Iberville Council approves $9 million library bond, phases in uniform water and sewer rates and sets budget hearings

The Iberville Parish Council on Oct. 21 adopted an ordinance to incur $9 million in debt for a tax bond to fund the parish library and approved a phased amendment to a proposed ordinance that will establish uniform water and sewer rates over three years.

Council members voted by roll call to adopt the library bond ordinance after a motion and second were offered. Miss Jenkins moved the measure and Mr. Bradford seconded it; the roll call recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried. The council then considered an amendment to the uniform water and sewer rates ordinance intended to phase implementation over a three-year period. Councilman Terry Bradford moved the amendment and Miss Jenkins seconded. The amendment passed on a roll-call vote with Council member Juel recorded as the sole "no".

Both measures were positioned as part of the council's broader budget process for fiscal 2026. The council voted to set the ordinance adopting the FY2026 operating and capital improvement budget for a public hearing on Nov. 18, 2025, and scheduled a special budget hearing for Nov. 5, 2025, at 6 p.m. Miss Jenkins moved to set the public hearing; Mr. Darden seconded. Mr. Pierce moved and Miss Martinez seconded the special hearing.

Council discussion emphasized pacing rate changes and aligning ordinance timing with community input. The water and sewer amendment's three-year phase was presented as a way to soften rate impacts while moving toward uniformity across the parish. The transcript records specific roll-call votes for each motion.

What happens next: the parish will hold the scheduled hearings for public comment. The water and sewer ordinance will be implemented according to the approved three-year addendum unless council members act to change the timeline during those hearings.