Rhythms on the River returns for 11th year

Rhythms on the River is set to rock downtown Morgan City for the 11th year this spring.

At Tuesday’s city council meeting, the council approved Cafe JoJo’s to once again host Rhythms on the River this spring in downtown Morgan City. The event, which is free to the public, will be held on Fridays starting April 26 through June 21. Bands will play from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and Front Street, from Everett to Freret streets, will be blocked from 4:30-10:30 p.m.

Though there are nine Fridays in that span, Cafe JoJo’s only plans to hold Rhythms on the River on six of those Fridays, and the three extended dates are there in case of rain outs, Cafe JoJo’s owner Brian Blanchard said.

Blanchard asked the council to consider eventually placing some temporary fencing around the area during Rhythms on the River, so organizers can control whom and what come in and out of the area. Many people bring in outside drinks. Cafe JoJo’s, which pays for the bands, gets less business during the event because of that, Blanchard said.

Organizers don’t plan to ever charge attendees to enter Rhythms on the River. They just want to have a better control on what people bring and the traffic around the event, he said.

The council also presented Blanchard with the city’s positive image award Tuesday for his contributions to helping revitalizing Front Street. Blanchard, a Morgan City native, brought Rhythms on the River to the city’s riverfront in 2009.

He has also founded multiple businesses along Front Street including Cafe JoJo’s in 2003, NicoBella event center in 2012 and Bay City Bistro in 2016.

Also at the meeting, the council approved an ordinance authorizing the city to issue and sell $2 million in revenue anticipation notes for 2019. This measure allows the city to borrow money from M C Bank & Trust through a line of credit at a 5.5 percent interest rate. The city borrowed about $600,000 through the line of credit in 2018 and paid that back, said attorney Jason Akers of Foley & Judell law firm.

Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi expects the city to borrow minimal funds in 2019. City officials plan to set aside some funds in a surplus account, so that the city won’t need the line of credit in 2020, the mayor said.

City leaders started using the line of credit three years ago, because city government was moving funds from multiple city accounts to pay for various items. The single line of credit through M C Bank simplified the accounting process, Grizzaffi said.

In other business, the council

—Approved a change order increasing the cost of the city’s mausoleum project by $2,300 and substantial completion of the project.

—Approved a wharf project closeout resolution.

—Tabled action on a bid tabulation for roadway repairs and improvements.

—Authorized the public works department to buy a commercial mower from Premier Lawn Equipment at a cost of $9,799.

—Authorized the purchase of seven iPads to be used by the mayor, five council members and chief administrative officer at a total cost of $2,100 in addition to one laptop computer.

—Authorized the mayor to sign a cooperative endeavor agreement with the town of Berwick to transfer an Orphan Train dress, pantaloons and bronze high-top button shoes from the Morgan City Archives to the Berwick Heritage Museum.

—Approved the inaugural Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walk to be held at 10 a.m. Oct. 19 at Lawrence Park.

—Approved American Legion Post 242 to hold a can shake from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 23 to raise money for scholarships. The can shake will be in the area on La. 182 in Morgan City under the U.S. 90 overpass.

—Approved Songs on the Bayou and Green Community Foundation to hold their Fais Do Do from 5-11 p.m. March 27 at Lake End Park.