Mayor DeCour outlines roughly 70 municipal projects, from parks to roads and marinas

Mayor Freddie DeCour used the Oct. 16 City Council meeting to list what he described as roughly 70 projects completed or under way during his administration, and to sketch priorities the next council will inherit.

In a nearly hour-long report — delivered as part of the agenda’s project-update item — the mayor cited completed and in-progress work including road programs, downtown historic-district initiatives, park and marina upgrades, museum expansion, a new police department formed in 2018, pickleball and tennis court resurfacing, the PepperPlex economic district and steps toward a skate park and a new senior center.

Key projects and finance notes mentioned by the mayor and during council discussion: - New and planned road programs: the mayor said a voter-approved or restructured tax produced a program that will fund approximately $17.5 million in construction; engineering was under way and the city planned to advertise bids by February. - Sewer upgrades: the mayor said the city funded a roughly $4.0 million sewer improvement project in-house, citing a $2.5 million loan plus internal funds; he also said the city turned down $5.0 million in state funds because the state’s conditions would have required raising sewer user fees. - PepperPlex and sports investments: the PepperPlex economic development district has capital-outlay requests pending and is tied to road and signage improvements the mayor expects will draw tournaments and economic activity. - Parks and downtown investments: the mayor highlighted visitor-center renovation, the Evangeline neon sign restoration, marinas and bulkhead work, museum additions and numerous neighborhood park upgrades, and said those projects helped attract retailers such as Hobby Lobby and Rouses. - Public-safety and cameras: an ongoing crime-camera installation program was described as a roughly $2.0 million effort, with state assistance recently adding $250,000 and the system monitored 24/7.

On the timing and funding front, the mayor repeatedly emphasized that many projects had taken years and often required stacking smaller grants and in-house funds. He said some capital-outlay awards were late, and acknowledged that substantial projects (for example PepperPlex completion) would take additional state approvals and funding flows.

Council members used the update to ask follow-up questions about specific projects and to press staff about schedules for ARPA-funded programs, restroom renovations at recreation centers and planned grant applications.

The mayor’s overview served both as a wrap-up of the outgoing council’s work and a roadmap for projects the next council will inherit. He urged continued effort on grant-seeking and marketing of city assets to stimulate private investment; council members thanked him and the administration for what they called a “team” approach to the projects.