Morgan City declares emergency as precaution

Morgan City officials don’t expect any issues within the city from the high water that has caused backwater flooding in neighboring lower St. Martin Parish. But they aren’t taking any chances.

On Tuesday, the city council authorized city leaders to declare a state of emergency, so the city can get some reimbursement for any expenses incurred relating to the high water.

“We thought it was prudent to possibly put the city in a state of emergency like other areas around us that are in the direct path of the high water,” Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said.

All landowners on the unprotected side of the floodwall have been getting regular updates from city officials on anything relating to the high water, the mayor said.

Morgan City leaders are confident that all homes and businesses protected by the floodwall should be fine during the high water event. But officials are being vigilant to ensure people and property remain protected, he said.

Also at the meeting, the council approved submitting requests for proposal to gauge interest on bringing a restaurant along Lake Palourde. That information will be put on the city’s website, cityofmc.com.

The idea to consider bringing a restaurant near the lake has been around for at least over a decade. But organizers with St. Mary Excel, a group that commissioned a recent economic development study for the area, are pushing to determine how to implement that idea.

In other business, the council

—Adopted the city’s millage rates for the 2019 tax year. Those rates will remain the same as the prior year. They are 14.75 mills for municipal expenses, 0.97 mills to pay interest on auditorium bonds and 2 mills for maintenance and other auditorium expenses.

—Approved the 84th annual Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival to be held Aug. 29 through Sept. 2 in downtown Morgan City. Officials will close the La. 182 bridge at Morgan City to vehicular traffic during the Blessing of the Fleet Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to noon and for the fireworks display that will also be that day from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Festival organizers and Kiwanis Club of East St. Mary members will serve liquor during the festival.

—Approve 5K run to be held Nov. 9 in Lawrence Park.

—Approved the finance committee’s recommendations to allocate $4,800 to the police department from the general fund to upgrade the computer server and software for the interview room.

—Authorized the mayor to accept the bid of $1,500 from Southern Sno & More to continue operating at Lake End Park for the next three years.

—Renewed The Daily Review as the city’s official journal starting July 1 through June 30, 2020, at a cost of $3 per column inch.

—Approved the 2019-20 Class A & B liquor license renewals.