Regular Meeting Minutes
Thursday, August 15, 2024 7:00 P.M.
Members in Attendance at Roll Call:
Alderman Simeon Profit Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Donald Richard Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
The Town of Richwood met for Regular Meeting held on August 15, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Richwood Multi-Purpose Center, 2710 Martin Luther King Drive, Richwood, Louisiana to consider the following business:
I. Meeting Called to Order by Mayor Gerald Brown at 7:14 P.M.
II. Prayer- was offered by Mayor Gerald Brown
III. Pledge of Allegiance – recited in unison.
IV. Roll Call- Mayor Gerald Brown called roll with the following results:
The record shall reflect (4) Aldermen present at time of roll call.
. Alderman Simeon Profit Alderman Janice Fleming Alderman Donald Richard Alderman Wysinger Cleveland
V. Adoption of the Agenda-
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the agenda as presented.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to adopt the agenda as presented with the following results: All (4) Aldermen present voted yes to adopt
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VI. Adoption of July 18, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the June 20, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to adopt the July 18, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes with the following results. All (4) Aldermen present voted Yes to adopt the July 18, 2024 Regular Meeting Minutes.
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VII. Adoption of Financial Reports:
It was motioned by Alderman Simeon Profit and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to adopt the financial reports as presented.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to adopt tonight s financial reports with the following results: (4) Yes Votes to adopt the financial reports as presented.
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
VIII. Public Comments as they relate to items on the agenda.
None ( Agenda proceeded)
IX. Mayor s Dialogue:
Mayor Gerald Brown- advised the forum Richwood Business Alliance will have its fourth meeting of Coffee & Conversations on August 20th at 10:00 a.m., the topic of conversation at that meeting will be Being Savy with your Socials by Syntax, which is a local firm will be here discussing AI, Google, social medial all those different things and their ability to help with your business.
On August 27th we will be having our regular monthly business seminar, and that seminar will be centered around HR initiatives, and we will have Lamont Windom to discuss hiring and firing and things of that nature to help establish a plan for your business.
Phase II of our street project, which is Lynn, Joy, Anne and Paula the surveyors have begun to do their survey work there.
The Northeast Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation, which is in Richwood, is having their annual banquet September 6th, and I wanted focus your attention to my knowledge we have not been purchasing a table for that event, and I wanted to see if you ladies and gentlemen wanted to purchase a table.
Mayor Gerald Brown advised the forum that we will be having our 4th State of the Town Address on September 18th at 10:00 a.m.
Alderman Janice Fleming- inquired about the lighting on the highway.
Mayor Gerald Brown- shared with the forum that the Secretary of Transportation would like to be present, and the Governor is due to be in the area as well. This should be the week of the 26th and we should have a ribbon cutting ceremony for that.
* The Board was surveyed to confirm the purchase of a table and the affirmative of all (4) aldermen present was in favor of purchasing a table at the Northeast Louisiana Sickle Cell Foundation banquet with the following results: All (4) Aldermen present voted Yes to purchase a table at the Northeast Sickle Cell Foundation s Banquet.
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
X. Standard Enterprise: New Development Discussion
Mr. James Freeman ( Standard Enterprise) – introduced himself and indicated he was here to discuss and answer any questions pertaining to the development of Highland Place Townhomes. I have some folders about the location, site plan and just some general information Highland Place is located down by Highland Road.
Highland Place was started November/ December of 2022; it is located off on Highland Road, we purchased 33 acres and tried to situate the project so that it had minimal impact on the surrounding neighborhood, it is situated toward the middle of the property.
We have done several projects in Richwood over the years Sycamore Pointe, Miller s Crossing, We have several other projects throughout Monroe and Ouachita Parish, and Highland Place is the exact type of projects, developments like the other five.
The income restrictions for Highland Place are very similar to the other developments, must have income, must pay rent it is not a public subsidized rent like Parkview/ Trichelle, I think that there was some concern that Parkview and Trichelle would be shut down, but that is definitely not the case.
We have sixty-three (3) bedrooms and seven (1) bedrooms. the rent on the (3) bedroom is $850 and the rent on the (1) bedroom is $550, and the one- bedroom units are actually handicapped units.
Some of the unique things about this development it is the second development in the Parish that s fortified Gold Star Development, what that means it has been designed to withstand 150- mph winds.
* From the construction going on and because we are in Richwood, Richwood will get those sales tax and on-going property taxes.
Mayor Gerald Brown- asked about flood proofing.
Mr. James Freeman- informed the forum that another part of this is you cannot build in a flood zone, and we are not in a flood zoned, and if it ever did flood, one of the features is the first 3-feet of building construction is completely flood proof.
XI. Adoption of Resolution 2024-12( a Resolution appointing an auditor for the FY 2023-2024 Audit)
* For the Record, Mayor Gerald Brown stated, it was a pleasure working with you (Allen, Green & Williams) and the rest of the staff; we definitely established a good working relationship, and we did learn a lot about how each other does certain things and some things that occurred in 2022 Ms. Sims had already put things in place to correct those things.
It was motioned by Alderman Wysinger Cleveland and seconded by Alderman Janice Fleming to appoint Allen, Green & Williams as the Auditor for the FY 2023-2024 Audit.
* The record shall reflect a vote was taken to adopt Resolution 2024-12 with the following results: All (4) Aldermen present voted Yes to appoint Allen, Green & Williams as the auditor for the 2023-2024 audit.
Alderman Simeon Profit Yes Alderman Janice Fleming Yes Alderman Donald Richard Yes Alderman Wysinger Cleveland Yes
XII. Introduction of Ordinance # 2024-02 ( An ordinance amending Ordinance # 2018-02 and set a yearly salary for the Richwood Police Chief).
Mayor Gerald Brown advised the forum it has been 6 years since the Police Chief has received a salary increase.
Alderman Wysinger Cleveland- stated the only concern he has is the Chief building the police department, and the town having police coverage Monday through the weekend.
Chief Cleveland- stated we do not have that much crime in Richwood and addressed Alderman Cleveland s concern about building the police department.
XIII. Adjournment :
It was motioned by Alderman Janice Fleming and seconded by Alderman Simeon Profit to adjourn the meeting @ 7:55 p.m.
