Metropolitan Council approves flag design, multiple contracts and appropriations; roundup of votes

The East Baton Rouge Parish Metropolitan Council took a series of votes at its June 25 meeting approving a parish flag design, several contracts and service agreements, a special‑election resolution for a fire district tax renewal and multiple construction and procurement items.

Flag adoption: The council approved a proposed design for an official flag for East Baton Rouge Parish, presented by Mark LeBlanc of the public works department. The design includes a symbolic red band representing the parish’s “red stick” origin, a depiction of the Mississippi River and a shield referencing French, Spanish and British historical emblems. LeBlanc said he will donate a 5‑by‑8‑foot flag to the parish; council members voted to accept the design and display the flag.

Contracts and procurement: The council authorized the mayor‑president to execute a contract with Corporate Mechanical Contractors for HVAC labor and chiller services at various city‑parish buildings in an amount of $1,000,750; it approved a one‑year maintenance agreement with Tyler Technologies Inc. for Munis and execution software support not to exceed $475,000; and it approved airport contracting items including bidding and construction administration work and floor‑care services for airport facilities. The aviation director presented the airport items and council members approved the motions.

Fire district election: The council adopted a resolution calling a special election on Nov. 15, 2025, in Fire Protection District No. 6 for a nine‑year renewal of a 5‑mill ad valorem property tax; the resolution estimated annual revenues of approximately $351,194.50 for each year of the levy and specified the proceeds would fund fire protection facility development, operation and maintenance.

Other actions: The council approved an amendment to the 2025 operating budget to appropriate $60,500 for 12 replacement portable radios for the coroner’s office; authorized supplemental agreements and change orders for several transportation and drainage engineering contracts; accepted final contract amounts for paving and pavement‑marking work; and approved the settlement of a pre‑litigation claim of $26,000 for an auto accident claim against the Baton Rouge Police Department.

Condemnations and adjudicated properties: The council reviewed a slate of condemnation introduc­tions and recommendations from the Department of Public Works, set various deferral periods (30, 60 and 90 days) for specific cases, deleted two condemnation items and took bids and final acceptances on adjudicated property sales as listed in the agenda.

Procedural notes: Several items were introduced and suspended of rules by council motion. A number of matters carried on unanimous votes; where council members registered objections in debate the minutes record those objections or motions carried after recorded votes.

Votes at a glance

- Item 76 — Ordinance approving a design for the official flag of East Baton Rouge Parish — Approved (motion by councilman Mote; second by councilman Hudson). - Item 77 — Resolution calling a special election for Fire Protection District No. 6 (renewal of 5 mills for 9 years; election 11/15/2025) — Approved (motion by councilman Hudson; second by councilman Hurst). - Item 78 — Contract with Corporate Mechanical Contractors for HVAC/chiller services ($1,000,750) — Approved (motion by councilman Mote; second by councilwoman Amoroso). - Item 79 — Agreement with Tyler Technologies Inc. for Munis/Executon maintenance (not to exceed $475,000) — Approved (motion by Councilman Kennedy; second by Councilman Gaudet). - Item 80 — Access agreement with Half Moon Pictures LLC for On Patrol Live — Approved (detailed in separate article). - Item 81–83 — Airport supplemental agreements and service contracts — Approved (motions and seconds recorded on the agenda; motion carries). - Item 84 — Settlement: Irelle Wisham auto accident (payment $26,000) — Approved (motion by councilman Hudson; second by councilman Gaudet; one objection recorded). - Item 89 — Request to delete rescinding/contract award item for Old Hammond Highway Segment 1 — Deleted (motion carried). - Items 112–116 — Change orders, final acceptances and low bids for paving, forcemain and other publicworks projects — Approved (motions carried; specific amounts recorded in agenda).

Council members also scheduled and managed numerous condemnations and adjudicated property sales, setting deferral periods where recommended by staff. Where departments requested deletions or deferrals, the council granted those requests by motion and vote.

The council adjourned and said it would reconvene at 4 p.m. for its regular business meeting.