Clinton board confirms key appointments, approves Mardi Gras parade permit and 2025 holiday schedule

The Town of Clinton Mayor and Board of Aldermen on Jan. 14 approved a slate of municipal appointments, granted a permit for a Jan. 25 Mardi Gras parade subject to a refundable cleanup deposit, and adopted the town’s 2025 holiday schedule.

Mayor Mark L. Kemp called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the board unanimously approved adding the 2025 holiday schedule to the agenda. The board then approved the minutes of the Dec. 10, 2024 meeting and accepted that there were no public comments on the record.

In a series of motions, the board appointed Anjanetha Shropshire as Town Clerk (moved by Alderman Janice Betrece, seconded by Alderman Beauchamp); Ned Davis as Chief of Police (moved by Alderman Clovis Matthews, seconded by Alderman Betrece); Tim Butler as Town Accountant (moved by Alderman Ben Morris, seconded by Alderman Beauchamp); Graham Arnold as Town Attorney (moved by Alderman Betrece, seconded by Alderman Beauchamp); Douglas Beauchamp as Fire Chief (moved by Alderman Ben Morris, seconded by Alderman Betrece); and named Alderman Janice Betrece Mayor Pro‑Tem (moved by Alderman Beauchamp, seconded by Alderman Ben Morris). All motions passed.

Sheila Flowers requested permission to hold a Mardi Gras parade on Jan. 25, 2025. Mayor Kemp told the board the town “do not have the manpower to clean after the parade” and summarized cleanup options and cost estimates presented to the council. Options reviewed included a Clean Sweep estimate calculated at $70 per hour for a truck, driver and a walker; a Beauchamp Enterprises estimate of about $650 for blowers and labor (not including a sweeper); and an Elite Waste estimate of $1,002 for two trucks and two people to walk and blow debris into the street for sweepers to collect. Police details were estimated at $200 per officer for 20 officers ($4,000). The board approved the parade permit and required a $1,002 cleanup deposit to be held by the town and refunded upon satisfactory cleanup.

Chief Ned Davis presented the police department’s December report and announced a $55,000 Pennington Foundation grant to purchase three police vehicles. Davis reported 30 citations issued in December, two tickets dismissed, eight calls, one arrest and one burglary/theft; he said fines collected through AMS totaled $1,950.77 and total fines including AMS were $8,063.77. Davis also noted Representative Kleinpeter’s $50,000 contribution this year and a $4,000 BJAG award toward body cameras.

Fire Chief Douglas Beauchamp summarized the department’s 2024 activity, reporting 305 total calls last year — including roughly 155 fire/alarms/gas leak and 150 emergency medical responses — and 2,235 hours of member training (about 124 hours per member on average). For Jan. 1–13, 2025, he reported 17 calls (including mutual aid) and noted the town’s insurance rating is 5, with surrounding areas rated 6.

Tim Butler, the town accountant, said the general fund and sales tax fund are in good standing but that the utility fund remains under stress due to aerator problems and some late bills; the board authorized PEC to repair the aerators. Butler said year‑end adjustments raised town revenues from $804,000 (previous year, before adjustments) to $1.2 million this year. Mayor Kemp also reported recent maintenance work including Feliciana Drive bridge repairs, guardrail installations and sewer and gas-line maintenance.

On the added agenda item, the board approved the 2025 Holiday Schedule for full‑time town employees, listing observed dates and the town’s rules for when holidays fall on weekends.

Alderman Betrece moved to adjourn at 7:30 p.m.; the motion was seconded by Alderman Ben Morris and passed.