Memorial Commission receives council’s approval
Seven-member panel would have say on proposed statues in city
By Gena Latrell
glatrell@americanpress.com
The City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved the establishment of the Memorial Commission, a seven-member panel that will evaluate and recommend — or not — any monument proposal brought before the city as a possible permanent fixture.
Councilwoman Mary Morris spearheaded the formation of the commission.
“When the Daniel Goos statue was put on public ground, we had some citizens that pushed back. They had some concerns,” she said. “The Memorial Commission will be more inclusive; it will have professionals, historians and citizens. If we are going to put a monument on public ground, we must make sure that we recognize that it can be sensitive to some citizens.”
The council will make all final decisions regarding any monument evaluated by the commission.
Crossing lights
The council also voted to add pedestrian crossing warning lights on McNeese Street at Barbe High School.
“This is basically in response to the students who have been hit there in the crosswalk,” said Council President Mark Eckard. “The city and School Board together have already eliminated some crosswalks to get the students in one area. We’ve done some restriping.”
Eckard said the city, in conjunction with the School Board, will help pay to install the crossing lights.
Development district
An additional tax of one percent will be added in the yet-to-be-developed Lakefront Economic Development District.
This is one of three tax increment financing districts that were approved on June 20; the one-percent tax will only apply to the Lakefront Economic Development District.
Appeal dropped
The public hearing considering the Lake Charles Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to deny a request to build a 66-unit single-family town home development on Country Club Road was deleted from the agenda after the applicant withdrew the appeal.
Grocery store
The council unanimously approved the construction of a new retail development-grocery store in Lake Charles on Nelson Road. EVT Lake Charles will be the contractor.
Katherine Elliot Dowies (great great granddaughter of Captain Daniel Goos) and Deborah Richard (great great great granddaughter of Captain Daniel Goos) visit Goos Plaza at Memorial Point in Lake Charles, La., Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press)