Meeting Minutes
CORRECTED MINUTES
Regular Council Meeting
City of Tallulah
February 12, 2026
A regular council meeting of the Mayor and City Council was held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 5:30 P.M, in the Council Room Chamber of Tallulah City Hall.
Mayor Yvonne Lewis called the meeting to order, lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and gave prayer.
A roll call of Councilmembers is shown as follows:
Wells Present
Day Present
Harris Absent
Houston Present
Scott Present
Mayor Lewis made available a short period of time for citizens of the audience to make comments regarding the agenda, but there was none.
Motion and second amend the agenda to add an engagement letter between the City and Attorney Donecia Banks-Miley were made by councilmembers Houston and Day. No objections from the audience were noted, and subsequent roll call is shown as follows:
Wells Yea
Day Yea
Harris Absent
Houston Yea
Scott Yea
Motion carried.
Changes to minutes from January 22, 2026, regular meeting were provided. Additionally, Councilman Wells made remarks again regarding the official City Boundary Map and his desire to see the areas already included in the Census Map made official. Mayor Lewis said that all changes to the maps would be made at the same time. Motion to approve minutes with changes made by Councilperson Day and seconded by Councilperson Houston. A 3-1 vote to approve was made. Council member Day and Council member Scott approved the boundary map 2021.
Wells Nay
Day Yea
Harris Absent
Houston Yea
Scott Yea
Motion carried.
Mayor Lewis presented a briefing concerning the City’s water rehabilitation, and she stated that “the City’s existing USDA and state water sector funds remain tied to the original rehabilitation plan for the water plant.” Plus, she was advised by the Governor’s Office that additional funds from the State might be available if the City agreed to a limited fiscal administrator. The next contract would be between Tallulah and Magnolia, and Tallulah and GOSEP.
Motion to approve the occupational license application of Ms. Josephine Robertts, dba, The Potato Hut) was made by Councilmember Wells with second from Councilmember Day and carried unanimously.
Motion and second to approve a proposal from V&H Contractors Co., Inc. for renovation work at the Community Center, consisting of paint work, were made by Councilmembers Houston and Scott respectively with the following roll call vote:
Wells Nay
Day Yea
Harris Absent
Houston Yea
Scott Yea
Motion carried.
At this juncture, citizen Antonio Wilson was removed from the meeting for going past his allotted three minutes in a comment he was making. Shortly thereafter, Councilmember Wells stated that Mr. Wilson’s time violation should not be a basis for expelling him from the meeting and appealed the Chair’s decision. Council member Wells spoke of the Robert Rules of Order stating, the chair speaks twice, and the board member speaks once on an item. Subsequent vote to determine if the council wanted to stand with the mayor’s decision to remove Mr. Wilson was as follows:
Wells Objected to the ruling because he felt talking past three minutes did not warrant removal.
Day Stand with Decision
Harris Absent
Houston Stand with Decision
Scott Stand with Decision
Motion did not carry.
Councilmember Day moved for approval of A Resolution Supporting the Application of the City of Tallulah for Police Protection/Equipment to be Funded by the State of Louisiana Local Government Assistance Program (LGAP). Councilmember Houston seconded and motion carried unanimously. The grant will be in the amount of $50,000.
City Clerk Gerald Odom presented an overview of city financials for the period ending December 31, 2025. Funds reported included General Fund, Utility (Sewer) Fund, Section 8 Housing, and Street Fund. Monthly results of each fund included a comparison of budget to actual expenditures. He noted that based on current results of the first six months, city finances are very tight but holding close to or better than city budgeted amounts.
There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned on motion and second of Councilmembers Day and Houston respectively and carried unanimously.
Attest:
Date: February 26, 2026
/s/Gerald L. Odom, City Clerk
/s/Yvonne Lewis, Mayor
