Scott council adopts ordinances, authorizes bonds and approves variances and donations

The Scott Mayor and City Council approved a slate of ordinances, resolutions, and administrative actions at its Feb. 6, 2020 meeting, including authorizing sales-tax bonds, establishing a downtown overlay district and design-review board, agreeing to an intergovernmental bridge rehabilitation contract and granting noise variances.

Councilman Bergeron moved to adopt Ordinance 2019-29 to establish the Scott Downtown Core Overlay District (DCOD); consultant Steve Villavaso said the overlay "will be on top of standards and requirements already in place but will add regulations on landscaping, signs, fences, billboards, paintings, etc. to increase aesthetic appeal to the St. Mary St. Corridor." The ordinance was carried by majority.

The council also adopted Ordinance 2019-30 to create a Scott Design Review Board; Mayor Richard said community members will form the committee. Council approved Ordinance 2020-1 to incur debt and issue up to $12,000,000 of Sales Tax Bonds, Series 2020; David Medlin (Government Consultants) and Mr. Hardy (Foley and Judell) recommended accepting the terms from the lowest bidder, Regions Bank.

Public-works updates presented earlier in the meeting noted that "Bihm Construction has finished work on the Hwy 93 Force Main $45,000 under budget," and that the W. Willow sewer-extension project should be completed by April 2020, weather permitting. The council authorized an intergovernmental agreement with Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government for Old Spanish Trail bridge rehabilitation; Pat Logan (LCG) said Scott's share of the project is $54,000 of a $225,000 total.

Councilman Boudreaux introduced Ordinance 2020-3 (storm-drain discharge prohibitions) and Ordinance 2020-4 (flood-protection inspection and cost-assessment provisions); both were set for adoption at the March 5, 2020 meeting. The council adopted multiple resolutions including cooperative endeavors with the Apollo-Destination Pointe Consolidated Economic Development District (Resolutions 2020-5 and 2020-6), approved the donation of a 2015 Ford (VIN #1FM5K8AR8FGA35599) to Rayne and three laptops to the Village of Cankton Police Department, and declared certain computers surplus to be destroyed.

On local-business requests, the council granted a noise-ordinance variance to Fright Trail (5401 Cameron St.) for the month of October; the owner, Rich Hanf, requested the variance. The minutes record that the motion to grant the variance carried by majority, with Councilman Hollier voting against and Councilman Montoucet absent. The council also later granted a variance to Uncle T's Restaurant (1001 St. Mary St.) to permit monthly hood cleaning hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on the third Monday of the month.

Council members also voted to amend the budget by $15,700 to cover increased costs after the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office cancelled a lawn-maintenance contract; the minutes specify $4,700 for parade cleanup and $11,000 for contract labor for the remainder of the fiscal year. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

The minutes record outcomes as "motion carried by majority" for most votes; the record does not include detailed roll-call tallies for every motion.