Ville Platte City Council Meeting – October 8, 2019 For their October meeting, the Ville Platte City Council wore pink to help raise breast cancer awareness. The meeting chamber at City Hall was decorated with pink ribbons and messages of hope for those currently fighting a battle, those who have lost their battle, and for the survivors of breast cancer. It was a full agenda meeting with Fire Chief, Chris Harrison and Chief of Police, Neal Lartigue each providing their monthly reports of happenings with each of their respective departments. Ms. Suzie Lemoine and Ms. Jan Veillon spoke about Evangeline Arts Council and the plans that the EAC has for community programs. The Arts Council hosts art classes every Saturday at the Chamber of Commerce building. Classes begin at 10:00 a.m., with children's classes going until 11:30 a.m. and adult programs beginning at 12:30 p.m. Mayor Vidrine also added that EAC will be helping to create beautiful art for the pocket parks that are planned for the abandoned properties that have been adjudicated to the city. Much like last month's meeting, the problem of criminal activity involving guns was discussed by the Council. There were many solutions discussed, but none decided upon. An anonymous tip line was discussed and Chief Lartigue is obtaining quotes as well as working with some out of state and one local police department that currently have this tip program implemented. Halloween hours have been set for Thursday, October 31st, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the city of Ville Platte. A city wide clean up is set for Saturday, October 26th, 2019. Mayor Vidrine said that the Solid Waste Commission will be working that Saturday to do curbside pickups and four bins will be placed within the city for convenient drop-off for residents of Ville Platte. Mayor Vidrine strongly urged local citizens to start the cleaning effort within their own yard, their own ditch, and their own neighborhood- if that is all cleaned and free of trash and junk, move on to the next yard, ditch, and neighborhood. She asked that all leaves be bagged for pick-up rather than thrown into ditches so as not to affect the drainage of these ditches. This cleanup comes just in time for the Bulldog homecoming on October 1st, 2019 and the Trojan homecoming on October 8th, 2019. Mayor Vidrine expressed the importance of cleaning up our town for its citizens and for the visitors that these homecoming festivities will undoubtedly bring in. Be on the lookout for a revamped City of Ville Platte website as maintenance for the site has been scheduled for the end of the month. An ordinance to amend budgeted allowances will be brought to public hearing on November 12th, 2019 at 4:45 p.m.. with the monthly Ville Platte City Council meeting to follow at 5:00 p.m.