[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6262400,"mediaKeyId","3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e","parentId",3115343,"title","Central committee weighs policing options: in-house department estimated at $7–8M vs. EBR sheriff contract at $2.5M","audioSeconds",234,"startMs",3986000,"endMs",4220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e&start=3986&end=4220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e/thumbnail_3986000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262400/Central/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Central-committee-weighs-policing-options-in-house-department-estimated-at-78M-vs-EBR-sheriff-contract-at-25M","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262400-959a27e1a26e4f23c023cd37a43981b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182316&Signature=MYl28Q9N2VKbXpTWMIDUvj3oqVyFIIBsZnwPwCY8t8dQCay-6PfbubmDTazT~WdX4cBP6m6Qf0dbSMy8rYlGrb5y5djJmH55VPBnQDNx7WkulFD8xC5LHx1k-2WeM6oWipKBH5jBwah0pt-LeDmMlf8UzJGOdSch3kDPyBLdvDD0A6Cd3ONSM-KqEkms5wnP6E2wA4iln8RFzzEGfZMVjKURslm-f-qd0LiQc5YkgVcNURMhcxIJ0Sq2Stsi14ocJu6e2b8b3cYHHKwsVrzY3Uc8lN1vJX5kt7b4mjyq9ril8kboQgmPH2TdKy8wYhaWgrZln~LJq32NK9b-SgeYTA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-25T00:24:51.34Z","article","The City of Central’s committee reviewing the future of law enforcement delivered an update to the City Council on Tuesday and outlined four broad options: (1) form a full-time Central police department; (2) contract police services from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office (EBRSO); (3) a second full-time CPD staffing model presented by local police leadership; or (4) a hybrid model combining local and contract resources.

Committee chair Council member J.D. Laverne said the group has met regularly since November and is preparing a recommendation this summer, likely June or July, although the committee had originally committed to issuing guidance within a year. Laverne said the committee’s role has been to collect comparative data and identify questions the council wants answered before choosing a path.

Cost estimates presented during the session included a personnel budget for a full-time Central police department of about $3.9 million; using a common multiple for overhead, facilities and equipment, staff estimated a total annual cost in the range of $7 million to $8 million. Laverne described startup and ongoing costs not captured in the personnel line — facility upkeep, vehicles, equipment and other operating expenses — and said those would roughly double the personnel figure when fully accounted for.

The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office presented a proposed contract figure of $2.5 million per year, the committee’s summary said; that amount, according to committee discussion, would exclude pension liabilities, legacy costs and unfunded legal liabilities unless otherwise negotiated. The sheriff’s office also reportedly indicated it would include a traffic-division component in that price; the contract terms would need clarification on enforcement of municipal ordinances and other code-enforcement authority.

A separate full-time department proposal discussed by committee members arrived at a $4.2 million annual figure for the city to operate its own police force under a smaller staffing model. Committee members described a possible hybrid model that would combine some local dedicated staff with contract coverage, but did not present a single cost figure for that option.

The committee also discussed potential funding sources (sales tax, millage, revenue generated from camera enforcement or a mayor’s court) and raised questions about whether parish millage allocations or other revenue streams might shift following recent incorporations and boundary changes. Captain Jason Dimlin (present for the discussion) explained that many Central ordinances are civil in nature; the sheriff’s office historically will not prosecute civil ordinance violations in administrative hearings, so the city would need to consider whether to adjust its code to make enforcement criminal and thus enforceable by a contracted sheriff’s office.

Why it matters: the choice affects public safety, municipal budgets and local control over enforcement of city ordinances. Committee members stressed that the recommendation will consider coverage for major incidents, liability, local control, pension and legacy-cost implications, and scalability.

Next steps: the committee expects to return with a recommendation in the coming months; council members were invited to request additional analyses or topics for the committee to explore.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Meeting - 4/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Central’s committee reviewing law enforcement options presented cost estimates for multiple models, including a full-time city police department with an estimated total annual cost of roughly $7–8 million and a contract option with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office for about $2.5 million.","taxTitle","Central, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana","taxId",68593,"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},6262405,"Central council orders condemnation processes for two Lovett Road properties, gives owners time to act",1075,2665000,3740000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e&start=2665&end=3740","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e/thumbnail_2665000.jpg","/articles/6262405/Central/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Central-council-orders-condemnation-processes-for-two-Lovett-Road-properties-gives-owners-time-to-act","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262405-9ae0f12f0da07f38356819306b612ca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182332&Signature=iqVHWjTvc6GkaMeqwDqx9tKjBx0NaBBgKaTVHroppmrMOs6QLOaud~JDVxKJh2J0NvA8oEXRKhu~II4ydiEOlahmigpqrsClIDO5I3b4w-iAh~0TrvJ-6b2ijTs9j5mYRPH7eMVPHBCkxk0tF~rlYmsS1dnNOHuzHRMRBIb5UU3wQJ17U45qUook7kwu0AMrFAyq5nklxynQV91ffqPS4Q03e2xxdynL6gmEZIhyn3azZ53-zE4BeX35AfvB0KqjuOl02boigTs3b2FFi3bvSqhmKdPpkWILUovgyueRfDxd6bUutRgT6YFRLUQd1nPYKyRSs1Fl8Ppw8HH97ZQp0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council of Central on Tuesday opened public hearings and took action on condemnation proceedings for two dilapidated, fire-damaged structures on Lovett Road.

The first case, 11112 Lovett Road, concerns a structure the city’s building inspector described as severely compromised by fire and structural collapse. The property owner, identified in the hearing as Mary Bonds, addressed the council and said she still had personal belongings inside the home and described difficulty retrieving them because of break-ins and safety concerns. City staff presented a history of inspections and enforcement dating to early 2023, including an administrative order requiring remediation that staff said had not been complied with.

Council members discussed options including allowing the owner time to secure a contractor, permitting an accessory storage structure to retrieve belongings, or proceeding with condemnation and demolition. Council member Laverne proposed and the council approved a motion to provide a short window for the owner to return with a concrete plan; the roll-call vote recorded on the record was Riley: yes; Duverne: no; Lazaro: yes; McKinney: yes; Meyer: yes; Roy: yes; Wells: no. The council instructed staff to reduce the motion to writing and to include appeal information with the order.

The second case, 12287 Lovett Road, involved an absentee ownership issue. City staff and a curator appointed by the mayor, Steven Whitlow of Whitlow Law Firm, reported unsuccessful attempts to locate primary heirs John Claude Nettles and Cynthia Lane Nettles and said notices sent to last-known addresses were returned undeliverable. The transcript indicates Richard O’Quinn purchased a tax certificate for the property at a sheriff’s sale; Whitlow said the tax-sale purchaser’s title is not final until the statutory redemption period elapses.

City attorney Kyle Selestine summarized the condemnation process under local code, citing “Title 12, Chapter 8, Section 12:520 through 527” (as described in the hearing) as the city’s authority to condemn unsafe structures and to order demolition after due process. Council members heard photos and inspector findings, including testimony that an inspector could not safely enter the residence because of collapsed roof and unstable walls.

After hearing evidence and public discussion, the council voted to enter an order of condemnation for 12287 Lovett Road that provides 90 days for interested parties to demolish the structure or to present a plan; if the work is not completed within the period the city will step in and may assess its costs as a lien against the property. The motion passed on roll call with the following votes as recorded: Preylet: yes; Laverne: yes; Lazaro: yes; McKinney: yes; Meyer: yes; McCoy: no; Wells: yes.

City attorney Selestine told the council that a municipal demolition order and any resulting lien is appealable under the municipal code and that liens for demolition costs, if recorded as required, would attach to the property and be collectible from any party who later acquires title. Steven Whitlow confirmed notices and a legal advertising step were completed for the absentee-owner property and recommended that the council accept the curator’s note of evidence, which the council did.

Why it matters: staff said both structures are unsafe and pose a public-safety risk. The actions set deadlines and preserve the city’s ability to carry out demolition if property owners do not remedy the violations within the specified timelines. Council members also discussed options for assisting owners with removal of personal property and advised the owner in the first case to obtain required demolition or accessory-structure permits if she intends to remove belongings or place a temporary storage unit on site.

The council asked staff to circulate the written orders, the municipal appeals procedure, and permit contacts for salvage or demolition work following the hearings.

Votes at a glance:
- 11112 Lovett Road (owner: Mary Bonds) — council approved a motion to allow a short deferral (two weeks) for the owner to return with a demolition or remediation plan; recorded vote: Riley (yes), Duverne (no), Lazaro (yes), McKinney (yes), Meyer (yes), Roy (yes), Wells (no). Motion carried.
- 12287 Lovett Road (record owners: John Claude Nettles and Cynthia Lane Nettles; tax certificate buyer: Richard O’Quinn) — council entered an order of condemnation providing 90 days for interested parties to act; motion passed with recorded votes as noted above.

The council’s written orders and appeal instructions will be distributed to the parties and filed in the municipal record.","The City Council of Central on Tuesday opened public hearings and took action on condemnation proceedings for two dilapidated, fire-damaged structures on Lovett Road.",{"_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},6262410,"Central council defers resolution supporting Delta Regional Authority culvert grant to April 22",31,159000,190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e&start=159&end=190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3115343-a8dc87d5163eba6b6784fb1e7290767e/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6262410/Central/East-Baton-Rouge-Parish/Louisiana/Central-council-defers-resolution-supporting-Delta-Regional-Authority-culvert-grant-to-April-22","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262410-e76885ed25d673ff30b3bd12df390452/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182332&Signature=kUWT9mD5NJPZJJDBe3BSBEfuZS41lc70aKHMs6D20wXux2NpQm0hBz1MhliLtnq1XqhS93iLeo6HlVidQWfNsjin4EvJ8wENb4lIcdectgg~7TFX~SPNhJ4tQqB29-XnoQdX8D9HC7Z0j~rALAcOB-DPr2tn5KQ1AJq6V0~Roa3x7CkirBMUvnD132OvHeRX2AkguhwX~86lXFMleaI7ONnBsOz5ZMmUZf3UyxmhNtwzMyigOA~CpSuLaVCRynsOzg77KaTT9mShXVCKomczWWS8U3uaEZrbVEhruBeE6IMtLl0CtC9fCbi2531QE6vH45OQXvFcj5tdxYW9U7hp8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members in the City of Central on Tuesday heard a staff presentation on a proposed $1.8 million culvert improvement project and voted to defer a resolution supporting a Delta Regional Authority Community Infrastructure Fund grant application to the April 22 council meeting.

The item would have authorized the city to apply for up to $2 million from the Delta Regional Authority to replace and upgrade a series of box culverts at four locations. A staff presenter identified as Spencer summarized the project budget and scope, saying the application would request $1,800,000 to cover construction and related costs and that the maximum allowable grant is $2,000,000.

Spencer told the council the $1.8 million budget includes $975,000 for construction of box culverts; $293,000 set aside as a contingency (approximately 30% of construction cost); roughly $197,000 for project and grant management; about $160,000 for design services including survey and geotechnical work; $90,000 for environmental assessment; $65,000 for construction oversight and inspection; and $49,000 for demolition and removal of existing structures. He said the grant requires the local government to attest that it will cover any overages and that scope amendments are permitted if costs exceed the grant award.

Why it matters: council members raised questions about whether the city is the proper party to assume any overages where the work is on state-owned roads and about the formal agreements that would be required with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD). The council sought more information about coordination with DOTD and assurances that hydraulic modeling and final design would prevent adverse downstream impacts.

Council member De LaVeyer asked whether work on state routes would require agreements with DOTD; Spencer said coordination would be required and that the project’s hydraulic design meets or exceeds DOTD’s typical standards and had been modeled to avoid identified adverse impacts. Council member Wells asked whether a formal cooperative agreement (a construction or cooperative engineering agreement, CEA) would be required before work begins; staff said a written agreement would be negotiated with DOTD if the grant is awarded.

Council member Laverne moved to defer the resolution to the April 22, 2025, council meeting to allow time for follow-up on budget questions and coordination with DOTD; the motion was seconded by Council member McKinney. There was no public comment on the item at the hearing. The council recorded no objections and the item was formally deferred.

The staff presentation noted that, if awarded, the grant would have no local match requirement but that local governments must attest to covering any overages; staff said contingency funds and the grant’s $2 million cap provide some room to manage unexpected costs. Final design and any necessary agreements with DOTD were described as next steps if the city pursues the award.

Council members said they want written assurances about DOTD coordination and final-design hydraulic analyses before taking action. The council will revisit the resolution and any supplemental information at its April 22 meeting.","The City Council of Central heard a presentation on a $1.8 million culvert improvement project funded by a Delta Regional Authority grant and voted to defer formal action to its April 22 meeting after questions about budget estimates and coordination with the state highway authority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Central committee weighs policing options: in-house department estimated at $7–8M vs. EBR sheriff contract at $2.5M

Central council orders condemnation processes for two Lovett Road properties, gives owners time to act

Central council defers resolution supporting Delta Regional Authority culvert grant to April 22