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Mayor’s Outlook

In the City of Pineville, we are excited about 2004! We are blessed to be experiencing growth in industrial, commercial and residential developments. Many cities may only experience one or two of these in a given year, but we are currently experiencing all three! Construction is currently underway at Procter & Gamble for their new liquids distribution plant. That announcement has brought to Pineville another 200-jobs through the development of Plastipak Packaging, which is also under construction just across from P & G. More economic development has followed those projects with a Chemical Mixer and Box Manufacturer also purchasing property nearby. Because of this expansion, we have begun the process to construct a new Wastewater Treatment Plant to handle the commercial growth…thus better positioning ourselves for the future.

2004 will also see the opening of a major pharmaceutical chain in Pineville. We are also aggressively pursuing getting major retail business into the Kings Country Shopping Center, thus filling some long-standing empty boxes on a major business artery. We should also see some new eatery chains coming to Pineville this year.

The first State Park in Rapides Parish will begin construction in Pineville this year, with an opening slated for spring of 2005. We will also see the opening of the Ward 9 Recreation Complex this year, giving Pineville 165-acres for our youth…and another great reason to move to Pineville.

And speaking of moving…there are also two new subdivision developments underway. Legacy Pointe is a 110-home site, located on Pinehurst Drive, just off Highway 28 East. Treasure Hills Phase III and IV are also underway. This is a 91-home site off Susek Drive, and will also be accessible from Holly Moore Drive, off Donahue Ferry Road. Both of these developments are adding to the landscape of our beautiful city. We are also excited about two other subdivision developments on the drawing board, which should break ground in 2004. With all that is happening around us, Pineville will continue to be the place where people will want to call home.

You can follow our progress on the web at www.pineville.net. There you will find a city “Open for Business” and committed to providing a family-friendly community for everyone to enjoy.

Fire Department Maintains Rating...and Homeowner Rates!

The City of Pineville received notification that the Public Fire Protection Classification for the City of Pineville will remain a “Class 2”. The inspection was conducted by the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana, and is conducted approximately every three years to develop fire insurance premiums for member companies. The City of Pineville made news in the November 2000 survey when the city saw it’s rating lowered from a “5” to the current “2”. Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields says the rating is especially sweet the second time around. “This is a great accomplishment for our Fire Department, who have dedicated! their lives to public safety. Our department takes great pride in the job they do, and this rating confirms they are doing a great job ... plus it's a nice gift for homeowners in Pineville!”

Properties located within the boundaries of the City of Pineville, which are within seven road miles of a recognized fire station and within 1,000 feet of a standard fire hydrant, will continue to receive “Class 2” rates. The survey examines three areas: Receiving and Handling Alarms; the Fire Department and its’ equipment; and Water Supply. Mayor Fields says the Water Department also deserves a big pat on the back as well. “Anytime you can accomplish what we have by maintaining this rating, it takes a team effort. We have quite a team in each area of service to the public. The Fire and Water Departments have worked extremely hard to save our citizens on their insurance premiums”.

Pineville Fire Chief Gary Morrow was equally elated at the repeat award. “I want to thank our firefighters individually, who have spent numerous hours training for that one moment they may be called on.”... “I may be partial, but our citizens have confirmed to me over and over again that we have the best fire department around."

New Man Downtown

The Pineville City Council appointed Edwin "Eddy" Lashney II to complete Nathan Martin's unexpired term on the Pineville Downtown Development District. (Martin was elected as District 5 Councilman and cannot legally serve on both posts.) Lashney was sworn in by Mayor Clarence Fields during the February City Council meeting  (see photo at right). Lashney is a local businessman who lives in the Downtown Development District and who is committed to see the District grow and thrive.

Burr Honored

The Pineville Police Department’s Reserve Division turned out in force to honor one of its own. Roy Burr (pictured with plaque) retired from the Pineville Reserves last month after 18-years as a volunteer officer.

Pineville Police Chief Jay Barber called Burr the kind of citizen you want on your team. “As a business owner, Roy’s concern for his community was obvious in his tenure of service. That’s the kind of attitude that makes Pineville a better and safer place to live”.

The Pineville Police Reserves are certified just like full-time department members, from firearms to defensive tactics, and come from all walks of the community.

New Salon Opens!

Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields (joined by Councilman Nathan Martin pictured left) helped Penny Adkins cut the ribbon on her new business in Pineville. Tangles Hair Salon & Gifts is now open at 2818 Highway 28 East, next to Evangeline Bank. Penny and Shawn Corley invite all their friends and customers to stop by for haircuts and styles, as well as other beauty enhancing procedures. Tangles also has purses, wallets, watches jewelry and assorted gift items. Walk-ins are welcome and for more information, call Tangles Hair Salon & Gifts at 448-3700.

BellSouth “Answers the Call”

Louisiana College and BellSouth Corporation have jointly announced the establishment of the BellSouth Professorship at Louisiana College. At a press conference following the College’s weekly chapel service, Dr. Rory Lee, LC president, and Kevin McCotter, regional director for BellSouth, discussed the professorship.

“BellSouth Corporation is working with us to meet a need we have at LC,” Lee said. “We strive to employ the highest quality faculty, and this professorship will assist us in doing that.”

“This is an exciting time and an exciting campus,” McCotter said in LC’s chapel service. “At BellSouth Corporation, support for education is the cornerstone for all of our philanthropic acts. BellSouth is in the knowledge business.”

The BellSouth Professorship is not restricted to a particular academic discipline but will be available to all departments, according to need. The recipient of the Professorship will be chosen from those faculty members who hold a terminal degree in his or her field of expertise and who have attained at least the rank of associate professor.

“It is a pleasure to accept this gift,” Lee said. “This is a wonderful way for BellSouth Corporation to recognize the excellence in our faculty, and we are grateful to their dedication to Christian higher education,” Lee said.

An endowed professorship at Louisiana College requires a minimum of $100,000. BellSouth Corporation made an initial gift of $40,000 and will give another $20,000 in 2005. The remaining $40,000 will be requested from the Louisiana Board of Regents Endowed Professorships Program, Lee said.

Pictured from left to right are: Kevin McCotter, regional director for BellSouth, Dr. Ben Hawkins, Mayor Fields, Elton Pody, Cenla Chamber, Wynn Lawrence, regional manager for BellSouth, and Dr. Rory Lee, LC President

Proposed Utility Increases

The Pineville City Council will decide at its March 9th regular meeting whether to make rate increases to Water, Wastewater and Sanitation services. Pineville's proposed increase for water, sewerage and garbage rates will not be as bad as first feared. Last fall, the Pineville City Council appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to study the services currently provided versus budget shortfalls projected then at 1.2 million. Since that time, the administration has worked to make cutbacks and adjustments to compensate for the shortfall due to the increased costs of operation and unfunded state mandates.

At February’s City Council meeting, Mayor Clarence Fields gave a 15-minute slide presentation showing how officials basically split the difference between current residential user fees and the ad hoc committee's suggestions to come up with figures that least impact municipal service users. "We felt like this was a fair assessment and we were determined to leave the water and sewer minimum at 3,000". "We are also very pleased that the increases will still leave Pineville with the most affordable water and sewer rates of any city or system in Central Louisiana."

Households using up to the 3,000 gallon minimum usage a month will see a $9.75 hike in water, sewerage and garbage fees inside the city. Mayor Fields estimated this affects about 1,000 customers either on fixed incomes or who are elderly. The $9.75 hike is much less than a rate totaling $29 for 2,000 gallons monthly, the minimum usage, in the first of two residential hikes proposed earlier by the ad hoc committee. Fields told those in attendance that "we want to minimize the impact on our people but continue to provide what our people expect us to provide in services."

Current water and sewerage rates at $5 minimum each, which are proposed to rise to $8 each and sanitation fees from $10.25 to $14, with average disposal fees, determined by the landfill site, remaining at an average of $6.50. So, a household using up to the 3,000 gallons minimum usage that pays $26.75 at present would pay $36.50 under the proposed user fee hike.

Officials calculated that, based on an average household use of 8,000 gallons a month, the majority of residents would see a $13.15 rise in water, sewerage, garbage and trash fees.

Current residential rates outside the city limits that total $28 for water and sewerage for 3,000 gallons minimum usage a month, rise to $36 under the proposal. The rate adjustments are to help address a budget shortfall now estimated at $526,000 for the current fiscal year.

35th "So Rare" Antique Show

The thirty-fifth annual "So Rare" Antique Show and Sale is February 20-22, 2004 at the Rapides Parish Coliseum Exhibit Building. Showtimes are:
Friday and Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
The annual fund raiser for the Pineville High Athletic program is sponsored by Pineville Rebel Club. Cost is $5.00 per person and your ticket is good for 3 entries. Go Rebels!

Happy Holidays!!!

Mayor Clarence R. Fields and the Pineville City Council want to wish you and your family the happiest of Holidays and a safe and Happy New Year! A successful 2003 was capped off by the success of Pineville's annual Christmas Parade. Over 10,000 people lined Main Street to watch over 150-entries "light-up" Downtown Pineville. Passage through the new KCS Underpass (pictured in background) really made it more enjoyable. The parade continues to grow as Pineville does, and each year continues to get bigger and better.

Fire Truck for Christmas!

U.S. Congressman Rodney Alexander was the Grand Marshal of the Pineville Christmas Parade…but you might as well call him Santa Claus. Congressman Alexander’s office notified the City of Pineville the day before the parade of a $225,000 grant to purchase a firefighting vehicle. The grant award is through the 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Program, and is made possible by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FEMA.

The City of Pineville will have to provide a 10% match to get the grant, but Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields says that’s not a hard decision. “It’s really a no-brainier. We are very thankful to have such an opportunity, and I’m sure that our City Council will work to find the local match. Our Fire Department also deserves a lot of credit for pursuing this opportunity, and doing what it takes during tight budget times.”

Hard Work Recognized Pineville is a beautiful place to live because of the efforts of its citizens to keep it beautiful. Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields had the opportunity to recognize some of those citizens as a part of the "Cenla Pride-Keep America Beautiful" STAR Awards. Three awards were given by the Mayor (standing left to right next to the Mayor): Carl Johnson of Colfax Treating Company for contribution to the community for a Medium Size Business; Angelina Iles of the Pineville Concerned Citizens group (PCC) for beautification in the Lakeside/Wardville area; and Wynona Lemoine of Lemoine's Blinds and Awning for contribution to the community for a Small Size Business. Congratulations ... and keep up the good work!

Young Politicians meet the Mayor

Two members of the fourth grade class of Phoenix Magnet Elementary School visited Pineville Mayor Clarence Fields recently as apart of "Louisiana's Youngest Politicians". Carly Knowles (left) and Malik Victorian (right) were elected to represent their class, and make a special presentation to Mayor Fields. Each student got to sit in the "Captain's Chair", and discuss with the Mayor their ideas for improving Central Louisiana. Congratulations to all the students in Mrs. Stigall's and Mrs. Hughes' fourth grade class at Phoenix Magnet for your interest in improving education in Louisiana!

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