[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6318941,"mediaKeyId","2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307","parentId",2363857,"title","Planning commission approves solar project; councilors and residents raise appeal and oversight questions","audioSeconds",3182,"startMs",6038000,"endMs",9220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307&start=6038&end=9220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307/thumbnail_6038000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6318941/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Planning-commission-approves-solar-project-councilors-and-residents-raise-appeal-and-oversight-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318941-6f8ac9d442755c87cad8541e7565c314/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215165&Signature=DKW-5Vl4ayEPVDZ8rVYMd2p4I0D-Bz-WB9T84pfnWGqDXs1P3Orq0SeIm1Otmzo9KdcvNS11rIFA03hVXL1T9opFQgd-wCLsvc2JajUNrUg81pL-vBl-ud1WXYwTMGsyYGvtwyZrqAQBKU3LDzlXkkuCIjM~K69DD7PNm6BgTY9iC15qQ6CMxtQbKlvEURs2BgvEQqvx6ySseYqs1-Y67hwXyw0amspBWZfHSdYkp~amabBuETtsBsLCEqIOoJum4y5SwcecgjHQiF8gdhdPnl0G6I9vHP8BI1~QskPlMMidGBwScnGwsebTwMoq8hkDLj9EbJW4iModrA5DFRkXGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-20T21:59:13.68Z","article","Debbie Rogers, the planning and zoning principal, told the council the commission approved three separate special-use permits during its recent meeting, including a proposal by Sunbeam Solar LLC to install a utility-scale solar array at the former mill site (705 Conyers Lane). The commission also authorized a car lot at 305 North Washington and an adult daycare at 1510 Elm Street.

Several council members said they were surprised the solar permit had not been brought to the council for review. Councilmember Bradford said a special-use permit that “brings a company to Bastrop” should come before the full council so council members can consult constituents. Others pressed planning staff for the procedural basis: Rogers explained certain uses in that zoning district are allowed by special permit at the planning commission level under the city’s zoning rules.

Appeals process and legal path: City Attorney Jones explained the local appeals process: decisions by the planning commission may be appealed to a board of appeals (sometimes called the board of adjustments) within a statutory window (transcript discussion referenced a typical 10-day appeal window), and only thereafter to district court; in practice some appeals also go back to council depending on local ordinance structure. Rogers and staff agreed to supply copies of recent permits and clarifying charts to the council prior to future meetings.

Community concerns and next steps: Several council members and residents voiced concern that no broad public notice or council briefing had preceded the solar permit approval, that potential environmental impacts and visual impacts be examined, and that the city lacked a specific “solar farm” ordinance that would set siting and setback standards. Attorney Jones recommended that the council consider adopting a solar-farm ordinance to establish clear standards rather than rely on ad hoc special-permit approvals going forward.

Ending: Planning staff agreed to give council members copies of the permits the commission approved and to return with guidance on appeals and a proposal for a solar ordinance and clearer notice procedures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 13, 2025 City of Bastrop Louisiana Regular City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Bastrop planning and zoning commission approved a special-use permit for a solar installation at the former mill site; council members and residents said they were not notified and asked whether the approval can be appealed and whether the city needs a dedicated solar-farm ordinance.","taxTitle","Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana","taxId",69771,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6318947,"Council debate over blight, demolition and use of ARP funds as residents press for cleanup",2326,1434000,3760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307&start=1434&end=3760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307/thumbnail_1434000.jpg","/articles/6318947/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Council-debate-over-blight-demolition-and-use-of-ARP-funds-as-residents-press-for-cleanup","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318947-2e819cc518a24fcb20cdae53af760e59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215165&Signature=XIgF7h6U7eQ2TSZq0tRyx1PhIw7W66KhdSyy9iU~U6vvTeawYvNbxC2y1l026VCrdZfPoLiIiS-J7XQlOoSuYHSKfnrmI8XBeXMA82~W8-3FNvLX57PeVYb2uNDRoltyUZDlAexVGUcU56HEtSIXqD576CARC3l57-w8u8rx0MWFbcCIeUf1KK~uHxAR6i4513tNFXc~M4IWnc6Krv1cUas9h8qPnU76O7JH8iHvHh4iYsWOtt~TjAS1zM4Z2Dnmgud7YzE1t~~wjgcwQlVY7sid8bYJTpK2xOvLy4gfJB~qR7O7-wt0TOgOPh9XAT2RbcWNhn6h8UGh0Xv0IrSOTQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Business owners and neighborhood volunteers pressed the Bastrop City Council to step up enforcement and cleanup of blighted properties across the city, saying visible trash, dilapidated houses and blocked roads hurt commerce and quality of life.

Robin Simmons, owner of Simmons Sporting Goods, told the council she owns several properties near North Washington and drove the list of sites that Code Enforcement had flagged after the council adopted a “code enforcement reform act of 2024.” “It’s embarrassing to me,” Simmons said, asking the city to coordinate volunteers and public- and private-sector partners ahead of large visitor events.

Other residents, Keep Morehouse Beautiful volunteers and Morehouse General Hospital CEO L. Moore Patterson said they would partner with the city on demolitions and lot cleanups but noted the city’s limits on disposal and hazardous-material handling. Volunteers described a program that pays property owners half the demolition cost in some cases and said they have helped remove about 27 structures over time.

Council and staff discussion: City staff and the council discussed funding and logistics at length. Public works staff said the city has some equipment and a burn curtain at the landfill for brush and vegetative debris but cannot legally burn construction debris or asbestos-containing materials without DEQ approval. Staff said disposal fees are typically charged by weight at the landfill and that contracting with private haulers to remove demolition debris remains the usual path.

Adjudicated properties and legal constraints: City Attorney Jones explained that tax adjudication does not automatically transfer title to the city; the city must pass an ordinance, serve notice on interested parties and allow a 60-day redemption period before title vests. Jones said the cooperative-agreement approach — where the owner consents and the city or a partner reimburses a property owner up to an agreed amount to demolish and clean a lot — can speed work while avoiding condemnation hearings, but it trades off the city’s ability to recoup full costs.

Council funding and programs: Council members and staff described a $200,000 line in the budget identified for cleanup work funded from earlier rescue/ARP-related allocations; staff said roughly $88,000 of that has been expensed already toward identified adjudicated lots. Council members proposed using district ARP allocations or contracting with private firms for demolition on adjudicated or dangerous properties where legal and cost conditions permit.

Next steps: Council directed staff to map which adjudicated and privately owned nuisance properties are eligible for immediate cleanup using city equipment or ARP funds, to estimate disposal costs per demolition, and to draft cooperative-agreement language that would allow the city to reimburse owners or contractors while protecting the city’s ability to recoup costs if property is later sold.

Ending: Council members and community volunteers left the meeting with an agreement to continue coordinating: staff will provide lists and cost estimates, and the council signaled preference for combining targeted public works action with private contractor bids where legal and financially feasible.","Residents, business owners and volunteers urged the council to tackle blight, demolition and road/flooding problems. Councilors, public works staff and the city attorney discussed limits on using city equipment, adjudicated properties, disposal costs, and a $200,000 cleanup allocation tied to earlier grants.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6318951,"Resident alleges unequal ARPA payouts, council votes to research eligibility",610,426000,1036000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307&start=426&end=1036","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307/thumbnail_426000.jpg","/articles/6318951/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Resident-alleges-unequal-ARPA-payouts-council-votes-to-research-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318951-ad64fee2deba06394fac1805a52c6950/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215165&Signature=A~3ERG7bR77SJl5w9rvUZyaX25pLzuuwhEDxI445sBw9UEGk2HX-av-gMGdr0sigYJ9L2WJ-furPX1QzMpTTNohkNHK7wd~exxKC0tpOgMtfikRHy4m6DuNjOkYe067ZD8T8FpSpXTmS1uhjveOqE7Ti3bFmK0aQ~MCb-1VlD~~Esu3TK11qLDvC2V5G8VMXYzqili4TQj~K~csKvuTGI9bGA0~~-FMxBJOFTrA9-4iZwOYnvOYAYtlzFCDoLu-rbYedkiC2ISI6HLxF0eg6d~MJzLDqrrzZEa4wawKCz1BouOh5X7LH1pujCbDHGZaOVYBD~CBoxeCVcWzb32i3pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chastity Kennedy, a former city employee, told the Bastrop City Council during the public-comment period that she found what she described as “discriminatory practices” in a list of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) premium payments the mayor authorized.

Kennedy said she requested documents after last month’s meeting and received a list and a cover letter from “Ms. Hart,” identified in the materials as a certified public accountant engaged by the administration. Kennedy said the letter showed $183,734.67 in ARPA payouts and that the consultant “began the process without any discussion or approval from the Bastrop City Council.”

“Based on my research and analysis, Mayor Betty Olive has proven to be very vindictive and financially irresponsible,” Kennedy said during public comment. She asked the council to “immediately compensate employees who qualify for the ARPA retro payment” and urged the council to refer the mayor for criminal charges and for her to resign, citing “RS statute 14 1 34” for malfeasance in office.

Why it matters: ARPA premium-pay rules and local budget controls affect how municipalities may distribute federal recovery funds. Kennedy’s allegations prompted the council to take a procedural step: a motion and second were made and the council voted to research which employees meet the eligibility criteria and to identify any who should receive retroactive pay.

Council action and next steps: Council members moved and seconded a motion to research employee eligibility under the ARPA criteria and to identify and compensate employees who meet the standards discussed at previous meetings. The motion passed on a voice vote (chair: “All in favor? Aye. And opposed? Okay.”). The council did not, during the meeting, set a date for a final report.

What was said in the meeting: Kennedy read portions of a list and the attached consultant letter she had obtained, highlighting differences in payouts among employees hired at different dates. She pointed to examples she called inconsistent — for example, long-term employees receiving smaller amounts than recently hired staff. City Attorney Jones and other council members noted that some documentation had been requested and that staff would provide further details. The council heard from other speakers that they had either requested or expected additional lists of potentially eligible employees.

What the records show: Kennedy said she had received a list showing individual payments and a consultant letter describing retroactive premium-pay guidance; she said some council members told her they had not seen the consultant letter before she forwarded it. At the meeting a council member moved for staff to research eligibility and identify any additional employees who should be paid; the motion passed.

What the council did not decide: The council did not vote to rescind or ratify any particular payment, did not place the mayor on leave, and did not refer criminal charges during the meeting. Kennedy’s request for immediate resignation and criminal referral was recorded as public comment only.

What to expect: City staff and legal counsel were asked to compile eligibility data and payroll documents and return to the council with findings. The council’s vote authorizes research and follow-up — not immediate payouts or disciplinary action.

Ending: The council instructed staff to gather the requested personnel, payroll and consultant records and report back; a specific timetable for that follow-up was not announced during the meeting.","At a Bastrop City Council meeting a resident, citing a consultant letter, alleged irregularities in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) premium payments to city employees and asked for criminal charges and the mayor’s resignation. Council members voted to research who qualifies for retroactive ARPA payments and to identify employees eligible for pay.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6318935,"Council adopts resolutions to maintain state wastewater discharge permits for two treatment plants",309,5714000,6023000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307&start=5714&end=6023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2363857-042b3f685a7d0d7c872673094689d307/thumbnail_5714000.jpg","/articles/6318935/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Council-adopts-resolutions-to-maintain-state-wastewater-discharge-permits-for-two-treatment-plants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318935-65810827af90c09ccb222e1c630f7b22/orig.mp4?Expires=1771215165&Signature=Si1BMvKfTCzGdUFs8ShaTl75LHZldo5H8~aZRilY48gOZEk0wk0x~epWkb2G4D9pY6KthpalpWrjMYY5hVJGbkom-egJGLZeNMAjsyAYwGH5ht7psaUpF6hLKNGSkQijIf8tPgIVZVJWu70EsW2CWM0q5Aq2hy-rLK0b11ZQdYwWkWDyCQDeNIk1rn8D0SY9e8stQTnmjL81BwmxuAAdI0EtyuwHNpWeoBZVUX6JGKUSiDtguOkKqH~W2gnBDZBKjDcbks6GHcqRuApEgnsEZCY5Dttv0lyuGIBdANujndJ4m-52epKQ3HM~Zyf8T~PZmyaaKar5FB71Lq050H~FYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public works staff presented two resolutions notifying the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) of city actions to maintain required water-discharge permits for the city’s wastewater treatment facilities.

Staff explained the resolutions cover ongoing maintenance and operations: bimonthly cleaning of collection lines, point repairs, upkeep and rehabilitation of pump stations, replacement of worn aerators and cross-training of personnel. The work applies to the main treatment plant and a separate permit for the West Pond outfall.

Council action: A council member moved and another seconded both resolutions. The council approved the measures on voice votes. For the West Pond measure, the record shows the motion passed with the chair saying “Motion carries.” The resolutions were read into the record and accepted as routine actions to remain in compliance with the state permit system.

Why it matters: Maintaining state discharge permits keeps the city in compliance with state environmental rules and supports continued wastewater treatment operations; staff said some equipment is more than 27 years old and that rehabilitation planning and grant pursuit are ongoing.

Ending: The council approved both permit-notice resolutions and directed staff to continue maintenance and to pursue grant funding for larger rehabilitation work at the main plant.","The council approved two resolutions notifying the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality of actions taken to maintain the city’s water-discharge permits for the main treatment plant and the West Pond treatment plant. Votes were taken and recorded by voice.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission approves solar project; councilors and residents raise appeal and oversight questions

Council debate over blight, demolition and use of ARP funds as residents press for cleanup

Resident alleges unequal ARPA payouts, council votes to research eligibility

Council adopts resolutions to maintain state wastewater discharge permits for two treatment plants