Audit, utility bills, loud music on Bogalusa council agenda for Tuesday's 5:30 meeting

While the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting of the Bogalusa City Council is relatively brief, the potential exists for a longer-than-normal meeting because of a number of persons planning to attend and raise questions concerning the city’s new water meters.

And one of the items on the agenda specifically pertains to water bills, as Councilwoman Oneita Graham will introduce an ordinance to repeal any and all ordinances regarding reductions of city utility bills.

Since the implementation of the new metering system got under way this past spring, there have been dozens of complaints about excessive water bills — and while some bills have gone down, there have been instances cited where residences with one or two people have seen their utility bills multiply significantly, despite assertions that consumption has remained the same.

In other agenda items:

• Council members will receive the audit report from Robert Nielsen, CPA

• Introduce a resolution calling for a special election to renew the levy and collection of a five (5) mill ad valorem tax for a period of ten (10) years, beginning in the year 2012 and ending in the year 2021, for the purpose of paying the costs of construction, acquiring, improving, maintaining and/or operating landfill facilities for the city.

• Hold a public hearing on an ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 12-109 of the Bogalusa Code to provide relative to sound amplification system define violations and setting penalties.

• Hold a public hearing setting millage tax rates for 2011 as required by law.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Municipal Courtroom at Bogalusa City Hall and persons wishing to address the council are reminded they are required  to sign up prior to the start of the meeting and are limited to three minutes.