Ville Platte City Council Meeting January `10, 2023 The Ville Platte City Council Tuesday received a detailed review and explanation from its City Attorney Chris Ludeau about his legal opinion over a recent contract the city signed with a private firm to construct a new sewer system. Ludeau advised the council that the city should have presented the contract before the State Bond Commission for their approval. Ludeau said he spoke with former City Attorney Eric Lafleur who told him the contact was never reviewed by him. City Councilman Bryant Riggs, said he voted for the sewer project with the firm, Sustainability Pardners. Riggs said he was present when attorney Lafleur told him and the rest of the city council that the contract "was a good deal" for the city. The council after much discussion voted to review the contract with Sustainability Pardners and decide whether the city should cancel the project. During a disagreement between City Marshal Nicole Snoddy and City Councilman Bryant Riggs, councilman Tracey Jagneaux pleaded to the rest of the council and the audience , " We need to stop all this name calling. We need a certain decorum in our meetings. If you have an opinion, say it with respect." Mayor Ryan LeDay Williams issued a statement to the public " Upon taking office, we are discovering that the city has taken on a lot of debt. Water, gas and sewer needs to be addressed for the residents. We are meeting weekly to streamline all budget issues." In other business, the city: --approved a cooperative endeavor agreement with the police jury to start the cleaning of city canals; --appointed Christina Sam as new Mayor Pro- Tem; --voted to upgrade the city animal shelter to help handle the number of animals the city is handling until a new parish shelter is constructed in the next two years; --heard special reports from State Senator Heather Cloud and Jerri LeDoux with Congressman Mike Johnson's Office; --heard from Fire Chief Chris Soileau reported on year end fire reports: for the year 2022: there were 320 incidents, 39 structure fires, 11 vehicle fires, 63 grass fires, 16 medical calls, 7 extractions, 104 alarm activations and 50 service calls; --heard from Police Chief Al Perry Thomas give his monthly police report: 185 calls, 36 citations, 34 arrests and 11 felony arrests and the department worked 16 traffic accidents; --approved hiring several police officers including two officers who worked for the city before; -called a public hearing to adopt ordnances to combine the offices, city clerk, treasurer and tax collector, and another ordinance to change the compensation of the city attorney and to change the time of the regular meetings.