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Iowa council adopts utility-bill adjustment ordinance, approves police promotions and hires
Summary
Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-02 allowing limited adjustments to water and sewer bills for municipal error, disaster-related leaks, and pre-approved high usage. The council also approved a slate of police promotions and four new hires, pending test results.
The Town of Iowa council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-02 on June 9, 2025, establishing procedures to adjust customer water and sewer bills in limited circumstances including municipal billing error, natural-disaster-related leaks, and pre-approved exceptional water usage (for example, pool filling).
Mayor Douglas Watkins read the ordinance's title and the measure cites Article VII, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution and several Attorney General opinions as guidance for lawful adjustments. Section provisions in the ordinance require customers to apply for adjustments, provide documentation for disaster-related leaks, and allow the town to limit adjustments to specified billing cycles. The ordinance was moved for adoption by Council Member Julie Fontenot, seconded by Council Member Vernessa Guillory, and adopted unanimously.
Later in the meeting Chief of Police Keith Vincent presented a slate of recommended promotions, saying the promotions were for the current fiscal year and that he had funds allocated for them. The council approved promotions including Jason Racca to major and Kristi Juarez to captain; the full list of approved promotions was presented and approved unanimously. Chief Vincent also recommended hiring several full-time patrol officers pending testing; Marshal Menard declined the offer and the council approved hiring Joshua McCoy, Trey Loewer, Taylor Jackson and Asia Johnson pending test results.
Council also approved a statement of work with CivicPlus, LLC, for code-of-ordinances services and a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to assist in the Summer Feeding Program; both motions passed unanimously. The council approved a multi-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Combined Anti-Drug Team (CAT) pending final review by town counsel.
The ordinance and personnel actions took effect or were approved at the June 9 meeting; hiring of patrol officers remained contingent upon successful completion of required tests and any other conditions noted by the chief.
