Meeting Minutes
Regular Council Meeting
City of Tallulah
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August 14, 2025
A regular council meeting of the Mayor and City Council was held on Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 5:30 P. M., in the Council Room Chamber of Tallulah City Hall.
Interim Mayor Yvonne Lewis called the meeting to order, led the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer.
A roll call of Council Members is listed as follows:
Scott Present
Houston Present
Harris Present
Day Present
Wells Present
Public Commits on the Agenda:
Councilman Wells voiced concerns about the prior meeting on July 24, 2025 and his belief that the meeting was ended in error. After discussion, Mayor Lewis, upon advice from the attorney, requested and received a motion to adjourn the prior meeting. Councilman Wells raised further concerns and asked that the following statement be made a part of the minutes “The previous Council meeting was closed in error and in violation of the open Meetings Law as it was not properly moved or seconded and she adjourned the meeting and now we are attempting to add an actionable item to the agenda and vote on it.”
Councilman Wells asked that an item be added to the agenda for Discussion on the Fairgrounds Park. Motion to add item made by Councilman Wells and seconded by Councilman Harris and passed unanimously. Mrs. Gloria Hayden was called forward to provide her remarks on the Fairgrounds Park (remarks included concerns about fencing and equipment placement). Councilman Wells also expressed concerns that no one in District 5 was consulted about the park.
Motion to Approval Minutes of the July 24, 2025 Regular Meeting, with corrections from Joe Scott and from Marjorie Day) made by Councilman Scott and seconded by Councilperson Day. Motion carried unanimously.
A presentation was given by Pastor Blessing regarding her desire to open a Transitional Living Facility in a residential neighborhood in Tallulah. There was much discussion of pros and cons regarding the project from members of the audience, neighborhood members and Councilperson Day. The consensus was that Pastor Blessing would consider and evaluate other locations for her project and come back to the Council when another location was found.
Anthony Bridgewater provided information to the Council regarding the donation of a lot adjudicated (Mulberry Street) to the city to the Madison Parish Library for a new parking lot. The house on the property would be demolished and the lot cleaned at the expense of the Madison Parish Library. Discussion provided that the City would work with the Police Jury on an actual donation (Councilman Wells read from documentation to his point that the City could not donate property) or Cooperative Endeavor Agreement for this project.
Motion to begin the process of the property transfer (by donation or CEA) made by Scott and seconded by Day. Four yea votes (Scott, Houston, Harris and Day) and one nay vote (Wells).
The declaration of old aerators at the Wastewater Treatment plant was asked to be tabled by Interim Mayor Lewis. Motion to table made by Councilperson Day and seconded by Councilperson Houston. A vote was taken with four yeas (Scott, Houston, Harris and Day) and one nay (Wells).
Approval of Termination of Officer Michael Stewart made by motion by Councilman Scott and seconded by Councilperson Houston.
A Roll Call Vote followed:
Scott Yea
Houston Yea
Harris Yea
Day Yea
Wells Nay
Motion carried.
Section 8 report was provided by Merunda Brown, Section 8 Executive Director. Motion to accept the Section 8 report made by motion from Councilperson Day and seconded by Councilperson Houston. Four yea votes (Scott, Houston, Harris and Day and one nay vote (Wells).
Approval of a Resolution to Submit an Application for the upcoming Delta Regional Authority SEDAP grant, with the inclusion of the reference of Beech Street, made by Houston and seconded by Scott. Subsequent vote showed four yea votes (Scott, Houston, Harris and Day) and one nay vote (Wells). Motion carried.
Discussion of advertising for Coca Cola Building was provided, along with input from the audience. The City will work with LaMats of LMA and other entities to ensure proper process. Councilman Wells asked that no action be taken until a proper appraisal of the property has been provided. Mayor Lewis told the Council that former Mayor Finlayson had an appraisal done and the appraiser suggested the City asking for bids. Mayor Lewis assured that appraisal would be provided to the Council prior to any further action.
Approval of the Agreement with Pelican State Credit Union made by motion from Councilperson Harris and seconded by Councilperson Day.
A Roll Call Vote followed:
Scott Yea
Houston Yea
Harris Yea
Day Yea
Wells Nay
Introduction of an Ordinance to Adopt the Municipal Budgets for the City of Tallulah was not acted upon due to request for additional information from Budget Committee member Councilperson Wells. Wells requested three-year financial information (2023 – 2025) and three-year salary information (2023 to 2025). He also asked for clarification on various line items in the prior year’s budget where expenditures exceeded revenues (miscellaneous line item, etc). A date of Thursday, August 21st at 9:00 am was set for the Budget Committee to meet again.
Under the Mayor’s Report, Mayor Lewis began discussing the issue of an Investigative Audit. She disclosed to the Council that she had spoken with three Councilmembers individually (Scott, Houston and Day) regarding their reasons for voting no on the issue in the past. She also indicated that she favored the Council going out for proposals for the audit and finally making a decision on how they wanted to move forward. At this juncture Councilmember Wells advised that he felt talking to the three constituted a “walking quorum.” He asked that the following statement be added to the minutes “Interim Mayor Lewis stated on August 14, 2025 at 7:43 pm that she spoke with Councilmember Scott, Councilmember Houston and Councilmember Day to gauge their feelings on having an investigative audit. Interim Mayor Lewis stated that the three aforementioned councilmembers stated that they said that they were not against the Forensic Audit they were against the cost of the audit.” Mayor Lewis disagreed with the Councilman’s perspective saying that she did not poll or ask how anyone would vote, only asking why they had voted the way they had in the past.
Mayor Lewis concluded her report and with no further actions the meeting was adjourned.
Attest
/signed/ Gerald Odom, Clerk
/signed/ Marjorie Day, Mayor Pro Tem
Published in the Madison Journal in
Tallulah, Louisiana for a total cost
of $581.31 on September 25, 2025
