The St. Martinville City Council voted to allow Mayor Jason Willis to proceed with inspection of the former La Maison Duchamp Post Office Tuesday night.

These inspections coincide with the introduction of Maris Stella Classical Academy, who plan to renovate the grounds for educational purposes. The inspection will allow them to understand the cost and time frame necessary to proceed. Currently, the plan is to open in September for the next school year, but if renovations prove to be excessively costly and extensive, they may be forced to push that time frame back.

The vote additionally included the process of negotiating over the drafted contract presented to the council by the academy. They agreed to the contract terms with one stipulation. Presently, the contract states that the cost of repairs and general maintenance will be accredited toward the academy’s lease with the city. Several members of the council, including District 1 Mike Fuselier and District 2 Carol Frederick, suggested adding a bulleted list onto general maintenance to create specific requirements. City Attorney Allan Durand, recommended removing the phrase, supplementing it with “a list of modifications approved by the council.” While the vote passed to begin negotiations, changes will be made to the contract for an upcoming council meeting.

The council also unanimously voted to allow the Newcomers Club to proceed with their annual Mardi Gras Festival Saturday Feb. 10. Traditionally, they hold the event on the Sunday before Mardi Gras, but this year, that will be Super Bowl Sunday. This is their seventh Mardi Gras festival since the city ended the original parade, which started in the ‘60s. However, unlike last year, which saw the festival filling Mainstreet, St. Martinville Police Chief Ricky Martin strongly recommended holding the festival at the St. Martinville Festival Grounds to avoid complications faced last year. This does require the Newcomers to pay an additional $120 fee, and be responsible for their own bathrooms and security. According to Yvette Morris with the Newcomers, they came to the council with open ears and are more than willing to follow their recommendations and stipulations.

“If we have to do something different in order to do what we’ve been doing for the past seven years, then we’re here to work with the council, we’re not here to fight you on anything,” Morris said.

Because they agreed to hold it at the fairgrounds, they weren’t subject to changes proposed in another unanimous vote, which saw the price of using the fairground for festivals or concerts from $120 up to a maximum of $5,000. Under the new contract, those hosting the festival would be responsible for the cost and execution of cleanup, bathrooms and security. Mayor Willis cited the fact that many events, if attended by enough people, could make upwards of $50,000, not including alcohol sales and food vendors, but the city sees none of it, save the relatively small fee.

“With our current ordinance in place, it doesn’t benefit us at all to let people from other places come and use it. If it doesn’t make money, it doesn’t make sense. I’m not comfortable with anybody coming to throw anything, make thousands of dollars and take it back to their community,” Willis said.

Councilwoman Frederick proposed the creation of a committee to establish a procedure for handling different utilities associated with events. This would address details such as when cleanup should happen and how many barricades an event will need. The committee will comprise two council members, and one representative from the following: Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Newcomers Club, Chamber of Commerce, St Martinville Police Department, St Martin Parish Sheriff, Main Street and Downtown.