Landmark & Heritage Meeting – October 2022

MINUTES OF THE BRUSLY LANDMARK & HERITAGE COMMISSION
October 17, 2022

A meeting of the Brusly Landmark and Heritage Commission was held on Monday October 17, 2022, at Brusly Town Hall, Brusly, Louisiana.  Chairman Rills called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Commissioner Bourgeois led the Pledge of Allegiance.  A roll call determined the following:

Commission Chairman:                      Jim Rills
Commission Members Present:          Billy Bourgeois, Margaret Canella, Edward Dupuy, Brian Falcon,
Henry Soniat
Commission Members Absent:          None
Advisory Members Present:               Scarlet Callicoatte (Late Arrival)
Advisory Members Absent:                Billy Hebert
Others present:                                  Joanne Bourgeois

Upon motion by Commissioner Canella; seconded by Commissioner Bourgeois, the minutes of the  July 18, 2022, meeting were unanimously approved as written.

Advisory Member Callicoatte arrived at 6:33 p.m.

Landmark Plaque Applications:
Ms. Joanne Bourgeois narrated a slide presentation accompanying a Landmark Plaque application for the home at 236 St. Mark Street, presently owned by Brian Heath & Danielle Cintron. Upon the conclusion of the presentation, a motion to recommend the home to the Town Council as a Landmark Plaque recipient was made by Commissioner Falcon; seconded by Commissioner Dupuy. The motion passed unanimously.

Former Landmark Site Applications:
Ms. Joanne Bourgeois narrated a presentation for the Former Landmark Site application for the Stonewall Plantation “Big House.” A smaller home on S. LaBauve, which was the last remaining structure of the Stonewall Plantation, was demolished on September 26, 2022.  The Landmark Plaque which was attached to the home was lost in the demolition. The original “Big House” was demolished in 1970; several cabins on this property were torn down around the same time. The site where the “Big House” and cabins once stood is now the location of Brusly Elementary School. Upon the conclusion of the presentation, a motion to recommend the property to the Town Council as a Former Landmark Site, pending approval of the West Baton Rouge School Board, was made by Commissioner Bourgeois; seconded by Commissioner Dupuy. The motion passed unanimously.

Other Business:
Ms. Bourgeois reported that when the Iberia Babin Home, at 120 LeJeune St, was demolished a few years ago, the Landmark Plaque which was attached to the home was not returned to the Town.

A motion to re-elect the current officers of the Landmark & Heritage Commission, by acclamation, was made by Commissioner Falcon; seconded by Commissioner Bourgeois. By unanimous vote, Commissioner Rills was re-elected Landmark & Heritage Chair and Commissioner Soniat was re-elected Vice Chair.

The meeting dates for 2023 were set as follows:
January 23, 2023
April 17, 2023
July 17, 2023
October 16, 2023

Public Comment:
Chairman Rills recommended that Mr. Brian Parsons be considered to fill the open seat on the Landmark & Heritage Commission.

Commissioner Brian Falcon narrated a slide presentation of historical maps showing the original land grants in the Brusly area in comparison to today’s properties.  The maps dated back to the early 1800’s to present day maps.

Ms. Joanne Bourgeois presented a slide presentation of pictures taken at the Brusly Semi-Pro Baseball Park which has previously been designated as a Former Landmark Site.

A motion was made by Commissioner Canella to adjourn; seconded by Commissioner Dupuy.  The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Commission Chairman Rills adjourned the meeting at 7:10 PM.

/s/Patricia Gaudet Thibodaux, Secretary