The Town of Olla approved the authorization of LaSalle Assessor Tom Kendrick to cancel a contract based on the statewide industrial tax 80/20 exemption with Hunt Forest Products, which was also earlier this month approved by the sheriff, school board and police jury.

Blake Phillips with the Assessor’s office was on hand at the meeting to discuss the contract cancellation and field any questions from the Mayor and Council. He said Assessor Kendrick spoke with Hunt Forest Products CFO Glynn

Williams to discuss the provisions of the ITE Industrial Tax Exemption Contract #20180046-ITE that the company was not fulfilling involving two added positions per year and increased payroll to cover those positions, therefore resulting in an ITEP Notice of Non-Compliance.

“We’re very pro-industrial contracts because they are what really help rural parishes,” Phillips said. “We started this contract at the end of 2018 and it was supposed to go until 2023, but we needed to evaluate it due to non-compliance so we spoke with Glynn (Williams) and worked it out. We only need your approval to cancel it.”

Williams told Kendrick that there are no hard feelings with cancelling the tax exemption. He said Hunt does not plan to go anywhere because they enjoy doing business in the parish and have future plans in the works for expansion and he understands that they did not meet the criteria for the exemption that they agreed on.

Phillips explained to the Council that another contract can be arranged at a later date if needed. He also said the town of Olla will receive an additional approximately $1,600 per year after the contract’s cancellation. Mayor Rhonda Elliott thanked Phillips.

Mayor Elliott then brought up a request from Clint Austin, who is the brother-in-law of Council member Tony Fenoli, to organize a sports league/ team such as Buddy Ball for children with special needs. She said Austin has an autistic son who would like to play organized sports but is unable to and he wants do something for his son and other children like him in the area.

Fenoli said he thinks a league like the proposed idea from Austin is a good thing to start up for kids with special needs, for the kids who are unable to play on school or other league sports teams, because he wants kids to be active no matter their ability.

Mayor Elliott and the other Council members completely agreed. The Council then approved the assembling of a sports/activity league for area children with special needs. Mayor Elliott said she would get in touch with Austin.

Other approvals granted by the Council included two resolutions: one to declare the week of April 11- 15 as National Community Development week and one to adopt the appointments and authorization of individuals for compliance with the Water Sector regulations and authorizing Mayor Elliott to sign any and all documents pertaining to the Water Sector Grant.

The Council approved two proclamations for the 54th anniversary of the National Fair Housing Law and the Community Development Block Grant Program as well as a Peddler’s License for Casey Sandidge (3386 Hwy 126 E, Grayson) for Blue Taco and an occupational license for Remi Enterprises, LLC. (3081 Roberts Street) for Highway Hygiene Carwash and Sno Cones.

Mayor Elliott brought another request before the Council for the town to sell a 52’x150’ right-of-way on Hwy 127. She said she spoke with the town maintenance supervisor and he advised not to approve the request due to a town sewer line crossing the land and someone building over the line is an issue. The mayor said she does not know if they are planning to build in the area that crosses the sewer line.

Fenoli said they need to know because he cannot sign off on something if they can build over the sewer line. He said he recommends the town get it in writing that they will not build over the sewer line if the right-of-way is sold to them. The mayor said she would contact them regarding the matter.

A farmer’s market update was then provided by Mayor Elliott with her informing the Council that the farmer’s market building is finally finished. She said all in all the project turned out better than she hoped with all the delays and issues. She said no date has been set for use of it though because they are waiting on the electrician. She also said the historical marker is still on back order.

In the police department report, Police Chief Jody O’Bier reported 173 citations, no arrests, 11 complaints and $19,653.53 collected in fines and fees for the month of March. He said under animal control there were five animal complaints and one dog impounded. He said the new officers hired are doing very well and are hard workers (Damien Moore as full-time and Brandon Hines as part-time).

Mayor Elliott commended Chief O’Bier and his department for their hard work. She said for the first time in ten years that funds were able to be added from the department’s revenue to the Police Equipment account, which is important because it supplies the department with funding for cameras, uniforms and matches for grants for new patrol vehicles. O’Bier thanked her and said the department received the new body cameras and they are excellent.

In the fire report, Fire Chief Joe Thompson noted that all equipment is in operational condition with one new member to the department. He said there were 11 callouts for March: a rescue call, car accident, smoke alarm activation, mutual aide to Summerville, mutual aid to Caldwell Parish, two grass fires in town, two mutual aid woods fires in Urania and Jena and a mutual assist for the conveyor belt fire at LaSalle Lumber in Urania. He said five department members attended a HAZMAT class in Alexandria.

Thompson also informed the Council that the department has been given a 50-foot squirt ladder truck with a boom from the Mansura Volunteer Fire Department. He said the truck and pump work great, but the boom cylinder has a hydraulic leak. He said they think they can fix it and if so the truck will be an asset to the department especially with any calls at the plants in Urania.

In the public works report, Mayor Elliott said the VFD, panel and transmitter has been ordered for the water plant through the CWEF grant for a total of $15,999 with the grant covering $15,000 of the total cost.

She also said the town received authorization to advertise for bids on the water plant through LCDBG but since the town is having to use the Water Sector Program grant to supplement the costs they cannot advertise for bids until they receive the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) from the Water Sector Program (WSP). She said LCDBG gives the town 30 days to advertise the bids so she had to write a letter requesting an extension because of the wait on CEA and the town received extension and have until May 27 to advertise.

Elliott informed the Council that another water rate study must be conducted in order to be eligible for the LCDBG grant. She said the CDBG rate study is unable to be used for the WSP grant.

In her comments, Mayor Elliott informed the Council that after the fascia boards are painted an Open House for the new town hall will be held during office hours and refreshments will be served. She said lettering on the front doors has been added and signage has been ordered.

She next mentioned about the revival being held in Olla by the area Baptist churches and said April 13 was a special service to honor First Responders, Civil Servants and Community Leaders with a meal provided at the service.

She also said the town placed a large order for trash bags. She added that none have been ordered since 2020 and the price has five increases so the town had to raise the cost of the bags to $13.00 per box.