Morgan City Council clears way for state fundng

Sometimes there’s no getting around government paperwork, even for another government.
The Morgan City Council on Tuesday passed eight resolutions authorizing Mayor Lee Dragna to sign agreements that will result in more than $920,000 in state funding to the city.
Also Tuesday, the council introduced ordinances that will lead to the purchase of a new home for the city court’s juvenile services program and the former home of the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce.
Funding
The eight resolutions formalize capital outlay funding from the Legislature. The two biggest pieces of the $920,896 in aid go to public safety. The Morgan City Fire Department will receive $500,000 for repairs to trucks. The Fire Department will receive a separate allocation of $60,000 for repairs and upgrades.
The Police Department will get $200,000 for a computer-assisted dispatch system.
Also in the resolutions:
•$25,000 for the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival.
•$20,000 for scanning equipment at the Morgan City Archives.
•$20,000 for Morgan City Main Street and the annual Christmas Festival.
•$30,000 for Lake End Park cabin renovations.
•$65,896 for a Marshal’s Office vehicle and other equipment.
Buildings
Ordinances introduced Tuesday include one authorizing the purchase of the former Mustin All-State Insurance building at 7343 La. 182 East near the Emergency Operations Center.
The purchase price is $378,200. The building will house 6th Ward Morgan City Court juvenile justice services.
To clear a technical hurdle, the council also passed a resolution to lease the building until the purchase is complete.
The money for the purchase will come from a $20 fee collected from each city court case since 2000.
Another ordinance would authorize the purchase of the Chamber’s former home on Myrtle Street near Municipal Auditorium.
The cost will be $25,000. The city’s Recreation Department will use the building.
The Chamber is preparing to move into a new Morgan City headquarters at 104 Freret St.
If the ordinances follow the usual course, they’ll come up for a public hearing and passage vote at the regular fourth-Tuesday meeting Sept. 22.
Occupancy tax
Another ordinance introduced Tuesday would reauthorize a 2% tax on hotel occupancy for another three years beginning Oct. 1.
The proceeds from the tax go to the Hotel/Motel Economic Development District Trust Fund to support economic development projects authorized by state law.
The district covers only hotels and motels in the city. No permanent residents live in the district.
The public hearing and passage vote would normally occur Sept. 22.
Condemnations
The council went through a list of properties judged to be dilapidated or unkempt. Some were condemned outright, and others are awaiting action to see if owners will repair them.
Residents in Morgan City and elsewhere often complain about the delays local governments encounter in dealing with blighted properties. Sometimes property owners can’t be found so they can be legally notified. Other cases are complicated by inheritance issues.
The properties are at 1021 Railroad; 120 Oak; 108 Mount; 1705 West Garner; 1118 Front; 1124 Front; 3201 Jennie; and 3032 Diane.
Horse arena
The council passed an ordinance creating the Morgan City Horse Arena Commission.
The nine-member commission will be empowered to “make rules and regulations as it may deem advisable and necessary for the conduct of its affairs. …”
Coming events
The council also heard about a number of upcoming public events. They are:
•The annual Skinner Barbershop prostate cancer screening, scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 12 at 1001 Railroad.
The event, run in conjunction with the Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center and Alpha Phi Alpha, offers free prostate cancer screenings.
•Morgan City Main Street’s Mahjong in Mumus, 5:30-7 p.m. Oct. 7 downtown. The event raises funds for downtown beautification.
•The Halloween Barrel Bash is set for Oct. 31 at 1457 Youngs Road. Barrel racing events begin at 9 a.m., followed by a trunk-or-treat at 6 p.m.
•The annual St. Mary Outreach/United Way Pumpkin Parch event, scheduled for Oct. 26-30 at the Morgan City Petting Zoo. The event raises money by hosting school field trips at which children decorate pumpkins, feed the farm animals, play relay games and decorate cookies.
•The Coast Guard vessel Axe will mark 60 years of service and be available for tours at the seawall Sept. 26.
“It’s a celebration of the ship,” Senior Chief Gabe Bosman told the council. “But more than that, it’s a celebration of the crews that worked there over the years.”