Lake Charles City Council Meeting – October 21, 2026

The Lake Charles City Council met on October 21, 2026, to handle deferred agenda items, demolition orders, bid awards, equipment purchases, a budget amendment, and property acquisition for the Gulf Coast Energy Institute. The council approved minutes, deferred multiple items to later hearing dates, and passed most items by a 7–0 margin.

Consent Calendar / Administrative Actions

• Minutes approved with seven votes in favor.
• Councilman Young was appointed chairman to review bids for Project CP 3445, Shell Beach Drive bridge over Petoncooley repair, and to amend the budget as needed.
• Deferrals approved: Items 3, 4, 5, and 12 to November 18; Item 13 to December 16; Item 10 to November 4.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Matthew Dwight Heinrich, owner of 641 Sixth Street, admitted the property had deteriorated because of procrastination and promised to secure it, pull permits, and contract repairs. The council deferred demolition 60 days to December 16.
• Maria Castillo, representing Castillo Investments, requested more time to repair the R.C.L., L.C. property; the council required immediate securing and set a November 18 rehearing.
• A speaker involved in a failed transaction concerning 1433 Shaw Street said a man took his money, performed no work, left the state, and was reported to law enforcement. Council members noted complaints of people living in the rear of the property and voted to proceed with demolition because the owner, JDB Holdings, was served but did not appear.
• Willard Edward Captain, owner and resident of 1616 Legion Street, said the house was his only home and asked for time to relocate. The council deferred action 60 days to December 16 and told him the December date would be his only notice.
• Louis Barb of 1925 Barb Street supported the Barb Street traffic-control item, saying Lake Street construction traffic was speeding on his residential street, with many cars traveling about 40 to 45 mph in a 25 mph zone.

Discussion Items

• Demolition orders approved: 711 Fall Street at a $3,060 bid; the swimming pool at 738 Iberville Street at a $1,530 bid; the garage at 1432 Fournette Street at a $1,515 bid with fence and tire removal; and 1433 Shaw Street at a $1,515 bid, subject to a state tax lien.
• Deferred demolition/abatement items: 312 Maple Street was deferred 30 days because the new owner plans to pull a permit; 641 Sixth Street was deferred 60 days; the Castillo property was deferred 30 days; and 1616 Legion Street was deferred 60 days for the resident owner to arrange housing.
• Christmas decorations: All three bids for downtown light-pole Christmas trees and garlands were rejected as non-responsive. The city will instead purchase materials and install them using city staff, then rebid for future seasons.
• Sewer inspection equipment: Awarded Ferguson Enterprises of Sulfur a $75,700 contract for one sewer inspection camera and crawler.
• Traffic control: Approved the Barb Street measure after hearing public testimony and council members requests for attention to similar speeding issues.
• Gulf Coast Energy Institute: Authorized the city to join the police jury and Sowella Technical Community College/LCTCS in purchasing property for the Gulf Coast Energy Institute. The mayor described a $20 million grant for a plant-like workforce training facility. Councilman Marks opposed giving city funds without placing the city name on the property, citing past city practice. The vote was five in favor and two against, with Councilmen Harvey and Marks opposed.
• Finance and budget: Approved the Central Square Technologies financial-management software agreement and the 2025–26 operating capital budget amendment. Staff explained the amendment was required when revenues or expenditures varied from budget by more than 5 percent.
• Water infrastructure: Awarded Fastback Construction LLC $114,209 for the Highway 14 and Praying Lake Road water loop, including approximately 381 linear feet of directionally drilled eight-inch water main.
• Fleet purchases: Approved a four-wheel street sweeper, a three-wheel street sweeper, a 30-yard rear-loader refuse truck, and three 33-yard side-load refuse trucks using purchase options from prior ordinances.
• Security gates: The council unanimously added a late agenda item and approved a $194,470 recommended award for security gates at city water plants. The transcript first refers to wastewater, then staff clarifies the gates are for water-treatment plants.
• Litigation settlement: Approved settlement in Beverly Martin v. City of Lake Charles, Docket No. 2025-439, Division F, 14th Judicial District Court.
• Resolutions: Approved advertising for traffic control products, limestone aggregate, two crane-body service trucks, and CP 3453 lift-station backup power for six lift stations under an HMGP grant. Approved the 45-day lien period for CP 3426 after staff clarified it covers collection-system lining rather than new investment in Plant A. Approved the state compliance questionnaire and the two-year appointment of Emily K. McDaniel to the Louisiana Local Government and Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority board.

Key Outcomes

• Most votes were unanimous, with seven in favor; the only split vote was the Gulf Coast Energy Institute property purchase, which passed 5–2 with Harvey and Marks against.
• Rehearing/deferral dates were set for November 4, November 18, and December 16.
• The council directed that owners of 641 Sixth Street and 1616 Legion Street receive only one notice of their rehearing dates.
• Items 36 through 47 were read into the record, and a 9 a.m. session was announced for the following morning.