The Ville Platte City Council and Mayor, Jennifer Vidrine, held their monthly meeting Tuesday at Ville Platte City Hall. 

During the meeting, Councilman Mike Perron questioned Ville Platte Chief of Police, Neal Lartigue as to the status of all of the recent vehicle burglaries.  Chief reported that two different groups of juveniles have been traveling throughout Ville Platte, St. Landry Parish and Eunice burglarizing vehicles.  KVPI News was told there were seven juveniles in a vehicle when Eunice Police came upon them.  Two of the juveniles got away from Police and 5 were arrested.  Two others were stopped by Shreveport Police in a stolen vehicle.  One of those assailants got away and one adult is being held in Shreveport.  Chief Neal Lartigue has a Warrant to bring him back to Evangeline Parish of numerous charges.  We were told that the drivers of the vehicles were dropping the juveniles off to walk through neighborhoods and open unlocked vehicles in order to take items left in the vehicles.

Mayor, Jennifer Vidrine reminds the public that you are responsible and will be held accountable for the actions of your children.  There is a curfew according to state law.  No juveniles are allowed on the streets after 10:00 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on the weekends.  She is encouraging the public to report any juveniles you see out after those times to the Ville Platte Police at 363-1313.  Parents can and are being charged with ‘Improper Supervision of a Juvenile’ when they allow their children to roam the streets.

In other news:  Mayor Vidrine is asking that the Police in Ville Platte start being tougher on those who are loitering outside of businesses.  She said “Stop and arrest them.  Don’t just nod your head and drive by.”  She also stated: “The Exxon Station and The Shell Station are not night clubs.  Stop loitering in the parking lots after the clubs close.”  Chief Lartigue said his officers have been working very hard and reported there were fifty-seven (57) arrests in Ville Platte last month.  He said “for a town of this size, that’s a lot!”

Dana Quebedeaux presented the Amended 2016-2017 Budget to the Council and reported a $269,618 surplus for the City; however, also reported that the Police Department overspent by $480,408.00.  She explained that much of those expenses were for medical expenses for inmates in the City Jail.  She also reported that the insurance rates for next year have tripled.  The Mayor and Chief stated that was due to accidents, lawsuits, etc. 

Also:

City of Ville Platte Employees will be receiving a 3% pay raise effective on the June 29^th payroll;

Nancy Duplechain has been named the new Swamp Pop Museum Curator filling the position of Janie Knighton who has retired;

The Mayor presented a check to Fire Chief Chris Harrison in the amount of $39,249.48 for the Fire Insurance 2% Rebate;

The July City Council meeting will be held on July 18^th as the new fiscal year begins; and

Expenditures for the month of May were down by $13,496.14.