Board approves minutes, maintains millage rate and authorizes rail-facility lease; moves to executive session

At its July 22 meeting the Port of Lake Charles board took several procedural and consent actions.

The board approved the minutes from the June 24, 2024 regular meeting after a motion by Mister Johnson and a second by Mister Bridal; the chair declared the motion passed after asking for objections.

On Submission 2024-026, the board adopted a millage rate of 2.48 mills for the 2024 tax year. Mister Veil explained the assessor’s revaluation showed no substantial change in assessed values despite it being a revaluation year; a motion to adopt the rate was moved by Mister Craver and seconded by Miss Muriel, and the chair declared the motion passed.

On Submission 2024-027, the board authorized the executive director to enter a lease agreement with South Louisiana Rail Facility for loading at the Turning Basin. Mister Self described lease negotiations that may include port-funded improvements not to exceed $5,000,000; the planned lease structure would reimburse any port contributions plus a capital-recovery figure. A motion was made and seconded and, hearing no objections, the chair declared the motion passed. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or individual tallies.

Finally, the chair entertained and the board approved a motion to move into executive session; the motion was moved and seconded and the board proceeded into executive session.

No amendments or named vote tallies were recorded in the public transcript for these items; the chair recorded each motion as adopted after asking for objections and hearing none.