MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Friday January 12th, 2024

[City Clerk]

CITY OF JEANERETTE JEANERETTE, LA
MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING-BOARD OF ALDERMEN Friday January 12th, 2024
Proceedings of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Jeanerette, State of Louisiana, at their Special meeting held Friday January 12th, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
Those present were: Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr., Alderwoman Mariah Clay, Alderwoman Charlene Moore. Alderman Garland Bourgeois Alderwoman Christia Simmons, Alderman Ray Duplechain. and was City Attorney Lucretia Pecantte absent
Alderman Bourgeois led the prayer and Alderwoman Moore led the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. determined that a quorum was present.
The Mayor asked that Agenda be expanded to add Item 6 B, Audit report from Kolder, Slaven & Company LLC. Alderwoman Simmons offered motion to expand the agenda, second by Alderwoman Clay. roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
5. Public Comment on Agenda items- none
6 A. Approval of letter of engagement from Kolder, Slaven & Company for the Agreed Upon Procedures for the Fiscal Administration. Alderwoman Simmons offered motion to approve the letter of engagement second by Alderwoman Clay. roll call vote
Yeas: Alderwoman Clay, Alderwoman Moore, Alderman Bourgeois, Alderwoman Simmons, Alderman Duplechain
Nay: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
Motion Carried
6 B. Audit report from Kolder, Slaven & Company LLC. Matthew Margaglio presented the audit of the financial statement of the City of Jeanerette. Mr. Margaglio said the findings of the audit was good, it was on unmodified opinion which means the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities for the City of Jeanerette. He also mentioned that there was a finding, however they don’t regard it as a significant finding because we did amend the budget in an area of grant funding, however we did not adjust the item enough to have it be within the 5% threshold as required. They also ran into an internal control issue concerning a significant amount of journal entries or close-out entries to get the financials to an actual gap basis financial statement. That was concerning some of the big ticket construction projects. Next, Mr. Margaglio reviewed the historical revenues and expenses in the General Fund and tax revenues. Next area reviewed was the historical trends of the Utility Fund Revenue and Expenses were it was noted that our revenues are currently barely ahead of our expenses and therefore it impacts the City’s ability to cover maintenance and repair costs as well as be able to transfer funds to the General Fund. He said that there is a few things triggering this, your usage is down and your rates are flat. On the expense side the costs continue to grow such as chemicals and salaries and the garbage fees do not cover the amount billed. So long term the City is not generating enough revenue. They are seeing that the USDA and DEQ not even approving projects until the rate structure is favorable to repayment and addressing the costs of the infrastructure. Alderwoman Simmons and the Mayor talked about what other communities are doing. Many are implementing fixed price annual increase, and some as the Mayor noted are even going to privatize the water utility. In the end the Mayor and the board will need to decide how they want to address this.
On motion by Alderman Bourgeois second by Alderwoman Moore to leave regular session and enter executive session, on voice vote of all yea, no nay motion carried.
On motion by Alderwoman Clay second by Alderman Bourgeois to leave executive session and enter regular session, on voice vote of all yea, no nay motion carried.
On motion by Alderwoman Simmons second by Alderman Bourgeois to leave executive session and enter regular session, on voice vote of all yea, no nay motion carried.
8. Agenda A. Discussion, and approval concerning agreement between Marshal, Jeanerette Police and City of Jeanerette regarding police protection. On motion by Alderwoman Simmons second by Alderman Bourgeois to table this item, on voice vote of all yea, no nay motion carried.
14. Adjourn –On motion by Alderwoman Simmons and second by Alderman Bourgeois to adjourn carried on voice vote of all yea, no nay and no abstain.



_____________/s/______________________
Carol Bourgeois Jr., Mayor
ATTEST:



____________/s/___________________
Susan Colden City Clerk