Condemnation confusion lengthens meeting

While the agenda was relatively short and unassuming, public comment and special presentations made Tuesday’s meeting of the Bogalusa City Council push past an hour in length.

Among the action items was the condemnation hearings on six properties, with a seventh shrouded in what seemed to be confusion, as Margaret Ann Daniels, identified as the property owner of 633 Okechobee, rose to inform the council that she wasn’t. Judge Robert Black advised Daniels the property was apparently part of an inheritance, but was unsuccessful. In the end, the property was pulled off the list so that the ownership issue could be resolved before bringing the subject back to council.

In other action, Councilwoman Johni Miles Blount introduced an ordinance to amend and re-enact Sect. 12-109 of the Bogalusa Code to provide relative to sound amplification systems, define violations and setting penalties. The ordinance will come up for a public hearing and vote on July 5.

A second ordinance, introduced by Council Vice President Michael O’Ree, will set the city’s millage rates as required by law. That ordinance, which will also rise for public hearing and vote on July 5, sets the millage at 42.13 mills per dollar. That means a home valued at $50,000 would be taxed at $210.63.

The ordinance sets the rate at a level to generate the same amount of revenue in 2011 as generated in 2010.

Council also held a public hearing on an ordinance allowing Mayor Charles Mizell to sell property to the Louisiana DOTD at appraised value to allow for the construction of bridges over Lawrence, Bogue Lusa and Coburn Creeks on Louisiana Highway 10. The appraised value of the property is $3,063.

The ordinance included the misspelling of Bogue Luce Creek as “Bogalusa” in two places.

Council vice president Michael O’Ree amended the agenda to recall Ordinance 4-31 from the table and vote. The ordinance sets the point of measurement on distances between establishments serving alcoholic beverages and certain facilities. It was noted that the state might not accept the ordinance, which council passed 6-1, with Councilwoman Oneita Graham dissenting.

Council members also heard from Sandy Bloom pertaining to Louisiana Development Ready Communities. Louisiana Development Ready Communities Program is one of Louisiana Economic Development’s strategies to strengthen the economic competitiveness of municipalities and Bogalusa was one of the communities selected for inclusion.

Council also got an update on the humane society from Ann Pelmear and from Emma Dixon on historic preservation, specifically efforts to garner designation for the area known as the Pvt. George Bailey Subdivision, around St Mary’s Place and an area where Bogalusa’s civil rights movement was born, grew and prospered.

Dixon, who lives on St. Mary’s, said she had been in touch with several national organization willing to assist with homeowner improvements if the historic neighborhood designation could be obtained.

The next council meeting will be Tuesday, July 5.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)