The Leesville City Council met Monday, December 11, handling routine City business and ending the meeting with a positive financial outlook as reported by Mayor Rick Allen.
The Council held a public hearing on rezoning a parcel of land for a new commercial venture (All Hours Fitness) on the south end of Third Street. There were no objections.
The City had nearly $160,000 of monthly bills submitted in November. The City will advertise bids on two new Public Works Department trucks. They are also advertising bids on a side by side and a truck for the Ft. Johnson Vegetation Control Contract.
A site plan has been approved for the development of a 25-unit RV Park in the old Tower Trailer Park location west of town. The City adopted a resolution to continue to work with the developer on this project.
The Council approved renewal of the contract to provide audit services with the firm of Kolder, Champagne, Sloven and Company for the fiscal year 2023-2024. Mayor Allen thanked the firm and all City departments for a stellar audit report that puts Leesville into the top percentile in the state.
The City’s budget has increased over $6 million under the Allen administration. Allen lauded the Police and Fire Departments for being under budget in 2023. Overall City expenditures came in $1 million under budget. The City showed a net operating surplus of $2.4 million. As Allen explained, if the City were to lose all revenue, it would be able to operate for 391 days, which is well above average for municipalities the size of Leesville. The actual report is posted on the City’s website.
Allen also announced that there will be no increase in 2024 for City water customers. Six years ago the City was losing about $6 per water customer. This year they will profit $1 per customer.
Leesville City Police Chief Beth Westlake introduced new City police officers to the Council–many of them right out of the regional police academy. New officers include Michael Dennis, Joshua Conn, Zachary Locke, Ashlee Buch, Angelina Smith, Brianna McQueary, Darrel Simmons, Tyler Hardwick, and Michael Campbell. Chief Westlake also introduced Korina Evans, a newly-hired victim advocate.
The mayor invited all Vernon Parish residents to attend the City’s Jingle & Mingle event this Saturday, December 16, at City Hall from 4-8 p.m.