Patterson council will take up tax rates, drainage

The Patterson City Council will vote on proposed city property tax rates for this year when it meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
Flooding and federal COVID-19 are also likely topics of discussion.
A public hearing and possibly final passage votes will be conducted on the proposed ordinances setting the city government’s general-use property tax at 8.3 mills and the tax to pay off the bonds for the new water plant at 14 mills.
A mill is 1/10th cent of tax on every dollar of a property’s assessed valuation. Residential property is assessed at 10% of market value. The Louisiana homestead exemption does not apply to city taxes.
Other proposed ordinances will be the subject of public hearings and possible council votes, including the creation of the Patterson Municipal Cemetery and a clarification of subdivision rules governing “flag lots.” Those lots require the right to access to streets and utilities through another lot.
Also, the money Patterson will receive under the federal American Rescue Plan Act is a possible discussion item.
The early word is that the city government will receive about $2.1 million under the act, a $1.9 trillion effort to provide economic stimulus, hasten COVID-19 vaccinations, and support state and local governments affected by the pandemic.
Merlin Sons of Mike Drive is on the agenda to talk about drainage.
He appeared before the council two years ago to thank the council for drainage improvements and to ask for more.
His home sustained flooding in the April 2019 one-day flooding, and had also seen high water in 2011, 2013 and 2016.
East St. Mary was hit again March 23, when 10 inches of rain fell within hours and caused widespread street flooding.
Among other items on Tuesday’s agenda:
—The council will talk about an ordinance on pit bulls and vicious animals. Resident Joe Louis is also on the agenda to talk about what are described as “dog issues.”
—The council will consider two appointments to the Planning & Zoning Commission.