Town residents air complaints

Baldwin alderman heard a few complaints from residents Thursday during their monthly meeting.
Doug Frederick said a warning light is needed at the intersection of Main Street and Charenton Road, noting that he sees many cars speeding through the existing signal and was almost hit recently. There is also speeding on Martin Luther King Street, Frederick said.
Mayor Wayne Breaux said Main Street, La. 182, is a state highway and he would make a request to state officials.
Frederick also said he’s “tired of seeing (derelict) cars all over town.” He cited one near his home that has not been addressed. “It looks like maybe someone’s scared of him,” he said of the property owner.
Police Chief Gerald Minor said two or three should be removed next week. Frederick said it’s been two years since the town passed an ordinance addressing such vehicles.
Alderwoman Margaret Coleman said the resident Frederick referred to wishes to sell the vehicle for scrap and is attempting to secure a trailer to transport it. Frederick said the resident has been “saying that for three years.”
Frederick also said children under age 16 have been participating in bucket tosses in the town against city regulation.
A debate ensued about the agreement participants are required to sign when approved for the fundraisers. The board decided that those documents must be signed before authorization is granted.
Frederick also said Baldwin should be enforcing its “saggy pants” ordinance passed a few years ago.
In other business, Coleman reported that the town’s beautification committee is growing, with 15 members at present. The town has been divided into zones and area leaders will oversee cleanup efforts.
She said there have been complaints about abandoned homes, some of which have caught fire recently. “They’re afraid of their homes being burned,” she said.
The committee’s next meeting is set for May 20 at the community center.
Coleman said the town’s litter law needs to be enforced. “Every day I have to pick up trash from my driveway,” she said.
Another resident complained about a derelict structure in a neighbor’s yard. She said animals have nested beneath in and are sometimes coming onto her property. She asked the board to address that as a health concern.
Coleman also said the town should return to twice a week garbage pickup, noting how much trash falls on the streets during pickup.
She said large families fill a trash container to capacity and sometimes it spills out.
Frederick put in that collection workers should pick up any spilled trash before moving on.
Also Thursday the board learned:
—Right of way acquisition is continuing on the Bayou Choupique flood protection project.
—One home has been demolished and construction of a new one has occurred in the Branch Street housing project through HUD.
—The mayor has submitted what he hopes is the last of the paperwork to secure approval for construction of the fire substation under the U.S. 90 overpass at the end of Martin Luther King Street.
—Overlay of streets is complete in the Choupique area and the contractor is touching up the work area.
—Also complete is the driveway at the new fire department complex, and the contractor is also putting final touches on the work site.
—The railroad crossings at Lockley, Orphan Home and Haven streets will be closed in the near future.