Mayor Terecita Pattan and council members recognized decades of public service while grappling with technology infrastructure decisions

The Port Allen City Council met Wednesday evening to honor two longtime city employees while addressing several significant municipal matters, including a contentious IT services contract that failed to pass.

Honoring Years of Service

The meeting began on a celebratory note as the council recognized two retiring employees for their combined 62 years of service to the community.

Terry Coye, who served 29 years in the city's water and gas department from April 1996 to May 2025, was praised by Mayor Pattan for his dedication and family-oriented approach to public service. "You were there for all those events and I just want to say thank you," Pattan said during the recognition ceremony.

Sergeant Freddie C. Christopher, a 33-year veteran of the Port Allen Police Department, received similar honors. Police Chief Donovan V. Mitchell highlighted Christopher's compassion as his defining characteristic, noting how he mentored new officers throughout his career. Christopher's law enforcement career began in 1992 with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office before joining the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Department and eventually the Port Allen Police Department, where he served as both a patrol officer and school resource officer.

"Your compassion will take you a long way. You can know a lot, you can be a leader, but you also have to have compassion," the chief remarked during the ceremony.

IT Services Contract Hits Roadblock

A proposed managed services agreement with Essential Solutions faced unexpected opposition, with the contract failing by a 3-2 vote. The company, which has provided IT services to the city for approximately two decades, requested an increase from $4,000 to $4,750 per month.

Bob White, representing Essential Solutions, defended the proposed increase by presenting usage data showing the city would save over $20,000 annually compared to paying hourly rates. However, council members raised concerns about overlapping services and costs.

"If we're paying you that kind of money, you need to be servicing everything," said one council member, citing confusion over which systems the company maintains versus other contracted services.

The discussion revealed ongoing issues with the city's meeting recording system, a $100,000 installation that has experienced persistent malfunctions. White clarified that Essential Solutions coordinates with the recording system vendor but doesn't directly maintain the proprietary software.

With the current contract set to auto-renew August 1st without 30-day notice by July 1st, the council deferred the item to allow for further review.

Budget and Financial Matters Advance

The council successfully adopted several budget-related measures:

• 2025-2026 Operating Budget: Approved with a notable addition of $50,000 for city hall technology infrastructure improvements
• Low-Income Housing Fund Amendment: Passed to accommodate increased Section 8 grant funding
• Police Tax Renewal: Advanced a resolution to place a 10-year, 5.02-mill police department tax on the November 15th ballot

The council also confirmed Adrian Daigle as the permanent Director of Finance, moving him from interim status after stepping up following the previous CFO's retirement.

Finance Director Adrian Daigle, who was officially appointed to the permanent director position, presented the monthly financial report showing revenues exceeding projections, particularly in sales and property taxes.

Infrastructure and Personnel Updates

The council approved 60% city funding for a $7,600 sewer tie-in at 1131 Avenue C, continuing the precedent set in previous similar cases. Mayor Pattan acknowledged the lack of standardized policies for such situations, noting the challenge of varying costs based on line depth and accessibility.

Council members also approved extending Shenisha Jackson's temporary assignment to assist in the water/gas office and roads/drainage department, with Mayor Pattan citing her valuable work on state project documentation.

Planning Commission Reinstatement

Mayor Pattan announced the reinstatement of Walt Braud to the Planning and Zoning Commission following the conclusion of legal proceedings. Braud had been suspended during an investigation but was cleared of wrongdoing.

"The law did not find him guilty," Pattan stated, emphasizing her commitment to following legal determinations rather than public perception.

Looking Ahead

The council scheduled several upcoming events:

• Juneteenth Celebration: June 21-22 at William and Lee Park, featuring fireworks Saturday night
• Senior Dinner: Sunday, June 22nd
• LMA District Meeting: June 17th at 6:00 PM
• Next Town Hall Meeting: September (date TBA)

The meeting also featured an update from West Baton Rouge Parish Library's Tammy Martin on summer reading programs and the library's upcoming ballot measure on November 15th.

Executive Session Results

Following an executive session to discuss litigation matters, the council authorized a $2,500 payment to the Louisiana Municipal Risk Management Agency for lawsuit-related fees.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for the second Wednesday of July at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers.

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