During their first regular meeting for 2024, the Olla Town Council voted on a new Fire Chief for the Olla Volunteer Fire Department. There were three candidates for the position, each present at the meeting on Tuesday, January 9.

Last June, the Olla Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief position became vacant with the passing of longtime Chief Joe Thompson. During the regular June meeting, following an open forum held by the Fire Department, longtime firefighter and town superintendent Ray Atwell was named Acting Fire Chief and has been serving in the position since.

With the new year, the Town has accepted applications for the position.

Those who applied were Acting Fire Chief Ray Atwell, Tullos Volunteer Fire Department Chief Harvey Boyette and Olla VFD firefighter Kim Taylor. The candidates were provided the chance to introduce themselves and state their interest in the position.

Following the presentations, each member of the Council voted by secret ballot. All ballots were counted by Town Clerk Sonya Kennon and the new Chief was announced by Mayor Rhonda Elliott.

“The new Fire Chief for the town of Olla will be Kim Taylor. Congratulations, Kim,” Mayor Elliott announced. “If there is any way that the Council and I can work with you and support you, please let us know.”

Taylor, a resident of Olla for over 60 years, is an EMT and has been an Olla VFD firefighter for many years. He is a certified one firefighter and a certified firefighter instructor through LSU.

Mayor Elliott also took the time to thank Ray Atwell for serving as the town’s Acting Fire Chief and the Superintendent.

“I will still be working, supporting him (Taylor),” Atwell stated.

Taylor also expressed his desire for working with Atwell, especially in light of the upcoming fire rating the department will undergo.

“With this fire rating, we are going to be working together, just like we always have,” Taylor stated. “Ray isn’t going anywhere. We are going to work hard for this rating.”

Also present at the meeting were students from Alderman Joel Sims’ Civics class from LaSalle High School. Each year, Sims invites students from his Civics class to attend a Town Council meeting in order to see local government at work. Students who attend also receive bonus points. The five students present were welcomed by Mayor Rhonda Elliott.

“We have some special guests tonight,” Mayor Elliott stated. “Students from Mr. Sims’ class. We are glad to have you all.”

The Council then approved the 2024 Town appointments. These included the following: Town Attorney, Dorroh & Kendrick; Town Clerk, Sonya Kennon; Town Magistrate, Mark Talley and Mayor Pro-Tem, Joel Sims.

The Council also approved the introduction of Ordinance 2024-001.

“This is an ordinance that we talked about at our last meeting. It is to release the dedication of extension 4245 Main Street Highway 165 and Olive Street to Homeland Federal Savings Bank.” Mayor Elliot said. “The resolution includes a description of the plot of land. We are revoking our dedication of it.”

A public hearing for the ordinance is scheduled for the next regular meeting, which will take place on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:45 p.m. prior to the start of the meeting.

The Council then discussed a request made by the board members of a local religious campground to allow a cell tower to be erected on the property. However, after a brief discussion, the request moved to a roll call vote, and the Council unanimously voted to deny the request.

Also during the meeting, the Council approved of several department reports.

Acting Fire Chief Ray Atwell presented the fire department report. For the month of December, the department had two members resign and received four calls, including one house fire assist in Tullos, a house fire on Church Street, a fire alarm activated at Hunt Lumber and an assist to the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office with removing a fallen tree in a road.

According to the police report provided by Chief O’Bier, the department wrote 111 citations, collected a total of $19,213.65 in fines and fees and received 11 complaint calls during the month of December.

During the public works report, Mayor Elliott provided updates on the town’s recent water issues.

“We are having issues with water being discolored in certain areas, which began just after we switched over to the new treatment plant,” Mayor Elliott explained. “This is under investigation. We should get water sample results back soon. Once we receive those, we should know more about what to do and whether any lines need to be replaced.”

Mayor Elliott also said that one of the town’s trucks, which has been in the shop for almost a year, is repaired and will soon be returned to the town for use.

During the Mayor’s comments, Mayor Elliott provided updates on the new water treatment plant and the requirements for the grant that will be used.

“As a requirement of the LCDBG that we received for the new treatment plant, we had to have a new rate study conducted. While they were here, LRWA also conducted the sewer rate study,” Mayor Elliott updated. “That took place last Friday and I should hear something by the end of this week. Whatever rate they set, we will have to implement.”

Mayor Elliott also updated the Council that she has been working on required documentation for the town’s water grade. According to the Sanitation Survey conducted last October, the system did need some repairs. One company did submit a quote for the work. However, the work was neither started nor completed quickly enough and the needed repairs will affect the town’s rate.

“We did end up with a B, however, because the Sanitation Survey required those repairs and we couldn’t get those done before December 31, it will go against us on the water report card,” Mayor Elliott said.

The Mayor said she doesn’t know what this will do to the town’s water grade, but she has done everything else she can for the required documentation.

Taylor’s introduction if you can find somewhere to put it: “I have lived here in Olla for 68 years. I graduated from LaSalle High School in ’74. I’m a firefighter and an EMT,” Taylor said. “I love fighting fires. I am a certified instructor through LSU and a certified firefighter 1.”