The Lake Charles City Council approved an ordinance focused on hiring an executive director for the Southwest Louisiana Task Force for Growth and Opportunity, or GO Group. The approval authorizes the city to enter into a cooperative endeavor agreement with the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to handle the related expenses.

The decision came after a lengthy discussion started by councilwoman Luvertha August. She said she was concerned with the way the expenses related to the hire were divided among local entities. Several other council members shared similar sentiments.

“I do have a problem with the fact Lake Charles is the only city asked to contribute to the salary. No local, no state, no national news have I read about what’s coming to this area talks specifically about Lake Charles,” August said. “It says Southwest Louisiana. Therefore I think other cities, to show that they are a part of this growth, they should to be asked to contribute as well.”

Mayor Randy Roach explained the financial aspect of the ordinance and the accompanying provisions within the cooperative endeavor agreement. He said the city’s contribution would be 38 percent on actual costs and not budgeted costs with specific caps set in place for years one through three. The year one cap would be set at $46,000.

Roach also talked about how Lake Charles is the only city with significant input on the hiring process. He said the city needs to be prepared to take a leadership role as the region continues to grow.

“We’re now on a center stage. We’re now experiencing what some people are referring to as perhaps the greatest economic boom in the history of the country,” Roach said. “We as a city need to take a leadership role in it.”

Councilman John Ieyoub said the city needs to lead the way in the coming economic boom. He also mentioned the need for a fast pace when it comes to the process of filling the GO Group executive director position.

“With the $80 billion coming into our area, the city’s on the world stage,” Ieyoub said. “This is an opportunity for us to take the torch and lead and get something done in a quick manner.”

At the end of the meeting, the council was presented with additional information on an ordinance that would modify the city’s existing pay plan and authorize an across-the-board pay increase for all city employees. Roach said the fact the city needs to be more competitive in the job market was only highlighted by the city’s recently completed salary survey.

“The proposal is for a two percent increase in addition to the two percent longevity, which is already included as part of the budget,” Roach said. “In addition to that, we’ll be adjusting the career service pay plan to increase starting pay from $8.25 an hour to $8.75 an hour. And then make appropriate adjustments in the pay plan to fire and police to reflect the two percent across the board pay increase.”

Councilman Rodney Geyen commended the mayor’s administration and the city’s finance department on putting together the proposal.

“I think it’s very honorable of your administration to consider something until we get to the point of the quarter-cent sales tax proposition,” Geyen said. “Now we can give something in the mean time that will help out along the way.”

The council has two weeks to consider the pay plan proposal.(MGNonline)