Harlan Kirgan
A meeting to plan the agenda for Tuesday’s Board of Alderman meeting took a turn toward first-responder radios and door-to-door solicitations.
Aldermen and the mayor are scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Eunice Municipal Complex.
But at Thursday’s meeting to set the agenda, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said the issue of first-responder radios resurfaced during a hostage incident that included a shooting on Nov. 30.
“We had an officer who was behind our suspect in that car trying to radio others to let them know in advance where they were headed,’ he said.
But the officer’s radio failed to allow him to communicate.
“Because of that he got put into the position when the gunfire started that he was behind the suspect’s vehicle with bullets flying toward him,” Fontenot said.
“It is just a dangerous situation when they don’t have radio contact with each other,” he said.
The police chief and Mayor Scott Fontenot said the city is in line to get state assistance with a new radio tower, but funding has been an issue.
A 400- to 500-foot tall tower and new equipment will cost about a $1 million.
Fire Chief Mike Arnold said Eunice is in the middle of depression, which limits radio reception for all first responders.
The radio issue is not on Tuesday’s agenda.
Also discussed, but not on the agenda is a discussion by Vernon McManus, city attorney, about door-to-door solicitations.
The city has been sued in federal court over a arrest of a door-to-door vendor. Charges were dismissed and the record expunged in the June case.
McManus said court rulings preclude the city from having an ordinance against door-to-door solicitations.
Residents should know they need signage on the property about trespassing and solicitation, McManus said.
As of Friday, items on the agenda included:
— Code enforcement hearings on properties at 580 Lewis St, 210 E. Oak St., and 571 Halsey St.
— Annual audit by Vige, Tujague & Noel.
—Reminder of the 5 p.m. Thursday Eunice Kiwanis Christmas Parade.
— Update on property adjudicated by the city.
— Resolutions requesting funding for LED runway lighting, signage upgrades and solar-powered taxiway reflectors at the airport.