Feb. 2006, Town of Olla Minutes
Town of Olla Minutes
Proceedings of the regular town council meeting of the Town of Olla held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 7:00 p.
m. in the Olla Town Hall. Present: Wayne Bates, Donnie Cupples, Sidney Emfinger, Jeffrey Lasiter, and Renee
Thomas. Various members of the community were present. Mayor Love called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Wayne Bates led in prayer. Love led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Emfinger made a motion, seconded by Lasiter to approve the agenda as presented with the addition of allow
representatives from the Pinewood Garden Club to speak, presentation of amendment to the open container
ordinance and delete the February financial statements. Motion carried.
Lasiter made a motion, seconded by Emfinger to approve the regular and special meeting minutes for February
2007. Motion carried.
Ileen Carroll, secretary of the Olla Pinewood Garden Club, informed the Mayor and Council that the Garden
Club would like to do some landscaping for the area. Carroll read a letter from the Garden Club to the Town
officials, which explained that before undertaking a landscaping project the club is earnestly soliciting the town’s
firm, unbiased enforcement of the town’s nuisance ordinance to rid the town of all the unsightly litter and debris
which is a major eyesore for our own residents and a detriment for attracting industry and commerce. Love
thanked the Garden Club and assured those present that the town is pursuing enforcing the ordinance. Love
stated that she is in agreement and that she thinks everyone else is also. Love advised that she and Walter
Dorroh toured sections of town before the meeting to discuss the best means to approach the different
situations and will begin work on it. No action taken.
Dawn Stott opened the bids for bush hogging and litter pickup. The bid results were as follows:
R.W. Rogers Maintenance Co, Inc. $2,850 per month
Grasshopper Lawn & Landscape $3,850 per month
LaSalle Lawn Care, LLC $4,475 per month
A discussion followed of the dissatisfaction with the work done by the low bidder last year. Dorroh advised that
because this is a service contract it does not fall under the requirements of the bid law. The town can reject the
low bid if the town has a history with the bidder of work that is unsatisfactory. Emfinger made a motion,
seconded by Cupples to accept the bid from Grasshopper Lawn & Landscape $3,850 per month. Motion
carried. Mr. Gibson asked the town to consider using an option for multiple years, as the state does, if the town
is satisfied with his work. Emfinger stated that the town might look at that next year.
Lasiter made a motion, seconded by Emfinger to introduce Ordinance No. 2007-225, an ordinance establishing
the Olla Downtown Historic District and the Olla Historic Commission and schedule the public hearing for
Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7 p.m. Thomas asked if the private property owners, that are inside the proposed
Historic District, will be made aware of the ordinance before it is adopted. Thomas said she’s been asked by a
resident if the two houses behind Southern Heritage Bank will be included in the district. Bates stated that the
questions will be answered at the public hearing. Thomas asked if residents can get a copy of the ordinance
before the public hearing. Stott advised that residents can view the ordinance or get a copy at the town hall.
Motion carried.
Gary Taylor explained that the proposed Ordinance No. 2207-226 amends two areas of the town’s alcohol
ordinance. The town’s open container ordinance specifies “in, on or about a vehicle” and that it is vague and
hard to defend what constitutes “about” a vehicle. Taylor explained that this amendment will close up the loop
hole and will make it illegal to possess an open alcoholic beverage in public within the corporate limits of the
town. Walter Dorroh explained that the second issue addressed in the amendment to the ordinance concerns
the possession of alcohol by persons under the age of 21. Taylor explained the town has been referring these
offenses to the district court because the town ordinance did not allow for prosecution in municipal court; this
will allow the town to do so. Cupples made a motion, seconded by Bates to introduce Ordinance No. 2207-226,
an ordinance to amend section 3-5 of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of Olla to provide that public
possession of opened alcoholic beverages is illegal and section 3-7 that possession of alcoholic beverages by
a person under the age of 21 is illegal and to schedule the public hearing for Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Motion carried.
Jeffrey Lasiter asked if the noon siren could be reactivated as a warning system for tornados and sounded
every day at noon, except Sunday, as a test of the system. Lasiter explained that the town phone system will
allow someone to call and activate the siren with a code when a warning goes into affect. Lasiter asked for input
from the council. Thomas stated that some are interested in having it reactivated as much for the historical
significance of going off at noon. Gary Taylor stated that there is generally never an advance warning of a
tornado; the town has been hit twice by tornados and have not had a warning either time. Taylor stated that
there is a system in place for sounding the siren and that if we do receive a warning it will be blown. When
asked how often the system is tested Taylor responded that it has not been tested in a long time. Taylor stated
that if someone is standing outside the building when the siren goes off it will bust their ear drums. Taylor stated
that he is 110% against reactivated the noon siren. Jessica Lasiter explained that many people expressed an
interest in having the siren sound at noon while campaigning with her husband, as much for the historical
significance as any. Bates stated that while he is not in favor of blowing it every day it does need to be tested
regularly to let the people know what it sounds like. Taylor advised that the Sheriff’s office next door is
responsible for sounding the siren and that there are only two phone lines going into the building. When the
whistle blows the phones light up because people don’t know what it’s for or have forgotten. Taylor said testing
once a month would be sufficient. Cupples asked if the siren could be moved without a lot of expense to a
location, such as the water tower, where it wouldn’t deafen anyone when it goes off. Ross advised that could
cause a problem with the town’s water tank maintenance contract. Cupples also questioned if the people will
know when there is an emergency or just a test if it is only tested once a month. A lengthy discussion continued
until Thomas made a motion, seconded by Lasiter to table any action to a later date. Motion carried.
Love asked for volunteers to serve on the Budget and Insurance Committees. Thomas made a motion,
seconded by Cupples to have Bates and Emfinger serve on the Insurance Committee. Motion carried. Emfinger
made a motion, seconded by Thomas to have Lasiter and Cupples serve on the Budget Committee. Motion
carried.
Love advised that Keith Capdepon, town engineer, advised that the weather is still a delay in starting the
sewerage treatment plant construction, but that some of the rebar for the project has been delivered to the
location. No action taken.
Mary Ann Thompson reported that the Fire Department’s equipment is in operational condition, there have
been no changes in membership, responded to two sirens in February and the department members attended
a business meeting and two training meetings. The department has located a good used ambulance to be used
as a service truck, replacing the current one. The truck will be paid for by a grant through the Police Jury.
Thompson asked for approval for the chief and secretary to attend the LA Fire Chief’s Convention in Gonzales
April 12th through 14th. Emfinger made a motion, seconded by Bates to approve the request and the Fire
Department Report as presented. Motion carried.
Jessica Lasiter stated that she was not able to attend the Planning Commission meeting and asked Dawn Stott
to report on the meeting. Stott informed everyone that the Spring Cleanup Day is set for Saturday, April 21st,
with everyone meeting at the Town Hall at 8 am with tools to work with. Stott advised that Curtis Carroll and
Milton Wilson will have a work plan ready. Stott advised that Jason Chisolm is still working on the application for
placing the old bank building on the National Register of Historic Places and that he is in need of pictures and
information or stories about the building, emphasizing its significance to our area. Stott asked anyone that has
anything that would help Chisolm to contact the Town Hall. Lasiter made a motion, seconded by Emfinger to
accept the Planning Commission Report as presented. Motion carried.
Gary Taylor read the February police report: issued 38 citations, collected $14,679.85 in fines and court costs,
and responded to 55 calls, 5 accidents, 7 arrests, and 5 dogs impounded. Cupples made a motion, seconded
by Thomas to approve the report as presented. Motion carried.
Henry Ross thanked everyone for supporting his church family at the benefit fish fry and thanked everyone for
the plaque that recognized him for his 25 years of service with the town. Ross explained that the sewer pumps
at the Warner Street lift station has 15-20 years old and he is beginning to spend more time and money to keep
them running than it would cost to replace them. Ross said he plans to get some figures together and present
to the council at a later date. Ross also explained that the sewerage pumps at Friendly Village have been
breaking down due to debris being released into the sewerage lines from the apartments. Ross explained that
the pumps are not grinder type pumps and are not designed to handle the type materials that are being
released into the system. Ross informed everyone that he was nominated by the Department of Health and
Hospitals for the Bob Lawrence Award for Region 5, which is the Outstanding Water Operator of the Year, and
will be going to Lafayette on Thursday to receive the award. Members of the council and community gave Ross
a round of applause and congratulated him for receiving the well deserved award. Cupples made a motion,
seconded by Thomas to approve the report as presented. Motion carried.
Lasiter made a motion, seconded by Thomas to approve the bills as presented. Motion carried.
Mayor Love thanked everyone for attending the meeting and reminded everyone of the Walmart Grand
opening. Love advised that the new doors for the town’s maintenance shop were to be installed today, but has
been postponed until next week.
Emfinger made a motion, seconded by Cupples to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 pm.
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Wanda W. Love, Mayor
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Dawn B. Stott, Town Clerk