Patterson water plant to go behind present plant

The City Council approved a transfer of funds Tuesday relating to the city’s new water plant for which construction is scheduled to begin in June behind the city’s old water plant on Main Street, Mayor Rodney Grogan said this morning.
At Tuesday’s council meeting, the council approved an ordinance to amend the 2014-15 operating budget for the transfer of $361,000 from the sewerage and solid waste tax fund to the general fund in order to provide excess revenues in the general fund for the purpose of providing evidence of the City of Patterson’s ability to make sufficient and timely debt payments on the issuance of $1 million in excess revenue bonds, Grogan said. The excess revenue bonds are required to complete the city’s new water plant.
City officials are in the design stage of the water plant and hope to start construction in June, Grogan said. Officials originally planned to construct the plant between the old water plant and mechanic shop on Main Street, but now are looking to put the new plant behind the old plant closer to the Lower Atchafalaya River, Grogan said.
The closer proximity to the Lower Atchafalaya River will help with the water flow into the plant, Grogan said. The river is the city’s water source, the mayor said.
In December 2014, Grogan said the new plant will be “non-conventional” in that it will use sand to break down the sludge in the water coming out of the Lower Atchafalaya River, Grogan said. Therefore, fewer chemicals are required to get the water ready for consumption, he said. The plant is estimated to cost $5.5 million to $6 million.
Also at Tuesday’s council meeting, the council approved a resolution to limit public comments to two minutes to comments only pertaining to items on the agenda, Grogan said.
During the meeting, Grogan appointed Angela Shilling-Boyles as city clerk to replace former City Clerk Pam Washington, who retired Jan. 31, he said. Grogan also appointed Kim Dardeau as city tax collector and Sean Marshall to the planning and zoning commission. The mayor also re-appointed all of the current housing authority board members, Grogan said.
In other business, the council:
—Denied a variance request to change the designation of 1401 Plum St. from residential to business use, Grogan said. The planning and zoning commission had recommended approval of the variance, but the council denied the request because the person who made the request was not a rightful heir to the land, he said.
—Approved a request for “children at play” signs to be placed in the city.
—Voted to assess the request for a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Waveland and Tiffany streets, Grogan said. Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle will assess that area for traffic activity in regard to ticket citations and traffic accidents, Grogan said.
—Denied a request for the one-way signage on Dangerfield Lane to be changed to a two-way street because the street is not wide enough, Grogan said.
—Approved a can shake for American Legion Post 242 on March 7.
—Approved a can shake for Patterson High School’s Project Graduation on Feb. 21.
—Approved a permit request from Hattie Watts Elementary for a Color Run/Fun Walk on March 14.
—Approved a parade permit for the Krewe of Amani.