The Ville Platte City Council, Tuesday, turned down an ordinance to extend its current walking curfew on a six month basis rather than renewing it every two months.
Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said a recent survey showed an overwhelming majority of residents were in favor of the curfew ordinance to keep people off the streets after the dark. “I get calls every day telling me they feel safer in their homes because of the curfew ordinance, “ said Mayor Vidrine.
Both Councilmen Taranza Arvie and Freddie Jack were in favor of dropping the curfew affecting adults and have the ordinance target only juveniles .
It was learned that the city already has an ordinance in place addressing a juvenile curfew.
Even though the city did not approve extending the curfew on a six month basis, the mayor advised that the current curfew ordinance is in effect through October.
In other business, the city council adopted an ordinance raising the salary of Police Chief Neal Lartigue by 20 percent. His pay will rise from $35,732 to $42,878.
NAACP President Arthur Sampson spoke out against the pay raise. Sampson accuses the police chief of hiring police officers who are disrespectful to residents.
The council turned down a request from Frieda Cantu to open a membership only sports bar on her property on East Main, in a former Landscaping business location. It was learned that the city has an ordinance that prohibits a business that sells alcoholic beverages within 300 feet of a residence.
In other action the city council:
- voted to apply for a $10,000 grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful for trash receptacles through the city;
- --apply for a $50,000 state grant for new police cars and crime cameras to be installed in high crime areas;
- --approved a liquor permit for the Louisiana Cotton Festival Association for the Cotton Festival October 10-17 and a liquor permit for Cock’s Tail Lounge at La Veille Banque;
- --has called a public hearing for a proposed pay raise for the Ward One City Marshal;
- --advised city residents that the city has contracted with a firm to spray for mosquitoes in the next few days.