The Crowley City Council held special committee meeting on Monday of this week. The meeting was scheduled for earlier in the week due to the Fourth of July holiday.
The Special Revenue and Finance met to discuss numerous items on the agenda, including a pay proposal to raise the starting monthly salary of a Crowley firefighter to $2,500 without supplemental pay being included. Firefighters receive a monthly $600 in state supplemental pay.
However, after much discussion, and on the advice of Mayor Greg Jones, the committee agreed to raise the starting salary to $2,100, a 12 percent increase, versus the 33 percent increase requested.
The full board will vote next week, with the pay increase to become effective before the end of this year.
The TED program (Traffic Enforcement Detail) was tabled until more information can be provided, as was transition to a lease program for police units.
During the meeting of the Public Works Committee, Alderman Ira Thomas requested a study at the intersection of North Parkerson Avenue and Fairway Drive (left-turn signal from Fairway to Parkerson heading north).
Public Works Director Albert John reported the interstate lawn mower is down and that the part to fix it will be in this month. Mosquito spray was conducted throughout the entire city Monday night in anticipation of the rain this week.
Recreation Director Peter Kirsch reported that rotten boards in the gazebo in Levy Park had been replaced. Also, most playground equipment around town has been pressure washed.
Vandalism to the electrical system at the Martin Luther King Center is in the process of being repaired, Kirsch said. He also reported that replacement swings have been ordered; playground mulch/padding will soon be replaced after the bidding process is complete; two more BBQ pits will be installed at the MLK Center and Duson Park; numerous super regional baseball/softball tournaments are scheduled at the ball park; windscreens have been ordered for the tennis courts; and pine trees were removed from a parking lot at the ball parks and limestone was put down for additional parking.
Street Commissioner Gilbert Onezine, reported the Center Ditch project is complete. The ditch has been flushed/dug out and the upcoming project on Avenue L and Northern Avenue by St. Michael’s School will begin soon.
The Utility Committee met with very little to discuss besides noting that the work on Center Ditch at Avenue M is complete. The work was part of an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Crowley, the Acadia Parish Police Jury and the Sixth Ward Drainage Board. The rocks that have been put in the drainage canal are to stop erosion and stay in place.
The Public Safety Committee met to consider amending a resolution requesting that the Acadia Parish School Board install permanent electronic School Zone caution signals on North Parkerson Avenue for the Crowley Kindergarten campus to include, “Whereas, the City of Crowley resolves to work in conjunction with the Acadia Parish School Board for this endeavor.”
Fire Chief Jody Viator reported a few structure fires in the past few days, the firefighters were able to contain and extinguish the fires quickly. He also reports he is still waiting on Ideal Steel to get back with him on replacing the fire house roof. Ideal Steel has consulted with a third party of engineers to create a pitched roof plan for the fire house.
The Public Safety Committee also voted to bring to the full board for a vote a new beer and liquor licenses for Acadia Post 15, American Legion, for a 2018 Class A Retail Outlet Beer/Liquor Permit.
The next City Council meeting will be held July 10 at 6 p.m.
