Marksville reminds organizations that events need City Council’s approval
City officials are tired of “being the last to know” about parades and other events requiring city services and expenditures.
Mayor John Lemoine said it is “embarrassing” when someone asks him, a City Council member or an employee at City Hall about an event “and we don’t know anything about it.”
The event that sparked the discussion at the Feb. 13 City Council meeting was the upcoming Krewe of Cyllenius Mardi Gras parade, to be held Sunday (Feb. 24) at 2 p.m.
Apparently, nobody from the Rotary Club of Avoyelles notified the city as to when this year’s parade was to roll.
The council proclaimed that all organizations must get council approval for any parades or other events to be held inside the city limits.
This is especially important for parades and race/walk events -- such as the STEPS Cenla Color Run and Walk Out of Darkness.
Most organizations come to the council a month or more before the event to gain city approval and to request necessary security assistance in blocking intersections along the course. Lemoine said there are some who don’t.
“What if you didn’t know anything about this and you did not make preparations and nobody showed up to provide security,” Lemoine asked Police Chief Elster Smith.
Smith said all officers are called in for such events. This means overtime for officers who are called in to work the parade on Sunday. As it is, Lemoine said, Smith must now tell his officers they have to come in on that Sunday and cancel any plans they may have already made.
He said the city needs more advance notice.
It is highly unlikely the City Council would deny an organization’s request to hold a community event in Marksville. However, comments at the council meeting were of the “it’s the principal of the thing” variety.
The city will have a float in the parade -- now that officials know when and where the event will be held. Officials on the float will be amply supplied with throws for those parade watchers along the route.