Rayne City Council OKs $1.85M bond sale for sewer improvements

Relief, insofar as sewerage and drainage issues are concerned, is on the way for residents in the area of Barbara Street — but it’s going to take a while.
After hearing no objections Monday night, the Rayne City Council took the next step in obtaining funds to replace the pump station and make any associated drainage improvements.
City officials will now prepare documents and apply to the Louisiana State Bond Commission for permission to issue up to $1.85 million in Utilities Revenue Bonds for the project.
It will be August before the city receives word from the Bond Commission on its application, according to Tim Mader, engineer.
Meanwhile, officials are seeking other funding methods — grants and low-interest loans — in hopes of reducing the amount of money it needs to borrow, according to Mayor Chuck Robichaux.
Mader said there is “a very good chance” the project would qualify for funding under the Louisiana Community Development Block Grant program. However, before the city can apply for funding under this program, it must officially close out the Carver Street pump station program, which was LCDBG funded, according to Mader.
The city also is applying for a Department of Environmental Quality State Revolving Fund (SRF) low-interest loan for the project.
With all the plans and specifications and state paperwork required, it is estimated that work on the pump station will begin sometime around January, 2018, and be completed by October of that same year.
In other action Monday night, council members approved the appointment of Mica Smith to the Rayne Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board, replacing Don Lejeune, who resigned from the board.
Four properties were given deadlines for demolition, including:
• a structure at 113 Pine St. (90 days);
• a mobile home at 910 W. Perrodin St. (60 days);
• a mobile home at 400 N. Arenas St. (60 days); and
• a mobile home at 2015-A East D St. (60 days).
In other action, the council:
• appointed The Rayne Acadian-Tribune as its legal journal from July 1 through June 30, 2017;
• authorized the mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Acadia Parish School Board for shared facility/facilities usage;
• approved the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission that property at the corner of East E Street and Louisa Street be re-oriented from an east-west orientation measuring 40 feet by 120 feet to a north-south orientation measuring 60 feet by 80 feet;
• announced that the discharge of fireworks will be allowed in within the city limits from July 1 through July 5, until 9 p.m. each day, in observance of Independence Day.
On the recommendation of Councilman Jimmy Fontenot, Robichaux instructed the city Street Department to address deteriorating conditions along the shoulder of North Polk Street, particularly in the area of Rayne High School.