Welsh mayor reponds to criticism

"At times I feel like we've been beating on a dead horse for the past six months," Welsh Mayor Carolyn Louviere regarding recent negative headlines. However, she also wants to embrace the positives, which also have occurred during the same time frame. The town has received several grants, and the town's finances continue to look good.
She explains the aldermen and the mayor have different roles which are regulated by the state's Lawrason Act.
The aldermen have a legislative role, they vote on propositions, which are brought up to them. This include rates, ordinances, appointments, etc. This also includes the budget. The mayor is more of an administrator, a CEO, sort of. The mayor oversees operations and ensures that the town's departments are run smoothly and that business is run on behalf of the citizens. However, the mayor has not the oversight over the police department. This is the duty of the police chief who is one of the town's six elected officials. She states it is not the duty of any of the aldermen to direct the work of the town's department heads.
During the past months there has been much discussion regarding the town's budget process and how it is put together.
Mayor Louviere explains that the budget is a projection, a forecast of incomes and expenditures for the budget year. The budget is compiled at the mayor's office, after meeting with department heads to discuss needs and projected expenses.
"Just because an item is placed in the budget, does not necessarily mean that those monies will be used, nor does it mean that if certain circumstances arise, which would require additional funding, above and and beyond what has already been budgeted, that those expenses will not be met," Mayor Louiviere states. She also says that however educated and researched the forecasted budget is, nothing is certain.
Her office has made the best possible effort to predict incomes and expenditures for the town's departments, including the police department.
Once the budget is prepared and balanced the budget is presented to the aldermen. They will vote for or against the proposed budget. The mayor says that the town's five aldermen plays an important role in the process, making recommendations and discussing issues with the department heads. She adds that several of the aldermen met individually with the town's department heads to discuss the needs of each department. However, ultimately it is up the the mayor to compile a budget and present it to the board of aldermen.
Mayor Louviere says that a lot has been said and written about the third budget meeting, which Alderman Colby Perry in a recent interview said "went downhill." Welsh Police chief, Marcus Crochet, had brought several of his police officers to the meeting, plus the police chief of Iowa and a financial advisor from that town.
About the meeting Mayor Louviere says, " I don't think the presence of a department's head, along with members of that department, who would be impacted by issues being discussed is something we should view as anything improper."
She also states that bringing in representatives from Iowa to discuss, or defend issues probably was wise. Alderman Perry had visited with officials in Iowa before the meeting to discuss budget issues. Mayor Louviere said that Alderman Perry had reacted to the presence of these individuals in an extremely rude and unprofessional way.
"I think Chief Crochet has every right to do whatever he thinks can promote those issues that concern him and his department," Louviere states.
She also says that proposed pay increases for the patrolmen and the chief were included in the balanced budget, which was voted on by the aldermen in May and was passed with a 3-2 vote. Colby Perry was one of the two aldermen voting against the budget. Louviere also says that even the pay raises were budgeted, it still takes a vote from the aldermen before any changes in salaries are implemented. Pay raises for the police officers have been approved by the aldermen, but the raise for the chief is expected to be voted on at the next council meeting Tuesday, July 11 (Date has been corrected by the author). A public hearing will be held before the vote.
An issue, which has been very troubling for Mayor Louviere is recent allegations regarding improprieties and abuse by Welsh police officers. These allegations were made in a letter Alderman Colby Perry wrote to the State's Legislative Auditor. She says that the allegations have put a lingering dark cloud over the town's reputation. Perry said he has obtained evidence though a private investigator he hired, but has chosen not to present any evidence, or make a formal complaint.
"I am asking Mr. Perry, for the good of the entire community, to properly address any improper violations of any laws that may have occurred and to produce any, and all of any items of evidence that he might have in his possession that would aid and assist law enforcement officers to resolve these terrible allegations," Mayor Louviere says in an attempt to reach out to Alderman Perry.
She adds, "I don't think that it is proper for an individual to publicly make these charges against an entire department (and elected officials) and make the statement that you have evidence in hand supporting your allegations, but you choose not to produce said evidence. I think it is serious given the fact that the person doing this is an elected official."
Another topic which has been discussed is the town's TED (Traffic Enforcement Detail) program and accounts which have been set up to administer revenue from TED. Welsh is one of many towns along Interstate 10, and also along Highway 165, to have implemented programs such as TED, although municipalities like Vinton, Fenton, Iowa, Jennings, etc. all have different names for the program. In the program police officers work overtime hours at I-10, issuing speeding tickets and tickets for other traffic violations. Speeding tickets are only issued if motorists travel above 10 miles per hour over the allowed speed.
"The TED program has provided an excellent source of revenue for many improvements and upgrades for our police department without putting any additional burden on our citizens. We will continue to utilize this program, and continue to seek out those opportunities to add to the town's revenue stream utilizing outside sources", Louviere says. She furthermore states that the town has been doing exactly what is required by Govern Accounting rules. The two discussed accounts have been audited and reviewed by third parties, as well as by the State of Louisiana.
"We have received opinions from local, parish, and state agencies that everything we have done is in strict accordance with  generally accepted accounting procedures," Mayor Loviere says and adds, "This is simply how governmental accounting works. Our books are open, and are subject to review by many outside regulatory agencies."
Additionally, Mayor Louviere explains any time a purchase is made a purchase order has to be issued, and the money is transferred from the right account, to the general funds.
"If we need to purchase gravel, that money would be transferred to General Funds from the Streets and Roads account. If a purchase is made for electrical supplies, these monies would come out of the Light and Water account."She adds that any expense can always be traced back to the correct account. Every bill has to be approved by the mayor before it is being paid.
She states that the town's finances are in a very good shape, which is the result of the hard and diligent work by the staff at the city hall. She says that as of May 31, 2017 (the end of the fiscal year) monies in the town's checking accounts totaled $2,066,106. The town's Cash Emergency fund totaled $1,002,115.
"We have worked hard to  build this level of financial soundness and security.
Despite all negative headlines a lot has been accomplished during the last six months.
A half a million dollar upgrade of the sewer system was completed. The project was financed with grant money.
Recently a check of $975,000 was presented to the town in Baton Rouge. The check represents a low interest loan, but 20 percent of the debt, or $195,000 will be forgiven. The funds will be used to improve the town's drinking water. Two new ground water storage tanks will be built. Papers for this work were recently signed.
A new sewer pipe, crossing Sportsman Park will be built, The work is financed with a $146,800 LGAP Grant.
The town has recently purchased a new garbage truck. The oldest of the two trucks will be sold as surplus.
The town has also upgraded an electrical sub-station, plus completed payment of two bonds.
Cleanup efforts on Interstate 10 have also generated money for the town. The company, which provided clean-up efforts extended electrical lines jut north of I-10 since a lot of electric power will be used for the clean up. The cost to extend the electric lines totaled $200,000, but at no cost for the town. However, the town will sell electricity to the company. The town recently issued a first monthy bill to the company, totaling $31,000 in revenue.
More grants for street projects are currently in the works, but have not yet been approved by the state. The grants if approved, would generate $600,000 to $800,000 which would be used for street repairs and other projects.