What happened at the Aug. 13 WBR Parish Council meeting
The WBR Parish Council approved a homebuyer bond program with taxpayer protections, fined a hotel for operating without a permit, and moved forward on a new senior center in Erwinville. The council meets again tonight with a trash ordinance public hearing on the agenda.
The West Baton Rouge Parish Council covered a full agenda at its Aug. 13 meeting, approving a homebuyer assistance bond program with taxpayer protections, issuing fines for unpermitted hotel operations, and moving forward on a new senior center in Erwinville.
The council also heard a major economic development announcement from Parish President Jason Manola. ExxonMobil and Community Coffee are investing a combined $308 million in the parish. That story is covered separately.
John Summers
Homebuyer bond program approved with no-PILOT clause
The council unanimously approved a resolution allowing the Capital Area Finance Authority to issue up to $200 million in tax-exempt revenue bonds for down payment assistance programs.
The vote came after an extended discussion about potential risks to local taxpayers.
Jim Bourgeois, the parish's long-time financial advisor with Government Consultants, told the council he had no objection to the program itself but warned about payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements that have caught other parishes off guard in the past.
"I've had a parish president pull out a thing one day and said they're not paying any sales tax or property tax," Bourgeois said. He recommended the council add language making clear it was not agreeing to any PILOT arrangement.
Kristin Delahoussaye, CAFA's director of homeownership programs, told the council the bonds are strictly for down payment assistance and cannot be used for PILOT programs.
"There's no language in the resolution that states that," Delahoussaye said. "We actually put language in it to protect y'all."
She said CAFA helped 25 West Baton Rouge residents purchase homes through the program last year. The program offers first-time homebuyers 4% toward their down payment and closing costs. Borrowers must have at least a 620 credit score and meet income limits.
Christina Poray, a mortgage loan officer and 14-year West Baton Rouge resident, spoke in support of the program, describing how it helps families who cannot afford large down payments.
Gordon King, Bourgeois's partner at Government Consultants, disclosed that his firm represents the Louisiana Housing Corporation, which operates a competing program. He said he could not recommend CAFA's program because of that conflict but noted both programs serve the same purpose.
The council approved the resolution with an amendment stipulating that the parish is not agreeing to any payment-in-lieu-of-taxes arrangement.
Council on Aging budget approved, Erwinville center moving forward
The council approved the Council on Aging's 2026-2027 operating budget, which includes a $3.5 million placeholder for a new senior center in Erwinville.
Lachandra Atkins, financial officer of the West Baton Rouge Council on Aging, told the council the agency has opened a second location in Erwinville that now draws 60 to 70 seniors on some days. The agency is hiring additional staff for the site, including an outreach coordinator, an accounting assistant and additional drivers.
The new Erwinville center will be a joint project with the parish library.
Councilman Daryl Babin told the council the $3.5 million figure is a placeholder, not a real estimate. He said the architect has been hired and the project is moving forward, but the actual cost won't be known until the building is designed.
"It ain't gonna be three and a half million if I'm there," Babin said. He said the council should approve the budget with the understanding that the line item will be amended once real numbers are available.
The motion passed unanimously.
Hotel fined for operating without permit
The council held public hearings on two hotel properties operating without valid permits under the parish's hotel-motel registration ordinance.
The first, a hotel on Lobdell Highway owned by Property Investments LLC, had failed to renew its permit by the Dec. 31 deadline. Craig Thibodeaux, who took over the property's bookkeeping in March, said the renewal slipped through the cracks while the owner was on vacation.
Parish attorney Kristen Canezaro told the council the ordinance requires a fine for operating without a permit. She recommended against the maximum penalty since it was a first-time violation.
Chairman Carey Denstel proposed a $100 fine plus the $100 annual registration fee, due by the next council meeting on Aug. 27. The motion passed unanimously.
The second hearing involved Raj Patel's OYO Hotel on Highway 1 South, operated by S Investments LLC. Canezaro told the council Patel had actually renewed his permit on time, but it was never issued because the parish was in the process of updating its ordinance requirements.
She recommended no fine but warned Patel that by Dec. 31 he must clear outstanding property taxes, sales taxes and his occupational license to be eligible for renewal. If he fails to meet those requirements, his permit will be denied and he will not be able to reapply for one year.
Patel told the council he has been unable to resolve the property tax issue because the land was seized by the parish for unpaid taxes, and the previous owner, LA Property Management LLC, is unresponsive.
The council issued Patel's current permit with no fine.
Condemnation tabled
The council tabled action on a derelict structure at 1234 Rev. Manual St. in Port Allen for 30 days after several council members questioned whether the property warranted demolition.
Parish staff recommended the structure for demolition, but Vice Chairman Alan Crowe questioned whether it warranted that step, noting the roof is intact, windows are in place and doors are locked.
"It's ugly," Crowe said. "But it's not a safety hazard."
Council members said they wanted to make contact with the property owner before any decision. The council voted to table the matter for 30 days to allow staff to reach the owner and conduct an interior inspection.
Other business
Financial update: Finance Director Chance Stephens reported the parish is on track through the end of July. Revenue is running at 60%, with sales tax about $100,000 ahead of the same period last year. Operating expenses are under budget at 57%.
Court Street sidewalk: The council approved a $3,000 change order for contractor insurance reimbursement on the Court Street Sidewalk Project. The cost is split 80/20 with DOTD.
EMPG radios: The council approved the transfer of emergency management radios purchased through a federal grant to Fire District No. 1. Additional transfers to Addis PD and Port Allen PD are expected in the coming weeks.
Bridge inspections: The council approved its annual certification for the state's off-system bridge replacement program.
Trash ordinance: An ordinance amending Chapter 34 of the parish code, covering garbage and trash collection, was introduced.
Upcoming: The council meets again Thursday, Aug. 27, with a public hearing on the trash ordinance on the agenda.
