DONALDSONVILLE - The Donaldsonville City Council considerably hiked fees for garbage, law enforcement and gas during its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday night at City Hall.
Garbage disposal and law enforcement fees both have risen from $6 to $11 while the gas fee is expected to increase by $.50 but remain under $7 total according to how the bill is computed.
“It is a big increase,” Carl Capone said from the audience.
Mayor Leroy Sullivan said the reason why all three fees needed to be increased include a decrease in sales tax and fees.
“I know the constituents will not like this increase,” councilman Charles Brown said. “It has been four years. We need to come up with a yearly system and keep up with the time.”
Brown used an analogy comparing the situation to raising the temperature on a frog in a pot on the stove. He said he wouldn’t feel as bad forcing $1 increases on citizens yearly rather than a $5 one-time increase.
“Just like that frog, they don’t see it coming,” Brown said. “Before you know it, he is boiling.”
Councilman Emile Spano made the motion to adopt the first ordinance for a garbage fee increase.
“I hope everyone understands what we did and why we did it,” Spano said.
Sullivan even told the councilman, constituents were liable to review how they voted on the increases.
“None of us like to do it, but it was some tough things,” councilman Raymond Aucoin said.
All three ordinances were passed unanimously.
In other business, the council passed ordinances for the 2008-09 amended budget and the 2009-10 operating budget.
“I think we developed a realistic budget,” Aucoin said. “There were some things out of our control.”
Sullivan and Aucoin agreed that the effects of Hurricane Gustav last year and a recession affected how the budget was challenged.
In other news, the council authorized Sullivan to sign an agreement with SJB Group for consulting and coordination services for a levee top project not to exceed $2,500. Discussion on the project included a dock possibility that would have to be coordinated with the Port of Baton Rouge.
The council also authorized the mayor to enter into a special contract with Floyd Falcon for legal services concerning military leave at $185 an hour not to exceed $5,000.
City attorney Chuck Long said the issue needs to be addressed immediately according to the federal re-employment law.
“I don’t think it would be wise to pay me to get versed in it,” Long said.
In other business, the council got an update on natural gas replacements, the river stage and road curbs from Glenn Shaheen and Associates.
The council also ordered demolition at 513 Bonnie Lane within 30 days.
Brown noted the property was already condemned. The owner said she plans on hauling away a trailer on the property and was informed by Long that she needed permits to do so.
Two more hearings on the condemnation of properties in the city were tabled.
The council also authorized Sullivan to sign an intergovernmental agreement with the Ascension Parish School Board to use the campus of the old Lowery Middle School to host a special event “Fun Day” June 27.
Also, a public hearing was set for an ordinance that addresses mobile homes in the city concerning the age of the buildings.
Lastly, the council approved a liquor license for Speakabox Entertainment for the annual July 3rd Fireworks celebration.
