[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6174221,"mediaKeyId","5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7","parentId",5371154,"title","Council advises approval of special-use permit for attached garage at 607 Orion Drive","audioSeconds",3749,"startMs",1245000,"endMs",4994000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7&start=1245&end=4994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7/thumbnail_1245000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6174221/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Council-advises-approval-of-special-use-permit-for-attached-garage-at-607-Orion-Drive","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174221-285773e7793fdfc01f968635c30d818e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169657&Signature=F~aX-0QRuWJk0VtX1h3~t3QRv5mw5vFXD4qNCjrA7fFHogSrKKw0SIeso2jHUtQavekZv4-8c1oSRjTNEo76Zrj2Aea5CPgaLhfbl-E4yuGS43ZXUFff2im~7Ife3adiCP5hJ8vRNh11kHYk2amZG9XhteLw5F44o8wWgNzqYoNrCDiO7I1lkatNoM6l9phwiHSEj8UQ9WeWtAgiZk77NRmcK7qT-C50VaXPvzor-G5XoQsDjuf0TBbrI8p9EmV0LZMTU57uancboXeQP5khcxjJjj1P7oDk66V4V5k-uMEmBZbA~QlqWqFHIUaTpYEdMngqWQMMnUSP2hQHtptqqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bastrop, LA","date","2025-07-12T04:15:54.503Z","article","The Bastrop City Council considered a special-use permit request for 607 Orion Drive after planning staff reviewed the structure and advised the council the proposed work would comply with municipal planning and zoning ordinances if built as an attached garage.
Planning staff explained that a freestanding garage or carport can trigger a special-use review, but an attached garage that matches the home’s roofline would be considered part of the house and, under the ordinance, would be permitted by right. Staff reported the submitted plans indicate the garage roof would connect to the existing roofline and that setbacks met the ordinance requirements (one cited measurement of 5.8 feet to adjacent setbacks was given as compliant).
Council members and neighbors asked whether private deed restrictions or homeowners’ association covenants could prevent the work; city staff clarified that such private restrictions are enforced between private parties in district court and are not enforced by the city through planning and zoning decisions. Staff advised that, because of an existing moratorium on certain administrative approvals, this matter required council action rather than administrative approval; staff recommended council approval because the plans conformed to the city ordinance.
Councilors were told the construction had begun before a permit was issued, and staff said the permit application and plans would regularize the work if it remains consistent with the ordinance. After discussion, the council voted in favor of approving the special-use/variance request for an attached garage at 607 Orion Drive, with staff advising the approval was consistent with the city's planning and zoning ordinance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7/10/2025 Regular City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","City planning staff told the council the proposed structure at 607 Orion Drive meets the zoning ordinance when constructed as an attached garage with a matching roofline; the council voted to approve the special-use permit amid questions about private covenants and the moratorium requiring council review.","taxTitle","Bastrop, Morehouse Parish, Louisiana","taxId",69771,"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},6174227,"Council approves a series of appointments and consultant contracts; questions raised about corporate ownership and eligibility",389,4011000,4400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7&start=4011&end=4400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7/thumbnail_4011000.jpg","/articles/6174227/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Council-approves-a-series-of-appointments-and-consultant-contracts-questions-raised-about-corporate-ownership-and-eligibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174227-62d26ff7434a7101f32fa211d346c58d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169658&Signature=SSdQ9A3mIit6N-qTkF0xKwMeQJaCMFbmZs2f5~Wzx3Bk1SB2-rT95XgkAO48fAGEY6qK6eyrpYFi-DFYxvOKeMhvpZ6d7DOA-zZd7AyIOrntOkDspunDe40neY7P1LojPox4BoReYqK0YR0~x6QeOHqGLC0rdny2CPwdAzCOFqh6Nw7nKpsdPrxoauW~BpMQSj~-Uue-XeSLQndeoAED0uFnnU~KRyV2yirMn-uM-e1jZJ0SLkxNCEaeYbrDHby4Achshe3A1OztWd9x73wun1kCrgm32zZKUvJQh2vmZFyYmGE4bSot2x5HDhRCLxkW4RAaEFJRMIwjlSaY0ZyZog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bastrop City Council approved a set of staffing and contract items, and council members requested more documentation about corporate ownership and ethics restrictions before finalizing some publisher and consultant selections.
Resolutions adopted during the meeting included the appointment of a city attorney (resolution 25-2104), appointment of special counsel for budget and policy legal services to Ricky Smith (resolution 25-2105), and the approval of MSR Consultant Group LLC (described as a chief-of-staff services vendor) as a consultant (resolution 25-2107). Council votes on these resolutions were recorded as passing in the meeting transcript.
Multiple councilors and the city attorney raised concerns about an annual-selection item for an official journal (city newspaper). The administration advised that state ethics rules bar contracting with publications substantially controlled by a former council member within a two-year prohibition. Council members asked the publisher Charles Bradford to provide articles of incorporation and related corporate records so the attorney could confirm whether the ethics prohibition applied. The attorney said that if a former council member is an officer with controlling authority the two-year restriction could prohibit contracting.
Council members also discussed the owner structure of MSR/Empire Corporation and whether chief-of-staff consulting work would create an ethics or procurement issue if the consultant or consultant firm was owned by a council-related party. The council approved the consultant resolutions but asked the parties to provide corporate documents and to allow the city attorney to review ownership and any applicable ethics constraints.
The minutes show the council approved the items by voice votes after motions and seconds; the administration said it would review corporate filings and return with any necessary clarifications or actions if an ethics conflict is identified.","The council appointed a city attorney and special counsel, approved a consultant to serve as chief of staff, and approved related contracts; council members asked for documentation to verify corporate ownership and whether any ethics restrictions applied to companies owned by former council members.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174231,"City staff say video vendor working month-to-month; council asked about $2,000 monthly payments",128,3706000,3834000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7&start=3706&end=3834","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7/thumbnail_3706000.jpg","/articles/6174231/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/City-staff-say-video-vendor-working-month-to-month-council-asked-about-2000-monthly-payments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174231-89410b9c24100ab9d7583625aa085e9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169657&Signature=Yzu8PO15eluoCGA0UexSCeDRo0~~gcMMZVthK66gFWn~sIHrwoei6BudjI3dcYDL~Z53A5pj~N6qUNBebkh4G~qtmSxFSK5NWqs4jTH6JWiUaktzFHTvTtXMS6ljn0iZWw6ZDXQ7RX2wPtVFn3MBIPOT6j9bdtTEVMfkQoVfhofRPRpuogRjBhai2nwfPJnCarin4-bZL3Vl2~XdkU-r6owvDpnvs7G-kU5nt11MpRnJ1HG2L7hXUUrI4K7Xuip4cqyx8tB4WF4yy23d9TQFwkekES3kzpAA5Pngojl3nixiizM2iJqRiY6j4fiCjBvZ9~5af42TvXojZKh0hSD1aQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members asked the administration to explain the city's arrangement with the vendor that currently records and hosts city meeting video and provides the website. City attorney/administrator Jones said the vendor (identified in public discussion as the company run by Ron Talley) has been engaged as a professional service on a month-to-month basis rather than under a formal, council-approved multi-month contract.
Jones told the council that professional services can be purchased month-to-month without a formal contract and that the city had been paying the vendor on that basis. The attorney said the last invoice he reviewed for the service was $2,000 for a monthly service; he described the vendor arrangement as “a professional service” paid month-to-month.
Councilors asked whether policy in place required council approval for expenditures above $5,000 and whether the city could prevent continued monthly spending; Jones said the council’s strongest tool is the budget and that council policy can require prior council approval for any expenditure above a set threshold. He said if a budget line is approved, funds already allocated can be spent without further council approval, but that council can set procedures requiring additional approvals before expenditures are made.
Council members asked the administration to provide documentation on the vendor payments and to clarify whether alternative procurement steps or a contract would be recommended going forward. There was no vote to continue or terminate the vendor at this meeting; Jones said the administration will work with council leadership to present options (competitive bids, contract vs. professional service, or budgeting changes) to clarify oversight and compliance with council policies going forward.","City attorney said the company providing video and website services has been operating as a month-to-month professional service rather than under a council-authorized contract; councilors asked about the vendor rate and whether the arrangement complied with the council's $5,000 approval threshold policy.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174236,"Council debates ARPA and Dawson Park grant accounting as budget adoption is delayed",5189,1516000,6705000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7&start=1516&end=6705","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7/thumbnail_1516000.jpg","/articles/6174236/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Council-debates-ARPA-and-Dawson-Park-grant-accounting-as-budget-adoption-is-delayed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174236-15a69cc9276534e42d6d2ebe750ebefe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169657&Signature=QtTGHoVW9S02uGEhMyFBPVet8RjJgyWE1tj2cFsZrmozZos3hSelZuG0khXd42oJg6YvIRNXbPCXkvgfjMxF0Ud3iGWMaq3A7mXM3wk3Hf7rJ3qvJb3ZZTMgyoeLfWstvtLyxvz1k5xDxcE3iQNNG8CHJCoIBbYEJRLtBXWtQvz7MkHBs8kQHvm3EhDoV~KYe5OmXnVzSDgiqAaxYQQFSFFCHjdfHSteODxaRpYkftuKa12tgo306mqCN~fug7RXUt4FYXQntQeu40nOVaUATPhs58z4JFBr2zrVhIGFtooaeVs6Xlu~IxFen5UCB8l2-nY-wPK~MfWfz8vojmQnGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members and members of the public questioned how federal and state grant dollars were recorded and spent after several items on the fiscal year budget and specific community grants drew scrutiny.
Resident commenters and Councilman Jake Green pointed to a Dawson Park appropriation (referred to in the meeting by act number and the shorthand “Act 397”) and said they saw $12,500 listed as remaining in a $25,000 appropriation. City attorney/administrator Jones and the finance staff said the city received $25,000 grants that were commonly drawn down in two increments of $12,500; the administration reported that $12,500 had been spent and that paperwork to request reimbursement from the state was in process but had not yet been submitted as of the meeting.
Council members also debated whether previously reported allocations described as ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) monies had been ‘‘washed’’ or moved into the general fund by means-of-financing swaps. Jones explained that if federal funds are reallocated into general-fund spending without a separate federal funding code and without formal council action to amend the budget, accounting becomes unclear. Jones said some prior year entries and means-of-financing swaps were not entered with separate federal funding codes; as a result an apparent ARPA balance reported to councilors (amounts of $250,000 were discussed in public comment) did not reflect available, earmarked ARPA dollars in the way councilors expected.
On Dawson Park specifically, Jones said the grant had act identifiers and that a portion of funds had been used for an event (public testimony referred to a food-truck event and children’s activities). He said the city had not yet submitted the reimbursement packet required by the state, that the deadline to file reimbursement documentation was approaching, and that if state review determines any expense was an ineligible use, the state could deny reimbursement and that could trigger an audit finding. Jones said the city has engaged a grant-writing professional during the budget transition to compile reimbursements and that the administration will provide itemized backup to the council.
Several councilors urged caution and recommended that the council not adopt the FY2025–26 operating budget until the administration provides clearer itemized information and evidence the spending conforms to state and federal grant rules. A motion earlier in the meeting to reject or separate certain budget resolutions was discussed; the council later agreed to handle budget-related resolutions as separate items and to continue work on budget detail and means-of-financing allocations.
There was no final vote approving the FY2025–26 operating budget during the meeting; city officials said they will provide detailed account-level documentation to the council to show how grants and ARPA-related items were recorded and to identify any remaining balances that are legitimately available for district-level spending.","Councilors pressed the administration for clearer accounting after questions about how ARPA funds and a Dawson Park appropriation were recorded and spent; officials said $12,500 of a $25,000 Dawson Park appropriation has documented expenditures pending state reimbursement paperwork.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6174241,"Bastrop council hears plan to ramp up code enforcement, schedules environmental court work for August",2454,676000,3130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7&start=676&end=3130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5371154-b124354f8f5a0128fc49cc19c10e42a7/thumbnail_676000.jpg","/articles/6174241/Bastrop/Morehouse-Parish/Louisiana/Bastrop-council-hears-plan-to-ramp-up-code-enforcement-schedules-environmental-court-work-for-August","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6174241-a18b8d4c2e100ed52099f0ed9ac12fe5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169657&Signature=l7nXPQBwpJsOR8mI87EZju3EKY6evRqF36W8uCN5Z5NvHiJotKlAQvcr~pD2qRH04QA0uymhezOuiQqsvRLiQvcxjS83c3K7~y9YzNELGq27DZvDseiDlEnV4vrt1kqYBzVHSYWWceJxqjc2RNYzhOi9mQz0CptJwMrOkQJKJFgsRjhUy1u1~hehwYa0sbH51kbdLLGCIi-Rb93HI4rAmeLcMz-lMBHDSkt1rQUs~8yXUarX46orOTO2y6kFSrqCNRWVLMhBpc4o~OwxsK7dzS0oBdhVTITG8yMh6yqYWlTOa6xfAAqkiVI09Q4l5vmfmKMOqMBtMpi6tJN7HKwGHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City Council of Bastrop, Louisiana, heard an update on city code enforcement and environmental court activity, and city officials said they expect to have staff and court processes in place within about 30 days.
City attorney/administrator Jones told council members the administration has identified people to staff full-time code enforcement and is coordinating with the environmental court so that “August environmental court date would be the first court date to populate these things” and to begin abatement proceedings. Jones said the city has ‘‘an aggressive plan’’ to pursue nuisance-abatement work and that the administration hopes to begin sending notices and prosecuting cases starting in August.
The update followed multiple public comments naming specific blighted properties and asking the council to enforce standards. Council members pressed for a timeline and asked whether the city will have more than one enforcement staffer; Jones said the administration is working to fully staff the department but did not give a precise headcount, saying only that the office should be “filled and staffed ... within the next 30 days.”
Jones also said the city has a list compiled earlier by a previous code enforcement office—approximately 48–60 properties—that includes the most severe blight complaints and that the administration intends to use that list as a starting point. He noted the list is not exhaustive and that further properties will be added as complaints continue.
Mayor Warren Moore and council members discussed a ‘‘nuclear option’’ of withholding occupational licenses or revoking them for businesses owned by property owners who repeatedly create nuisance conditions; Jones said that change would require amending the occupational-license ordinance and would be brought to the council for a vote.
Council members and the administration emphasized stages of action: (1) recruiting and placing staff, (2) issuing required notices to property owners, (3) bringing cases to environmental court, and (4) pursuing abatement remedies. Hayden Downs was identified in the meeting transcript as the hearing officer who will preside over environmental court matters once the court is populated; Jones said Downs is ready to begin hearings.
Speakers raised collateral needs, such as coordination with neighboring jurisdictions where drainage or property issues cross municipal boundaries. Council members said they want clearer timelines for when enforcement officers will be working in the field and for proactive enforcement rather than relying solely on complaints.
The council did not vote on new code-enforcement legislation during the discussion; instead the administration indicated it will present staff and procedural changes and, when necessary, an ordinance amending the occupational-license rules will be scheduled for council action.","City officials told the Bastrop City Council that a code enforcement team and environmental court judge will be active in coming weeks, with staff hiring and an August docket expected to begin abatement work on long-running nuisance properties.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council advises approval of special-use permit for attached garage at 607 Orion Drive

Council approves a series of appointments and consultant contracts; questions raised about corporate ownership and eligibility

City staff say video vendor working month-to-month; council asked about $2,000 monthly payments

Council debates ARPA and Dawson Park grant accounting as budget adoption is delayed

Bastrop council hears plan to ramp up code enforcement, schedules environmental court work for August