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In the unlikely event that the management of adjudicated property would become a problem, the city administration has a solution.
At its regular June meeting (Monday, June 12), the city council voted unanimously — with Curtrese Minix absent — to authorize Mayor Charles “Chuck” Robichaux to enter in a professional services agreement with CivicSource.
Ronnie Harris, director of business development, was at the June 12 meeting to explain the concept to the council.
“There’s no contract; the city can cancel the agreement at any time; and the city is completely indemnified,” Harris said.
CivicSource handles the title search and notification process for all properties it handles at no cost to the city.
Billed as “the leading auctioneer of tax-distressed real estate,” New Orleans-based CivicSource, since 2008, has sold 1,384 pieces of adjudicated property for $21 million.
“And about 23 percent of the time, those families that ‘could never get together’ (to settle inherited property title issues), actually get together,” Harris said.
“What we’re doing is, we’re putting this property back into service for tax revenue for the city,” he explained.
Mark Daigle, city inspector, reported that, to date, the city has only one parcel of adjudicated property.
Under the ongoing demolition program, Daigle had recommended to the city that the building at 714 Holt St. be condemned and an order issued for its demolition.
However, the property owner, Magnolia Hollier, appeared before the council saying that she has been trying “for four or five years” to refurbish the former store to use as a youth center to tutor students.
A mathematician and former math teacher, Hollier went on to say that she has already spent “thousands of dollars” on materials, “but it all seems to walk.”
Daigle, a former contractor, explained that, in his opinion, it would be less expensive for Hollier to tear down the existing building and build a smaller, new facility than to bring the existing building up to code.
“There’s a lot of termite damage and holes in the roof, plus, for a facility like that, you’re going to have to be handicapped accessible, meet fire marshal codes and everything else,” Daigle said.
“And it’s in a flood zone, so it would have to be elevated to city code,” he added.
The council voted to give Hollier one month to come up with a comprehensive plan to bring the building to code.
The matter will be reconsidered in July, at which time a decision on whether to allow reconstruction or to demolish will be made.
In other action, the council:
• announced firework hours for the Fourth of July. Fireworks will be allowed inside the city limits from July 1 through July 5, until 9 p.m. each night with the exception of July 4, when the discharge of fireworks will be allowed until midnight.
• appointed The Rayne Acadian-Tribune as the official journal for fiscal year 2017-18;
• authorized Robichaux to sign an reciprical intergovernmental agreement with the Acadia Parish School board for facilty or facility usage;
• accepted the resignation of David Lalande, chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, and appointed Jerry Bergeron to the board;
• approved the donation of a surplus police cruiser to the Erath Police Department;
• tabled the request for a liquor permit for Joubert Palace owner Lillian B. Senegal, 400 N. McGown St.; and
• heard from Nita McCall concerning increased drainage problems in the area of Edith Street.

Gerard Credeur called his year as president of the Rayne Lions Club “a learning experience.”
During his address as outgoing president, Credeur noted that the club “is not a one-man organization. We are a team.”
He recalled his first true experience in Lionism when he was a 15-year-old counselor at the Louisiana Lions Crippled Children’s Camp.
“Doing what we do is where my heart is,” he said.
Credeur, however, was speechless when, later in Thursday night’s installation program, he was surprised with the “Lion of the Year” award.
“I’m very surprised,” he said. “I watched numerous members earn this award this year.”
Credeur is being succeeded as president by Luke Beslin, who first served in that position in 2002, “At the age of 12,” he joked.
“I am proud and honored to again be asked to serve as president,” Beslin said in accepting the gavel. “I have some big shoes to fill, but we will continue to serve the community, the Eye Foundation and the Camp — and we’re going to have fun.
“Gerard did an outstanding job as president and we’re going to work hard and continue that effort.”
Officers installed for the 2017-18 year include Beslin, president; Michael Guidry, first vice president; Michael Prejean, second vice president; Simon Richard, third vice president; Linda Credeur, secretary; Roy Credeur Sr., treasurer; Tim Prevost, Lion tamer; John Jude Beslin, tail twister; Dana Fontenot, one-year director; Troy Kibodeaux, two-year director; Jackie Prejean, three-year director; and Craig Houston, membership director.
As immediate past president, Gerard Credeur also is a member of the club’s board.
In addition to the prestigious “Lion of the Year” award, a number of awards were presented during the course of the night.
Credeur recognized the chairmen of the various projects under taken by the Lions during the past year, calling each to the front of The Green Room to receive a certificate of appreciation.
Jay Suire, who, with his wife Laurie, served as master and mistress of ceremonies for the night’s installation, announced the club’s Perfect Attendance Award winners.
Those included:
Linda Credeur and Tim Prevost, three years; Gerard Credeur and Craig Houston, four years; John Jude Beslin, five years; Reinhart Kondert, six years; Michael Guidry, nine years; Troy Kibodeaux, 15 years; Luke Beslin, 16 years; Roy Credeur, 19 years.
Special recognition was paid to Horace Thibodeaux and Carol Menard, each of whom have accumulated 50 years of perfect attendance.
District Governor Danny Theall, who served as installing officer, recognized Roy Credeur for his efforts in recruiting new members to the club during the past years, noting also that Credeur will soon be installed as the District 6200 Governor.
In closing the night’s program, the flower centerpieces on the tables in The Green Room were given as door prizes — with a special twist.
Linda Credeur explained that she wanted to give something that would last, so each arrangement included an ivy plant.
She went on to say that she’d been told that, to help ensure that plants survive, it’s best to give them names.
Each of the plants given Thursday night was named for a member of the Lions Club that had passed away since Roy Credeur became a member 19 years ago.

At press time Wednesday, Tropical Storm Cindy was bearing down on the Gulf Coast, expected to make landfall around the Texas - Louisiana boarder sometime in the early morning hours Thursday.
“Unfortunately, we’re to the east of it,” Lee Hebert, director of parish office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said. “The further east you get from it, the more rain you get — and we don’t need any more rain.”
According to Hebert, the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, is predicting anywhere from 4 to 6 inches of accumulated rain, with isolated extreme rain amounts up to 8 to 10 inches, for the Acadia Parish area through Thursday.
“The wind probably won’t be too bad, but we’ll have tropical storm force gusts of 40 to 60 mph Wednesday and Thursday,” Hebert said.
In addition, the NWS has said there is a low risk for tornadoes along the Interstate 10 corridor to the coast.
A tropical storm warning and a flash flood watch is in effect for the entire region, stretching from San Luis Pass, Texas, to the Alabama-Florida border and extending as far north in Louisiana as Alexandria.
Since Cindy is so widespread and most of the heavier rain bands appear to be far off to the east, local forecasters are optimistically predicting that the Acadiana area may be spared the brunt of the storm’s rains.
On Tuesday, Cindy was one of two storms in the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Bret formed on Monday. By Wednesday morning, Bret had dissipated, the victim of wind shears.
This was the first time since 1968 that the Atlantic has had simultaneous storms during the month of June.

Vita Mary Owens went to meet the Lord on Saturday, June 17, after a brief illness. Vita was a resident of Chalmette until 2005 then moved to Mandeville to be close to her family. Vita was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Owens Jr.; one grandson, Dustin Owens; and one brother John Menner. She was the faithful mother of three sons, Curtis Owens III (Kim), Robert Owens and Ronnie Owens (Phyllis); and one daughter, Diana Bundy (Bruce). She also leaves to cherish her memory seven grandchildren; Curtis Owens IV, Greg Owens, Jordan Owens, Brandi Bundy, Kaylee Bundy, Reagan Bundy and Shelby Bundy; and one great-granddaughter, Lauren Owens. She is also survived by two sisters, Marlene Major and Rosie Darby. She also leaves behind several nieces and nephews who were a big part of her life.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass on Tuesday, June 20, at 1:30 p.m. in the J. Garic Schoen Chapel of JACOB SCHOEN & SON, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass. There will also be a Rosary prior to Mass at 12:30 p.m. Interment will be in St. Bernard Memorial Gardens.
To view and sign the guestbook, please go to www.schoenfh.com.