Marksville steps up beautification efforts

People in Marksville using camper trailers as permanent homes and owners of abandoned and partially destroyed homes will soon be getting letters notifying them that they are in violation of city ordinances. The City Council discussed those issues at its April 11 meeting and instructed that violations be noted and violators be notified as part of the city’s beautification campaign. Those living in camper trailers will be told to cease.

Councilmen were told there are several cases where people have cut off utilities to their home and hooked utilities to the camper. This is in violation of a city ordinance. If the violator does not move the camper or move out of it, the city will disconnect water and sewer service to the camper.

There are also several structures in Marksville that are either abandoned or that have been damaged by fire.

“We need to do something about these houses,” Mayor John Lemoine said.

In addition to sending out notices to owners of buildings they know about, city officials also need the public to help in the effort by calling City Hall to report cases in need of attention, Lemoine added.

The mayor said the town also needs to take necessary action to address some city-owned properties that are probably in violation of their own codes, including the old sewer plant.

In a related matter, the city will be aggressively collecting signs posted in public rights- of-way. The signs are currently taken to the city’s maintenance yard. Owners of signs will be notified that their signs have been taken down and will have 15 days to reclaim them. If they do not come to get their signs, the signs will be destroyed.

NO ALCOHOL AT BETHUNE

In another matter, the council removed an item from the rental agreement related to selling beer and alcohol at events held in the Mary Bethune Center.

Councilman Clyde “Danny” Benson raised the issue, noting there is a city ordinance prohibiting the sale of alcohol in close proximity to a playground, school, church and other designated areas.

Allowing someone leasing the center to sell alcohol at an event -- even if they have a one-day event license to sell alcohol -- would violate the ordinance, he said.

Lemoine argued against changing the policy to prohibit alcohol at Bethune. He said community events are routinely granted one-day permits to sell alcohol, as long as they have a state license to do so, even if their event is located near a school or church.

Several council members noted the difference between the Bethune lease agreement and the community events is that the city owns the Bethune Center.