City court's juvenile services get new home

The Morgan City Council’s attention turned to real estate Tuesday.
At its regular fourth-Tuesday meeting, the council approved the purchase of a new home for 6th Ward Morgan City Court’s juvenile services program. Members also agreed to purchase the building that has served as the St. Mary Chamber of Commerce’s office and OK’d a procedural step that could help bring a charter school to the Shannon Elementary building.
The council also heard a generally positive report on an audit of city finances for 2025.
Juvenile services
City Court Judge Kim Stansbury sought city approval to purchase the former home of the Brian Mustin All-State Insurance Agency at 7343 La. 182 East to house its juvenile justice program. The current home is rapidly deteriorating, Stansbury told the council, and the Mustin building is available for purchase for around $300,000.
The money would come from a fee collected on criminal cases and dedicated to juvenile programs. The court system has about $200,000 plus another $100,000 in a certificate of deposit that will mature in September.
The juvenile program seeks to identify factors affecting offenders 16 and under — behavior problems, family problems, school problems — and match them with services to help them overcome their challenges.
“You want them to do the best with what God has given them,” Stansbury said in an interview Wednesday.
Stansbury praised the juvenile justice staff.
“Our juvenile program here is excellent, probably the best in the state,” Stansbury told the council. “It’s well-funded and well-run. … I’ve been fortunate to have good people around me.”
The program has a distinguished alumnus. Vernon Norwood, who got into youthful trouble when his family moved here from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, went on to win four Olympic medals as a U.S. relay team member at the Tokyo and Parish Olympics.
Under the terms of a state law, the purchase required approval from the judge, the City Council and the mayor.
The motion passed without objection on a voice vote.
Shannon
The council unanimously authorized Mayor Lee Dragna to enter a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Morgan City Development District to allow the city to prepare for the possible use of the Shannon Elementary building as a privately run charter school.
Councilman Tim Hymel, a former Morgan City High principal, voted to authorize the agreement, but he has reservations.
Hymel quoted a figure of 400 students at the charter school.
“I think if it’s successful, it will hurt public and parochial schools,” Hymel said. “And if it’s not successful, it’s a big waste of money for the city.”
Chamber
The council approved the purchase of the former home of the St. Mary Chamber on Myrtle Street near Municipal Auditorium. The purchase will cost $25,000. The building will be used by the city’s Recreation Department.
The Chamber is preparing to move into a new Morgan City headquarters at 104 Freret St.
Audit
Bryan Joubert of Kolder, Slaven & Co. said its audit of city finances for 2025 resulted in an “unmodified opinion,” an accounting phrase meaning no major problems were identified.
Joubert said the city is doing a “great job controlling expenses and keeping those revenues up.”
He quoted a general rule that governments should have enough accumulated fund balances to pay expenses for 60-90 days.
When all city funds are considered, Morgan City has enough to pay for 61 days of expenses, Joubert said.