Harlan Kirgan
Eunice aldermen voted to sharply curb the activities of door-to-door peddlers with the approval of an ordinance setting times, requiring permits, identification and fines.
The ordinance passed at Tuesday’s city meeting at City Hall.
Alderwoman Germaine Simpson said, “Part of the reason this ordinance was amended is because of the problems citizens have been experiencing.”
Some vendors go to houses at 8 or 9 in the evening, she said. And, those peddlers sometimes refuse to leave, she added.
Mayor Scott Fontenot said the amended ordinance is about 70 years old.
The revision requires peddlers to obtain a permit and present that along with identification when working.
The ordinance to regulate door-to-door sales includes setting a soliciting time from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The door-to-door peddlers, solicitors and vendors will not be allowed to operate any time on Saturdays or Sundays, but may got at any time if they have an appointment.
The ordinance exempts arts and crafts fairs, festival, garage sales, flea markets; and “sales of goods merchandise, and/or services donated by the owners thereof, the proceeds of which are to be applied to any charitable or philanthropic purpose.”
If someone is convicted of violating the ordinance they are to be fined $1,500 or imprisonment at the discretion of the court.
The permit fee is $750 with applications made at least 10 days prior to doing business. Among the permit requirement is a $5,000 bond. The permit is limited to six months.
In other business, Bill Thompson, code enforcement officer, presented report on seven properties.
Request how cause hearings were scheduled for: 230 Rodney St., owned by Michelle Prudhomme Duos; 230 S. Cane St., owned by Albert and Lilli Mae Dupre; 140 S. South St., owned by Lessie Dupre; and 470 Cotton St., owned by Olajuwon Harvey.
Updates were to be given on the following properties: 350 E. Peach Ave., owned by Honey Land, LLC; 720 Carron St., owned by Orina Hardy; and 560 Lewis St., owned by Johnny Anderson.
The Rodney Street property now faces a hearing at the next city meeting that send it to the demolition phase.
“It is just an eyesore and everything else,” Thompson said.
The South Cane property has been vacant for about 30 years, he said.
“It needs to be torn down,” Thompson said. The Board of Aldermen agreed.
The Cotton Street structure has been demolished and in a trash bin waiting to be hauled off, he said.
Thompson said the owner of the trailer on East Peach has said he is going to move it out of town.
Thompson was directed by Vernon McManus, city attorney, to ask the owner of 720 Carron Street to make progress on improvements. A neighboring structure at 730 Carron Street has shown improvements, he said.
“Tell him something needs to be done in the next couple of weeks,” McManus said.
Work began within a couple of days ago on the Lewis Street property, Thompson said.
“I think we leave it as is and see how much progress he makes on it,” he said.
The list of properties elicited a “thank you” from Simpson.
“You have done a tremendous job at helping us do stuff because we have so many dilapidated structures not just in my Ward, but city wide,” Simpson said.
In other business, the Board:
— Approved liquor licenses to Marcia Thomas doing business as Discreet, 1141 E. Laurel Ave.; John J. Angelle and Darrin Cobb doing business as Eunice Poulry, 251 E. Laurel Ave.
— Approved a resolution to seek a grant for the Northwest Community Center.
— Authorized the mayor to sign a capital improvement plan for the city airport.
— Gardie McManus was reappointed to the St. Landry Parish Solid Waste Disposal District Commission. McManus said at the end of his next term he will have served 20 years representing the city.
— Allowed Randy Miller to proceed with a cleanup at the Community Garden and a greenhouse behind the Department of Motor Vehicles.