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Hammond council denies rezoning, approves multiple contracts and purchases; several items tabled
Summary
At its March 25 meeting the Hammond City Council voted to deny a rezoning request, approved contracts for wastewater repairs and railroad inspections, authorized vehicle purchases and several other resolutions; the council tabled a street-closure permit and a road-repair grant item for further discussion.
The Hammond City Council on March 25 denied a rezoning request for a property on South Range Road and approved a slate of contracts and equipment purchases while tabling several items for later consideration.
The council voted to deny an ordinance that would have rezoned 508 South Range Road from RM-2 to MX-C. Council members voted in favor of denying the rezoning at the adoption stage after the property owner requested the item be tabled and did not appear at the hearing.
The council approved an amendment to the city's code of ordinances on condemnation and demolition of unsafe buildings, a change staff said will move applicable state law into local code and remove an outdated demolition-code reference. City attorney/staff described the change as intended to give the building department a clearer demolition checklist.
Council members awarded the low bid for valve curtain and South wastewater treatment plant repairs to Mitchell Contracting for $276,000 and approved a city contract with Tyser Ready Mix for city concrete work under a state contract. The council also authorized the mayor to enter an annual contract with Veil Technical Services for railroad track, signal and bridge inspections (estimated annual amount $33,420).
On equipment and fleet, the council approved the purchase of four Ford F-150 crew cab 4WD trucks for the fire department at a total sale price of $191,475, which the administration said would provide quick-response capability for brush and small-incident response and allow the city to avoid buying larger, more costly fire apparatus for some calls.
The council accepted a $250,000 grant from Tangipahoa Parish Government toward improvements to West Minnesota Park Road but, after extended debate about whether to use concrete or asphalt and concerns about scheduling and district priorities, members voted to table final action on that project to allow further discussion. A street-closure and open-container waiver request for a Cinco de Mayo event was also tabled after staff noted the paperwork submitted bore the wrong date.
The council approved a $50,000 application to the T-Mobile Hometown Grant program for interior improvements at the Miller Memorial Library, a city-owned building described by staff as underused and in need of interior work.
Several items were introduced for later public hearings, including an ordinance to request a conditional use variance to place a mobile home on a vacant lot at 106 Alexander (introduced for a future public hearing after a Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation).
Votes at a glance (key items) - Deny rezoning: Motion to deny rezoning of 508 South Range Road (RM-2 to MX-C) — outcome: motion to deny passed (Ayes: Councilman Wells; Councilman Divitario; Councilwoman Gonzales; Councilman Andrews; Councilman Leon). - Ordinance amendment (demolition): Adopt ordinance amending condemnation/demolition code — outcome: approved (Ayes recorded: Councilman Debuterio; Councilwoman Gonzales; Councilman Andrews; Councilman Leon; Councilman Wells). - WWTP repairs (contract award): Award to Mitchell Contracting, $276,000 — outcome: approved (Ayes recorded: Council members present). - Tyser Ready Mix contract (state contract): Authorize mayor to sign — outcome: approved. - Railroad inspections (Veil Technical Services): Authorize annual contract, est. $33,420 — outcome: approved. - Fire vehicles purchase: Authorize purchase of four F-150s (total $191,475) — outcome: approved. - West Minnesota Park Road: Accept $250,000 parish grant with $370,000 city match — outcome: tabled for further discussion. - La Corada Cinco de Mayo closure/open-container waiver: request tabled due to improper paperwork. - Uncorked (Franconia Fine Wines) wholesale alcohol permit: initially tabled when applicant not present; later reconsidered and approved after applicant arrived. - T-Mobile Hometown Grant (Mill Memorial Library) $50,000 application: approved.
The council proceeded through a full agenda that included introductions and reports; several items were discussed at length while others were routine approvals. Staff repeatedly emphasized that some approvals were on state-contract pricing or followed standard bid procedures.
