[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_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":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6078241,"mediaKeyId","2960273-edbf62f57e00cb4942adab76c058e129","parentId",2960273,"title","Denham Springs council adopts appeals ordinance, approves grants and routine payments; several items tabled","audioSeconds",1552,"startMs",238000,"endMs",1790000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960273-edbf62f57e00cb4942adab76c058e129&start=238&end=1790","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960273-edbf62f57e00cb4942adab76c058e129/thumbnail_238000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078241/Denham-Springs/Livingston-Parish/Louisiana/Denham-Springs-council-adopts-appeals-ordinance-approves-grants-and-routine-payments-several-items-tabled","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078241-db25320280962269ee91dbbf3d4c4bc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202324&Signature=Q9pvTAZq7xM4UVc9hlxODXh4VNGtb6W~kaMM6vkLcuGLZtTzc8Z9EMamcYquS2RZguvaxHvRJlYKyBuYF7ibZ~4YX6rEn95W8KEAgYPDxbVopQN3Uhi~YNmcegTocvbk321ZORBoEcxj2FbC7wx~-3UDKfCjX0uhCT5uwWrvD3XVQ9RnwlXJqq0nd~VAG8uPm8-nn2k~Z6da8Z0CVtrFkrRVRHhYvlVUBvSGuqP4FpQwhHTxU0C-WH2oycmJFSu-82NSRHlH794lR-w5Ukl3pTWJ6TiHglNxcjgrEGsUwIFFrqe5FsXmgiHfRzHp8bOqFKEn~b3J8RFjw443oWd7cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Denham Springs, LA","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","At an April 2025 meeting, the Denham Springs City Council approved routine business and several formal actions, including adoption of a planning-appeals ordinance, authorization of city spending tied to a $300,000 grant, annual adoption of the municipal water pollution prevention resolution, and authorization of a fundraising memorandum with Jordan's Way LLC.

Key votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (03/01/2025 through 03/31/2025): Adopted. Motion by Gilbert; second by Poole. Vote: unanimous (all voting members recorded yes).

- Ordinance adoption: Amendment to the Code of Ordinances, Chapter 10, by adding Section 94-7 (relative to appeals to the city council). City Attorney explained the change would add a local appeals step before judicial action; council approved the ordinance. Motion to adopt by Lamb Williams; second by Gilbert. Vote: unanimous.

- Grant authorization ($300,000): Council approved acceptance and spending of a $300,000 grant for work on the cemetery, Old City Hall and the pavilion at Spring Park. Motion and second recorded; vote: unanimous.

- Municipal Water Pollution Prevention resolution: Adopted (annual item). Motion and second recorded; vote: unanimous.

- Memorandum of understanding / fundraiser: Council authorized a memorandum of public standing with Jordan's Way LLC to host a live fundraising event for the city animal shelter. The event was described by shelter staff; council approved the authorization. Motion and second recorded; vote: unanimous.

- Construction change orders and payment applications: Several payment applications and change orders were considered. Notable items recorded in the meeting record include a change order for $2,907 to Louisiana Welders Inc. (Highway 16/Hillen Woods/Rubin Road gas improvements) and a payment application of $331,348.05 for work on Hillen Woods/Rubin Road improvements; another payment application of $407,144.50 was approved for a contractor identified in the record. Some items (notably items 12 and 14 in the agenda numbering) were postponed to a subsequent meeting.

- Disposal of asset: Approved disposal of asset #10069 (a freezer at substation number 3) because it no longer functions properly.

How council voted: Where recorded, roll calls show unanimous support from councilmembers Dugas, Gilbert, Lamb Williams, Poole and the mayor (all recorded as voting yes on the listed items).

Context and next steps: Some agenda items were tabled or postponed to allow staff to provide additional documentation (for example, two items were postponed to a future meeting and the council asked for supporting change-order documentation on a unit-price contract). Council frequently asked staff to verify advertisement and hearing dates when ordinances are substantially changed; the City Clerk/City Attorney will handle re-advertisement if wording is amended.

The meeting also included reports from police, fire and animal control staff and public announcements about a new retailer occupying a former Big Lots location.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","DS CC Meeting 4-8-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a consent agenda, adopted an ordinance adding an appeals step for subdivision decisions, accepted a $300,000 grant for historic/city projects, adopted the municipal water pollution prevention resolution and approved fundraising and construction payments; some items were tabled for later review.","taxTitle","Denham Springs, Livingston Parish, Louisiana","taxId",64361,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6078247,"Denham Springs council tables proposed ban on sale of kratom after extended discussion",1266,404000,1670000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2960273-edbf62f57e00cb4942adab76c058e129&start=404&end=1670","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2960273-edbf62f57e00cb4942adab76c058e129/thumbnail_404000.jpg","/articles/6078247/Denham-Springs/Livingston-Parish/Louisiana/Denham-Springs-council-tables-proposed-ban-on-sale-of-kratom-after-extended-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078247-9cdca72a8ed2fd36cd77f13f9f665570/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202324&Signature=UNhUOjRl~gFmflsiJEvyG49xZFuTsjWTxfZF5xNsWg3KGLiutiVlisVx3d6wDvrHzPoDbsNRhiZzMkcP698-Fv7LftIQbnj6LdtnyUkiHK5tVlNNl0VThFwktBZXVr1ic~Pyf2i5IgTJqzqu3EzTAxWItoM9ZzzxtWBoz2zCXleXU-WXy-cjW0rVpJNeWoHT3~nFe0P8uC~dgSiAL-eBtsfmjcv1ktEUcISxBo2tsnUmBpF2EjfMMllSOgWui-SSSpWRonKfwe7KRp0ImWI6fCoGjTJNo1cwCDShXKmpN5VhfOU31Bcm0qUp89Y2WhT2jczyLoGc5qYSE5k3G28BHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denham Springs City Council members introduced an ordinance to ban the retail sale of kratom but voted to table further consideration for one month to collect more information from state legislators and public-health authorities.

The Police Chief, describing kratom as “one of the latest crazes” sold at convenience stores, told the council other nearby municipalities have adopted local bans and that some state bills are under consideration. “The Mayo Clinic has deemed them unsafe and ineffective,” the Police Chief said, arguing the city should consider restricting sales to keep potentially harmful, unregulated products away from minors.

Councilman Lamb Williams said he wanted more time to review state action and research. “I\u0000\u0000would like to amend the agenda item to have the hearing on July 28,” Lamb Williams said, and later moved to table the introduction for one month so councilmembers could receive additional information from Representative Chad Boyer and other sources. The motion to table passed unanimously.

Why it matters: council discussion centered on whether a local ban would duplicate or conflict with pending state legislation (including House Bill 253, referenced during debate) and whether a local prohibition would merely shift sales outside city limits. Several councilmembers and staff raised concerns about synthetic products sold under the kratom name and the absence of local testing capability.

Discussion details: the Police Chief explained that kratom products range from unprocessed plant material to synthetic mixtures and that some municipalities (the chief cited Walker, Zachary and Gonzales) have already restricted sales. Councilmembers asked whether harms were observed when kratom was used alone or in combination with alcohol and other drugs; the chief said some local incidents involved multiple substances. Councilmembers also discussed the limits of city authority if only sales — not possession — were prohibited, and whether mail-order or online sales could undermine a local ban.

Outcome and next steps: Councilman Lamb Williams moved to table the ordinance’s introduction for one month; the motion passed with all members voting yes. Staff will gather additional documentation from the state representatives and public-health sources, and the item was tabled until the council\u0000\u0000meeting one month later (the council discussed a May 13 date as the one-month target). The council also discussed the possibility of reintroducing a revised ordinance or scheduling a public hearing once more information is available.

No formal ordinance language was adopted at the meeting; the council\u0000\u0000action was procedural (tabling to permit further review).","Councilmembers introduced an ordinance to ban the retail sale of kratom but voted to table the item for one month to gather more information from state lawmakers and public-health sources.","actionData","errors"]

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Denham Springs council adopts appeals ordinance, approves grants and routine payments; several items tabled

Denham Springs council tables proposed ban on sale of kratom after extended discussion