The Sulphur City Council on Dec. 8 approved a slate of ordinances and resolutions covering condemnation and code-enforcement actions, procurement awards, interlocal service agreements and procedural changes to public comments.
Key formal actions included votes to pursue condemnation of unsafe properties at 950 Live Oak and 301 Comanche Street and to order a hazardous tree removed from private property at 301 Comanche. The council awarded a demolition contract for the O'Kroger building at 1551 East Napoleon Street to Pat Williams Construction LLC for a base bid of $725,000 and approved low-bid awards for the annual supply of water-utility chemicals and pipe fittings to vendors listed in the agenda packet.
The council approved two interlocal agreements: one authorizing the mayor to enter a dispatch services agreement with the Calcasieu Communications District, under which the Sulphur Fire Department will remit $31,002 per year for dispatching services, and one authorizing the mayor to enter an agreement with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office to assist in ad valorem tax collection, with reimbursement to the sheriff's office of $36,000 for the service.
Council members also approved re-advertising bids for limestone and asphalt with a scheduled bid opening on Jan. 6, and adopted routine administrative items including surplus-property ordinances and a yearly authorization for the finance director (Jennifer Thorn) to reject uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage during insurance renewals.
The body voted to proceed with due diligence on a proposed buy-sell agreement to acquire roughly 17 acres on Highway 90 West at a listed $99,100 per acre for a new police training center and shooting range; survey results will determine the final acreage and price. The council noted $1,248,000 already earmarked for the facility and authorized up to a 90-day due-diligence period.
Several motions were recorded by roll call and carried. Where roll calls were recorded on the transcript, the votes were read aloud by name or roll; outcomes below reflect the motions as adopted during the meeting.
Votes at a glance (selected items adopted)
- Condemnation: 950 Live Oak — motion carried (roll call recorded).
- Condemnation: 301 Comanche Street — motion carried (roll call recorded).
- Tree removal: 301 Comanche Street (dangerous/dead tree) — motion carried.
- Zoning exception (living in business district) for Miss Mount Sierra — exception granted.
- Remodeling exception (Angela Duncan) as amended (six-month stipulation) — approved as amended.
- Dispatch services agreement (Calcasieu Communications District) — approved; Sulphur Fire Department to remit $31,002/year.
- Sheriff tax-collection assistance (Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office) — approved; city to reimburse $36,000.
- Buy-sell agreement for land (police training center) — motion to proceed with agreement and due diligence carried; price listed at $99,100/acre; acreage to be finalized by survey.
- Resolution awarding demolition (1551 E. Napoleon) to Pat Williams Construction LLC — approved; base bid $725,000.
- Resolution awarding low bids for chemicals and pipe fittings — approved (vendors and itemized prices listed in the council packet).
- Resolution amending public-comment procedures (Res. 54-25), including a three-minute rule and group-representation provisions (amended to a 17-minute total for collective representatives) — approved.
The meeting's formal votes appear in the agenda and transcript roll calls; this roundup covers the primary adopted motions and financial commitments announced during the meeting.