Mike In The News

Metro Council members plan to change new downtown library plan to renovation

WBRZ
Thursday, September 15, 2011

Metro Council members are telling the Library Board to change its plans for the River Center Branch Library.

The board recently began backing off talking about building a new library because of heat from city leaders. The $19 million project was approved in December. It got a lot of flack because of its price tag and many people, including the TEA Party, said it was too under-used to be so costly….

Thursday, the message from Metro Council, following a meeting between some members of the council and the Library Board the day before, says toss the plans to rebuild the branch, renovate the existing building instead and do it without going over $10 million. The council will decide whether to make that a demand in writing on September 28.

But the board chose not to take action on the project, despite the warning, because the Board President wants to continue her talks with council members. That lack of a move left Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker aggravated.

“We can sit back and wait for them to come back with an architect, we can reject the architect and they have no architect, no plans and they’re not building anything,” he said, “So if they want to do something at all, downtown, then they need to listen to what the council is trying to ask them to listen to.” (more)

EBR fire chiefs prepare for district consolidation talk with council

WBRZ
Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Fire chiefs across East Baton Rouge Parish met Tuesday to talk about consolidating services. They say you’ll get better protection and could save money if the deal works out.

The concept has been considered in the past and studied as recently as four years ago, but the chiefs, and at least one council member, think the idea needs to move into reality now….

The plan would also let cities spread out their coverage in the process and drop costs for you in the long-run. However, there’s a drawback.

“The biggest issue is how it would be funded and we all want to do our part,” said [Baker Fire Chief Danny] Edwards.

First, the Metro Council has to make the call on covering costs and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker says overall safety and savings shouldn’t be held up by one-time spending.

“Yes, there may be a start up cost, it’s like running a business, you’re gonna have a start up cost but you get by that start up cost and you look at what you do in the long run and saving people millions of dollars and improve their ratings and save them money on insurance in their pocketbooks,” said Walker. (more)

Mayor pro tem proposes consolidation of fire districts

The Advocate
Monday, September 12, 2011

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker said he wants the parish’s nine fire districts to consider consolidating into one parish fire district in an effort to save funds and strengthen weaker fire districts.

“The purpose is to save lives and to save money,” East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Walker said. “I believe we may be able to do both by consolidating our fire departments.” (more)

All EBR fire departments to possibly merge

WVLA
Monday, September 12, 2011

East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor Pro-Tem Mike Walker wants all the fire districts in the parish to merge.

He believes combining the nine districts would save the parish both lives and money. It’s a plan that has stalled before because of a lack of funding.

Baker fire Chief Danny Edwards believes it’s a plan that needs to be implemented as soon as possible.

“Of course, it’s going to cost money to implement,” stated Edwards. “But the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish deserve the best fire protection that they can get.”

Edwards says a consolidated fire district would save homeowners money on their fire insurance. The item has been placed on this Wednesday’s Metro Council agenda. (more)

Council questions delay Galvez Plaza stage covering project

The Business Report
Monday, August 15, 2011

The Metro Council is “extremely skeptical” about awarding a nearly $900,000 contract to provide for a stage covering at the Galvez Plaza project downtown, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker says, and is deferring signing off on it until more questions are answered by the administration.

Despite having unanimously approved an extra $1 million for the stage covering and other project improvements on May 11, a number of questions remain about the contract that’s since been reached between the city-parish and Arrighi Construction, Walker says.

“We understand there was a proposal to do a stage covering for $350,000, so it looks like they want a Cadillac now instead of a Chevrolet,” Walker says. “We also want to know why this bid came in at $5 below what’s budgeted and the next lowest bid is for $3.6 million.” (more)

More 24-hour jail operations planned

The Advocate
Saturday, August 13, 2011

The results of the two-week trial period of round-the-clock operations at the Baton Rouge City Jail were released Friday, showing more than $191,000 in additional revenue and a surge in outstanding warrants cleared….

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker, who was given the report Friday, said after considering all of the costs and benefits of the trial period, extending the jail’s hours “can and should be done.”

“We cannot allow the jail to stay closed,” Walker said. “The effect of it not being open is obvious. There are no lines at the courthouse today, because the criminals know the jail’s closed and the pressure is off.” …

With the parish’s current budget shortfalls, Walker said, there is no clear-cut way to pay the additional costs of the operation that aren’t covered by revenue generated from the extended hours.

“It can produce almost enough, if not enough, revenues to pay for itself,” Walker said. “We have to develop the mindset that it can be done, against all roadblocks. Face it folks, crimefighting is the most important thing.” (more)

DA won’t seek tax, will work with panel

The Advocate
Saturday, August 13, 2011

District Attorney Hillar Moore III said he will not seek a property tax in November now that Mayor-President Kip Holden’s tax plan will not be on the ballot.

Moore said he will instead try to work with Holden and the Metro Council to find city-parish funding to stabilize his shrinking budget. …

Holden indicated Wednesday at the Metro Council meeting that Moore could expect “a standstill budget” from the city-parish, and that he would support him in a tax election for the additional funds needed.

But Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker said the council, which gets final say on the city-parish budget, will be carefully considering the funds allocated to District Attorney’s Office next year.

“Does he need another $500,000, does he need another million? We’ll have to address that,” he said. “We’ll be looking at what we’ve spent in this year’s budget that we can’t afford anymore. Do we need to give that to Hillar? That’s what we’ll have to look at.” (more)

Constable: City jail could pay for itself

WBRZ
Friday, August 12, 2011

After the two week trial period of opening the city jail in downtown Baton Rouge, city leaders are optimistic the jail could generate enough revenue to be operated 24 hours a day.

Constable Reginald Brown met with Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker to outline his budget and plan to keep the jail open….

[During the two week trial period the] City Court generated $191,676.51. The majority of that money was put back into the city/parish general fund. Council member Mike Walker wants the money to go back to the constables office.

“This money, if we collect it through this process it needs to go back into the process and be dedicated to that misdemeanor jail system to where you pay for yourself. We can’t just put it in the general fund so someone can come along and say well we’re not going to give it to you right now thank you for earning it but we want to use it for something else over here,” Walker said. (more)

New bond plan tackled

The Advocate
Friday, July 29, 2011

The day after the Metro Council took a stand against Mayor-President Kip Holden’s $748 million tax and bond issue, plans kicked off to pursue a separate public safety tax to benefit law enforcement.

Council members Mike Walker, Trae Welch and Donna Collins-Lewis met Thursday afternoon with Sheriff Sid Gautreaux, District Attorney Hillar Moore III and Constable Reginald Brown to talk about the future of the parish’s public safety funding.

“The No. 1 issue with the public right now is still crime,” Walker said. “If we’re going to do a crime-fighting proposal, that proposal should be put together, not by the mayor or by the council, but by all law enforcement officials who on a day-and-night basis fight crime.” (more)

Law enforcement agencies cracking down on misdemeanor crimes

WVLA
Thursday, July 14, 2011

If you have an unpaid traffic ticket, or you missed a court date, you could end up behind bars. That’s because law enforcement agencies are cracking down on misdemeanor crimes.

Mayor Pro-Tem, Mike Walker, watches the number of outstanding warrants in East Baton Rouge Parish, pile up.

“People just thumb their nose at the law, and think that, well, nobody’s going to call me or the police are not going to be able to verify that I’ve got 10 warrants against me,” he explains.

…the total number of outstanding arrest warrants in the city is more than 100,000. Officials estimate that the total cost to the city is somewhere in the millions….

That’s why law enforcement agencies are teaming up and cracking down. The city jail will now be used to house individuals who commit misdemeanor crimes, and the Warrants Division will run 24 hours a day, around the clock.

“If a police officer verifies that you have an arrest warrant, they’re going to bring you downtown and put your butt in jail where you belong,” says Walker. (more)

Cracking down on unpaid parking tickets

WVLA
Friday, October 29, 2010

A Baton Rouge council member says there are over $15,000 in unpaid parking tickets in the city.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Walker says that equals more than $150,000 dollars in uncollected revenue for the city.

Walker says in a city with a crime problem – that money could go a long way in making the streets safer.

Before any new measure are put in place – council has to approve them. (more)

Metro Council looking at traffic vs. crime

WVLA
Tuesday, October 5, 2010

The recent rash of shootings has forced some members of the Metro Council to rethink where the city is spending money.

$900,000 is set aside to turn St Louis and St Ferdinand Streets into two-lane roads.

Now – Councilman Mike Walker wants to take that money to help fight crime. Walker, along with several council members want to give $700,000 to the Police Department to step up patrols – and $200,000 to the District Attorney’s Office.

Those opposed to the move say two-lane roads downtown would build up the area and also keep the criminals out. The council will take about the $900,000 dollars Wednesday. Even if the Council approves the move there could be a roadblock ahead. Mayor Kip Holden has to approve moving the money. We tried to get a comment – he was unavailable. (more)