City Hall, Monroe, Louisiana
June 27, 2023
6:00p.m.
The Honorable Chairman Kema Dawson, called the meeting to order. She then asked the clerk to call roll.
There were present: Mrs. Ezernack, Mr. Marshall, & Mrs. Dawson
Mr. Harvey entered chambers at 6:09p.m.
There was absent: Ms. Woods
Chairman Dawson announced that a quorum was present, and that the Invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance would be led by Mayor Ellis or his designee.
The Invocation was led by Morgan McCalister, City Engineer.
COMMUNICATIONS & SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Mr. Harvey had no announcements.
Mrs. Ezernack welcomes and thanks everyone at the meeting, with the inclement weather outside she appreciated them being inside with them tonight.
Mr. Marshall welcomes everyone for coming out. He wanted to thank Mr. Louis Russell, Louisiana Housing Corporation, for coming out and sharing about the different programs that the State offers. He shared a lot of information with homeowners and developers that are here in our community, and he plans on having another hands on session in the next couple of months. He announces July 15, 2023, they will be having Mt. Nebo Day in the park, honoring the Mt. Nebo School as well as Robinson Business College. They are looking for vendors, kickball teams, and for people to come out and have some fun.
Mrs. Dawson would like to thank everyone that came out to participate in all of the Juneteenth events. She was only able to attend one, but it looked like everyone had so much fun from the pictures she saw and on Facebook Live, she thanked everyone for attending those events. She invited the Miss Plus American Pageant attendants to the front to present them with a Proclamation from the Mayor and City Council. She then called Mr. Donterrio Anderson to the podium to make a special announcement.
Mr. Donterrio Anderson announced the stage play this Saturday, July 1, 2023, titled, The Secrets in the City , and he needs the city of Monroe, Louisiana to please be in attendance. Tickets are on sale for $12 for general admission and $40 for VIP. He really needs everyone to come and see, the Secrets in the City .
Mrs. Dawson announces that it is Saturday, July 1,2023 at the Monroe Civic Center Theater at 5:00 o clock pm, doors open for VIP at 4:00 o clock.
Mayor Ellis thanks everyone for showing up tonight, he only has a few announcements. Downtown Block Party Fireworks, Fourth of July, lots of things happening. He advised them to go to the City s Facebook page to keep up with all the businesses, vendors, and people that will be out and about this weekend. He reminds everyone to hang out responsibly with their family so that everyone gets home safely. This past week the City had Picnic in the Park, it was well attended, and he thanks all the vendors, healthy FunRoe committee, and Kimberly Essesx, and all the City employees that were involved pulling that off, it was just another great way for our community to come together. He announced that today he along with the Council members got the privilege to attend and embrace the new chapter of the Lumen Campus. They made the single largest donation ever in ULM s history to be able to donate to the campus of ULM. He said that we all know how the physical workspace has changed and Lumen employed almost 1,000 people and since the pandemic its only 70 or so people that work on campus due to secured network connections. He said that it was a great way for them to honor our community by allowing the University to continue the use of that campus to be a place of innovation and a place of partnership for our community and he can t wait to see all the great things that are happening out there. It s a great day to celebrate with our community, the William s Family and to have their family be remembered for the legacy that they have left here. He reminds the community that this is a company that has invested multimillion dollars in this community, the life changing opportunities for our residents that have been provided in the millions upon millions of dollars of payroll that has been injected in our community that gives our kitchen table budgeting disposable income. He just wanted to continually say thank you to the Lumen Executives for finding ways that you can continually partner and to grow that next chapter of innovation here in our community.
Upon a motion of Mr. Harvey and seconded by Mr. Marshall, the minutes of the Legal and Regular session of June 13, 2023, were approved. (There were no comments from the public).
PROPOSED CONDEMNATIONS:
(1.) 1016 Powell Street (D3) (Owner Tims Management & Associates) Notice to show cause was served. There was no one present. Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack, seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved, the building was condemned, and the property owner was given 30 days in which to bring the structure into compliance with the Code or demolish the Structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. Tommy James, Chief Code Enforcement Officer, noted that this property was taken to environmental court in November 2022, it was declared a blight and nuisance. This is an open dilapidated unsafe structure; Code Enforcement is asking that this property be condemned and give the property owner 30 days to bring it into compliance or forward it to Public Works for demolition.
Mrs. Ezernack asked for clarity that there had been no contact with the owner.
Mr. James answered none.
Mrs. Ezernack said that since Ms. Woods isn t here this evening she moves that the property at 1016 Powell Avenue be condemned, and the owner given 30 days in which to remove the structure and all obnoxious growth or bring it into compliance thereof.
(2.) 3304 Pearl Street (D4) (Owners Donald R. Gibson & Minnie Gibson) Notice to show cause was served. There was no one present. Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mr. Marshall, seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved, the building was condemned, and the property owner was given 60 days in which to bring the structure into compliance with the Code or demolish the Structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. James said they had this property in court in October 2022, this was a dilapidated unsafe structure. The back of the roof is falling in. There has been no contact with the property owner. Code Enforcement is also asking that the owner be given 30 days to bring into compliance or forwarded over to Public Works for demolition.
Mr. Marshall said that he was actually able to speak with a distant relative of the family and they are going to get in contact with the owners. He said he was familiar with that location, the resident passed away a year ago, so the relative is going to see what the family wants to do about the property.
(3.) 503 Reed Street (D4) (Owners Nydia E. Walker) Notice to show cause was served. There was no one present. Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mr. Harvey, seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved this item (3) be removed from the agenda. (There were no public comments.)
(4.) 3713 Gayton Street (D3) (Owners Bell Investments) Photographic evidence was presented. Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack, seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved, the building was condemned, and the property owner was given 60 days in which to bring the structure into compliance with the Code or demolish the Structure and clean the lot. (There were no public comments.)
Mr. James said he spoke with the owner of this property; he s asking for 60 days in order to bring it back into compliance. He has several properties in the area, and he just needed some extra time because he is pulling permits.
Mrs. Ezernack said since Ms. Woods isn t here, she moved that the property would be condemned, and the property owner given 60 days to bring it up to code or to remove the structure, debris, and all obnoxious growth.
ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION OF BIDS:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to accept the bids of Century Ready Mix, Hobson & Son, LLC, and R.E. Benz, Inc. for a one (1) year contract of Concrete, Cement, Sand & Gravel for the City of Monroe Ref#2024-00000014 with the option to renew two (2) times if the prices remain the same. The Purchasing Division recommend the bid be awarded based on the bid tabulations.
Marie Brown, 1002 S. 5th Street, asked for an explanation because you have the purchase division recommended for being awarded based on the bid tabulation. She asked how would we know what the bid price is.
Mr. Harvey answered that the packets are available online, but the bid tabulation has bids from Century Ready Mix, Hobson & Son, LLC, and R.W. Bentz, Inc. Line item 1,2,3&6 Century Ready Mix was the lowest bid of $150,000.00. The other two businesses elected not to bid, their lowest bid of $156,000.00, the only bidder on line item 2, $135,000.00 only bidder on line item 3, line item 6 is $57.00 no other bids.
Mrs. Ezernack said there is a split low basis she believes too.
Mr. Harvey said then the other items here are the other bid tabulations. He said that will be on the next couple of items, they re on the same bid tabulation sheet so you can find them on the council page online.
Ms. Brown said that she hears how he keeps referring back to they are online, but a lot of people don t have the internet, so why are these prices not on the agenda so that we can see them during the Council meeting.
Mr. Harvey said that this is based on the agenda, the agenda is posted, copies are available, all this information is available through the internet, per your information request, there are multiple ways to acquire the information.
Ms. Brown said that she hears what he s saying, giving her the answer to a question where she wants another answer to. She asked why can t the bid price be placed on the agenda.
Mr. Brandon Creekbaum, Assistant City Attorney, because the agenda is the agenda item itself, which is the title of the resolution, the title of the entry. The actual substance of a lot of the resolutions that will have several paragraphs. He said they can t put all of that on the agenda. He said various prices are containing the bid tabulations that s submitted into a shorthand agenda item.
Mrs. Ezernack said that the packet is available to the public after noon on Thursdays.
Ms. Brown asked where can you pick them up from.
Mrs. Ezernack and Mrs. Dawson answered at the Council s office.
(b) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to accept the bid of Lott Oil for a one (1) year contract of Petroleum Products for the City of Monroe Ref#2024-00000013 with the option to renew two (2) times if the prices remain the same. The Purchasing Division recommend the bid be awarded based on the bid tabulation. (There were no public comments.)
(c) Upon motion of Mr. Marshall seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved to accept the bid of Shannon Chemical Corporation, Ecotech Enterprises, Inc., and Harcros Chemicals, Inc., for a one (1) year contract of Water Treatment Chemicals for the City of Monroe Ref#2024-00000018 with the option to renew two (2) times if the prices remain the same. The Purchasing Division recommend the bid be awarded based on the bid tabulation. (There were no public comments.)
(d) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to remove request from the Purchasing Division that all bids received on May 25, 2023, be rejected for the Texas Standifer Gravity Main Relocation project. (There were no public comments.)
RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTE ENTRIES:
Council:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved a Resolution No. 8536 appointing the News-Star as the Official Journal of the City of Monroe, Louisiana, pursuant to the Louisiana R. S. 43:141 et. seq. and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
(b) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved a Resolution No. 8537 adopt a granting an exception to the Open Container Ordinance to The Southern Vine (Triangle Park Community Block Party) pursuant to Monroe City Code Sec. 12-231 D. (Open Container Ordinance), and further providing with respect thereto. (there were no public comments.)
Department of Administration:
(a) Upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack seconded by Mr. Harvey and unanimously approved a Resolution No. Consider an Application by DG Louisiana, LLC dba Dollar General Store #23262, 2350 Sterlington Rd., Monroe LA 71203 for a New 2023 Class B Alcoholic Beverage Permit. The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records and Sales Tax has been approved. (Distance Report Cleared, Cert. of Occupy Cleared) (There were no public comments.)
(b) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Resolution No) Consider an Application by DG Louisiana, LLC dba Dollar General Store #8257, 3146 Louisville Ave., Monroe LA 71201 for a New 2023 Class B Alcoholic Beverage Permit. The Monroe Police Department has no disqualifying records and Sales Tax has been approved. (Distance Report Cleared, Cert. of Occupy Cleared) (There were no public comments.)
(c) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved Resolution No. 8538 authorizing the City of Monroe to purchase a Bucket Truck from the Town of Homer and further providing with respect thereto.
Ms. Marie Brown, 1002 S.5th Street, said that she may have general idea of what a bucket truck is but is that pertaining to trees or what is this for.
Mr. Morgan McCalister, City Engineer, said this is for traffic engineering, to maintain traffic signals throughout the city, signage, and things of that nature.
Legal Department:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved a Resolution No. 8539 authorizing the Salary Increase for the Secretary of the Monroe Fire and Police Civil Service Board and further providing with respect thereto. (There were no public comments.)
Engineering Services:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved a Resolution No. 8540 authorizing Mayor Friday Ellis to execute a Full Signal Maintenance Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, and further providing with respect thereto.
Ms. Marie Brown, 1005 S. 5th Street, asked what the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for the fiscal year is about.
Mr. Morgan McCalister, City Engineer, said this is an annually renewed contract with DOTD, he said going back to the bucket truck, this is one of the areas where we would utilize that equipment. He said that we maintain 77 intersection signals throughout the city, they are on particular roadways that are owned by DOTD but are within the City of Monroe perimeters. He said we have an agreement with them to maintain those signals for them.
Ms. Brown asked how much is DOTD paying the city to do this.
Mr. McCalister answered roughly $180,000.00 dollars if he s not mistaken. He said we got our second invoice that was prepared today of $94,000.00 dollars and so it split into around $190,000.00 dollars annually.
Mr. Harvey said $187,880.00, so $2,440.00 per signal per year, for 77 traffic signals.
Mr. McCalister said that is money paid to us for maintaining those signals and of course the upkeep of those and it also helps pay for traffic studies as well.
Mr. Marshall asked will this allow us to entertain the option of having a light at South 8th and Texas Avenue. He said he knows Ms. Johnnie is going to want to know.
Mr. McCalister said I know that you have been told that before in the future yes, there was a traffic study that was done a number of years ago and that was one of the things the data did not support. However, something they did support for safety measures is filling in the ditch on Texas Avenue and a section on S. 8th Street and that is what they are moving forward on. He said that was mentioned at the last Council meeting seeing engineers and surveyors out there. He said because the section is owned by DOTD, they have to get that permitted and so they are getting the documentation sent over to them. He said just to ensure you of this, folks are traveling eight miles over the speed limit on average and when someone is trying to turn onto 8th Street, the folks traveling behind them have to come to a sudden stop and people began to cue up and it is an issue. The first approach is to fill in those ditches that way when folks are turning right a buffer is there, there s zero shoulder just straight drop off. He said by filling in the ditches and providing a shoulder its going to help.
Mrs. Ezernack asked if this is going to be one of the streets or roadways that may be a swap and then we will have more control over it.
Mr. McCalister answered that we will then have control over that intersection at that point.
Mayor Ellis said for those of you who don t know what road swap is, it s a program that the State by DOTD that s offered to local municipalities and what it does is they will come in and bring that road up to what they call good standard, excellent, and there is very good standard and then they give us a line item for maintenance over a certain number of years. He said that was an opportunity for the City and what it also does is take Millhaven Road or other roads that way that anytime you do, and he s not trying to pick on DOTD, but anything that is out of our control then you always have to go back, they will mark something up and come back and it really prolongs projects. He said they have a method; we have our methods as well and eventually that will get turned over to us and therefore we can justify stop lights and other things with traffic studies with our own measure.
(b) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Resolution No. Consider request from the Monroe Engineering Department for Council approval for an authorized City representative to advertise for bids for the Chiller Replacement at Various Locations. The engineer s estimate is $1,100,000.00. The DBE goal is 1.01% and the source of funds is the Capital Infrastructure.
Ms. Marie Brown, 1002 S. 5th Street, said that her concern is how did the city come up with the 1.01% DBE. She said it is like telling her to lose one pound and she ll be alright.
Mr. Curt Kelly, Director of Purchasing, said the DBE committee meets on any project that s going before the Council that has a goal assessed to it and there is a methodology that they have to use. He said you take your number of DBE s that are certified in that particular area, that category that is certified within there region five area, they take those contractors, and they divide that up by the number of contractors that are actually in this area and that s how you come up with your goal. HE said it s the same methodology that the city uses throughout the state. He said that you calculate your goal based on the DBE s that are certified in your area. He said since this was a specialized project for one, replacing chillers at multiple locations, that is what makes it a specialized project. He said when you get to that goal you have to be a certified DBE in that area to do that particular work. He said when you do math using that methodology that s what the goal comes too.
Ms. Brown asked so at no point do they look for minority outside of Monroe.
Mr. Kelly said when you are doing the calculations its region five, that is all of Northeast Louisiana, anything that s west of the Mississippi, east of Shreveport, north of Alexandria, that s their theory they look into to calculate their DBE goals. He said they technically are only required to do in this district/area, but they try to go a little further to attempt getting more DBE s for their projects, but most of the time they can t.
Ms. Brown asked if their policy is in writing and if she can come to Mr. Kelly s office and receive that in writing.
Mr. Kelly answered yes.
Ms. Brown asked if there was anyone in that mile radius that they are using that justifies 1.01% DBE.
Mr. Kelly said once again when you take the factor of how many DBE s that are certified, he said if he has zero and he divides it by that number, that s going to take that percentage down even further, so once they get more DBE s certified, which is what they are trying to do, getting more DBE s certified across the board. He said they partner with DOTD and several other agents to get more DBE s certified, and once that happens they would have a lot more to pull from and that is all they have.
Ms. Brown said in four years of this administration they haven t certified anybody or looked for anybody in this field.
Mr. Harvey said that the city doesn t certify them, DOTD does.
Ms. Brown said she knows who certifies them, but if they tell her that they are looking for these people then what part do you play. She said DOTD is certifying them, they re in contact with DOTD.
Mr. Kelly said that he is going to stick to what the project is, but he said he will give her a little background when she comes by his office, and he will be able to explain to her in depth how they go about getting a DBE certified. He said currently they have five different minority firms that they are working with right now. He said once they get past the financial packet, they can t get a lot of their contractors to turn in their business information to DOTD. Kenyatta Sparks Company, they reach out to her often, constantly in contact with them, they are constantly calling them to turn in their financial documents. It s a process that has to be done and when they can get contractors to turn in everything there will be a lot more of them certified. He said that he can t make anyone get certified.
Ms. Brown said that she hears what he is saying, but there are always two different stories, one saying that they will certify them. Mrs. Sonya Jacobs said they are certified, and the City isn t using them, so she just wants the stories to match and make sense.
Mr. Kelly said that the certified list is public information on DOTD s website. He said when she comes to his office tomorrow he will give her the link and everything. He said Mrs. Jacobs has the link as well, the information is out there for everyone to see. He said that it s all done by a line item. He said once you get a UPC code and the next code from DOTD from the federal government where DBE s are funded and once they get that next code they are certified in that particular area by a line item. He said just because you are a minority owned business that doesn t mean they are automatically qualified to do the work; they have to be certified for that particular line item. He said then DOTD comes in and they certify them for that particular line item that they are saying they can utilize. For example, if someone was an electrician and they are not certified in construction, I can only do electrician work, no construction work to build a bridge or anything.
Ms. Brown said that she understands the elementary understanding. She was just wanting to know how they got the 1.01%, and now that he had explained that to her she said she will meet him at his office tomorrow to follow through.
INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS & ORDINANCES:
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 12,083 to correct the annexed boundaries of I-20 Corridor Properties & North American Land Development Corporation, providing for the recordation of the entire boundary as amended, establishing the effective date thereof, and providing further with respect thereto. (PUD/P&Z) (There were no public comments.)
(b) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mr. Marshall and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance authorizing the City of Monroe to take corporeal possession of the property described below and sell to Kim and Latasha Caldwell, all rights, title, and interest that the City may have acquired to the Lot 5, Sq. 1, HW Moore s resub Sq. 24 Alexander s 2nd Addition, Ouachita Parish, 402 Moore Ave., Monroe, La, by adjudication at Tax Sale dated June 4, 2018, and further with respect thereto. (Legal) (There were no public comments.)
(c) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved Introduce an Ordinance authorizing the City of Monroe to take corporeal possession of the property described below and sell to Addie Turner and Lakedra Berry, all rights, title, and interest that the City may have acquired to the Lot 2, Sq. 89, Unit 15, Booker T. Washington Addition, Ouachita Parish, 4202 Pippin St., Monroe, La, by adjudication at Tax Sale dated June 7, 2018, and further with respect thereto. (Legal) (There were no public comments.)
(d) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approved to Introduce an Ordinance authorizing the City of Monroe to take corporeal possession of the property described below and sell to Mary E. Jones, all rights, title, and interest that the City may have acquired to the Lot 7 & w 6 ft. lot 8, Sq. 2, Ouachita Cotton Mills 1st Addn., Frtg 66 ft. on Apple St., depth 143.ft, Ouachita Parish, 203 Apple St.., Monroe, La, by adjudication at Tax Sale dated June 7, 2018, and further with respect thereto. (Legal) (There were no public comments.)
RESOLTIONS AND ORDINANCES FOR SECOND READING AND FINAL ADOPTION
AND SUBJECT TO PUBLIC HEARING:
The Chairman opened the Public Hearing and seeing no one come forward the Hearing was
closed.
(a) Upon motion of Mr. Harvey seconded by Mrs. Ezernack and unanimously approving Ordinance No. 12,175 authorizing the City of Monroe to acquire a certain parcel of real property from the Ouachita Parish Police Jury, said property situated in Ouachita Parish, Monroe, La., being lot 1 of the resubdivision of Lots 1, 2 & 7 of the subdivision of Tract 3 of the Conner Realty Corp., and further providing with respect thereto. (Legal)
Ms. Marie Brown, 1002 S. 5th Street, asks if this is the land for the bus terminal. She said that Mr. Payne couldn t come tonight so he asked her to read a letter for him to the Council. He said he is concerned mainly about the purchase of the land for $180,000.00 dollars and knows that the money on said project is not only for a new terminal, but for a downtown economic program for the terminal project for over twenty years. She said she just read his comment for him.
CITIZENS PARTICIPATION:
(1.) Lester Pastor, 100 South Pointe Drive, said on March 14, 2023, he had to order a court of appeal second circuit and passed out copies to Mayor Friday Ellis, Monroe City Council, and Monroe City Attorney. The order of court of appeal is a rule of law. In their judgement rendered on September 23, 1998, the second circuit court made it clear that he, the defendant, Lester Pastor, was charge with violation of LA RS 14401, and not Monroe City Ordinance 12-186. He said the Second circuit court stated in the order, finding errors, because there was no advancement or right to juror or right to counsel and no waiving of these constitutional rights. They reversed any conviction and sentencing remaining for new proceedings. New proceedings have not taken place. He said that the State of Louisiana has no right to ignore The Rule of Law. The second circuit court also noted that in their decision making, nothing the circuit shall interfere with or prevent,
(2.) or anything exercised by any court in the State of Louisiana with power to punish for contempt. Mayor Friday Ellis, Monroe City Council, and Monroe City Attorney are taking chances of facing contempt of court. Monroe City Clerk of Court office and Monroe City Attorney s office continue to say that order of court of appeal got burned in a fire. He is asking that Mayor Friday Ellis, Monroe City Council, and Monroe City Attorney obey the Rule of Law, the order of court of appeals the second circuit. He asked to turn his case over to the district court as ordered by court of appeal. He said LA14401 is not a city charge, Mayor Friday Ellis, Monroe City Council, and Monroe City Attorney, took an oath of office no one is above the Rule of Law. He said to Mayor Friday Ellis, Monroe City Council, and Monroe City Attorney, the document that he passed out to them, are three different court cases where he was locked up in Monroe City jail, but never arraigned for trial. He said was not present for his own trial, nor did he know anything about this trial. He said he paid an attorney out of Jackson, Mississippi $2,500.00 dollars who found out about this secret trial, after finding out about the secret trial, three months later Monroe City Clerk of Courts office said this court document got burned in the fire. Mayor Ellis, City Council, & City Attorney s office he humbly asks that they see to it that this court document along with all other court documents related to his cases be put back on the record in the Monroe City Clerk of Court office and again please obey the order of court appeal the Rule of Law.
(2.) Marie Brown, 1002 S.5th Street, wants to give out accolades to everybody that supported the Juneteenth Celebration. She said when you get to calling names you began to leave out somebody so she apologized for leaving Coney Island in West Monroe out, Mr. Chris Lewis and Tony Little. She wanted to acknowledge them publicly and she apologized again for leaving them out. She also announced SEDD is going to have a Community Meeting on July 8, 2023, at New St. James Methodist Church on S.6th Street, she is asking that all of the community be in attendance. She said everyone is welcome and they look forward to having everyone show up for this meeting on July 8th. She said there are a lot of things going on in our community especially with trash pickup. She said she has a lot of people sending her pictures of trash not being emptied. She said especially in those bins on Orange Street. She said that people are using them, but the city doesn t empty them. She doesn t know who s responsible for that, but they will end up on Orange Street next to residents on every corner, so if they can get those picked up. She told Mr. Marshall she could send those pictures to him. She said that people in the community are trying to keep the community clean, but on Thursdays, if that s the pickup time, that needs to be when that trash is picked up, not for two to three weeks of trash overflowing. She said the problem is the trash is decomposing that s what shows it s out there too long.
(3.) Verbon Muhammand, 203 Marx Street, said anytime a citizen is approaching the podium, he thinks it s the council s duty and obligation to recognize a citizen that wants to say something. He said he was asking about FOI Request, that the administration has still yet to provide. He said it will be a year next month and he still hasn t received it. He said Mr. Creekbaum said that Mr. Ausberry is no longer in the office and he s going through a stack of papers, but he feels like it s just being avoided, and he wants to have answer.
Mr. Brandon Creekbaum, City Attorney said that he will get with him tomorrow.
(4.) Shonta Coleman, 3330 Garrett Road, wanted to discuss the harassment that she has been experiencing with the Monroe Police towards her and her son. She wanted to let the Mayor and the Council know that they need to have a conversation with their Chief of Police about his staff. She said that the Monroe Police have been harassing and falsifying police reports on them. She said she can t work because she and another person had an issue with each other at her place of employment and she filed a restraining order on her and when the detectives who wrote up the report ended up putting information on the report that wasn t accurate. She said a few years ago they arrested her son on Burg Jones Lane, when she got the report they stated that her son fled the scene. She said they put all of that on paper with all the inaccurate information and she didn t appreciate that. She said they already said some incorrect things about her son insinuating that he allegedly murdered his relative. She said that the Supreme Court found her son not guilty of an alleged murder. She believes that they are saying inaccurate things about her son because of issues they have with her. She said there has been an issue with her and Monroe Police Department since the 90 s. She said they even fractured her kneecap, and she filed a complaint against the department with the previous administration, but nothing was ever looked into. She s grown exhausted going through the proper channels and nothing being done about how unfairly she s been treated by Monroe Police Department or Ouachita Parish Police Jury. Lastly, she added that she can barely rest at night because she is seriously concerned if they will continue to harass her son and arrest him for nothing.
Mrs. Dawson said to Ms. Coleman that she had her number she was going to call her and look into the matter.
Ms. Coleman added another comment to Mayor Ellis saying that they confiscated 13 of her phones, she has 8 children and each phone cost $800.00 dollars a piece and she didn t appreciate them taking her property that she purchased with her hard earned money.
(5.) Marie Gaddis, 250 Goldendale Drive, wanted to take time to thank the Council for their proclamation they gave her daughter for the Miss Plus American Pageant attendants. She is asking for support for them going to Houston to prepare for National titles and they actually want to bring home the gold. She said that all of their support is definitely needed and appreciated.
There being no further business to come before the council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:47 pm., upon motion of Mrs. Ezernack and it was seconded by Mr. Marshall.
Mrs. Kema Dawson
Chairman
Ms. Carolus S. Riley
Council Clerk
Mrs. Rachel N. Washington
Council Research Coordinator
