Town Meeting Minutes – August 2020

August 10, 2020
Town of Brusly
Brusly, Louisiana

The regular meeting of the Town of Brusly was called to order this date, August 10, 2020, at the Brusly Town Hall, at 6:30 p.m. Council Member André led the Pledge of Allegiance. A roll call determined the following officials present:
Mayor:                              Scot Rhodes
Council Members:           Rusty Daigle, Joanne Bourgeois, Terry Richard, Shane André, Don Neisler
Town Attorney:                Thomas Acosta, Jr.
Absent:                             None

Upon a request from Mayor Rhodes, a motion to add consideration of a Road Overlay Change Order to the Agenda under Public Works was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, a roll call vote was had with the following results:
Yeas:                              Daigle, Bourgeois, Richard, André, Neisler
Nays:                              None
Absent:                          None

Recognitions & Commendations:
Mayor Rhodes requested a moment of silence in remembrance of recently deceased Carroll Bourgeois, who had served as Mayor of Addis for 32 years.

A motion to approve the minutes of the Town’s regular meeting of July 13, 2020, as written, was made by Council Member André and seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Public Works Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read the Public Works Report, as prepared by Public Works Supervisor Shane Sarradet, for the month of July. There were 7.1 inches of rainfall in the month; no drainage issues; 15 manholes were coated with LGAP Grant money; road overlay project was completed; 2 SCADA alarms; submersible pump issues at Oak Shadow and S. LaBauve lift stations were resolved; 2 “out of compliance” test results on the Sewer Treatment Facility due to chlorine interruption; all test results have been given to DEQ for renewal of LPDES Permit; no personnel incidents to report for the Maintenance Department.

Regular bulk trash will be picked up the week of August 10, 2020. The extra trash pickup will be Friday, August 28, 2020.

Mayor Rhodes reported that the Maintenance Department has hired a Part time Employee through a Temp Agency, to help keep up with grass cutting during the summer months.

Mayor Rhodes offered drainage information to the Council, provided by Owen & White Engineering, that addresses the drainage problem on the South side of the end of Venzule.

Mayor Rhodes presented the Road Overlay Change Order for the Council’s consideration. A motion to approve the change order in the amount of $21,586.91 was made by Council Member Bourgeois; seconded by Council Member Daigle. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Following a request from Mayor Rhodes, a motion to use previously approved road overly budgeted money for striping on Live Oak Dr. and Allene Street, was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Planning and Zoning Committee:
Mayor Rhodes read aloud the variance request of Herbert Duggan at 341 Willow Oak Dr. for non-compliance of Sec. 19.31.1 Zoning District R-1 Side Setback, to reduce the side setback from 10’ to 2’ to build an accessory structure. Having been favorably recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission, and having determined that there was a signed statement from the adjoining property owner giving no objections, a motion to approve the variance was made by Council Member André; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mayor Rhodes presented the Final Plat Showing Survey & Three Minor Subdivision of OD-2 of the Partition of Adonis Thibodeaux Heirs Property for Oscar Denham. After a brief discussion regarding wording of the notes on the plat, a motion to approve the plat with changes discussed, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Finance Committee:
Mayor Rhodes noted that the “Budget to Actual Comparison Report” for July was included in the meeting packets for Council Members to review.

A motion to approve the liquor license for Back Brusly Grocery Oaks LLC, was made by Council Member Daigle; seconded by Council Member Richard. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Personnel Committee: None
Recreation Committee:
WBR Parish representatives, Mr. Anatole Vincent, and Mr. Jason Manola, presented information regarding the Community Center tax renewal.

Mayor Rhodes gave a brief update on the River Road Park Project.

Police Committee: None
Governmental Affairs Committee:
Council Member Bourgeois presented an application for Landmark Plaque for the home at 424 N. LaBauve, currently owned by Thomas Brian Parsons. The home was built in 1955 for the Charles Marionneaux family. “Mr. Charlie” served on the WBR Parish School Board for 30 years.

Council Member Bourgeois also presented a Landmark Plaque application for the home at 422 Lee Dr., owned by Pamela Rhodes. The home was built in 1968 for Sherrill & Pamela Rhodes where they raised three sons, Brent, Scot, and Craig. Mr. Sherrill served on the Brusly Town Council from 1984 through 1996. His son, Scot, also served on the Brusly Town Council from 1997- 2000 and from 2012-2016; he is currently serving as Mayor, having been elected in 2016.

Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to approve the two homes as Landmark Plaque recipients; seconded by Council Member André. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Council Member Bourgeois presented the application for the Former Landmark Site for 803 E. St. Francis, presently owned by Wesley Sarradet, which was the location of the Heck Family Blacksmith Shop. Oral histories and family stories indicate that many of the iron crosses in the St. John the Baptist Cemetery were forged at the Heck Blacksmith Shop. A large portion of the Heck property was lost to the levee relocation project in the early in the 1930s. East St. Francis Street was called Heck’s Lane for most of the 20th century.
Council Member Bourgeois made a motion to designate the site at 803 E. St. Francis Street as a Former Landmark Site; seconded by Council Member Neisler. Mayor Rhodes opened the floor for public comment. Hearing no comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Consideration of Vetoed Ordinances: None
Hearing and Final Action on Ordinances: None
Introduction of Ordinances: None
Resolutions: None

Police Department Report:
Police Department Report for the month of July was given by Assistant Chief Southon. There were seven (7) alarms, four (4) suspicious persons, three (3) warrant arrests, five (5) unlocks, twelve (12) miscellaneous complaints, ten (10) disturbances, one (1) unauthorized use, nine (9) no insurance tows, seven (7) crash reports, two (2) hit and run, four (4) drug arrests, one (1) illegal use of weapons, one (1) improper telephone communications, eight (8) thefts, one (1) possession of stolen property, one (1) medical, five (5) public assists and one (1) animal at large. For the month, there were 82 total complaints, 320 total citations and 402 total violations.

Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Rhodes reported that a new a/c unit has been purchased for the Town Hall building. The Mayor also reported that since school has begun, all school zones speed limits are in effect. Mayor Rhodes announced that the 2019/2020 audit process has started. Mayor Rhodes attended the naming of the Walt Lemoine Basketball Court at the new Brusly High School. The equipments for this court was bought on this site. We also found it here, after a great deal of search everywhere.

Remarks of Personal Privilege:
Holly Beard, a Venzule Dr. resident, voiced concerns about a sewer backup at her home and asked the Town for any assistance they could provide to remedy the problem. Mayor Rhodes proposed a meeting with parties all involved, including Town’s insurance company, to attempt to resolve the issue.

Announcements:
The Town Hall will be closed Monday, September 7, 2020 in observance of Labor Day.

A motion was made by Council Member André to adjourn; seconded by Council Member Richard. Hearing no comments, the motion passed with a unanimous vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:36 PM.

/s/Scot Rhodes, Mayor                     /s/Blaine Rabalais, Town Clerk