Whether or not to charge James Saizan of Liberty Fence & Supply criminally…it is an ongoing discussion.  Louisiana’s Licensing Board for Contractors investigators insist that Saizan violated Revised Statute 37:2163, Engaging in business of contracting without authority prohibited; penalty (see below) and should be charged.  Those investigators referred the matter to local authorities tasked with making […]

Nicholas Miller, whose tenure on Ascension’s Planning & Zoning Commission stretches back to 2022, was elected to Planning’s Chair in a confused (and confusing) meeting of the body on April 8.  Elevated to the chair by acclimation, his election did not quite jibe with brand new commission bylaws adopted only moments earlier.   The bylaw change […]

“We’re not doing cost of living this year,” Councilwoman Terri Lambert declared on Tuesday during a Special Working Meeting of Gonzales’ City Council, a workshop called by Mayor Tim Riley intended to avert a budget fiasco like the one embarrassing the city in 2025.  “What’s funny?” Lambert challenged a handful of city employees taken aback […]

Five years have elapsed since voters approved the sale of Ascension’s “wastewater utility system…and grant franchises to operate same to National Water Infrastructure (NWI).”  Last week a unanimous Parish Council resolved to execute an agreement with East Ascension Drainage Commission (EAD) to expedite the ” in the planning, acquiring and/or improving public projects, and providing […]

Loving Our Community Children (LOCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and uplifting youth and families, proudly celebrated its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony yesterday at its new location, 320 East Ascension Street, Suite 107, Gonzales, Louisiana.  LOCC board members and volunteers were joined by Mayor Tim Riley and Councilman Eddie Williams with City […]

On Thursday’s Ascension Parish Council meeting agenda, three councilmen have sponsored introduction of an ordinance to prohibit Planning Commissioners from meeting privately with developers prior to consideration of new subdivisions.  Unsurprisingly, District 7 (Prairieville) Councilman Brian Hillensbeck and District 5 (it will always be Galvez to us) Councilman Todd Varnado pushed to ordinance since they […]

Gonzales’ City Council received 2024-25 Fiscal Year financial audit, focused on “three instances of non-compliance with Louisiana Public Bid Law.”  Engaged in mid-2025, Ericksen Krentel completed the audit at the end of February in stark contrast to years past.  The firm, without identifying the “vendor,” specifically criticized a sidewalk rehabilitation job given to Liberty Fence […]

East Ascension Drainage Commission will take up another purchase of land devoted to regional detention at its regularly scheduled meeting tomorrow.  $2.5 million for 128 acres in Geismar, the “land will be utilized for New River Regional detention as outlined in the Parish Floodplain Management Plan….This is the second land acquisition at this location (between Louis […]

City Council votes don’t come much easier than Monday’s agenda item to approve a Community Partnership with Loving Our Community’s Children (LOCC).  With a mission statement to “partner with the community to provide children and families with reliable, no-cost support that meets daily needs and fosters dignity, stability, and healing” and record of success…this was […]