Morgan City mayor works on development district

They were young men making their first foray into public policy.

Brothers Jaden Graham, 12, and Kyrie Graham, 10, and friend Uzziah Harris, 9, stepped up to the Morgan City Council lectern Tuesday, seeking permission to run a lemonade stand at Lawrence Park on a date to be determined later.

After reassurances that the stand is a one-time-only project, Mayor Lee Dragna and the council sent them away with a preliminary OK, depending on the date, and a promise to promote the effort on the city’s Facebook page. As they walked away, the audience applauded.

It wasn’t the only economic development initiative mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting. Dragna said he’s working on plans for a special purpose district to support economic development and tourism in Morgan City.

Also Tuesday, the council voted to enact the half-cent sales tax for police and firefighter pay and training that was approved by city voters April 29.

Some of those firefighters came in for praise for their role in fighting the April 7 blaze that destroyed Joe’s Lounge in Franklin.

The council’s Positive Image awards went to an athlete, a Student of the Year, a singer, the president of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and a City Council member.

Dragna talked about the possible creation of an economic development district. The district would include only hotels and motels, where guests would pay a tax — 2% was mentioned — on their lodging bills.

The mayor talked about the importance of advertising Morgan City.

“I don’t see another way,” Dragna said. “And it doesn’t hurt one person in Morgan City.”

Also Tuesday, the council unanimously passed an ordinance authorizing collection of the half-cent sales tax for police and firefighters.

The tax is expected to raise $1.3 million per year to give firefighters and police officers an across-the-board $3 an hour pay raise and to pay for the training of new hires.

The tax goes into effect in July.

Backers argued that starting pay $4 an hour less than the regional average was leading to unsustainable turnover in the fire and police departments. Voters passed the tax proposition 1,083-165, an 87%-13% victory margin.

“If you educate the public with the facts. … That’s why this was a record turnout and a record margin,” Dragna said.

The city may also soon be looking for money to help the St. Mary Council on Aging.

The council has sustained funding cuts recently that mean there are 64 senior citizens in Morgan City that the council can’t afford to provide meals for, Dragna quoted council Director Beverly Domengeaux as saying.

The mayor suggested providing a temporary boost with $10,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Mayor Pro Tem Lou Tamporello moved to send the proposition to the Finance Committee, and the motion passed without objection.

The city received a letter from Franklin Mayor Eugene Foulcard and Fire Chief Chuck Bourgeois, thanking Morgan City firefighters for their work in the Joe’s Lounge fire.

Morgan City was one of eight departments that answered the call to the fire just before 4:30 p.m. April 7. While the lounge was destroyed, the Morgan City contingent helped prevent the fire from reaching a nearby historic building.

“I want to thank the guys who stood their ground … and saved that house that was like an heirloom,” Dragna said.

The firefighters identified by Morgan City Fire Chief Alvin Cockerham as fighting the Franklin fire were Capts. Heath Landry and Andrew Ratcliff III and Operators Jason Morgan, Noah Belle and Dale Crouch.

Receiving the Positive Image awards, presented by Councilman Ron Bias, were:

—Alexis Rack on behalf of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority, which has appeared at local governments this week to support its Red and White Day. The sorority chapter in
St. Mary directs youth leadership programs and is dedicated to educational development, economic development, international awareness, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement.

—Wesley Williams, a talented Morgan City High singer who will move on to study music at Nicholls State.

—MCHS Student of the Year Serai Richardson.

—Central Catholic running back Damondrick Blackburn, who set school touchdown and rushing records and will move on to play for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

—Councilman Tim Hymel, who recently retired as principal at Morgan City High.

The council also gave a preliminary OK to the Children’s Concrete Canvas Project, which will enlist children in a civic beautification project.

The Concrete Canvas Project has sought sponsors for artwork on U.S. 90 bridge pillars, and the program has proved to be popular.

The project’s Jennifer Edwards told the council that she’s received inquiries from parents about letting children join in the painting.

Putting kids on 6 feet of scaffolding doesn’t seem wise, Edwards said.

So the children’s project would be to paint on a retaining wall near the Cajun Coast Tourism Center, where the artwork would be visible from U.S. 90. A grown-up artist will draw the scenes, and children will paint in the colors.