By: NICK JAGNEAUX
Staff Reporter
Vowing that he “will make sure” that bars in Ville Platte are within the 300-foot zoning law, Frank Miller decried the revocation of an alcohol permit for the Empire Night Club set to open in his building.
Last month, the City Council approved the permit to sell alcohol in the Empire Night Club, a new business being opened by Davina Davis in Miller’s building on West Main Street. The building used to house the Midnight Blue Sports Bar. It is located right next to Chinese Kitchen Restaurant. In fact, Miller owns both of the buildings.
However, the permit application was inappropriately brought to the Council for its approval. For bars, one of the things the city’s building inspector must do pior to bringing the permit to the Council is to measure how far it is from the nearest residential property. According to an ordinance passed in 2006, bars cannot operate within 300 feet from the nearest residence.
When the ordinance was passed the building was being used as the Midnight Blue Sports Bar. Because the bar was already in operation, it was grandfathered in. As soon as Midnight Blue Sports Bar closed, any new business that would open in the building would be subject to the 2006 ordinace.
Although Miller and Davis’ permit application was presented to the Council by Mayor Jennifer Vidrine, the measurement actually had not been done. Without knowing that the measurement had not been done, the Council unanimously approved the permit.
The next day, it was discovered that a measurement had not been done; so, one was made. The measurement showed that the building is well within the 300-foot zone, being within 60 feet of a brick home and 100 feet of a trailer home.
Consequently, after talking to the City Attorney Eric Lafleur, Vidrine annulled the approval of the permit.
In the meantime, Davis was proceeding with plans to renovate the building to bring it up to code. Miller said that he spent about $30,000 refurbishing the property. He said that he did not know about the 2006 ordinance, that no one from the city had told him about it.
Vidrine told Miller that it was his responsibility to know pertinent city ordinances before making the application.
Miller then questioned the operation of the Bulldog Sports Lounge, recently opened across the street from City Hall. Vidrine said that the Bulldog met the requirements of the 2006 ordinance.
However, Miller told the Council that he personally measured the distance for himself, and that according to his measurements, the Bulldog is no more than 110 feet from a residence.
When Vidrine reiterated that the Bulldog met the requirement, Miller said that he would take up the issue with Lafleur to make sure that an accurate measurement was actually done; and that any bars that do not meet the code are not allowed to operate.
In other business, the Council unanimously approved Vidrine’s recommendation to give pay raises to city employees. Starting at the next pay period this month, employees will see a three percent increase in their salaries. Beginning in May, or maybe sooner, the City will increase its minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.00 an hour.
The cost will be about $66,000 per year. It was included in the last budget that the City adopted.
Also, the City will be absorbing an eight percent increase in the employees’ health insurance premiums. Last year, the City absorbed a six percent increase in health insurance premiums.
Vidrine also announced that the City spent nearly $91,000 more in March than in February. The increase in spending was caused by major breaks in the sewer system that had to be repaired. One repair cost more than $43,000 and another cost more than $37,000. Vidrine said that there is still a $40,000 repair bill on her desk that will have to be paid.
The Council hired six new fulltime police officers. According to Chief Neil Lartigue, the new cops will give him 30 fulltime officers on the Ville Platte police force, just three short of a full staff.
Beginning next month, the City will have to pay for 911 dispatching services. The total cost of $1,059.47 will be evenly split between the City and Ville Platte Fire Protection District 2.