Poor record keeping, failure to bill for work to maintain nuisance properties, possibly even political vendettas are coming to light as new management works to make sense of the city’s zoning department.
New Zoning Supervisor Danielle Fontenette told officials at the Oct. 7 City Council meeting that there were apparently no bills sent, or tax liens processed, for maintenance of unkempt private properties by public works crews during 2019, and possibly for much longer. The $25 fee ordered by the council to be charged for each notice sent to negligent property owners was never charged by previous supervisor Shedrick Berard.
Fontenette showed a large stack of complaint reports and work orders that had been set aside and ignored. Also, in recent years, no effort was apparently made to sell adjudicated properties, which represent an ongoing maintenance cost and loss of tax revenue to the city, despite the fact that, in some cases, neighboring landowners willing to buy the property were turned away.
“Danielle has inherited a huge mess,” commented Councilman Mike Fuselier.
District 3 representative Dennis Paul Williams has been subjected to recall efforts, partly for the claimed reason that there are so many nuisance properties in his district.
Fontenette revealed that as much as 75 percent of those ignored complaint letters and work orders are in Dist. 3.
“I believe that was done on purpose to make me look bad,” Williams commented.
Councilman Craig Prosper said, “By my math, the failure to bill owners for mowing and charge for the notices means at least a $50,000 loss to the city just this year.”
Fontenette said she is taking steps to ensure that such complaints and work orders are dealt with in a timely manner going forward. She has instituted a new filing system for unkempt property cases and a computerized system for billing and liens related to them. The outdated zoning map, she said, is also being updated
The council tasked City Attorney Allan Durand with developing a system for marketing adjudicated properties and approved a motion by Fuselier to engage Tourism Director Elaine
Clement, who is also an attorney, to assist Fontenette with the process.
The council also approved a measure to increase the per-notice fee from $25 to $50. Fontenette said the fee, still lower than in most area municipalities, will help motivate compliance.
Councliman Juma Johnson objected to the increase, saying “If people can’t afford to get their grass cut, they won’t be able to afford a $50 fee.”
But council members will be notified before a letter is sent to anyone in their district and they can make the case that fees should be waived if the neglect is due to hardship.
Burning Rules
Durand was also asked to examine the city’s existing burn ordinance to bring it in line with reality. The ordinance, while not forbidding all burning, includes a ban on burning within 500 feet of a structure. “I doubt anywhere in town is 500 feet from another structure,” Fuselier pointed out.
The agenda item was included because a business on Terrace Road burns nearly constantly, apparently bringing trees and branches from off the site to be burned. Durand will propose a new ordinance allowing the burning of limbs and branches from the owner’s property only, and setting a more reasonable buffer zone.
Security Cameras
Also approved was a
measure to modify the City Hall security camera system.
Presently, the only monitor for the eight-camera system is in Mayor Melinda Mitchell’s office. “That’s pretty useless unless the mayor is in her office.” Prosper pointed out.
The council directed that additional monitors be installed at the police dispatcher’s station and in Chief Administrator Avis Gutekunst’s office.
In other business, the council:
•Directed Durand to examine the economics of renewing the expired Races and Aces lease as opposed to putting the old Walmart building in which it is located up for sale.
•Will allow the St. Martinville Sr. High Reach organization to hold a Bullying Walk/Color Run to Magnolia Park on Oct. 19.
•Approved an intergovernmental agreement with St. Martin Parish Government for cooperative efforts on public works projects.
•Will cooperate with the Garden Club to improve and maintain the Main and Bridge Street planters.
