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New Iberia council sets June 2 hearing on pay changes amid heated debate; approves multiple contracts and resolutions
Summary
After a lengthy debate about whether any compensation changes should apply to the current or next council, the body set a public hearing for June 2 on a proposed ordinance about council pay and approved a slate of contracts and resolutions including a $130,000 roofing contract under ARPA and procurement, grant and easement actions.
The New Iberia City Council on Monday set a June 2 public hearing on a proposed ordinance (202613) that would change how councilmember compensation is calculated, after an extended, at-times emotional debate over whether any change should apply to the current council or take effect for the next elected body.
Clerk introduced Ordinance 202613, described in the agenda as an amendment to Section 204 of the city’s home rule charter related to councilmember compensation and setting a public hearing. Council members debated whether a change should take immediate effect if adopted, whether the item should be limited to a car‑allowance adjustment rather than a full compensation increase, the historical lack of cost‑of‑living adjustments since the 1990s, and how New Iberia compares with peer cities.
Several council members said they would not vote themselves a raise in the current term. Councilmember Warren White described emotional and verbal abuse he said he experienced in his community and used that example while urging the council to consider how compensation and support affect people who serve. Mayor (role) said he would "vote yes to bring things to the people to let their voice be heard," emphasizing letting voters decide on the measure at a later step.
Beyond the compensation discussion, the council handled multiple routine and project-specific authorizations:
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 202611: Budget amendment to make payment to Iberia Parish School Board for electronic speed enforcement — public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; main motion taken and approved by machine vote (motion and second recorded).
- Ordinance (Civic Plus contract): Authorized the mayor to negotiate and execute a contract with Civic Plus for recreation management services (software); one public commenter clarified the product is scheduling software; motion approved.
- Ordinance (Monterey Street detention pond easement): Authorized easement acquisition for a $3 million detention pond to address flooding in the Kadian/Aadian Acres area; a public speaker asked about retention‑pond effectiveness and staff explained a hydrology study and federal grant criteria supported the project; motion approved.
- Resolution 2654: Awarded contract to Buford Roofing & Construction LLC for phase two of the ARPA 'One Block at a Time' residential roof replacement project (9 roofs; 3 metal, 6 shingle). Lowest responsive bid: $130,000; council asked about warranty; staff said a one‑year workmanship warranty applies to public works projects. Motion approved.
- Resolution 2655: Awarded six‑month ready‑mix contract to Baldwin Ready Mix; council discussed delivery fees and use of the city truck for small pours. Motion approved.
- Resolution 2656: Authorized maintenance agreement with Louisiana DOTD for mowing and litter pickup for FY ending June 30, 2027. Motion approved.
- Resolution 2657: Authorized cooperative endeavor agreement with Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs for city contribution to the Iberia Parish Veteran Service Office. Motion approved.
- Ordinances 202614, 202615, 202616: Council set public hearings for June 2, 2026 to consider a master services agreement for tax sale services (SRi Services, Inc.), a servitude agreement with Cleico Power LLC for utilities tied to the new academy, and a temporary occupancy/easement option with BNSF Railroad for downtown track work. Motions to set hearings passed.
Council members also received a property‑standards report listing numerous nuisance and unsafe properties; staff described the abatement process (title search, notices, asbestos testing, hearings) and said new legal assistance should accelerate enforcement.
What happens next: The compensation ordinance was set for public hearing on June 2. Several other ordinances also carry June 2 hearings; award contracts and resolutions will proceed to execution by the mayor and staff under the authorizations given by the council.
