Harlan Kirgan
An ordinance to create an eight-member Eunice economic development committee was introduced at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot said the ordinance replaces one that had been in place since 1961 that formed a 12-member industrial development board.
“I’m ready to get this thing rolling,” Fontenot said after Tuesday’s meeting. “I spent a lot of time working that ordinance up and I believe it is something simple, yet something that is going to be very resourceful to get some things going.”
The committee is to be charged with advising and making recommendations to the mayor and board on matters related to economic development.
The committee may be responsible for managing one or more economic development programs and budgets authorized by the mayor and board.
Goals and priorities listed in the ordinance include diversifying the local tax base, creating local jobs, providing citizens and visitors with local services and improving the overall quality of life.
“Galvanizing and strengthening local businesses will be a priority, followed by attracting complementary businesses that will enhance the commercial center and maintain the rural character of the town,” the ordinance states.
Among its duties will be to work with businesses seeking economic development assistance and tax increment financing .
Membership may include representatives from industrial business, retail business, technology business, downtown business owner, banking or financial professional, farming-agricultural, LSUE, attorney-law professional, real estate and chamber of commerce.
The members are to serve four-year terms, which expire at the same time as the terms of the mayor and board positions.
The committee is to meet at least four times year and quorum is 50 percent of the members.
In other business, the board:
— Introduced an amendment to the city’s noise ordinance that bans noise from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. The amendment also exempts events sponsored by the city such as Mardi Gras, Experience Louisiana Festival, Crawfish Etouffeé Cook-off and city or school sporting events.
— Approved a public hearing at 6:15 p.m. May 9 on moving the city’s general millage rate from 6.59 to 6.77 mills and a street maintenance millage from 4.78 to 5 mills. Jack Burson, alderman at-large, said the millage adjustment is necessary to keep revenue steady.
“I dont’ want anybody thinking there is anything being increased,” Burson said. “It is just being maintained at where it was to begin with with this roll forward.”
The adjustment follows a reassessment that caused the millage rates to be decreased because valuations rose. The rate is rolled back to keep revenue from increasing.
— Approved a resolution in support of the community block grant program.