Town’s water rates to go up
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Following
the presentation of a water rate study prepared by Balar Engineering and
Associates, the Homer Town Council has approved increasing its water rates.
It
wasn’t an easy decision to make, however. The motion to approve Resolution
12-008A Water-Sewer Rates was made by District 3 Councilman Don McCalman,
surprisingly seconded by District 4 Councilwoman Carlette Sanford, who has been
a staunch opponent in years past of raising rates, and was passed. It was
opposed by District 1 Councilwoman Linda Mozeke who said she couldn’t in good
conscience vote for something like this in such a bad economy. District 2
Councilman Michael Wade was absent.
According
to Jimmy Hagan, with Balar, the town loses money every year in its water and
sewer revenues; however, their collection rates are fairly consistent.
In the
study, the engineering company looked at the current rates of the town to
determine if each one generates sufficient revenue to fund improvements and
make repairs to its systems. The study addressed where the town is, which runs
in a deficit often times, he said.
“It
takes in less than what it pays out,” Hagan told council members. “It takes in
less than what it takes to operate. In most years, it loses money. The fund is
not intended to make money but intended to sustain itself.”
The
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is releasing $1 million in grants to
the town. Not all of that has been spent, he said. However, in order for the
town not to lose the money, it needs to build a cushion. And right now, there
are no reserves being built up.
“If you
compare Homer to a lot of other towns, y’all aren’t that bad off,” he said.
“You can adjust the rate structure to where you aren’t burdening those on a
fixed income.”
There
are four or five different ways the town could adjust its rate structure --
increase the water rates by 19 percent and raise wastewater rates by 23
percent.
The
town chose to go by the option recommended by the study, which will raise
inside residential rates from $6 to $7.15, outside residential from $6 to
$8.15, commercial inside from $6 to $10.15, commercial outside from $6 to
$12.15.
Wastewater
rates would be raised from $6 across the board to $7.50 for residential inside,
to $8.50 for residential outside, $10.50 for commercial inside and $12.50 for
commercial outside.
(Inside
and outside refer to inside or outside the corporate limits of Homer. Outside
refers to those customers who are outside the corporate limits but are on the
town’s water and wastewater systems.)
These
figures are based on 7,000 gallons per month for each user. Customers will pay
an average of $5 more per month, totaling $10 per month ($5 for water, $5 for
wastewater).
Raising
water rates has been a long-standing issue for several years, because they
didn’t want to raise their constituents’ utility bills. Homer Mayor Alecia
Smith has been trying to get the council to agree to raise these rates, because
it was agreed upon by the previous administration to raise the rates to keep up
with average water rates in order to get USDA funding. However, that agreement
has not been kept, and she said it didn’t matter who the mayor was at the time
or now. The agreement had been made, and in order to not lose any funding, the
town has to abide by its agreement. In fact, the town had already been turned
down for one grant because its rates were below average.
In
other news, the council approved the resolution amending 2012’s budget as well
as 2013’s proposed budget.
Also,
appointments to fill vacancies on Homer Memorial Hospital’s Board of Directors
were approved as well. They are: Jack Hightower, who will replace George
Tigner, Dr. Pat Bates, who will serve as the mayor’s designee, and Kesha Ridley
Jenkins, who will replace Charles Etta Johnson. Mayor Smith thanked them for
their service to the hospital.
The
council also approved:
•
Setting up a public hearing to discuss council member term limits for the Homer
Town Council. The public hearing is set for 5:45 p.m., Monday, January 7,
before the regular meeting at 6 p.m.
•
Contract with Grant Writer Shelly King at $7,000 per year.
•
Contract with City Attorney Marcus Patillo.
•
Contract with CPA Cynthia Brooks at $125 per hour and out of pocket expenses.
•
Computer Technician Contract with Melvin Goodson at $760 per month.
• Pest
Control Contract with Camofog, who they’ve been using.
•
Contract for generator maintenance for the water plants on Hill Street and at
the airport.
•
Electrical Inspector Contract with Homer Electric
•
Auditor Marsha Milligan for up to $18,000.
In
other news, the USDA grant for $180,000 for new police cars for the Homer
Police Department should be moving forward now that the Americans with
Disabilities Act requirements have been met.
The
next meeting for the Homer Town Council will be at 6 p.m., January 7, in
council chambers, located inside Homer City Hall. A public hearing to discuss
doing away with council member term limits will be at 5:45 p.m. For more
information, or for questions, please call their office at 318-927-3555.
Man arrested for November armed robbery
Another arrested for domestic abuse
battery, bonds set at $120,500, $10,000
The Guardian-Journal
A Homer
man was arrested on Friday, December 28, on several warrants after he failed to
appear in court, no driver’s license and failure to yield.
Ward V.
McClendon, 38, was arrested and charged with failure to appear with bond set at
$500, armed robbery with bond set at $100,000 and possession and carrying of a
firearm by a convicted felon with bond set at $20,000.
According
to police, Officer Frank Evans, on the above date, saw McClendon at a local
convenience store. McClendon complied with the officer’s requests and was
patted down for officer’s safety. Evans learned McClendon had two active
warrants and the suspect was placed under arrest, where Officer Scott Glenn
transported him to the Homer Police Station.
Reports
say McClendon allegedly robbed a man on South Fourth Street in November,
pointing a gun at him, demanding money. The victim gave the suspect what money
he had in his pocket and McClendon ran down the street and jumped into a
vehicle.
Reports
also indicate that someone witnessed the incident and was also a victim as
well.
Upon
interviewing the victim, Evans obtained warrants for armed robbery and the
firearm possession charge, returned to the police station and served them on
McClendon.
McClendon
was then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where he was
booked on all warrants.
In
another incident, another Homer man was arrested on Friday, December 21, for
domestic abuse battery.
Kelvin
D. Walker, 36, was arrested on the above charge with bond set at $10,000.
According
to Homer Police, Officers Frank Evans and Scott Glenn were dispatched to the
1100 block of Pearl Street in reference to a domestic disturbance in progress.
Upon
arrival, the two officers were met by a woman who said Walker came home drunk
and began to “pick” on her. It was then her son told him to leave his mother alone.
At that
point, Walker and the complainant’s son engaged in a physical altercation. She
grabbed her son, went to another location and was followed where the
altercation continued, reports say. When she and her son were able to get away,
she called police.
Upon
officers’ arrival, Walker had allegedly left the premises, and the officers
patrolled the area, spotting him on Pearl Street.
Walker
was placed under arrest and was transported to the Homer Police Station for
processing.
While
at the police station, officers noted injuries to Walker’s head and face and
Pafford Ambulance was called to the scene. Walker was transported to Homer
Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Walker
was treated and then transported to the Claiborne Parish Detention Center where
he was booked on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Toy giveaway a huge success
Submitted photos
The Gift Wrapped by God Christmas Toy
Giveaway and Christmas Dinner on Sunday, December 23 was a huge success.
Sponsored by St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Alton’s Vision, the Homer
Police Department and the Town of Homer, many kids from the community got
Christmas a little early. Each child who came to the event went home with a new
toy. Pictured above, these kids wait anxiously before gifts were handed out.
Below, the sheer number of gifts show the generosity of the community coming
together to make sure children enjoyed the holiday season.
2012: A look back at the top 10 stories
of the year
The Guardian-Journal
The
year 2012 was a tumultuous one as several events affected the people of
Claiborne Parish. While local stories made the top 10, also statewide issues
effected citizens as well.
Here’s
a look back at some of the top stories of the year.
10. Several plead, convicted in Operation TBOS
In
2012, several suspects arrested on major drug charges pled guilty and were
sentenced to hard time in prison. Operation TBOS began in 2010 by investigators
with the Homer Police Department after receiving several phone calls in
relation to prescription drugs being sold illegally. In all, 44 indictments
were handed down by the Second Judicial District Court, and most have pled
guilty to the charges.
9. Nguyen freed
Mary
Nguyen, arrested in 2007 on charges of theft, criminal mischief and aggravated
assault. In March 2012, she pled no contest to misdemeanor charges and was
freed with time served. She was sentenced to six months on the theft charge and
six months on the aggravated assault charge. She was originally arrested on
charges of theft over $500 and criminal mischief after she allegedly painted
inflammatory graffiti on t-shirts she’d screen printed for a then district
attorney candidate. The t-shirts were then distributed around the courthouse
lawn in Homer and on several streets in town.
What
makes this story unique is the fact that for five years, Nguyen sat in a prison
cell on misdemeanor charges with no resolution to her case. Her family revoked
her bond in 2008 and when bail bonds agents and the Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s
Office came to assist in taking her into custody, she reportedly barricaded
herself into her home, raising a shotgun at a sheriff’s detective.
A
sanity hearing was ordered later that year, which put the entire case on hold.
When she was declared incompetent to stand trial, she was placed into a mental
health facility in 2009, where she underwent 18 months of treatment.
For one
reason or another, once she was declared competent to stand trial, her case was
passed for one reason or another, including court system schedules.
8. Housing Authority executive director arrested, pleads
guilty
Former
Homer Housing Authority Executive Director Michelle Green was arrested late
spring on charges of theft of government money and property. She, along with
five other co-defendants pled guilty to the charges on October 29, 2012. The
other co-defendants were Curtis L. Mays, of Harker Heights, Texas, Katrina G.
Robertson, 38, and Flack D. Robertson, 34, Aaron Perry, 29, all of Haynesville
and Katrina Henderson, 33, of Shreveport.
According
to the United States Attorney’s Office, investigations revealed that Green
caused checks to be issued to friends and relatives for work that was not being
performed. Several persons admitted they got checks from Green at her
instigation and would cash the checks and kick back the majority of the funds
to Green. From late 2007 until April 2011, the total amount was more than
$400,000.
7. Bypass speed limit reduction denied
Following
a fatality crash at the intersection of Hwy. 79 and the Homer Bypass on
September 3, Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, along with letters of support
from the police jury and representatives of the area, sent a letter to
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development requesting a reduction
in the speed limit from 55 to 45. In October, Bailey announced the request had
been denied, because they said a reduction in the speed limit wouldn’t reduce
the number of accidents. The idea was to lower the speed limit from Andy Prince
Road to the corporate limits of Homer.
6. Joe Michael passes away
“Joe
Joe” Michael, longtime mayor and huge advocate for the Town of Homer, passed
away shortly before the New Year 2012 began. He was buried on January 2 at
Arlington Cemetery. “Joe Joe” loved his town and was mayor for 20 years. With a
lengthy list of accolades to his credit, Michael was a family man, a community
leader and a huge sports fan. While he played for Louisiana Tech, his alma
mater, he continued to support their athletics programs, as well as other high
school, college and even professional sports. He was a member of the Homer
Lions Club with perfect attendance for 60 years, and served on several boards,
including Homer Memorial Hospital’s board of directors, co-founder of the Homer
Country Club, member of the Homer Chamber of Commerce, regional director of the
American Cancer Society, founder of the Claiborne Jubilee and chairman of the
fundraising committee for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.
The
Jaycees Park in Homer was also renamed the Joe Michael Memorial Park in his
memory.
5. Athens school closes
Athens
High School closed at the end of the 2011-12 school year as the Claiborne
Parish School Board attempted to close a deficit in their budget. The closing
of the school saved the school board approximately $385,000. Many of the
teaching positions were transferred to Homer schools and vacancies in other
areas were also filled. According to the May 17 edition of The
Guardian-Journal, the closing of the school was part of a broader plan to close
the deficit while saving as many teaching positions as possible.
However,
the community showed up in force at that month’s school board meeting to show
their support for their school and their disappointment that no public meetings
were held to discuss the matter. The school board took that to heart, because
they had a difficult time even getting a motion on the table to close the
school. Reluctantly, the motion was made, seconded and approved.
4. One convicted in Bays shooting
Donte
Fielding, one of two charged in the shooting death of Brian G. “Butch” Bays was
convicted of second degree murder in a courtroom in Arcadia. The other charged
with Bays’ death still awaits trial. Bays was shot and killed in his country
store in Summerfield on December 16, 2010 after these boys allegedly stole
money from Bays. Sentencing for Fielding will be in February. He faces a
mandatory life sentence without the benefit of probation or parole.
3. Holloway toddler undergoes life-saving surgery
Emilee
Holloway, an Athens toddler the community of Claiborne Parish pulled together
to support, underwent lifesaving surgery in September to stop debilitating
seizures. The surgery came after several medications didn’t work, and
neurosurgeons went in, removed the part of her brain causing the seizures and
disconnected the rest of the left side of her brain.
Her
mother, Jennifer Holloway, has continued to give good reports on her daughter’s
recovery as she undergoes intensive therapy to learn and re-learn things a
toddler her age should be doing. Emilee will be in therapy most likely for
years to come. The family has continuously shown its appreciation for all the
prayers, fundraisers and support the community has given Emilee.
2. Education Reform leaves educators reeling
During
the 2012 Louisiana Legislative Session, sweeping education reform highly touted
by Gov. Bobby Jindal left many educators reeling with what those changes would
mean, including in Claiborne Parish.
Act 2,
which initiated sweeping changes across the board, was pushed through the
legislature and then challenged by many of Louisiana’s school systems. In fact,
the Louisiana Association of Educators filed suit against the governor and the
state of Louisiana because they feel Act 2 is unconstitutional in that public
dollars meant for public school systems are now being redirected to the voucher
system. What 2013 brings in resolution to the suits remains to be seen.
1. June storm devastates parts of Claiborne Parish
A nasty
storm blew through Claiborne Parish on June 12, leaving many without power and
trapped in their own homes.
With
power out, trees in the streets and many homes destroyed, entities from all
over the state came to the parish’s rescue. Within days, power lines were
restored, trees removed from the streets and vegetative debris cleaned up, the
areas hit hardest -- Airport Loop, the Town of Homer, and other areas -- slowly
but surely gained footing in returning to normal.
Today,
old stately trees once provided shade to Homer are now gone. Even as of this
edition, tree stumps can still be seen throughout the area where these trees
once stood.
