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Iowa council accepts sewer project completion, approves land swap and adopts audit questionnaire; Coushatta CEA tabled
Summary
At its Sept. 8 meeting the Town of Iowa Council unanimously accepted substantial completion of the City Park lift-station sewer outfall improvements (Project No. 1-2022-204), adopted the annual Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire for the town audit, approved a parcel exchange for park use, and tabled a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Coushatta tribe pending language review.
The Town of Iowa Council on Sept. 8, 2025 accepted the substantial completion of Project No. 1-2022-204, City Park Lift Station Sewer Line Outfall Improvements, approved a land parcel exchange intended for public park use, and adopted the annual Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire required for the town audit; the council also tabled a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Coushatta tribe for water and sewer services pending further review.
Council Member Daniel Hennigan moved to accept the sewer outfall project as substantially complete and Council Member Vernessa Guillory seconded. The resolution (Res. 2025-11) notes that D. W. Jessen & Associates, LLC informed the town that contractor Blake D. Hines, Inc. had substantially completed its contract; the council accepted the improvements and authorized advertising the 45-day lien period that precedes final payment and formal transfer to town maintenance.
Town Clerk Cynthia Mallett presented the financial report and then explained Resolution 2025-12, the Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire required by the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Council Member Vernessa Guillory moved to adopt the questionnaire, Council Member Julie Fontenot seconded, and the motion passed unanimously; the questionnaire and the adopting resolution will be forwarded to the town’s auditors, McElroy, Quirk & Burch, as required.
Town Attorney Russell Stutes III advised the council that state constitutional public-purpose authority allows the municipality to exchange property for parks and recreation purposes. Acting on that explanation, Council Member Daniel Hennigan moved and Council Member Joe Becnel seconded a motion approving the exchange of parcel #0072 (302 W. Highway 90, Iowa, LA) for parcel recorded as #00728071@300906-0000-1200022 000, for use and benefit of public parks. The council authorized Mayor Douglas N. Watkins to execute any documents necessary to effect the exchange.
Mayor Watkins read an agenda item proposing a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Coushatta tribe for the provision of water and sewer services. Town Attorney Stutes said amended language was provided earlier that day and the council had not had sufficient time to review the changes; Council Member Julie Fontenot moved to table the item, Council Member Daniel Hennigan seconded, and the motion to table passed unanimously.
With no additional business, the council adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Res. 2025-11 (accept project substantial completion) — approved unanimously; Res. 2025-12 (adopt Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire) — approved unanimously; parcel exchange for park purposes — approved unanimously; Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Coushatta tribe — tabled unanimously.
Next steps: the clerk will advertise the 45-day lien period for the sewer project as authorized by Res. 2025-11; the completed Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire and a copy of the adopting resolution will be forwarded to McElroy, Quirk & Burch; Mayor Watkins is authorized to sign documents to finalize the approved parcel exchange; the CEA with the Coushatta tribe will return for council consideration after attorneys and staff complete their review of the revised language.
