Ville Platte City Council Meeting April 14, 2020 The Ville Platte City Council, Tuesday, met by video conference for their monthly meeting. In an effort to follow recommendations to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the council practiced social distancing through the video conference. The city council approved the appointment of new Interim Fire Chief Fabian Poullard replacing Chris Harrison who retired March 31. Poulllard, who was serving as Assistant Chief has been with the fire service for 19 years. Captain Jacob Demourelle was promoted to become the new Interim Assistant Fire Chief. Also, Ville Platte Mayor Jennifer Vidrine proudly announced that the first female firefighter has passed all necessary tests. The city council congratulated Courtney Broussard to the fire department. Interim Fire Chief Fabian Poullard announced there were 20 fire calls for March including four house fires and one vehicle call. Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue gave his monthly police activity report. For the month of February, the police department received 575 calls, 37 citations, 34 people were arrested and 12 felony arrests. The police department also worked 22 traffic accidents. Chief Lartigue said he has hired two new certified police officers that will begin work immediately. He also announced that his department has broken the recent rash of business burglaries which solved about 90 percent of all of the unsolved break ins in the past few months. He said a total of eleven suspects were arrested, both adults and juveniles. The juveniles ranged in age from 14-16 years of age. Mayor Jennifer reminds citizens that that city hall is closed to the public. Citizens can drop off their payments in the payment box on the side of city hall. Employees are working on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. She is anticipating a major reduction in sales tax revenues with the Corona Virus closing many offices and businesses. She reminded local residents to stay home and when you do your shopping wear a mask. The mayor also thanked Savoy Medical Center in Mamou for beginning a Covid-19 testing program for parish residents. The mayor reminded citizens with past due utility bills that the city will not cutoff any utility service while the Corona Virus pandemic is going on. However, the homeowner is still responsible for the payment of the bills. The city cannot forgive or waive any past due bills.