Morgan City Council moves ahead on water plant funding

The Morgan City Council on Tuesday took more steps toward upgrading in the city’s water plant.
The council also named a new mayor pro tem and introduced an ordinance defining the five council districts that would be in effect for this fall’s elections.
Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Lou Tamporello nominated Councilman Tim Hymel as his successor. Hymel, a former Morgan City High principal, has served on the council since 2013. His nomination was approved without objection in a voice vote.
Whenever the mayor is absent or unavailable, “the powers and duties of the office of mayor shall be exercised by the mayor pro tempore,” according to the city’s charter.
On Dec. 19, during the last meeting of his year as mayor pro tem, Tamporello presided when Mayor Lee Dragna was absent due to illness.
Also Tuesday, the council unanimously authorized the issuing of up to $7 million in revenue bonds for use in repaying the financing for the city’s water plant upgrade.
The upgrade will use clarifiers as part of a system that requires fewer chemicals and less labor than conventional plants.
The city has received a grant under the state Water Sector Program, the mechanism by which federal American Rescue Plan Act is distributed for water infrastructure.
Morgan City is also seeking $7 million from the Louisiana Water System Revolving Loan Fund. Up to 49% of the low-interest loan can be forgiven.
The bonds would be the way the city repays the revolving loan.
The State Bond Commission must approve the bond issue.
Revenue bonds are backed by income from the project being financed, as opposed to general obligation bonds, which are backed by a government’s power to tax.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing engineering and design work related to the addition of a second clarifier to the project.
Dragna told the council in November that the net result is that the city will be able to get the upgrade costing $10 million for $3.3 million in city money. He’s also hoping to set up a $500,000 fund to cover loan payments in the event of what he called a bad year.
Also Tuesday, the council introduced the ordinance redrawing council district maps based on 2020 Census results.
The new map, which the council hired the South Central Regional Planning and Development district to draw, makes no drastic changes in the district alignment.
You can download a .pdf presentation that includes the proposed map and a Word version of the ordinance outlining the boundaries street by street.
If the ordinance follows the normal course, it will come up for a public hearing and passage vote at the Feb. 27 regular meeting.
The council also heard about plans for a number of events, including:
—The first Morgan City Oilfield Divers Rally Weekend, set for April 26-28.
The event includes a reception 4-7 p.m. April 26 at Clarion Inn & Suites, 520 Roderick St.; the unveiling of a granite monument at 10 a.m. April 27 at Morgan City Monument Park, 728 Myrtle St.; a moderated panel discussion on commercial diving at 10:45 a.m. April 27 at Lake End Park; a crawfish boil at 1 p.m. April 27 at Lake End Park, with a charge of $35 per person; and an informal breakfast 7-10 a.m. April 28 at Clarion Inn & Suites.
The rally will mark a year since the unveiling at Monument Park of a statue memorializing the contributions of commercial divers.
—Morgan City Main Street events, all scheduled for April. They are Sunset at the View each Wednesday, with tables available to be reserved (985-380-4639) and food and cocktails available; community bike rides at 6 p.m. each Thursday, led by St. Mary Excel members and including informational stops along the route; and Rockin’ the Dock, featuring live music 6:30-9:30 p.m. each Friday.
—New Zorah Baptist Church food sales on the day of Galatea Parade on Feb. 11. The food sales will be near Morgan City Junior High between Marguerite and Sixth streets.
New Zorah’s Gospel Fest is scheduled 10 a.m.-6 p.m. May 4 under the U.S. 90 bridge between Federal Avenue and Third Street.
—University of New Orleans film student Leon Gisclair, a Berwick native, will be filming for his master’s thesis Feb. 23-25 and March 1-3. Some of the filming will be at Lawrence Park. Gisclair said he’s trying to capture the feel of small-town life.