CHAMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT CENTRAL SPEAKS THIS MONDAY Good News for a Great City • Daily News at CentralSpeaks.com • June 23, 2011 How Central Compares Just The Facts from Around Louisiana By Dave Freneaux • Increasing Central’s City Coun- cil from 5 to 7 seats would likely cost $130,000 every four years. • 98% of Louisiana municipalities Central’s size and smaller are getting the job done with 5 or fewer Council Members. When considering how many Council Members a City needs, many things must be taken into con- sideration. Fortunately, we have hundreds of communities in Loui- siana with a combined thousands of years of experience running local governments, and we can certainly look to their decisions and City Council structures for guidance. The argument can be made that Central is different from many other communities, and that argu- ment is valid. Central has the dis- tinct advantages of privatized City Services. In addition, primary Law Enforcement, Fire Protection, Emer- gency Services, Trash Pickup, Sew- er and Water are all being provided Above: The Amite River at sunset. See page 16 for an article about local youth dedicated to cleaning up the and managed by others. Not hav- trash along the river through the Amite River Preservation Association. Photo by Mia Freneaux ing to manage all of these services certainly does reduce the burden on Central’s government. Without the City Services Central Not Guaranteed Councilman burden of legislation for these ser- vices, Central requires smaller gov- Transition Nears Spot on BREC Board DeJohn Proposes ernment than cities of comparable By Dave Freneaux size. Completion House Bill 322 sponsored by Council Districts The following is a list of facts Central's own Representative By Dave Freneaux concerning the number of Council Permit Fees Among Final Issues Clif Richardson was deferred (For an Editorial on this subject see page 2) Members other Louisiana communi- By Dave Freneaux in a Senate committee, shut- In an interview with Central ties have found necessary to operate City of Central offi cials met again ting down the effort to guaran- Speaks, Council Member Louis their government, and the number of Tuesday with representatives of tee Central, Baker and Zachary DeJohn shared that he is mov- government employees they have on IBTS and CH2M Hill to continue a representative on the BREC ing forward with an Ordinance the payroll to manage. working toward a smooth transi- Board. The bill, if passed, would which would create fi ve City • Central is a City formed under tion of City Services a week from have allowed the voters of EBR Council Districts for the 2014 Louisiana Law known as the Friday. One of the most problemat- to decide whether to create these Central City Council elections. Lawrason Act. ic issues is likely to be permit fees. three additional Board seats. Mr. DeJohn says many Central • 246 of the 305 municipalities in Central Speaks contacted Mayor The bill called for increasing the citizens have made it clear that Louisiana were created under Watts Wednesday for an update on size of the board from 9 mem- this issue. The Mayor explained they want each area of the city the Lawrason Act. bers to 12 by adding three seats, that three major items remaining to have a single Council Mem- • The average Lawrason Act mu- one each for Central, Baker and in negotiation are permits which ber who lives in their area to be nicipality has 4.5 Council Mem- Zachary. Currently, Bert Neal, have been paid where fi nal inspec- elected by that area and represent bers. a long time Central Resident See Just The Facts, Page 3 tions cannot yet be done, permits for the very large new school con- and former Recreation Director See Districts, Page 4 for BREC, serves on the BREC NEW CITY SERVICES INFO struction currently underway, and the issue of CH2M Hill's offer of a Board. With Bert Neal on the Company: refund of 5% of permit fees earlier current Board, Central does INDEX IBTS in this fi scal year totalling approx- have one of nine votes. How- 16 PAGES Phone: imately $16,000. Mayor Watts ex- ever, there is no guarantee that EDITORIAL 2 COMMUNITY 10 262-5000 plained that discussing the details Central will have a representa- CITY 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS 12 Address: of the negotiations might have an tive on the Board next year. Mr. CHURCH 5 SPORTS 14 6703 Sullivan Rd. adverse affect on the outcome, and Neal stopped by and spoke with BUSINESS 6 PUZZLES 15 Hours: asked that people allow the nego- Central Speaks and emphasized SCHOOLS 7 SERVICE 16 tiations to run their course before 8-4:30 M-F that Representatives Clif Rich- jumping to any conclusions. May- ardson and Bodi White, along *************ECRWSS**** Start Date: or Watts assures that every effort with Councilman Scott Wilson July 1st is being made to see that the tax and Senator Dale Erdy all did an Local *Ribbon Cutting:* dollars and permit fees of the citi- excellent job of going to bat for Postal Customer June 30th at Noon zens of Central are protected. Central in this effort. 2 EDITORIAL Thursday, June 23, 2011 • CentralSpeaks.com Print Edition THIS WEEK IN City Council Districts- The Elephant in the Room CENTRAL An Editorial by Dave Freneaux seek re-election in 2014. These same Coun- If any of Central’s fi ve Council Members cil Members, at the Council Meeting on were asked, “Should a Council Member’s July 12th, will be considering an Ordinance THURSDAY. 6/23: interest in re-election in 2014 have any which could make re-election in 2014 much Central Speaks Hits the Streets and Post Offi ce infl uence on what election structure they harder for each of them. Running as the in- Board of Adjustments Meeting, 5 PM at Kristenwood support for Central’s City Council Seats?” cumbent Council Member is an advantage, Planning & Zoning Meeting, 6 PM at Kristenwood I believe they could say no. I believe that an advantage they would lose if they were they could each have the integrity and inde- all running for the same City Council Seat. FRIDAY 6/24: pendence to keep politics out of the decision Meanwhile, four other Council Seat races and consider what will be best for our City would feature fresh faces from the City Paint-In, 9:30 AM at Magnolia Methodist in 2040, and not worry about 2014 and how who would not be running against a sitting it might affect their political future. Council member. SATURDAY 6/25: The expression “The Elephant in the It almost seems unfair to these fi ve Coun- Bluegrass Gospel Memorial Concert, 6 PM at Blackwater UMC Room” refers to an obvious problem or cil members to be asked to make the deci- risk that no one seems to want to discuss. sion as to how the Council Seats should be SUNDAY 6/26: The “Elephant” in this case is NOT HOW elected in 2014, but the law requires them to Central’s City Council seats will be elected make this decision. To round out consider- See You in Church! in 2014, it is the challenge that our CUR- ation of this matter, recall that three of Cen- RENT fi ve Council Members face in decid- tral’s Council Members, LoBue, Messina MONDAY 6/27: ing whether to change the City Council “At and Washington, were elected on a platform Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament at The Oaks at Sherwood Large” election process. of supporting a move to Districts. Central’s CCSS School Board Meeting, 6 PM at Kristenwood Let’s just go ahead, break the ice, and other two Council Members, DeJohn and talk about the “Elephant in the Room”. All Moak, have recently stated that they have fi ve of Central’s City Council Members heard the people’s support for Districts and TUESDAY 6/28: live less than two miles from the corner of that they too support a move to City Council Sewing/Quilting Group, 10 AM at Magnolia Methodist Greenwell Springs and Sullivan Roads. Di- elections by District. City Council Meeting, 6 PM at Kristenwood viding the City’s voters into either fi ve or I have a great deal of respect for the time seven Districts would very likely mean that end energy it takes to be an informed, pre- WEDNESDAY, 6/29: most or all of the current Council Members pared, and fair-minded Council Member. School Supply Drive Begins at Central’s Raising Cane’s would also live in a single City District. If I choose to believe that in considering a that were the case, they would likely all change in Central’s City Council election Christmas in Central Planning Meeting, 12 Noon at Cooper Catering be competing for one Council seat if they method, that decision will be made solely sought re-election in 2014. on the basis of what is best for Central. Our THURSDAY. 6/30: So why is this a problem? Let’s assume fi ve Council Members each have the abil- Central Speaks Hits the Streets and Post Offi ce that at least three, and maybe four or fi ve, ity to make independent and informed deci- of the current Council Members intend to sions, and this issue should be no exception. Would you like to help with Central Speaks with the Mayor Christmas in Central this An Interview with Mayor Mac Watts IBTS, our new City Services provider, will begin full year? If so, you are invited operations in eight days.