Latest news with #City-Parish
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Superintendent of Baton Rouge recreation agency won't seek contract renewal
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — BREC Superintendent Corey Wilson announced he will not be seeking a renewal of his contract with the agency at a Thursday commission meeting. Wilson was unanimously voted in as the superintendent for BREC in January 2019. He previously served as the agency's in-house attorney and administrative executive. His contract will expire on Jan. 31, 2026. According to Chief Operating Officer Andrea Roberts, Wilson will answer staff questions at a Monday town hall meeting. Roberts said the commission would hold off on discussing hiring a new superintendent until after the town hall meeting. Two bills filed by State Rep. Dixon McMakin, R-Baton Rouge, for the upcoming legislative session could significantly change the agency's operations. In a statement issued by Chief Operating Officer Andrea Roberts, the agency said it is 'unaware' of McMakin's goal in filing the bills. 'Transitioning BREC under City-Parish could potentially jeopardize the funding that citizens have endorsed. We see no compelling reason to restructure, as our existing format effectively channels investments throughout East Baton Rouge Parish, resulting in significant initiatives in varied communities across the parish,' Roberts said. HB 86 would reduce the number of BREC commission members from nine to five. The proposed bill would replace the current structure with a commission made up of mayors. Currently, the commission consists of nine members, including: Six appointed members chosen by the Metro Council. Three ex officio members: the mayor-president or a designee, an East Baton Rouge Parish school board member, and a planning commission member. If passed, this change would terminate the terms of all current commissioners and replace them with the mayors of the specified municipalities. Three members would constitute a quorum, making decisions easier to reach with fewer participants. The second bill, HB 87, would repeal all existing statutes governing BREC, effectively eliminating the agency as an independent political subdivision of the state. Instead, the bill would transfer all obligations, property, records, and employees of BREC to the city-parish government. The push for restructuring BREC's leadership and transferring control to the city-parish government comes just weeks after a 2022 audit revealed significant financial and operational concerns within the agency. The audit found: Payroll errors: Three employees were paid twice for their final termination payments, resulting in overpayments totaling approximately $42,000. Untimely reconciliations: The agency failed to reconcile bank accounts, payroll benefit liabilities, and inventory accounts in a timely manner, increasing the risk of financial mismanagement. Equipment theft: Multiple instances of theft totaling approximately $29,000 were reported, including stolen catalytic converters, power tools, and electronic equipment from various BREC facilities. BREC management responded to the findings by hiring additional accounting staff and improving financial oversight. The agency also said it is reviewing internal controls and enhancing security measures to prevent further thefts. No longer Sour Patch Kids, company says Alina Habba sworn in as interim US attorney for New Jersey What to know about the 2025 Taste of Mid City: Date, ticket prices, food Louisiana's top-rated seafood restaurant is in New Orleans, Yelp says Body of missing fisherman found by dive team, East Baton Rouge sheriff says Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lafayette Consolidated Government announces schedule changes for Mardi Gras
LAFAYETTE, La. () — The 2025 Carnival season is in full swing in Acadiana, and the holiday will bring its usual changes to routine. In observance of Mardi Gras, Lafayette Consolidated Government announces All City-Parish buildings will be closed on Tuesday, March 4. LCG also announced the following changes to services due to Mardi Gras: Lafayette Transit System No transit services will run on Mardi Gras Day. Normal transit operations will resume on Wednesday, March 5. Lafayette Transit System will take night service detours due to parades on Feb. 21, Feb. 22, Feb. 28, March 1 and March 3. The following segments of roads will not be served those nights, resulting in route detours: Johnston Street (Garfield to Doucet/Vital Roads) Lee Avenue (Garfield to University Avenue) Congress Street (University to Cypress) Jefferson Street (Underpass to Moss) Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Garbage & Recycling Collections Acadiana Waste Services will run garbage and recycling collections as normal on Tuesday, March 4. All weekly operations will remain the same. The Dean Domingues Compost Facility, located at 400 Dugas Road, will be closed on Tuesday, March 4. Trump: Zelensky 'has no cards,' 'shouldn't be at meetings' with Russia 'Chainsaw for bureaucracy': Musk waves chainsaw on stage at CPAC Sick of winter? Spring in Louisiana should be warm and dry, NOAA says Lafayette Consolidated Government announces schedule changes for Mardi Gras Supreme Court unanimously sides with Hungary in Holocaust survivors' lawsuit Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
