February 2025 Regular Meeting

The Farmerville Town Council met in regular session at Farmerville Community Center, located at 407 South Main Street, Farmerville, Louisiana, February 10, 2025. The council members present were Mayor John Crow, Alderman Robert Allen, Caroline Gatson, Kerry Hill, Thomas Nation and Ricky Johnikin.

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

On motion by Allen, seconded by Gatson and unanimously approved to add Street Closures for Black Heritage Celebration to the agenda.

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 Hill and unanimously approved to approve the minutes from January 13, 2025, regular meeting.

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

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

On motion by Allen, seconded by Hill and unanimously approved to grant the request from the Farmerville Jaycees to close the streets downtown for the Louisiana Watermelon Festival held the last weekend in July.

On motion by Allen, seconded by Hill and unanimously approved to be a sleeve sponsor for the Louisiana Watermelon Festival T-shirts.

On motion by Allen, seconded by Hill and unanimously approved to adopt Resolution No. 01-25 pertaining to Municipal Water Pollution Prevention.

TOWN OF FARMERVILLE RESOLUTION NO 01-25

Resolved that the Town of Farmerville informs the LA Department of Environmental Quality that the following actions were taken by Town Council:

1. Resolved the Municipal Water Pollution Prevention Environmental Audit Report for January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024 is attached to this resolution.

2. Set forth the following actions necessary to maintain permit requirements contained in the LA Pollution Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) permit, #LA0039888.

3. To continue being good environmental stewards by maintaining our wastewater treatment plant and continuing required analytical analysis in accordance with our current LDEQ permit, including monthly monitoring of influent CBOD.

4. Continue to seek funding for improvements and reconstruction as needed.

Passed by a unanimous vote of the Town Council on this 10th day of February 2025.

On motion by Gatson, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to adopt Resolution No 02-25 pertaining to CWEF Grant.

RESOLUTION 02-25

WHEREAS, the Town of Farmerville operates a water system for the benefit of the citizens who live here, and;

WHEREAS, the Town of Farmerville wishes to have all water customers pay an amount that is fair for the water used while minimizing hazards to our employees, and;

WHEREAS, the Town of Farmerville is continuing its' effort to replace inactive and inaccurate water meters with a new AMI system that is scheduled for completion and implementation in 2025. To further improve the new AMI system the Town will, as funding allows, complete the installation of remote disconnect for all customers. This will allow the Town to be more responsive to customer emergencies, leak control and theft of water.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Aldermen of the Town of Farmerville, request that the Office of Community Development consider funding the project to continue to improve the water system by providing funds to make needed improvements. Passed and adopted by the Town of Farmerville, State of Louisiana, on the 10th day of February, 2025.

On motion by Hill, seconded by Johnikin and unanimously approved to authorize the Mayor to sign the AMI Contract for the Water Meter Project.

On motion by Hill, seconded by Gatson and unanimously approved to authorize to advertise for bids for a generator at the Preaus Street Water Plant.

On motion by Hill, seconded by Gatson and unanimously approved to authorize the mayor to sign CEA for mutual aid with the Union Parish Police Jury.

At this time the mayor announced his department liaisons for the 2025/2028 term as follows:

Robert Allen - Finance

Thomas Nation - Streets

Caroline Gatson - Recreation

Ricky Johnikin - Public Service

Kerry Hill - Emergency Services

On motion by Hill, seconded by Allen to appoint Caroline Gatson as Mayor Pro-tem for the 2025/2028 term. Motion carried with one Nay from Nation.

On motion by Nation, seconded by Allen and unanimously approved to grant the request from the Black Heritage Celebration Committee to close the streets downtown for February 15, 2025.

There being no further business to come before the council, Mayor Crow, declared this meeting adjourned this 10th of February, 2025, on motion by Gatson, seconded by Johnikin.

/s/ John Crow, Mayor

/s/Gay Nell Pepper, Town Clerk-Treasurer