April 2025 Regular Meeting

Town of Farmerville Regular Meeting - April 14, 2025

Town of Farmerville
Regular Meeting
April 14, 2025

The Farmerville Town Council met in regular session at Farmerville Community Center, located at 407 South Main Street, Farmerville, Louisiana, April 14, 2025. The council members present were Mayor John Crow, Alderman Robert Allen, Caroline Gatson, Thomas Nation and Ricky Johnikin. Kerry Hill was absent

The roll was called and with a quorum present Mayor Crow called the meeting to order and invocation was offered by Mr. Keith Jeselink.

As state law requires, Town Clerk, Gay Nell Pepper, offered the public the opportunity to voice their opinion on all agenda items at this time. There were no comments.

On motion by Gatson, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to approve the minutes from March 10, 2025, regular meeting.

On motion by Allen, seconded by Nation and unanimously approved to approve the payables from March.

On motion by Gatson, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to accept the monthly revenue and expenditure report for February as presented.

At this time a public hearing was conducted to hear the views and opinions of citizens concerning the adoption of Ordinaance No 01-25.

On moiton by Gatson, seconded by Allen and unanimously approved to adopt Ordinance No 01-25 pertaining to the sale of public property.

TOWN OF FARMERVILLE
ORDINANCE #01-25
AN ORDINANCE DECLARING IMMOVABLE PROPERTY
AS SURPLUS PROPERTY AND PROVIDING FOR THE
ADVERTISING FOR BIDS AND DISPOSITION
BY PUBLIC SALE

WHEREAS, La. R.S. 33:4712 authorizes municipalities to sell property owned by municipalities and declare property as surplus property, and
WHEREAS, the TOWN OF FARMERVILLE purchased and owns a tract of land which was purchased for use as an industrial park, which tract had 58.449 acres and currently has 34.449 acres and in order to promote business, industry and economic development, desires to sell 12 acres of said tract for use as an industrial business.
BE IT ORDAINED that the Board of Alderman of the TOWN OF FARMERVILLE, hereby declare the following tract of immovable property to be surplus property, to-wit:
DESCRIPTION OF A 12.00 ACRE TRACT FOR THE TOWN OF FARMERVILLE

A tract of land, being a portion of that certain Town of Farmerville tract as described in Conveyance Book 1310, page 447, situated in the Southwest 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 and the Southeast 1/4 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 18, Township 21 North, Range 1 East, Land District North of Red River, Town of Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana, and being more particularly described as follows:

Commencing at a 1/2 inch iron pipe found at the South 1/4 corner of Section 18, T21N, R1E;

Thence North 3190.83 feet and West, 745.64 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set on the East right of way of “Louisiana Highway No. 15” per State Project No. 154-01-04 and the POINT OF BEGINNING of herein described tract;

Thence North 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds East, a distance of 1384.24 feet to a MAG nail set in the center of “Camp Road” (Union Parish asphalt) (being referenced North 90 degrees 00 minutes 00 seconds West, 28.24 feet by a 5/8 inch rebar set);

Thence along the said center of “Camp Road” on the following courses:

South 01 degree 14 minutes 38 seconds East, a distance of 17.14 feet to a cotton picker spindle found;
South 03 degrees 46 minutes 48 seconds West, a distance of 414.81 feet to a cotton picker spindle found;
South 02 degrees 21 minutes 18 seconds West, a distance of 110.90 feet to a cotton picker spindle found at the Southeast corner of that certain Town of Farmerville tract as described in Conveyance Book 1310, page 447, also being on the South line of the Southwest 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4 of said Section 18;

Thence North 89 degrees 51 minutes 21 seconds West along the South line of the said Town of Farmerville tract (CB 1310 PG 447) and the said South line of the Southwest 1/4 of the Northeast 1/4, a distance of 37.60 feet to a 1/2 inch iron pipe found on the East line of Lot No. 20 of the Atkins Estate as recorded in Plat Book ‘B’, page 139;

Thence North 00 degrees 03 minutes 48 seconds East along the said East line of Lot No. 20 (Plat Book ‘B’, PG 139), a distance of 128.63 feet to a 1/2 inch iron pipe found at the Northeast corner thereof;

Thence North 86 degrees 50 minutes 43 seconds West along the North line of said Lot No. 20 and the North line of Lot No. 10 of the said Atkins Estate (Plat Book ‘B’ PG 139), a distance of 1304.81 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set on the said East right of way of “Louisiana Highway No. 15” (being referenced South 86 degrees 50 minutes 43 seconds East, 7.32 feet by a 1/2 inch iron pipe found);

Thence North 07 degrees 14 minutes 42 seconds West along the said East right of way, a distance of 32.89 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set;

Thence North 01 degree 32 minutes 04 seconds West along the said East right of way, a distance of 308.79 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 12.00 acres and being subject to any easements, servitudes or rights of way thereon and/or of record.
Bearings are relative to grid bearings of the Louisiana Coordinate System of 1983 – North Zone as obtained by GPS observation (Reference Frame: NAD_83(2011)(EPOCH:2010.0000).
The above described tract is more fully shown on plat of survey by Craig T. Stiffler, P.L.S. and Delta Land Surveying, L.L.C., dated 2-7-2025 (Project No. 25-02-02).
LESS AND EXCEPT
A reservation by the Town of Farmerville of all the oil, gas and other liquid or gaseous hydrocarbons located in or under the above described property. This mineral reservation is subject to a no drilling clause on any of the above described property.

MINIMUM PRICE: $87,000.00

TERMS: The property can only be used for industrial purposes. The sale must close not more than 60 days after the Mayor and Board of Alderman of the TOWN OF FARMERVILLE accepts the successful bid. R.S. 41:1338 which requires that the TOWN OF FARMERVILLE, a political subdivision of the State of Louisiana offer to sell the above described property back to the original vendor does not apply as the vendor waived said right. The TOWN OF FARMERVILLE reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED that advertisement for bids be published and that the Mayor of Farmerville is hereby authorized to take any and all steps and sign any and all documents necessary, in his sole discretion, to carry out the sale as set forth herein.

Introduced on February 24, 2025.

After reading of the above, section by section, the vote was as follows, to-wit:

YEAS: ALLEN, NATION, JOHNIKIN, GATSON
NAYS: NONE
ABSENT: HILL

The ordinance was declared adopted this 14th day of April, 2025.

GAY NELL PEPPER MAYOR JOHN T. CROW

On motion by Nation, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to authorized the closing of the street downtown on Saturday, May 17th, for a car show.
On motion by Nation, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to purchase a new trash compactor for use at Foster Farms.

On motion by Gatson, seconded by Allen and unanimously approved to adopt Resolution No 04-25 pertaining to abandonment of partial right of way on Old Hwy 15.

RESOLUTION NO 04-25
ABANDONMENT OF RIGHT OF WAY

WHEREAS R.S. 48:701 provides a municipality may revoke and set aside the dedication of all roads, streets and alleyways laid out and dedicated to public use within the respective limits when roads, streets and alleyways have been abandoned or are no longer needed for public purposes.
The Union Parish Police Jury acquired via abandonment from the State of Louisiana certain right of ways recorded at COB 244 page 95 and COB 244, page 369 records of Union Parish Louisiana and the Town of Farmerville via annexation and a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement between the Union Parish Police Jury and the Town of Farmerville recorded at COB 1301, page 160 under Instrument No. 2012-00369791 recorded on April 3, 2012 records of Union Parish, Louisiana, took over certain portions of the right of way. Said plat provided for streets and alleyways dedicated for public use. Now the Town of Farmerville desires to take advantage of R.S. 48:701 and abandon a portion of the road no longer needed for public purpose.
THEREFORE be it ordained that the Town of Farmerville does hereby officially abandon, revoke and set aside the following described portion of the right of way, to wit:

DESCRIPTION OF A 0.251 ACRE TRACT FOR EXCESS TOWN OF FARMERVILLE RIGHT OF WAY

A tract of land situated in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 1, Township 20 North, Range 1 West, Land District North of Red River, Town of Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana, and being more particularly described as follows:

Commencing at a 1 inch flat bar found at the Southwest corner of Section 1, T20N, R1W;

Thence North, 1269.13 feet and East, 2268.18 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set on the Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15” per State Project No. 69-02-11 (CB 210 PG 200) and the POINT OF BEGINNING of herein described tract;

Thence North 56 degrees 39 minutes 43 seconds West along the said Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15”, a distance of 58.39 feet to a point;

Thence North 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds West along the said Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15”, a distance of 149.99 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set at the intersection with the Easterly right of way of “Louisiana Highway No. 33” per State Project No. 69-02-11 (CB 210 PG 200);

Thence North 44 degrees 54 minutes 59 seconds East, a distance of 45.04 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set;

Thence South 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds East, a distance of 208.56 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set;

Thence continue South 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds East, a distance of 86.58 feet to a point in Lake D’arbonne on the Westerly line of that certain Union Property Rentals, LLC (UPR) tract as described in Conveyance Book 1225, page 247 (being referenced North 44 degrees 03 minutes 04 seconds East, 30.05 feet by a MAG nail set in the center of “Old Highway 15”;

Thence South 44 degrees 03 minutes 04 seconds West along a Westerly line of the said UPR tract (CB 1225 PG 247), a distance of 20.03 feet to a point in Lake D’arbonne at the intersection with the Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15” per State Project No. 156-03-04;

Thence North 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds West along the said Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15”, a distance of 44.39 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set at the intersection of State Project No. 156-03-04 and State Project No. 69-02-11;

Thence North 56 degrees 39 minutes 43 seconds West along the said Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15”, a distance of 44.69 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 0.251 acres and being subject to any easements, servitudes or rights of way thereon and/or of record.

The above described tract is more fully shown on plat of survey by Craig T. Stiffler, P.L.S. and Delta Land Surveying, L.L.C., dated 3-20-2025 (Project No. 20-11-06-B).

HOWEVER, the TOWN OF FARMERVILLE reserves unto itself the following servitude across the aforementioned property for utilities and maintenance of said utilities:

DESCRIPTION OF A TEN (10) FEET WIDE PREDIAL SERVITUDE FOR UTILITIES TO BE RESERVED BY THE TOWN OF FARMERVILLE (0.007 ACRES OR 292.4 SQUARE FEET)

A ten (10) feet wide predial servitude for utilities situated in the Southwest 1/4 of Section 1, Township 20 North, Range 1 West, Land District North of Red River, Town of Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana, and being more particularly described as follows:

Commencing at a 1 inch flat bar found at the Southwest corner of Section 1, T20N, R1W;

Thence North, 1269.13 feet and East, 2268.18 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set on the Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15” per State Project No. 69-02-11 (CB 210 PG 200);
Thence North 56 degrees 39 minutes 43 seconds West along the said Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15”, a distance of 58.39 feet to a point;

Thence North 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds West along the said Westerly right of way of “Old Highway 15”, a distance of 149.99 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set at the intersection with the Easterly right of way of “Louisiana Highway No. 33” per State Project No. 69-02-11 (CB 210 PG 200);

Thence North 44 degrees 54 minutes 59 seconds East, a distance of 45.04 feet to a 5/8 inch rebar set;

Thence South 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds East, a distance of 15.93 feet to a point and the POINT OF BEGINNING of herein described predial servitude;

Thence continue South 42 degrees 37 minutes 32 seconds East, a distance of 10.10 feet to a point;

Thence South 39 degrees 27 minutes 11 seconds West, a distance of 28.73 feet to a point;

Thence North 48 degrees 30 minutes 06 seconds West, a distance of 10.01 feet to a point;

Thence North 39 degrees 27 minutes 11 seconds East, a distance of 29.76 feet to the POINT OF BEGINNING, containing 0.007 acres (292.4 sq. ft.) and being subject to any easements, servitudes or rights of way thereon and/or of record.

The above-described tract is more fully shown on plat of survey by Craig T. Stiffler, P.L.S. and Delta Land Surveying, L.L.C., dated 3-20-2025, revised 4-14-2025 (Project No. 20-11-06-B).

The plat showing the abandoned portion of the right of way and the servitude retained is attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a part hereof.

MOTION made and seconded and adopted this 14th day of April, 2025 in Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana at a regular meeting of the Farmerville Town Aldermen.

Gay Nell Pepper, Town Clerk John Crow, Mayor

On motion by Gatson, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to adopt the Area Revitalization Plan as presented.

On motion by Johnikin, seconded by Allen ann unanimously approved to award the 2023 LCDBG Street Project to Amethyst Construction, Inc, with the lowest responsible bid of $791,675.00

On motion by Allen, seconded by Gatson and unanimously approved to authorize the expenditure of $196,061.00 to replace the carbon in the water tanks on Preaus Street and the add to current 2025 budget.

There being no further business to come before the council, Mayor Crow, declared this meeting adjourned this 14th day of April, 2025, on motion by Gatson, seconded by Johnikin.
/s/ John Crow, Mayor /s/Gay Nell Pepper, Town Clerk-Treasurer