funding increase for higher education ever.
TOPS is fully funded, and there is a historic increase in
funding for Go Grants of $15 million and $10.5 million
for the M.J. Foster Program designed to support adult
learners. In addition, it includes $31.7 million for faculty
pay raises, the largest state-funded faculty pay increase
in 15 years.
Investments in infrastructure amount to nearly $1 billion
more than we have recently made and will bring about
much needed and long awaited improvements. They
include: $22.5 million for passenger rail, $200 million for
the Calcasieu River bridge, $300 million for the new Mississippi
River bridge in Baton Rouge, and $200 million
for the I-49 South Connector. We will pay off $831 million
in debts. This includes $135 million into the self-insurance
fund swept by the prior administration. It will be used
to repay funds owed to FEMA, the second $400 million
payment to the Corps of Engineers for our share of the
Hurricane Damage and Risk Reduction System levee
improvements following Hurricane Katrina, and $226
million in storm-related debt repayments.
As a reminder, hurricane season is here and we must all
be as prepared as possible for any storm, named or unnamed,
that might come our way. There were some small
wins for insurance reform during the session but not
nearly enough was done to stop insurance companies
Inside the LMA
from taking advantage of people in a meaningful way. I
have met with and talked to several hurricane survivors
in Southwest and Southeast Louisiana, and have heard
their stories. They need our help and it’s quite concerning
as we face another hurricane season. As I always
say, let’s pray for the best and prepare for the worst. For
those homeowners who were impacted in the 2020 or
2021 storms, they can take a survey to determine if they
are eligible for federal assistance by visiting Restore.
la.gov or calling 1-866-735-2001.
Please continue encouraging your constituents to visit
GetAGamePlan.org for information on how to get their
emergency plans and kits ready.
COVID-19 is also still here and our cases are going up.
While hospitalizations remain low, unfortunately, they
are also increasing. Sadly, lives are still being lost to this
pandemic, which is why we need to encourage everyone
we can to get up to date on their vaccinations and
boosters. They are effective, safe, and free. Anyone can
get information at Vaccines.gov.
There is good news on the broadband front. Recently,
the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that
Louisiana will receive $176.7 million through the American
Rescue Plan to increase accessibility and affordability
of high speed internet serves. This will provide
funding for our state broadband grant program known
as GUMBO. That stands for Granting Unserved Municipalities
Broadband Opportunities. Louisiana was among
three other states included in the first group of plans
approved under the American Rescue Plan’s Coronavirus
Capital Projects Fund (CPF). The CPF provides
$10 billion to states, territories, freely associated states,
and Tribal governments to fund critical capital projects
that enable work, education, and health monitoring in
response to the public health emergency. A key priority
of the program is to make funding available for reliable,
affordable broadband infrastructure and other digital
connectivity technology projects. The digital divide presents
a great challenge to the people of Louisiana, but it’s
a challenge that we will overcome. This announcement is
a testament to the pace at which the Louisiana Office of
Broadband Development and Connectivity, ConnectLa, is
working to develop first rate polices and plans to ensure
everyone in Louisiana has access to affordable, highspeed
internet. The other states include New Hampshire,
Virginia and West Virginia.
The last few months have been extremely busy for everyone.
I hope you all have plans to take a little time off for
rest and rejuvenation. Thank you for your service, be safe
and God bless.
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 5

Legal Briefs
EXPLORING LOCAL SOLUTIONS FOR SCHOOL GUN VIOLENCE
BY KAREN DAY WHITE, EXECUTIVE COUNSEL
Let’s be clear from the outset: this
column is not a discussion regarding
the 2nd Amendment nor an in-depth
examination of the national and state
gun culture. Instead, we seek here to
discuss some local government options to address the disturbing
and growing trend of gun violence. The available
options for municipal leaders to take on this critical issue
are limited because in Louisiana, locals are largely preempted
from enacting any law that is more restrictive than
state law. But that does not preclude locals from implementing
innovative solutions, most of which are apolitical
and non-partisan.
For example, it is estimated that 33% of women killed in
the country are murdered by domestic partners using a
firearm. So, communities may choose to invest in domestic
violence services to protect those vulnerable persons
and may further train law enforcement to identify and deal
with such threats in a manner than comports with constitutional
processes.
Partnering with area schools is also an important option.
As recent news has tragically indicated, schools play an
important role in the conversation over child safety and
are hubs for education as well as vulnerabilities. By teaming
with your area schools, you can promote safe gun storage
practices to help address the horrific accidental child
deaths each year; you can educate on the dangers of gun
violence; and you can also collaborate on law enforcement
intervention solutions, including utilizing POST-certified
retired, part-time, and reserve officers along with other
law enforcement professionals.
LMA members are encouraged to review the LMA
Bylaws and consider amending them for the betterment
of the Association. If an 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
Another example of collaboration is the creation of an
office of gun violence prevention. Such offices offer a
vehicle to coordinate efforts to distribute resources for education
and violence-reduction strategies. Further, those
offices can be a critical hub for receiving public input,
fostering creative solutions, and aligning federal, state, and
local anti-violence efforts.
One of the approaches that has gained national momentum
is the provision of facilities for safe temporary storage.
Every year, thousands of veterans and others encountering
mental health challenges lose their lives to gun suicides
(some resulting in concurrent homicides, as well). Local
governments can establish spaces where gun owners in
crisis (and perhaps their family/legal guardians) can safely
store firearms while their crises are ongoing, but without
the fear of losing ownership.
There is a doctrine called, “subsidiarity.” In the Roman
Catholic Church, it is a principle articulating that what individuals
are able to do, society should not take over, and
what small societies can do, larger societies should not
take over. Within politics, it similarly means that decisions
should be devolved to the lowest practical level. In short,
local governments generally know how best to craft solutions
to meet the challenges presented by gun violence.
We encourage your municipal officials to take a leadership
role to reflect on what gun violence means to your
communities, and to build consensus with regional, state,
and federal authorities to develop tailored strategies to
address the increasing threat of violence to the most vulnerable
members of the population.
Amendments to the LMA Bylaws are due June 29
a municipality for consideration by the LMA
membership which will meet on Friday, July 29th, in
Lafayette – must be in writing and received by the
LMA office no later than 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, June
29th, 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 Friday,
July 29th. A municipality’s elected officials do not
have to register for LMA’s 85th Annual Convention
if they wish to attend the LMA Annual Business
Meeting in Lafayette.
Page 6
LMR | JUNE 2022

Inside the LMA
LMA Salutes Past President Clarence Fields:
A Man of Principle and Faith
After 22 years of public service, which
followed a celebrated career in the
private sector, LMA Past President
and Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields
is retiring and leaves an outstanding
legacy as a member, leader, and
friend of the LMA. In late 2021, when
Mayor Fields first announced his
plans to retire this year, the Louisiana
Municipal Review editorial board
decided that the cover for this issue
would be reserved to salute the man
who absolutely deserves the honor.
Mayor Field's tenure as an Executive
Board member, President, Legislative
Committee Chairman, and mentor to
so many leaves this organization filled
with gratitude for his longstanding
service and dedication not just to
Pineville, but to all of Louisiana’s
cities, towns, and villages.
Congratulations on your retirement, Mayor Fields. From
all of us at the LMA, it has been our distinct honor to
work by your side!
“Mayor Fields has always been a mentor to me, and
it has been a great privilege to have learned so much
from him. He’s a man I’ve trusted with showing me the
true qualities of leadership, the importance of open
conversations, integrity, and understanding, and how
to stand behind your word. It won’t be the same not
having him to work so closely with, but I have no doubt
I’ll still reach out for his words of wisdom from time to
time. I thank him for not only everything he’s done for
me, but for all he’s done for the
LMA through his years of membership,
his year of Presidency, and his
tireless efforts on our Legislative
Affairs Committee, and for all he’s
done for the people of Pineville
and across our state. I wish him a
very happy, very well-deserved retirement.”
– LMA Executive Director John
Gallagher
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 7

“Mayor Fields has been a passionate
leader, and was able to work across
racial lines as well as political lines. I
hope he has a great retirement. God
Bless.”
– Grosse Tete Mayor and LMA
Board President Michael Chauffe
“It is very hard to put into words
just what Clarence Fields means to
me, and I will miss seeing him daily.
One of the best examples of not being defined by
party or politics is that through the first several years
of the Fields Administration, folks
didn’t know if he and I were Democrats
or Republicans. As it turns
out, Mayor Fields is a lifelong Democrat,
and because I have faithfully
served by his side for so long, some
assumed I was as well. I’m actually
a lifelong Republican. That story
clearly shows that Mayor Fields
always chose people over politics.
And that has just added to his legacy and leadership.
After working together for 21+ years, I’ll honor his years
of service, and his faith in me, by carrying on his level
of dedication.”
- Pineville Mayor-Elect Rich Dupree
“When you choose to enter a life
of public service, you know that
there will be moments that are
tough. So, the hope is that you
form relationships with colleagues
who help not just guide you on
being a better leader, but a better
person as well. Clarence Fields is
one such colleague. I know of no
finer gentleman to have advised
and assisted me. Clarence is a class act, and his work
and dedication is on full display in all he’s achieved
for his beloved Pineville. If anyone deserves a relaxing
retirement, it’s Clarence. His time in City Hall may be
ending, but I have no doubt that his friendship and his
support will remain.”
– Gonzales Mayor Barney Arceneaux
“Mayor Fields has been an invaluable
source of wisdom and
guidance for many newly elected
Mayors and council members in the
State of Louisiana. Much of their
success can be traced back to his
counsel to them, which he was
always happy to provide. He has
been a valued member of the RMI
Board of Directors for years, and I
sincerely appreciate his support in relation to my role
as General Manager.”
– RMI General Manager Patrick Cronin
“Mayor Clarence Fields, thank you
for always creating a motivating
atmosphere all around the LMA
Legislative team. I will miss your
presence at the LMA. Have a great
time with the grandkids and let
them love all over you. Take the
time to experience all the adventures
that life has to offer, and I
hope you enjoy every bit of your
new retirement life.”
– LMA Lobbyist/Consultant Paulette Bailey Wilson
“It has been my honor to call Clarence
Fields a friend for most of
my life. I have had the pleasure of
working with him at Cleco and now
serving together as the first African
American mayors for each of
our communities. He has done so
much for the City of Pineville, Cleco
Corporation, and all of Central
Louisiana. He has been a tremendous
leader, friend, and an outstanding person. I wish
him all the best in his well-deserved retirement”
– Alexandria Mayor Jeffrey W. Hall
FROM ALL OF US AT THE LMA,
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
DEDICATED SERVICE,
MAYOR FIELDS.
Mayor Fields is a man of faith,
integrity, character, and principle.
He is a proven coalition builder who
puts people over politics, and while
bidding him farewell is bittersweet,
the precious time that he now has
to spend with his wife, children, and
grandchildren is the greatest reward
for his decades of public service. On
behalf of LMA’s Board of Directors,
staff, subsidiaries, and affiliates, we
wish Mayor Fields and his family
many long years in retirement
bliss and thank him for his years of
outstanding service to the Louisiana
Municipal Association.
Page 8
LMR | JUNE 2022

Inside the LMA
LMA 85th Annual Convention
Registration is Open!
You don’t want to miss our 85th Annual Convention in Lafayette from July 28 - 30!
Delegates and exhibitors can register, find out information on accommodations, and view a tentative
schedule on the convention website at www.lma.org/convention. We encourage you to
reserve your space at the event and confirm hotel accommodations as soon as possible.
Tentative At-A-Glance Program
THURSDAY, JULY 28
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration & Exhibits Open
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Eats & Exhibits
2:00 p.m.
Meetings of Affiliate and Related Organizations
• Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association
• Louisiana Municipal Black Caucus-LEO
• Chief Administrative Officers/Chiefs of Staff
Meeting
• Louisiana Conference of Mayors
• Mid-Sized Cities
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Opening General Session
5:00 p.m.
Registration Closes
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Reception
Connect with exhibitors and discover the unique
products and services offered while you plan your
dinner at one of the area’s local restaurants. Light
hors d’ oeuvres and beverages will be served.
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 9

FRIDAY, JULY 29
8:00 a.m.
Registration & Exhibits Open
• Distribution of Voting Credentials
8:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Prayer Breakfast
Hosted by:
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Workshop Sessions
11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Last Chance! Exhibit Viewing
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Workshop Sessions
12:00 p.m.
Exhibits Close
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Leadership Luncheon
8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Guest Tour
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Workshop Sessions
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Workshop Sessions
12:00 p.m.
Delegates’ Luncheon
• Presentation of LMA Service Awards
• President’s Award Presentation
7:00 p.m.
Annual Banquet
• Presentation of 2021 Community
Achievement Awards
• Closing Dance
This is a TENTATIVE convention agenda, subject to change.
Detailed information on events, dates, and times will be
provided as activities are confirmed.
1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Workshop Sessions
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
LMA Annual Business Meeting & Workshop
Session
• The Code of Governmental Ethics
4:15 p.m.
Meetings of Affiliate and Related Organizations
• Louisiana Municipal Clerks Association
• Louisiana Recreation & Park Association
5:00 p.m.
Registration Closes
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Host City Reception and Dance
SATURDAY, JULY 30
8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Registration Opens
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Workshop Sessions
Page 10
LMR | JUNE 2022

Inside the LMA
Louisiana Municipal Association
85 th Annual Convention
July 28 – July 30, 2022
Please print or type all information legibly:
DELEGATE OTHER [A delegate is an elected/appointed official or municipal employee.]
Name: __________________________________________ Title_______________________________
CAJUNDOME & CONVENTION
CENTER
444 Cajundome Boulevard
Lafayette, Louisiana
First name/nickname to appear on badge: __________________________________________________________
Municipality: _______________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _______________________________ City/Zip: _____________________________
TO AVOID HIGHER ON-SITE FEES,
REGISTER NOW!
MAKE YOUR
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
BY JULY 8!
REGISTER ONLINE AND PAY WITH
YOUR CREDIT/DEBIT CARD AT
WWW.LMA.ORG
Complete one form per delegate.
Payment of convention registration fees must accompany
registration forms. The LMA will not bill for registration fees.
No faxed or emailed registrations will be accepted.
Louisiana Municipal Association
Annual Convention Registration
Post Office Box 4327
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Telephone: (800) 234-8274 ▪ (225) 344-5001 ▪ www.lma.org
Work Phone: ________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________
Is this your first LMA Convention? Yes No
GUEST INFORMATION:
❖ The registration fee includes one (1) guest.
❖ A guest cannot be an elected/appointed official or a municipal employee.
Name:
EARLY BIRD REGULAR LATE & ON-SITE
First name to appear on badge: ___________________________
NOW THRU JUNE 23 JUNE 24 – JULY 14 BEGINS JULY 15 TOTAL
Delegate $250.00 Delegate $300.00 Delegate $350.00 Delegate $__________
Other $300.00 Other $350.00 Other $400.00 Other $__________
REFUND POLICY:
An administrative fee of $75 will be charged for all cancellations, including
medical emergencies. No refunds will be given after Thursday, July 14 (two
weeks prior to the start of 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 Thursday, July 14, 2022. Telephone requests
for refunds are not acceptable. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
Louisiana Municipal Association
85 th Annual Convention
July 28 – July 30, 2022
ANNUAL CONVENTION VOTING
To An be administrative eligible to vote fee of at $75 the LMA will be Annual charged Business for all cancellations, Meeting Friday, including July medical 29th,
LMA emergencies. dues must No refunds be paid, will in-full, be given by after Thursday, July July 14th, (two (two weeks weeks prior prior to the to start the
start of event). of convention). Refunds will be Dues issued payments only if the received LMA office on-site, receives at your convention, cancellation will request not
qualify in the form a municipality of a letter on to your vote. official There letterhead shall be mailed, no exceptions emailed, to faxed, this or policy. delivered There to
is our only office one with vote a per postmark municipality, date no which later than must Thursday, be cast by July an 14, elected 2022. official Telephone for
the requests municipality. for refunds are not acceptable. There will be no exceptions to this policy.
Louisiana Municipal Association
Post Office Box 4327
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Telephone: (800) 234-8274 ▪ (225) 344-5001 ▪ www.lma.org
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 11

NOTICE – Proposed Changes to LMA Constitution
At the LMA Annual Business meeting on Friday, July 29,
at the Convention in Lafayette, the full membership will
vote to accept or reject the following changes to the
LMA Constitution:
Article 3 - Succession of Officers/ Campaign Materials
(1) Propose to add the following language:
The First Vice President shall automatically succeed to
the office of President; and the Second Vice President
shall automatically succeed to the office of First Vice
President. The succession of Second Vice-President to
First Vice President to President is mandatory and shall
apply unless exigent circumstances regarding an officer
candidate warrant departure from said succession,
including death, resignation, non-reelection, pending
indictment, or felony criminal conviction. In the event
that circumstances prohibit the automatic succession
envisioned herein, the office of President and/or First
Vice President shall be filled in accordance with the
process herein provided for the election of the Second
Vice-President.
(2) Propose to add the following language:
All individuals who intend to run for Second Vice President
of the LMA must provide a written Letter of Notification
to the LMA Executive Director by May 1 of the
year in which they are running (must be postmarked by
May 1). If circumstances require that there be an election
to fill the office of President and/or First Vice President,
all individuals who intend to run for those offices
must likewise provide a written letter as provided in
this paragraph.
(3) Propose to add the following language:
Written campaign materials on behalf of candidates for
Second Vice President shall not be allowed in or around
the ten LMA District Meetings unless extraordinary circumstances
warrant, in which case there must be an affirmative
vote of the LMA Executive Board to allow for
the same.
Article 6 – Succession of Officers
(4) Propose to delete the following language:
Officers of the Association are eligible to succeed
themselves, except that the President of the Association
shall not be eligible as his own immediate successor.
Article 4 – District Vice Presidents
(5) Propose to add the following language:
They shall be elected municipal officials and shall be
elected by a majority vote at their respective district’s
annual meeting, and then ratified at the annual convention
by a majority vote of the member corporations
present.
Article 8 – District Vice President Vacancies
(6) Propose to add the following language:
In the event of a vacancy in a District Vice President
seat for any reason, including death, resignation, or removal
by the LMA Executive Board, where 90 days or
less remain in that District Vice President’s term of office,
the President of the LMA shall have the authority
to appoint a replacement District Vice President who
meets the qualifications described herein, who shall
serve for the remainder of that term as provided herein.
In the event of a vacancy in said office where 90
days or more remain in the term of office, the LMA shall
convene a special district meeting for the purposes of
conducting an election to fill the vacancy.
ENVIRONMENTAL
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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
Page 12
LMR | JUNE 2022

Municipalities
LMA Members Gather for
45th Annual Municipal Day and Crawfish Boil
LMA members came from across the state to join at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 27, for our 45th Annual Municipal Day.
Advocating for citizens across Louisiana was the theme, as members met with lawmakers to discuss the issues that mean the most to their
constituents. Clear skies and a sunny Baton Rouge afternoon made for a well-attended crawfish boil. Over 250 people attended, including
sponsors, Treasurer John Schroder, legislators, and several delegations from state agencies.
Top Row from left: The Municipal Day Crawfish Boil is a hit! Selfie fun with LMA contract lobbyist Paulette Bailey Wilson, LMA Executive Director
John Gallagher, Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux, Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor, and Carencro City Manager Don Chauvin. LMA members
listen to topics. Middle Row from left: Representative Barbara Carpenter. LMA officers and board members as the La. Senate proclaimed
April 27, 2022, Municipal Day at the Capitol. Bottom Row from left: Drusilla Seafood laid on quite the spread! LMA Executive Director John
Gallagher addressed Municipal Day delegates. Did someone say crawfish?
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 13

Attorney General’s Opinions
BY JEFF LANDRY, ATTORNEY GENERAL
Prohibited Donations
Opinion: 22-0027: The City of New
Orleans may institute a retention
pay program as long as it has
a demonstrable, objective, and
reasonable expectation of receiving
something real and substantial
in exchange for the retention pay. We hereby recall
La. Atty. Gen. Op. No. 10-0299 to the extent that the
opinion concluded that, in general, supplemental
salary payments made for purposes of retaining the
employment of current public employees is considered
an unearned payment or bonus in violation of La. Const.
art. VII, § 14(A). Released: 6/1/2022
Dual Officeholding/Employment
Opinion: 22-0030: The provisions of the Dual
Officeholding and Dual Employment Law do not prohibit
a teacher employed by the Louisiana National Guard
Youth Challenge Program from serving as a member of
the Rapides Parish School Board. Released: 5/31/2022
Opinion: 22-0007: The provisions of the Dual
Officeholding and Dual Employment Law do not
prohibit a full-time employee of the Louisiana Bureau
of Emergency Medical Services from serving as a
contract employee of the East Baton Rouge Parish
Communications District. Released: 5/19/2022
Fire Civil Service
Opinion: 22-0054: Addresses multiple questions
pertaining to the Jefferson Parish Fire Civil Service Board
and the Jefferson Parish East Bank Consolidated Special
Services Fire Protection District. Released: 5/25/2022
Occupational License Taxes
Opinion: 22-0014: Plaquemines Parish can require
Business A to obtain an occupational license and collect
an occupational license tax. If it is determined that
Business A is presently paying the maximum amount
of occupational license tax that can be assessed under
state law to the City of Kenner, then Business A shall be
exempt from paying any occupational license tax levied
by Plaquemines Parish. A political subdivision with the
power to levy an occupational license tax may assess
a fee for acquiring an occupational license. Released:
5/20/2022
City Marshals
Opinion: 22-0015: A City Marshal has the same powers
and authority as a Sheriff to enforce the laws and
ordinances of the state, parish, and city, within his
jurisdiction including the general power to make arrests
and preserve the peace. Released: 5/13/2022
Page 14
LMR | JUNE 2022

Subsidiary and
Affiliate News
In Appreciation of Pineville’s Clarence Fields
BY: CLIFF PALMER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAMATS
If you tied a ribbon around Louisiana,
you’d put the bow right on Pineville. This
historic city is nestled along the Red River
near the center of the state - and deep in
the heart of it is Clarence Fields, Pineville’s
six-term mayor, lifelong resident, and
most devoted son.
Mayor Fields retires this month with twenty-two
years of service as his city’s top
elected leader. As testament to his wide
appeal and many accomplishments, Fields
ran unopposed in his last four consecutive
contests.
During his tenure as mayor, Clarence
Fields is credited with nurturing a strong
business climate for the city, securing
several multi-million-dollar capital and
infrastructure investments, and building
lasting, positive relationships among state
leaders and local residents alike.
Fields will leave to Mayor-Elect and his longtime Chief of Staff,
Rich Dupree, a legacy of thoughtful and effective governance
that is sure to continue. As Mayor Fields exclaimed in support of
his successor in a recent KALB News story, “The sky’s the limit!”
For his part, Dupree expressed gratitude for Fields’s mentorship
and trust. “He took a chance on me in 2001 and invited me to
join his team and work alongside him,” he said. “That changed
the course of my life.”
The two men worked together for the following twenty-plus
years to lead Pineville through unprecedented growth and economic
development. Dupree reflected on the value of Fields’s
fine example, “I will always remember his humility, compassion,
and consensus building,” he said. “And I hope to carry on the
legacy of leadership he has established for Pineville.”
Fortunately for the rest of us, Mayor Fields’s public service was
never limited to Pineville and won’t end with his time in office.
Fields serves on many community and state-wide boards,
including the Rapides Area Planning Commission, the Metropolitan
Planning Organization, and the Rapides Council on
Aging. He also served as President
of the Louisiana Municipal Association
(2007 - 2008), the first Mayor
of Pineville to represent more than
300 Louisiana municipalities in that
capacity. He still serves on the Louisiana
Municipal Association’s Executive
Board and is a board member
and former President of the
Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields is set
for a well-deserved retirement.
Louisiana Municipal Advisory & Technical
Services Bureau (LaMATS). He also chairs
the LMA’s Legislative Affairs Committee
during each Legislative Session.
High praise for this gentleman and exceptional
leader is abundant amongst his
peers and colleagues. “Mayor Fields is a
class act! His quiet but strong leadership
always produces positive results. I consider
him one of the most accomplished
statesmen in Louisiana,” said LaMATS
Board of Directors President and Rayne
Mayor Chuck Robichaux.
LaMATS Vice-President and fellow
Pineville resident Pastor Nathan Martin,
who has served for over 18 years
with Mayor Fields as a City Councilman,
expressed his admiration for the exemplary
leadership of his friend in this way,
“Clarence Fields is the definition of personal
integrity and public service. He has always sought the good
of the whole, sometimes at great personal expense. Our city is
infinitely better because he offered himself for public service,
and I am better because he calls me his friend.”
And LaMATS Secretary/Treasurer (and 40-year mayor of the
Town of Woodworth), David Butler, made no secret of his deep
feelings for Mayor Fields saying, “Clarence is everything a public
servant should be…humble, giving, and trustworthy. It’s been
an honor of a lifetime to serve with him in so many capacities in
central Louisiana and throughout the state with the LMA.”
LaMATS Immediate Past President (and future LMA President)
Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine, reflected on her years of
friendship with Mayor Fields this way. “I have always admired
Clarence in the way he leads his community with great strength
and personal compassion for the residents of Pineville. He,
along with Rosa, have given their heart and soul while serving
this community for more than two decades. I wish for God’s
greatest blessings on the Fields family as they start this new
chapter in an already esteemed life.”
Recognition for the outgoing
Pineville mayor is certainly not
limited to his colleagues in the
LMA. Mayor Fields was honored in
February 2020, with induction into
the Louisiana Political Museum and
Hall of Fame in Winnfield. And in
August 2021, Fields was nominated
by Louisiana Department of Public
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 15

Safety and Corrections Secretary, James M. LeBlanc, to become
just the second mayor ever inducted into the Louisiana Justice
Hall of Fame. Pineville is also a very clean city, having won the
Louisiana Garden Club’s “State Cleanest City Contest” 11 out of
17 years under the mayor’s leadership (sorry Abbeville Mayor
Mark Piazza).
But perhaps Mayor Fields would name as his greatest accomplishment
the love and long support of his wife, Rosa Ceasar Fields,
always at his side, and their two children and four grandchildren.
While we may see a little less of our friend and distinguished
leader as he steps away from the glare of public office, we know
he will always be in fine company and forever a part of the heart
of Pineville and the LMA.
Free Safety Training Videos for LMA Fund Members
RMI has partnered with Vector Solutions to provide a
comprehensive list of available safety training videos to
current LMA Fund members.
These videos are an important tool to prevent claims and
limit your exposure to various liabilities that can arise on
a daily basis.
This partnership provides municipalities with access
to hundreds of detailed safety training videos in the
following areas:
Business Skills
Emergency Medical
Services
Fire Department
Operations and Protocols
Human Resources
Law Enforcement
Motor Vehicle Safety
Office Productivity
OSHA & Compliance
Professional Security
Project Management
Water & Wastewater
If you’re a current LMA Fund member, you can sign up
and access the video series FREE OF CHARGE. And
signing up is easy:
1. Visit the RMI Website – www.rmila.com or www.
rmila.biz
2. Access the tool bar at the top of the website and
click on “SAFETY TRAINING VIDEOS”
3. The following sign-in box will appear
4. If this is the first time
you’ve access the video
series, click on “New User.”
You will be taken to the
following email verification
instructions.
5. After hitting “Send Verification Email,” you will
receive a validation email that will link you the
registration page where you will select your
municipality to access the series.
6. Select “Self-Assign” to populate the list of available
safety videos; once you view your selected video,
please complete the survey to help us better deliver
the content that you need.
By forging this partnership with Vector Solutions, RMI and
the LMA have made a substantial investment in the safety
and well-being of municipal employees. We encourage
you to utilize these videos as much as possible to take
advantage of every opportunity to prevent accidents and
injuries.
If you’d like to receive a detailed list of the available
videos, please email Patrick Cronin at pcronin@rmila.com
or call 1-800-843-0931, extension 303.
Page 16
LMR | JUNE 2022

Partner Insight
Inflation, the Fed, and the US Economy
BY SHAUN TOUPS
The Federal Reserve voted this month to raise the
federal funds rate by 0.5 percentage points, the highest
increase in 22 years, and they’ve indicated numerous
future increases should be expected, including the possibility
of additional 0.5% increases.
“Inflation is much too high and we understand the
hardship it is causing, and we’re moving expeditiously
to bring it back down,” said Jerome Powell, the chair of
the Federal Reserve, in a press conference on Wednesday.
“We have both the tools we need and the resolve it
will take to restore price stability on behalf of American
families and businesses.”
How did we get here? In March 2020, the onset of
COVID-19 caused the US economy to shut down. Millions
of employees were laid off, many businesses had to close
their doors and the global supply chain was abruptly put
on pause. This caused the flow of goods shipped into the
US to cease for at least two weeks, and in many cases,
for months. At the same time Americans started purchasing
durable goods to replace the services they used
prior to the pandemic. The increased demand combined
with the supply chain kinks induced inflation, which has
persisted since the 2021 reopening of the economy.
So, what’s the outlook? A recent poll of U.S. CEOs found
their read on the outlook of future business conditions at
its lowest level in almost six years. One CEO said he believes
business conditions will deteriorate over the coming
year and that the current environment is “wearing down
the consumer buying power.” Others point to the destabi-
SEE ECONOMY PAGE 18
GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.
Specializing in Bond Issues and Financing
L. Gordon King
Deatriz Riggins
Nnamdi Thompson
Shaun B. Toups
David Medlin
James R. Ryan
Jamie Holloway
Patrick Vice
(Independent Registered Municipal Advisor)
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 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
independent advice and analysis to assist in financial
decision-making.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE ANALYSIS
• Analyzing available alternatives in relation to
cost to the governing authority and providing
financial guidance and recommendations;
• Analyzing from a cost/benefit standpoint the
use of incentives (free land, subsidy of bond
issues, utility improvements) to attract
industry;
• Providing a detailed upfront and long-term
financial analysis of costs to the governing
authority versus benefits of the specific
project; and
• Serving as an economic development finance
resource for the Governing Authority.
We Have The Experience!
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 17

Riggins/Sampson Memorial Scholarship
Applications are Open
The Riggins/Sampson
Memorial Sponsorship
Award was started
to honor the life and
legacy of the late
McClurie Sampson,
former president of
the LMBC and (Councilman
of Bogulasus, LA),
and the late David Riggins
(Mayor of the City Vinton, LA), and all past
presidents and members of the Louisiana
Municipal Black Caucus Association. The Louisiana
Municipal Black Caucus of Local Elected
officials (LMBC- LEO) has agreed to continue
this award to honor these well deserving leaders
of our state.
The purpose of the scholarship is to assist
1st and 2nd year undergraduate students
across the state defray some of the cost of
tuition for college and/or community college.
LMBC-LEO and mayors will continue
to encourage the students who are awarded
scholarships to finish their higher learning
degree, share their experiences in the communities
where they live, and strive for greatness.
Scholarship awardees are also asked to
participate in public engagement events with
local leaders on issues that will better their
local towns and cities.
Full information regarding the scholarship and
its expectations are provided to the right of
this article. All applications must be electronically
submitted to wilkatgda@gmail.com by
mid-night CST on or before July 25th, 2022.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17: ECONOMY
lization that the war in Ukraine brings to the global economy
and the continuing supply chain challenges. In spite
of some pessimism, and the indication that a slowdown is
ahead, the economy remains strong by numerous measures.
Upwards of 1.7 million jobs have been added this
year. Consumer spending is strong, and wages are rising.
While inflation has been problematic and the economy
still appears strong, there is good reason to act with
caution. The economy could stumble if the Fed’s plans
go awry or if inflation becomes even more entrenched.
Policymakers will be challenged to aggressively control
inflation, while simultaneously ensuring the actions don’t
force lay-offs or send the economy into a recession.
By adjusting the federal funds rate, the Fed hopes to keep
the economy in balance over the long term. Understanding
the big picture and the relationship between interest
rates and the economy is crucial, not only to the Fed, but
to all when making decisions relating to projects, spending,
borrowing and investments.
Page 18
LMR | JUNE 2022

Partner Insight
More Common Municipal Law Pitfalls to Avoid
BY NEIL T. ERWIN, NEIL ERWIN LAW, LLC
Here are some more common
Louisiana municipal law pitfalls
for Mayors, Boards of Aldermen,
Municipal Clerks, and Municipal
Attorneys to avoid. These add
to the legal pitfalls discussed in
previous articles by our law firm
in the “Louisiana Municipal Review”.
Please see February 2022
issue (3-business-day shot clock
for a public record response, 60-
day deadline for action on a subdivision application
or deemed approved and get an appraisal before
selling surplus municipal real property). Also, April
2022 issue (give proper legal notice for ordinance
adoption).
“Don’t be Late in Posting a Meeting Notice!” Public
meetings require minimum 24-hour notice, on the
dot, and you may be surprised by who is watching.
R.S. 42:19.
“Any Public Comments?” Ask prior to every vote on
an agenda item, even approval of minutes. May reasonably
limit the time allowed. R.S. 42:14(D).
“State your Reasons” To regulate without abuse of
discretion, make a foundation record of police power
reasonableness based on health, safety, and general
welfare concerns. See the Louisiana Supreme
Court’s unusually detailed police power analysis
in City of Shreveport v. Curry, 357 So.2d 1078 (La.
1978), invalidating, interestingly, local frog gigging
regulations on the City’s main water supply, Cross
Lake.
“Just what purpose relative to the public health,
morals, peace or general welfare is served by prohibiting
frog gigging eleven months during the year
is not made apparent by the barren record before us.
“All communications with you as our municipal
attorney are confidential, right?” Not necessarily
always. They must be “for the primary purpose of
securing either a legal opinion or legal services, or
assistance in some legal proceeding.” United States
v. Robinson, 121 F.3d 971, 974 (5th Cir. 1997).
“We don’t have to put this out for public bid, do
we?” Do keep up with the Public Bid Law’s thresholds
for required advertising and bids, currently
$250,000 for public works through 2/1/2025 for
purchase of materials and supplies. (R.S. 38:2212).
Watch out for any changes.
“Where do I look for more answers?” Go to: LMA
website: Publications, including “Legal Documents”.
Recommended for everyone: Karen White, “Louisiana’s
Open Meetings Law” (23 pages, updated January
2022). Karen White, “The Who, What, When,
Why, and How of Louisiana’s Public Records Law”
(21 pages, updated October 2021). Jerry Guillot,
“The Lawrason Act” (49 pages, October 2020). LMA
Handbook for Municipal Officials. Louisiana Legislative
Auditor/LMA Collaborative Training materials.
All are great.
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 19

Rural Development
USDA AND EDA LAUNCH RESOURCE GUIDE TO BOOST ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
BY USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT STATE DIRECTOR DEIDRE DECULUS ROBERT
U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) Rural Development Under
Secretary Xochitl Torres Small and
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Assistant
Secretary Alejandra Y. Castillo recently unveiled
a joint resource guide to help community organizations
access USDA and EDA resources to build strategies to
boost economic development in rural America.
“America’s rural communities are critical to the success
of our nation’s economy,” Torres Small said. “When we
invest in rural communities, we build opportunity and
prosperity for the people who live in them. The guide
we are unveiling today will better equip people with
the tools they need to make their communities more
attractive, economically viable and safe places to live
and work.”
Castillo added, “We are committed to working together
to explore new ways to support and strengthen
rural America. It is important that we equip communities
with tools that are accessible and easily utilized
to maximize the work of providing greater, inclusive
economic prosperity across our country. This guide is a
great tool to deliver on that commitment.”
The resource guide outlines programs and services that
can be used to advance community and economic development
in rural communities through four key focus
areas:
• Planning and technical assistance
• Infrastructure and broadband expansion
• Entrepreneurship and business assistance
• Workforce development and livability
The guide also features information and links to USDA
Rural Development and U.S. Economic
Development Administration
key priorities and resources.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration,
Rural Development
provides loans and grants to
help expand economic opportunities,
create jobs, and improve
the quality of life for millions of
Americans in rural areas. This
assistance supports infrastructure
improvements; business
development; housing; community facilities such as
schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed
internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas.
For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d
like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates,
visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so
many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration,
USDA is transforming America’s food system
with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional
food production, fairer markets for all producers,
ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in
all communities, building new markets and streams of
income for farmers and producers using climate smart
food and forestry practices, making historic investments
in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in
rural America, and committing to equity across the Department
by removing systemic barriers and building
a workforce more representative of America. To learn
more, visit www.usda.gov.
About the U.S. Economic Development
Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration
(EDA) is to lead the federal economic development
agenda by promoting competitiveness and
preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success
in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S.
Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities
and supports regional collaboration in order to create
jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation,
and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.
State Director Robert and her team are here to provide
investments that will deliver help
to small businesses to access
new and better markets, grow
modern infrastructure, promote
a healthy environment and affordable
housing and create equitable
access to quality healthcare,
jobs and capital. Contact
her at Deidre.Robert@usda.
gov or (318) 473-7920, and visit
https://www.rd.usda.gov/la for
the latest resources and follow
RD on Twitter @RD_Louisiana.
Page 20
LMR | JUNE 2022

Partner Insight
Treasury Notes
LOUISIANA MAIN STREET RECOVERY GRANT PROGRAM TACKLES FRAUD
BY STATE TREASURER JOHN M. SCHRODER
The 2020 Louisiana Main Street
Recovery Grant Program’s (MSRP)
outstanding impact and effectiveness
continue to garner accolades.
This unprecedented program quickly
provided $262 million in federal pandemic relief dollars to
more than 20,000 struggling Louisiana business owners
when they needed it most. I appreciate the continued
focus on this program and its success more than a year
after the Legislative Auditor first published his results.
Louisiana citizens can take pride in our office’s continuous
fight to provide for legitimate businesses while
reducing fraudulent applications.
At the program’s inception, the industry standard for
governmental programs was a 7% fraud and waste rate.
When selecting a vendor, we were adamant that the
program’s fraud and waste rate would be no more than
3%. By design, we worked with the Legislative Auditor’s
office, embedding them in the program and thereby
enabling us to respond promptly as fraud was detected.
This collaboration contributed to our reduced overall
fraud rate of 1.32%.
We continue to aggressively pursue the fraudsters.
Industry averages told us to expect thefts of $8 million.
Instead, we minimized fraud to $1.1 million and have
recovered more than $400,000 to date. We did not
compromise speed or efficiency. I refuse to punish the
98.7% with unnecessary of bureaucratic red tape to stop
the 1.32%.
Many of the businesses assisted through the MSRP Program
should never have been shut down in the first place,
and many others should never have been shut down as
long as they were. Unfortunately, despite the MSRP’s
program successes, Louisiana businesses are still suffering.
Most recently, it is due to a rise in inflation, worker
shortages, increased gas prices, and a lack of access to
supplies.
We must do better for our state and our citizens. While
no level of fraud, waste, and abuse is acceptable, I hope
all Louisiana governmental programs are able to achieve
fraud rates as low as the 1.32%. Due to the hard work and
dedication of our team, we were able to deliver hundreds
of millions of dollars in aid at speeds rarely seen in state
government programs.
The MSRP Program should be a model for other recovery
efforts, and I am ready and eager to assist
LMR | JUNE 2022 Page 21

Tourism Talk
BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER
While the last few years have been
difficult, we at the Department of
Culture, Recreation & Tourism know
we are on the right track for a bright
future. Despite the pandemic, we’ve
continued to promote Louisiana.
We had five
consecutive record-breaking years
before the pandemic, and then
came back with 41 million visitors in
2021 – a 29% increase from 2020. To
move tourism even further ahead,
we developed the Sunshine Plan
for recovering the tourism industry.
We wanted to bring tourism back
to pre-COVID levels and restart
Louisiana’s events and attractions.
Our methods were traditional and
targeted – to advertise to travelers
in the way they wanted it - through
digital and social media.
We knew we wanted to increase
positive media about our state, keep
our travel trade partners informed
and educated, and continue helping
and promoting those products
that are the heart of who we are in
Louisiana. To do all of this, our office
needed to continue educating and
training our industry, so we’d ALL
come back better than before.
The Louisiana Is A Trip campaign
was developed, and it focused on
great itineraries all over the state
that were perfect for locals as well
as visitors. Louisiana was put on the
national stage, so we did what we
do best – we had a parade! With
the unbelievable talent of five-time
Grammy winner John Batiste, Louisiana’s
Celebration Gator crawled
down the streets of New York for
the first time in the 2021 Macy’s
Thanksgiving Day Parade. That
event reached 1.48 billion people
with a $13.7 million media value. Our
investment not only put Louisiana in
the living rooms of people all over
the country, but it also gave us a
return on investment of 29 to 1. But
we didn’t stop there!
Breathtaking natural beauty. Campsites with jawdropping
views. Unique history…And so many amazing
flavors to feed your soul. You don’t have to drive
hundreds of miles to discover all this and more…it’s
waiting for you right here in your own backyard!
Plan your Half Tank Trip today
at LouisianaIsATrip.com
The Feed Your Soul float rolled on New Year’s Day in Pasadena
in the 2022 Tournament of Roses parade. The eyes
of the world were once again on Louisiana and all the
great things we have to offer visitors. Reaching over 2.6
billion people, with a nearly $25 million in media coverage,
we not only stole the show, but we won the Wrigley
Page 22
LMR | JUNE 2022

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When we met with parade folks in California, they told
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BELIEVE, ACHIEVE.” A lady asked me if I’d be riding the
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people like that. “
AD COPY
Our office has also benefited from some amazing partnerships.
following issues: I’m so proud LWR-R0018 of the people in the parishes of Al-
or use in the
len, Beauregard, Calcasieu, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Authorized Sabine, Signature: Trombone Shorty is a regular hometown hero at Jazz Fest.
and Vernon, who we partnered with to create a great Photos are courtesy of louisianatravel.com
itinerary that has received national and international
Date:
attention.
The Gas Station Eats campaign takes people Artwork Contact: off
from Lake Charles to Alexandria, and from Shreveport to
Baton Rouge.
the beaten path to discover all the great small businesses
that help bring visitors to the state. We continued to
make sure that we didn’t forget anyone – whether it’s our
B&Bs, breweries, sporting events, or the greatest party on
CONSULTANTS earth – Mardi Gras. That came back strong in 2022, with
visitation that topped our expectations. I rode in parades
across the state – from Shreveport to Monroe and from
Houma to the Northshore. And we made sure we marketed
Mardi Gras not only in our great city of New Orleans –
but all over Louisiana. And boy did it work! We saw great
increases in out-of-town guests in many of our family
friendly Mardi Gras cities. So, Mardi Gras was a huge success
across the state, and through our partnership with
Louisiana Cookin’, we created regional spotlights on the
great food we have in Louisiana throughout the season,
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But we knew we had to keep Louisiana on the minds of
media both in state, throughout the US, and around the
world. So, we continued our virtual events, connecting
us with some of our top international markets. For our
Canadian friends, we taught them virtually how to make a
Sazerac. We made king cake bread pudding for media in
Brazil, Germany, and the UK. And we had a virtual Mardi
Gras celebration with domestic media. In the past month
alone, we’ve hosted media from Canada, the UK, Australia,
and France. And top domestic media attended Jazz
Fest.
Our PR team continued participating in trade shows,
even in virtual formats, to keep Louisiana at the forefront
of people’s mind. Recently a great article on Gumbo in
Louisiana appeared in National
Geographic in the UK. And there
are many more like that to come!
Our Sales team hit the road
when they could with one-onone
appointments and missions
with some of our top domestic
travel trade partners. Sports and
outdoors, especially youth sports,
was one of the most successful
initiatives throughout the state.
Creating millions in estimated
economic impact in 2021, these
help every city from Hammond
to Ruston to Lake Charles and all
over the state.
And we didn’t forget our international
travel industry partners. In
fact, because of our efforts, we
were awarded the Bronze Award
for best response to the pandemic
by a tourism board at the
Wanderlust Travel Awards in the
LMR | JUNE 2022 8/21/14 8:33 PM
Page 23
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UK. In December 2021, we
were able to host the Travel
South International Showcase
in New Orleans. This
huge event had a total of
379 attendees from 18 different
countries. We hosted
3 FAM tours showcasing all
parts of the state, one VIP
media tour, and the closing
night reception at the New
Orleans Jazz Museum.
Our success in digital and
Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!
social media can be seen in visitors to louisianatravel.
com. In 2021, there were over 9.7 million sessions on the
site - over double our pre-pandemic traffic. And so far
in 2022, we are on track to break that record! Nearly
2,000 people signed up to be a part of our Bayou Krewe
on social media - over twice as many as 2020. Our local
ambassadors in the Krewe are doing an amazing job of
sharing their love for Louisiana with the world.
We took the time to really focus on our smaller communities
and product development. The Civil Rights Trail
has been one of the most successful initiatives done by
our office. I’m so proud of it and the team that worked so
hard. To date, six markers have been unveiled across Louisiana.
And just this year, nine Louisiana sites were added
to the National US Civil Rights Trail. When our Baton
Rouge marker was unveiled, we were lucky enough to
have one of the great heroes of the civil rights movement
there, Dr. Johnnie Jones. Dr. Jones was just 15 days out of
Southern University law school when the Rev. T.J. Jemison
asked him to serve as the lawyer for the 1953 Baton
Rouge bus boycott effort. Dr. Jones recently passed
away. We were so honored to have him there and see a
tear in his eye when he saw his name on that plaque. The
Civil Rights Trail will continue to grow, and we are excited
that new markers will be going up later this year. If there
is something in your area that deserves civil rights recognition,
you can apply at louisianacivilrightstrail.com.
With so much interest in road trips following the pandemic,
we turned our attention to the trails and byways
program to make sure we were offering the best information
possible for our visitors to discover all the great
things throughout our state. We were very proud that in
2021, the federal highway
administration recognized
the Bayou Teche Byway and
the Boom or Bust Byway
as National Scenic Byways.
They also designated the
Great River Road as an
All-American road - which
means it is a destination
with worldwide interest.
One of our priorities has
been to promote every
museum in the state – both
large and small, so we created louisianamuseums.com.
Our teams went out to collect information and videos
to help promote these great cultural resources. We have
great museums with little or no marketing money, so we
are going to market for them.
I’m very proud of the education outreach and support,
especially the grants that we were able to give to help
support recovery. We launched the Louisiana attractions
support grant program to provide assistance for tourism
attractions to enhance visitor experience and attract
visitors. As of today, nearly $750,000 dollars has been
awarded to 38 attractions. We’ve also created a fairs and
festivals grant are I and are in the process of taking applications
and information on that grant. The grant can be
found on our industry portal, louisianatravel.com/industry.
Another effort to support fairs and festivals was to
expand our music ambassador program, and to include
in-state fairs and festivals so they can hire local bands
and musicians.
We also enhanced our educational outreach and training
to members of the industry by providing support and
webinars to give our local partners a leg up on the competition.
These are all things we did as part of our Sunshine Plan.
And they’ve worked! They’ve worked so well, in fact,
that we’ve received a number of awards for many of our
efforts this year. And they keep coming in.
We also just launched our “Let Louisiana Shine” campaign.
In honor of that, and our many accolades this past
year, I would like to say the future of tourism is bright.
Our numbers reflect that!
PRESORT
STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BATON ROUGE, LA
PERMIT #319
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LMR | JUNE 2022