HOUSING AUTHORITY ASKS LC COUNCIL TO DECLARE PROPERTIES DRUG-FREE ZONES

The Lake Charles Housing Authority wants its properties declared drug-free
zones so stiffer criminal penalties can be imposed on offenders.

Housing Authority director Ben Taylor brought the issue up at Tuesday's
City Council agenda meeting at City Hall.

He asked the council to pass an ordinance declaring authority properties
drug-free zones so people arrested there for drug possession or
distribution could get stiffer penalties.

Taylor said he has already asked the Southwest Louisiana legislative
delegation to pass similar legislation in next year's regular session.

The council will introduce the ordinance at its regular meeting Dec. 18.
The designation would not apply to Section 8 housing, but only to those
public housing developments owned by the authority.

In other action, councilman Ernie Duplechin asked that the city hire a
consultant to look at ways the it can be more efficient in garbage collection.

Duplechin said he wants the city to hire John Labrie, Clean Community
Department director for the city of Beaumont, Texas.

Labrie heads solid waste collection for the city, which serves 35,000
households.

He earlier addressed members of the City's budget review committee. It also
heard presentations from BFI and Waste Management.

The companies presented information on the types of services it offers in
cities and parishes throughout the state.

The budget review committee also recommended in its earlier meeting that
the city hire consultants to study the city's budgeting process.

They would be McNeese University professors James Watts, Daryl Burckel and
Michael Kurth, and James Richardson and Richard White of Louisiana State
University.

The consultants will be asked to study issues such as the future local
economy, the current budget and its format, and ways the city can improve
management policies.

Mayor Randy Roach requested at Tuesday's council meeting that an ordinance
allowing the city to hire the consultants be placed on the agenda for the
next regular meeting.

Duplechin also asked for an ordinance that would allow the city to enter
into a joint services agreement with McNeese State University.

The city will dig out a ditch north of the school's football practice field
to help alleviate sewer and drainage problems in the area.

The school would be responsible for removal of the dirt after the ditch was
dug.

On another issue, councilman A.B. Franklin asked city attorney Billy Loftin
to examine other cities' indecent exposure ordinances applying to young
women wearing low-cut pants.