Archive | Gov’t

November Building Permits Resume Normal Pace

 

From the City of Central
    Building permits resumed a normal pace during the month of November 2011 within the city of Central. A total of 10 new residential permits were issued.  The total building valuation of these permits was $2,363,426. 
    Within these permits, two were issued in Woodstock with an average valuation of $210,631; one in Burlington Lakes with a valuation of $170,202; two in Wisteria Lakes with an average valuation of $212,748; one in Oak Cluster with a valuation of $348,304; one in Morgan Springs with a valuation of $143,686; and three on a private parcels of land with an average valuation of $284,825.  So far this year, a total of 129 new residential building permits have been issued.  
    Building valuation is the price based upon the square footage of the home used for permitting purposes.  The actual selling price of the home is usually higher than the valuation and depends upon amenities installed by the builder.
 

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David Vitter’s Staff to Hold Office Hours in Central Wednesday

Submitted by the City of Central

 

         U.S. Sen. David Vitter today announced satellite office hours for residents of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, Assumption, Ascension, St. James, St. Helena, East Feliciana and West Feliciana Parishes. Vitter uses satellite offices around the state to make it easier for his constituents to find help in dealing with the federal government.

Residents are invited to attend these office hours and meet with a member of Vitter’s staff to discuss any problems they may have with a federal government agency. Constituents unable to attend these office hours can always call the Baton Rouge regional office at (225) 383-0331 to speak to a member of Vitter’s staff.

Vitter will be represented by staff and will not personally be in attendance.

The office hours will be held:

 

 

Date:                           Wednesday, Dec. 14

 

Location/Time:          East Baton Rouge Parish

Central

City of Central Government Office

13421 Hooper Rd, Suite 7

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

 

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City Council Meeting Tomorrow at 6

 

There will be a City Council meeting this Tuesday, December 13 at 6 PM at Kristenwood.  The public is welcome to attend.  The agenda is as follows:
 
The rules for conducting such public hearings are as follows:
 
1) In compliance with R.S. 42:14(d) and Ordinance 2011-8, members of the public will be allowed 
to speak on any item upon which a vote is to be taken that is included on the agenda. The 
applicant will speak first for a period not to exceed 10 minutes. Other proponents will speak next, 
then the opponents. Each speaker will be allowed not more than three minutes. The speakers are 
requested to limit their remarks and to avoid duplication in their presentations.
 
2)  The proponents will be allowed three minutes for rebuttal.
 
3) Each councilman will be allowed a maximum of five (5) minutes to express his views on any one 
subject without interruption from the other members upon initial consideration and five (5) 
minutes for rebuttal.
 
I. Preliminary Business
 
1) Call to Order
 
2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
 
3) Roll Call
 
4) Approval of the minutes from the November 22, 2011 council meeting.
 
II. Unfinished Business
 
None
 
III. New Business
 
1) Mayor’s report and presentations.
 
2) Introduction of the following item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the  January 10,
2012 council meeting).
None
 
3) Public Hearing and action regarding the following instrument(s):
     a) A resolution canceling the December 27, 2011 council meeting.  (By Council Member Washington)C
     b) A resolution to authorize participation in the Department of Transportation and Development’s 2011 Transportation Enhancement Program for construction of sidewalks on the east side of Sullivan Road and on the south side of Wax Road and to provide for related matters.  (By Council Members Moak and DeJohn)
 
IV. Zoning Cases
 
(1) Introduction of the following item(s) (with Public Hearing to be held at the January 10, 2011 council meeting):
a) RZ-3-11 Rezoning.  This property is located at 14455 Wax Road, Suite A, on the north side of Wax Road near the Sullivan Road intersection in Sections 8 and 68, T-6-S, R-2-E, GLD, EBR, LA.  The applicant is proposing to rezone from C-2 (Heavy Commercial) to C-AB-1 (Commercial Alcoholic Beverage  District One) for a fullservice restaurant.  (Applicant:  Yuwen Zheng, Nagoya Central Inc.)
 
(2) Discussion and action regarding the following case(s):
None
 
V. Other Business
 
(1) Public Comment
* Restricted to items not on the agenda.  A Public Comment Request to Speak Card must be turned in to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting in order to be considered. Public comment is limited to 10 speakers with three minutes each.
 
(2) Announcements
 
(3) Adjournment

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Facilities/Equipment Committee Meeting Tomorrow

 

Members ofthe Facilities/Equipment Committee:
Mr. Willard Easley, Interim Chairman
Mr. Jim Lloyd
Dr. David Walker
Mr. Byron Clinkingbeard
 
Dear Committee Members:
The chairman has asked me to inform you that the Facilities/Equipment
Committee will meet on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at the City Hall
Office, located at 13421 Hooper Road, Suite 7, Central, LA at 6:00p.m.
The meeting has been called to consider the following agenda items:
 
1) To hear from a forester relative to options available for the 16th
section property. (Requested by Mr. Easley)
2) To receive a report regarding the 16th section property.
(Requested by Mr. Faulk, presented by Mr. Faulk)
3) To consider a request to update the security cameras at Central
High School (Requested by Mr. Faulk, presented by Mr. Faulk)
Sincerely,
 
Michael W. Faulk, Superintendent

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P&Z Caselist for 12/15 Meeting

 

CITY OF CENTRAL

MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSIONS

Thursday, December 15, 2011 6:00 P.M.

Kristenwood Meeting Facility

14025 Greenwell Springs Road

Central, Louisiana  70739

www.central-la.gov

 

 

THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES AND RULES APPLY TO PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

In accordance with rules of procedure, all items on these agendas are open for public comment. Those members of the public desiring to speak on a particular item should approach the podium and request to speak after the item is announced by the Chairman.

1.   A statement setting forth the applicant’s proposal, together with the Planning Commission Staff recommendation, will be made by the Planning Director and Staff after which the applicant and the public will be heard. Before speaking on the proposal, each speaker shall give his or her name and address and state whom he/she is representing. Anyone speaking as a civic association representative shall document that their presented views are those of the organization. 

2.   Applicant or applicant’s representatives for the proposal will speak first for a period not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes. Proponents for the proposal will speak second and a period of three (3) minutes will be allowed for each proponent.  Opponents or other interested parties will speak next and a period of three (3) minutes will be allowed for each opponent. There will be no limit to the number of persons who may speak, but speakers are encouraged to avoid duplication in their presentations.

3.   Applicant will be allowed a total period of five (5) minutes to offer rebuttal.  Opponents will not be allowed to rebut.

4.   The Commission Members may ask any questions and make comments, but are urged to cooperate in an effort to spend no more than fifteen (15) minutes in discussion of a case after all speakers have been heard.

5.   Items placed on the Consent Agenda by the Planning Commission Staff will not have time allocated for speaking, unless there is a member of the public present at the meeting who wishes to speak on the item. In such cases, the proposal will follow the standard.

6.   Unless noted otherwise, Planning Commission items are finally resolved by the Planning Commission without further presentation or action by the City Council.  Zoning Commission matters heard tonight by the Zoning Commission, unless specifically stated otherwise, will be heard by the Central City Council on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, unless the case is deferred by the Commission.  It is important that the applicant for each zoning case attend the Council Zoning meeting as well.

 

 

 

 

 

AGENDA

CITY OF CENTRAL PLANNING COMMISSION

Thursday, December 15, 2011 6:00pm

Kristenwood Meeting Facility

14025 Greenwell Springs Road

Central, LA 70739

 

1.    Call to Order

2.    Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance

3.    Roll Call

4.    Recitation of Rules

5.    Approval of Minutes (November 17, 2011 Planning Commission Meeting)

6.    Amendments and Consent Agenda: None

 

PUBLIC HEARING CASES (NEW BUSINESS):

7.    SS-16-11 Subdivision Tract A-2 of the Presley G. Clayton Property This property is located on the north side of Denham Road between the Joor and Devall Road intersections in Section 30, T5S, R2E, GLD, and EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to subdivide a tract into 2 single family residential lots and dedicate an existing drive as a private servitude of access with a waiver request of Section 13.6 I(4)  of the Unified Development Code. (Applicant: Howard Efferson)

8.    SS-17-11 Subdivision of Tract A-1-A-1 formerly of the Milton G. Harelson Property This property is located on the north side of Wax Road, west of Magnolia Blossom Avenue in Sections 4 and 9, T6S, R2E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to create one commercial tract within a Planned Unit Development for an orthodontics office. (Applicant: Vance Misuraca)

9.    SS-18-11 Subdivision of D-1-A of the Emmitt D. McAdams Property This property is located at 14251 Brown Road on the west side of Brown Road north of the Carey Road intersection in Section 27, T5S, R1E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to subdivide a tract into 2 single family residential lots and dedicate an existing drive as a private servitude of access with a waiver request of Section 13.6 I(4)  of the Unified Development Code. (Applicant: David Fazekas)

10.    SS-19-11 Subdivision of Lot B-4 of Northeast Place Subdivision This property is located on the west side of Northeast Drive north of the Core Lane intersection in Section 30, T5S, R2E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to subdivide a lot into 3 single family residential lots. (Applicant: John F. Thompson)

PUBLIC HEARING CASES (OLD BUSINESS):  NONE

11.    Adoption of 2012 Planning and Zoning Schedule

12.   Announcements

       13Adjourn   

 

The item(s) on this Agenda will be heard by the Central City Council on January 10, 2012, unless the item(s) is deferred by the Commission.

AGENDA

CITY OF CENTRAL ZONING COMMISSION

Thursday, December 15, 2011 6:00pm

Kristenwood Meeting Facility

14025 Greenwell Springs Road

Central, LA 70739

 

1.  Call to Order

2.   Roll Call

3.   Recitation of Rules

4.   Approval of Minutes (NONE)

5.   Amendments and Consent Agenda

PUBLIC HEARING CASES (NEW BUSINESS):

6.   RZ-3-11 Rezoning This property is located at 14455 Wax Road, Suite A, on the north side of Wax Road near the Sullivan Road intersection in Sections 8 and 68, T-6-S, R-2-E, GLD, EBR, LA. The applicant is proposing to rezone from C-2 (Heavy Commercial) to C-AB-1 (Commercial Alcoholic Beverage District One) for a full-service restaurant. (Applicant:  Yuwen Zheng, Nagoya Central Inc.)

 NO PUBLIC HEARING (OLD BUSINESS):

7.   Reconsideration of RZ-2-11 This property is located on the southwest corner of Chickasaw and Liberty Road intersection in Sections 41, T5S, R2E, GLD, EBR, LA. In compliance with Section 19.8 of the Unified Development Code, the applicant petitions the Zoning Commission to allow the re-filing of the application to rezone from A-1 (Single Family Residential) , B-1 (Transition),   C-1 (Light Commercial) to A-2 (Single Family Residential) for the subdivision of seven lots for single family residential land use. (Applicant Mickey L. Robertson) 

8.   Announcements

       9.   Adjourn

 

 

 

 

Planning & Zoning Agenda 12/15/11

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Cassidy Leads Effort to Send Letter to SIPC Chairman Regarding Stanford Ponzi Scheme

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy, M.D., along with 26 Members of Congress, signed a bi-partisan letter to Chairman Orlan M. Johnson of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.

 

The letter urges Chairman Johnson to act more quickly to compensate the victims of the Stanford Ponzi scheme. It has been more than five months since the SEC determined that certain victims of the Stanford Ponzi scheme were entitled to SIPC protection for their losses, and the victims in the sixth Congressional District and around the country are still waiting for answers.

 

“SIPC has an obligation to live up to its responsibilities, and I am hopeful that they will provide the Stanford Victims with the news they have been waiting for since this tragedy began.  This letter is just one part in a three year effort by the members of Congress who represent the victims to continue to push for a final resolution,” said Congressman Cassidy.

 
 
 

 

 

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Voters Limit Taxes

 

By Dave Freneaux
 
The 1/2 cent sales tax dedicated to building the new Central Middle School will end once the debt on the school is paid off.  Voters Saturday overwhelmingly approved a scheduled end to this sales tax in about 18 years.  This vote permanently corrects an error which resulted in the voters approving a "perpetual" tax in 2009 rather than a tax which only paid for the Middle School.  This item was put to a vote of the people of Central in keeping with the understanding that the taxpayers need to be told what their tax dollars will fund, and that those tax dollars should be used only for that purpose.  If and when there is a need to build or enlarge Central's schools, that request will have to be brought to the people for a vote.
 
In a statewide amendment on the ballot, voters also overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment which blocked a tax on real estate sales.  The only other items on most Central ballots elected Beau Clark as EBR Parish Coroner and Chas Roemer to the Besse Board.

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City Council Meeting Tomorrow at 6

There will be a City Council meeting this Tuesday, November 22 at 6 PM at Kristenwood.  The public is welcome to attend.  The agenda is as follows:

 

I. Preliminary Business
 
1) Call to Order
 
2) Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
 
3) Roll Call
 
4) Approval of the minutes from the November 8, 2011 council meeting.
 
II. Unfinished Business
 
None
 
III. New Business
 
1) Mayor’s report and presentations.
 
2) Presentation of Annual Audit report by Faulk & Winkler.
 
3) Presentation of Strategic Plan by LDRC steering committee (by Jeanie Barnett).
 
4) Report from Doug Browning, City of Central Chief of Police concerning deputies 
patrolling within the City. (Council Member Messina)
 
5) Approval of City of Central Chief of Police, Doug Browning’s recommendations for the 
addition of four (4) reserve division members to the City of Central Police Department.  
(By Council Member Washington)
 
6) Report from IBTS concerning services provided to the City of Central.
 
7) Introduction of the following item(s) (with public hearing to be held at the December 13,
2011 council meeting).
None
 
8) Public Hearing and action regarding the following instrument(s):
 
a) A resolution disapproving the Baton Rouge Loop Project.  (By Council Member 
Messina)
 
b) A resolution establishing seating arrangements at council meetings. (By Council 
Member Messina)
 
c) A resolution to authorize the Mayor to enter into a Supplemental Agreement No. 1
with the State of Louisiana, Department of Transportation and Development, for the 
purpose of the Curve Safety Improvement Program – City of Central – State Project 
No. H.006497.  (By Council Member Washington)
 
IV. Zoning Cases
 
(1) Introduction of the following item(s) (with Public Hearing to be held at the December 13, 
2011 council meeting):
 
None
 
(2) Discussion and action regarding the following case(s):
 
None
 
V. Other Business
 
(1) Public Comment
* Restricted to items not on the agenda.  A Public Comment Request to Speak Card must be turned in to the City Clerk prior to the start of the meeting in order to be considered. Public comment is limited to 10 speakers with three minutes each.
 
(2) Announcements
 
(3) Adjournment

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Vote YES to END Tax

 

An Editorial by Dave Freneaux
    Two items on this Saturday's ballot are confusing.  Normally a NO vote ends or prevents a tax and a YES vote approves a tax.  The two items on this ballot are worded so that YES actually means NO.  While every voter needs to decide on their own whether to vote YES or NO, be aware that a NO Vote, in this case, allows or extends taxes, and a YES vote ends or prevents taxes.
   Our policy at Central Speaks is NOT to endorse any candidate or any position on an election item.  This Saturday is an exception, and I believe you will see why.  On the ballot is an item called "Central Community School Board 1/2% S&U Tax" which is a proposition to set an end date to the 1/2 cent sales tax Central approved to build the new Middle School.  It was the INTENT of the School Board that this extra 1/2 cent sales tax would end when the bonds used to build the Middle School were paid off, and that is what was initially told to the voters.  However, the actual tax that was on the ballot called for a perpetual 1/2 cent sales tax, meaning that even when the Middle School debt was paid off, the sales tax will continue.  The only way to correct this error is for the voters of Central to vote YES on this item.  If this item passes, the 1/2 cent sales tax will end in about 18 years.  If this item fails, the sales tax will continue even after the Middle School is paid for.
    So, there are three things to know about Saturday's sales tax vote:
1) This is NOT a new tax, it is to set an END date for the current tax.
1) If Central votes YES, the 1/2 cent sales tax will end when the Middle School is paid off.
2) If Central votes NO (as people are inclined to do on tax items) the 1/2 cent sales tax will not end.
    Central Speaks is ONLY encouraging voters to vote YES on the "Central Community School Board 1/2% S&U Tax" because that was the intent when the tax was originally passed.

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Treasurer Reports State Tax Receipts Upward for Fiscal Year

 

From the office of John Kennedy, State Treasurer
 
BATON ROUGE, LA – Total state revenues collected by the Louisiana Department of Revenue rose $96 million, a 4 percent increase in revenues compared to this time last year.
 
The October 2011 Net Receipts Report shows that total state revenues for fiscal year 2010-2011 to-date (July – October, or one-third of the fiscal year) are $2.360 billion.  Total revenues this time last year were $2.264 billion.
 
Sales tax receipts for the current fiscal year to-date are $869 billion, for an increase of $4 million or less than 1 percent compared to this time last year.  Sales tax receipts this time last year were $865 million.
 
Individual income tax receipts for FY 2011-2012 to-date are $931 million, for an increase of $128 million or 16 percent compared to this time last year.  Individual income tax receipts this time last year were $803 million.
    
Severance tax receipts for FY 2011-2012 to-date are $240 million, for a decrease of $10 million or 4 percent compared to this time last year.  Severance tax receipts this time last year were $250 million.
 
Corporation and franchise tax receipts for FY 2011-2012 to-date are $54 million, for a decrease of $7 million or 11 percent compared to this time last year.  Corporation and franchise tax receipts this time last year were $61 million.
 
Gasoline and special fuels tax receipts for FY 2011-2012 to-date are $185 million, for a decrease of $23 million or 11 percent compared to this time last year.  Gasoline and special fuels tax receipts this time last year were $208 million.
 
Miscellaneous taxes receipts for FY 2011-2012 to-date are $76 million, unchanged from this time last year.

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