VIENNA — During business at the June Vienna City Council meeting, it was announced Maries Manor will be having its annual fireworks display at dark on Friday night, July 1.

The nursing home’s fireworks display has been a tradition in Vienna for many years. The city council approved the request. However, City Utilities Superintendent Shon Westart said they need to be aware of any state burn bans in force on that day; if there is a burn ban, they can’t shoot off fireworks. He added if the area gets a good rain, it's okay. Westart commented the weather this spring and summer has been one extreme to the next.

In other action at the June Vienna City Council meeting:

—The council planned to have a budget meeting for fiscal year July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, which was held immediately following the regular meeting.

Westart said he planned to triple his fuel and propane budget, but otherwise didn’t add anything new. He also said he will “wait out” the high street paving prices, which have doubled. Vienna won’t be paving streets anytime soon unless those prices come down.

Police Chief Shannon Thompson said he plans to ask for a new computer in his budget.

At the May meeting, it was reported Penny Schoene from Graves and Associates will be making an onsite visit to review issues and entires discovered in the city’s financial application, Quickbooks. The council gave Mayor Tyler “TC” James permission to close City Hall for Clerk Karen Dudenhoeffer and Schoene to meet to resolve any issues. 

At the June meeting, South Ward Alderwoman Brenda Davis, who was chairing the meeting due to the absence of Mayor James, said they have a financial report and also a list of the reconciliation summary through May 31. She said they only need the first page printed and not the others. North Ward Alderwoman Rita Juergens suggested the city clerk can email those pages to the council members prior to the meetings. The council members will need more guidance with the financial statement, which is much changed from what they were used to. This has been a problem for nearly a year. Davis went through the papers and said it appears in all of the funds the city’s actual revenues are more than the estimated budgeted revenues, and actual expenses are less than the estimated budgeted expenses. She said the city is on budget to be ahead at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2022. 

—As the city does not yet have a budget, the council tabled the request by the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department to help the firemen pay for the repairs to the ladder truck. 

—Attorney Ross Bush was present at the June meeting. He suggested the council go into closed session during July to open the one bid received for the city’s trash collection service. Bush said he suggested closed session because it is a contractual issue.

—About the storage container ordinance, in May Bush had provided the council with a draft ordinance. He said the council may want to use the current nuisance ordinance, and to not make anything harsher than that. At the June meeting, Bush said he recommends changing the language in the city’s nuisance ordinance. He said Chief Thompson can investigate any issue to see if it violates the storage container portion of the ordinance. If it is found to violate the ordinance , the city can send a warning letter and if the violation continues it can be a fine of $1,000 or 10 days in jail. Westart said there already are some semi trucks used for storage in the city. Bush will draw up the final draft and the council can approve it. 

—It was reported the copier at City Hall is putting weird lines on copies. The copier was fixed and they looked at the lease on it and think a better deal is to buy a copier. South Ward Alderman Jesse Jones said to lease the copier for a year is $11,305.80. To purchase a copier and a service contract is $9,711.03. He said it’s a better deal to buy the copier outright and get a service contract. 

—Also at the May meeting, the council approved a request for street closure for Visitation Parish for the annual Fall Supper on Sept. 25, 2022. 

Also in May, the city clerk reported receiving confirmation the city’s donation for the Adopt-A-Planter Program was received. The confirmation said the city’s donation was placed on the second round list due to the big number of participants who responded.