Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation And Parks topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police jury backs transfers to get Lavenderville ballpark work started and directs ordinance review to form recreation district
Summary
Jurors committed ward transfers to fund immediate repairs at Lavenderville Ballpark, directed staff to pull the existing recreation‑district ordinance and review boundaries for a possible recreation district covering Wards 2, 3‑1 and 4, and approved transfers into Ward 2 Recreation to advance cleanup and repairs.
The Assumption Parish Police Jury on April 9 heard pleas to restore Lavenderville Ballpark, approved intra‑ward transfers to provide immediate money for initial work and directed staff to pull and review the ordinance that would be amended to create a recreation district for the Lavenderville area.
Heather Rhodes and other community members reported damaged lighting and infrastructure at Lavenderville Ballpark. The parish reported remaining FEMA funds of $45,994.93 and provided rough contractor estimates for replacement of poles and fixtures (rough quotes in the packet ranged from roughly $58,000 to $75,000 depending on scope). Jurors discussed pole availability and whether donated poles could be staged by July. Several jurors pledged funds to cover shortfalls for immediate work; Mr. Nakan moved to approve transfers from Ward 7, Ward 3, Ward 8 and Ward 9 to Ward 2 Recreation, with Mr. Diaz seconding; the motion carried.
Jurors also discussed forming a recreation district covering Wards 2, 3‑1 and 4 (to combine existing rec districts and create governance for ongoing recreation programming). Staff advised that an amended ordinance is required to activate or change district boundaries and that public hearings and publication requirements apply; the jury asked staff to pull the current ordinance, review boundaries and return with a draft amendment and schedule for public hearing. Jurors emphasized the need to remove standing utility meters/tags and unsafe poles to allow residents to enter the park and begin cleanup while acknowledging that fully removing meters could create higher costs to re‑establish service later.
The jury also heard a community safety project presentation from HSH Contractors and NMS Beta Club students proposing life‑jacket signage and a life‑jacket rack at Tackle Hall boat launch; jurors donated 40 life jackets from personal donations to seed the rack.
Votes: motion to authorize transfers into Ward 2 Recreation from multiple wards — motion by Mr. Nakan, second by Mr. Diaz — approved. Motion to pull and review ordinance to form a recreation district and return with draft amendment and public‑hearing schedule — committee to proceed; staff to prepare ordinance and boundary maps for the next meeting.
