The New Iberia City Council approved appropriating funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to much-needed repairs and upgrades around the city during a special meeting. 

Mayor Freddie DeCourt recommended $30,000 in ARPA funds to go to bathroom renovations at the Martin Luther Kind Jr. Community Center at West Park and another $30,000 at Cyr-Gates Community Center for the same purpose. The mayor said the improvements would include better toilets at both facilities, and recommended that any remaining funds go toward adding exterior lighting to both parks. 

The council approved $20,000 to Bank Street Park which will go to adding additional lighting needed in the park. 

Another $45,000 was approved for renovations at the Steamboat Warehouse Pavilion in Bouligny Plaza. With the addition of a new stage nearly completed at the pavilion, DeCourt said he wanted to get the roof of the current pavilion renovated in order to match the new addition. 

The council approved $100,000 for sewer pump repairs, as well as $124,000 that will go toward the One Block At A Time Project that was started by the city. 

The program allowed low income residents to apply for a grant that will directly fix a needed home repair, and includes roof repairs and other maintenance work. 

DeCourt said about 27 roofs will be part of the grant rollout, which came from local applications that the city accepted last year. 

“The fact that we were able to help 27, that is amazing,” Councilwoman Deedy Johnson-Reid said. “I’m glad that we took this route.”