Morgan City Council hears about old and new attractions

The Morgan City Council heard Tuesday about and mostly approved plans for upcoming events centering on barbecue, tacos, bonfires and a potential new Mardi Gras krewe.
Also at the council’s regular fourth-Tuesday meeting, members granted one request for a delay in demolition proceedings for one blighted home and turned down another.
Among the event-related action:
•The council approved plans for the 14th edition of the Bayou BBQ Bash, run by the St. Mary detachment of the Marine Corps League.
The Barbecue Competitors Alliance-sanctioned event is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, July 25 and 26, under the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City, organizer Bill Goessl told the council. The event draws 40 or more barbecue cooks for rib, chicken and brisket contests.
In addition to the main barbecue contest, the bash will again have a Kids Q competition for young chefs. Live music and a food truck will also be part of the event.
•A new event, Da Cajun Taco Cook Off, is scheduled for 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 14, also under the bridge.
Organizer Caleb Bryan, whose March 8 DA Cajun Burger Cook Off drew a crowd, said the taco event will recognize the area’s growing Hispanic population.
The admission will be $10. The event includes live music and a kids zone.
Councilman the Rev. Ron Bias suggested that organizers work with planners for the Juneteenth Bike Ride, scheduled for the same weekend.
•Lee Price told the council that the third Christmas Bonfires at the Park will be Dec. 23 at Lake End Parkway.
Last year’s event drew a crowd that Price estimated at about 700 people to see 10 large bonfires from a safe distance. This year’s bonfire could include 12 fires.
•Diondre Roberson told the council about plans by a new organization, the Krewe of Boss Goddesses, for a parade during Mardi Gras 2026. She said the krewe is composed of women business owners.
The krewe hopes to have a 7 p.m. parade Feb. 14, the Saturday before Mardi Gras next year.
Mayor Lee Dragna suggested that the krewe consult with the Police Department, which sends officers to Berwick to help with the Krewe of Dionysus Parade on Mardi Gras Saturday. Alternatively, the krewe should think about joining an existing parade, Dragna said.
Also Tuesday:
•The council decided to give Ruth Escort more time to meet the requirements of the city’s blighted property ordinance.
A home at 1109 Railroad Ave. is scheduled for demolition in any case. But Escort asked for more time to meet the ordinance requirements so she can secure financing for new construction there.
Dragna and council members granted a year based on what they described as a beautiful job by Escort of rebuilding another blighted home nearby.
•The council took no action on a request to rescind a demolition order for a building at 1205 Clothilde St.
The council voted in February to order demolition of the building, from which a roof had blown off and into a nearby yard, and in which a person was known to have lived although the building isn’t safe.
The property owner is Vo Phong Khac, who doesn’t speak English. His uncle, Cong Tran, and attorney Greg Schwab had asked the council to allow more time for rehabilitating the building.
•The council accepted a bid of $343,455 from Gray Construction Co. for providing materials and equipment for the Morgan City Street Repairs Project.
The contract is apart from the work performed by the city’s own public works crews.
•The council passed resolutions of respect for 16th Judicial District Attorney M. Bofill Duhe, who died March 15, and Ezekiel Simmons, a Morgan City clergyman and educator who died March 14.