Henderson may use collection agency

The Town of Henderson may engage the services of an outside municipal debt collection company
to settle outstanding fines, fees and utility bills.
Amanda Stucker, of American Municipal Services, presented the company’s offer at the Sept. 12 town council meeting. The company, Stucker said, specializes in collecting outstanding debts owed to cities and towns throughout Louisiana.
There is no cost to client municipalities for the service. The agency makes their income by adding 30 percent to the charges they collect. Henderson would receive the full amount of debts owed.
When Mayor Sherbin Collette asked about the firm’s usual success rate at collections, Stucker said the average is about 75 percent.
She added that it usually takes about 7 years to achieve that percentage.
The council responded favorably to the offer and passed a resolution allowing Collette to engage the service if he makes the decision to move foreward.
In other business, Shanese Lewis, Executive Director of the Council On Aging (COA), made a presentation on the work of the agency. Lewis asked for support in passing a new property tax millage of 1.75 to allow an expansion of services. The millage will be decided by voters in the Oct. 14 election.
The council also heard from Amber and Vivian Jouclard, who are seeking to open a pool hall and bar in the old Creole Zydeco Club building at 1217 Henderson Hwy./La 352. Collette told the Jouclards that the building’s location near residences presents a problem. Several neighboring residents, he said have already voiced opposition to the proposal.
Collette and councilman Jody Meche said neighbors are voicing the usual worries about noise, late hours and intoxicated customers. The Jouclards said they intend the business to be a venue for serious pool players, with high quality tables and only background music.
They added that they would not “over serve” alcohol and allow customers to become highly intoxicated. “You can’t always choose your customers, though.” Collette commented.
Police Lieutenant James Thibodeaux pointed out that, if there are pool tournaments at the location as planned, parking could present another issue. Collette said that if neighboring residents are against it, the council would not approve the proposal.
Councilman Will White pointed out that the pool hall “Rocky’s,” not far away on Main Street, is also in a residential area. He asked Thibodeaux whether there were many calls to that club, to which the officer responded “very few.”
The council is considering the request. Councilman Bill LeGrand recommended that the Jouclards spend some time meeting with nearby residents to try to get their support.
Finally, the council approved a proposal by Meche to commit $30,000 to $40,000 of Henderson’s $425,000 share of parish recreation bond funds for the purchase of new playground equipment for the Park. The council granted the request.