Bogalusa City Council Meeting May 21, 2024

Tuesday (May 21, 2024) evening's meeting of the Bogalusa City Council was marked by disruptions, disrespect of the Council, verbal attacks on Council Members, emotional outbursts, and heated rhetoric from the public. Most of these responses came after the Council considered adoption of a resolution that would revise public participation from four minutes to two minutes. The resolution is an attempt to restore order to City Council meetings that have too often degenerated into chaos in the recent past. Following lengthy discussions and public participation, the Council voted to limit public participation on the business portion (resolutions and ordinances) of the meetings to three minutes and to limit Public Participation segment that followed to two minutes.

The issues began early on but accelerated at around 42:00 into the meeting. You have to see video of the meeting below, to fully appreciate what happened.

Mayor Truong was not in attendance but provided the following comments in a Facebook post this morning (May 22, 2024):

“I wasn’t at the council meeting yesterday but watched clips of the chaos. The council was fighting with citizens and putting people out because they want to cut speaking time to 2 minutes and the public is upset. Also, pro tip for citizens—the council CANNOT make you sit down as long as you are RESPECTFUL and speaking on the AGENDA ITEM. They are violating open meeting laws and free speech by throwing people out because they don’t like what they have to say. And in a few short weeks, BPD won’t be throwing you out, as the next chief will have to set guidelines for removal instead of arbitrarily doing the council’s bidding. Slowly but surely, we are making city government more reflective of the people.”

Despite disruptions encountered during the meeting, the Council, 

• introduced an Ordinance setting AD Valorem Tax Rates and Levying such Taxes for 2024, as required by Law
• introduced an Emergency Ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract to complete ABBA Replacement Rotating Assembly Model Fmn0814s/40 for quote station 3 pump 2
• introduced an Emergency Ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract to complete ABBA Replacement Rotating Assembly Model Fmn0814s/40 for quote station 3 pump 3
• introduced an Ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract to repair a sewer pump SHT at the Amanda Court Lift Station
• Approved an Ordinance (following a Public Hearing) authorizing the Mayor to enter into an amended Lease Agreement with Washington Parish Council
• Approved an Ordinance (following a Public Hearing) authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract to repair a sewer pump SHT at the Amanda Court lift station. 

Public Works Director James Patterson provided comments regarding the City's major sewerage issues that includes active leaking of raw sewage into the Bogue Lusa Creek.

Following further comments from Council Members, the meeting adjourned. 

The next meeting of the Bogalusa City Council is scheduled for June 4, 2024.