Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Ppdr topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge council to oppose de‑annexation; residents and staff express frustration with PPDR delays and local nuisance problems
Summary
Speakers urged the council to reject a pending de‑annexation request, described nuisance conditions at a neighborhood house, and city staff reported ongoing delays in the PPDR demolition program.
Public commenters at the Sulphur City Council meeting urged the council to oppose a de‑annexation request for multiple parcels and raised neighborhood safety concerns; staff gave an update on the federal PPDR (Post‑Disaster Recovery/Demolition) program status.
Danny DePetta told the council that a de‑annexation request by private owners (identified in public comment as KNI LLC and Hackberry Court, LLC Investments) had been denied 5‑0 by the city’s land use commission on Oct. 21, 2024, and that proponents continue to push the matter. DePetta said the parcels lie within three miles of many council districts and asked council members to “please, when the vote does come up, vote no.”
Resident Cindy Robertson described chronic nuisance problems at 613 West Bergen, including frequent police and ambulance responses and rodent activity. Robertson said she has called police repeatedly; the council and staff advised that the police department and code enforcement are the appropriate channels to document incidents and pursue enforcement.
City staff member Austin provided a status update on the PPDR program and said the city has submitted required materials and is waiting on approvals. “We have submitted everything that is possible to be submitted… we’re just waiting,” Austin said. Austin and council members expressed frustration with the program’s timeline and noted that delays have left hazardous structures standing: “our frustration level is over the top,” Austin said.
The council did not take a formal vote on the de‑annexation during the meeting; public commenters asked the council to consider ordinance changes or time limits on pending land‑use requests. Staff said some parish properties recently received PPDR approvals in December and the city is expecting similar action “in the near future,” but provided no firm timetable.
Speakers advised residents to continue reporting nuisance incidents to police and to follow up with city code enforcement so the city can build records for enforcement or demolition if approvals come through.
