Ville Platte City Council December 10, 2019 The Ville Platte City Council Tuesday, voted to deposit $209,174 to begin a reserve fund for future uses. The excess funds come from a Louisiana Workers Compensation dividend check. The council agreed to use $15,000 from the dividend to purchase equipment such as weed eaters and lawn mowers to be used in work projects. The city is planning to use inmate labor along with new workers to pursue those work projects. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine said the city spent $26,000 more in November than it did in October. She blames the cost increase to the purchase of a new pump for a sewer lift station and repairs on a water well. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine announced that the city will have a new free app for local residents to use with their smart phone . The app is called "Tips Ville Platte." Local residents can send a tip on a crime to police without giving their identity. The app should launch sometime in January. In other action the Ville Platte City Council: approved the appointment of Trojan Harrison as a new fulltime paid firefighter; approved a mandatory 2 percent increase in pay for Ville Platte firefighters; received a report from Fire Chief Chris Harrison that the month of November showed there were six structural fires, six grass fires and one vehicle fire for a total of 24 fire calls; appointed Coach Lionel Anderson as new Mayor Pro Temp; voted to call their January meeting to be held January 21 at 5;00pm; approved eight more properties for demolition in the city limits; voted to approve the sale of liquor for the Evangeline Arts Council sponsorship of a New Year's Eve dance; received a police report from Chief Neal Lartigue: 299 calls in November, issued 19 citations, 39 arrests including 9 felony arrests and worked 38 traffic accidents.