The City of Monroe’s Fight the Blight Initiative was recognized with a Community Service Award during the 80th Annual Convention of the Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) in Shreveport, Louisiana. Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and City Council Chairperson Gretchen Ezernack were on hand to accept the award at the LMA banquet this past Saturday night. They were joined by Council Vice-Chair Juanita Woods and Councilman Mike Echols.
The creation, passage, and enforcement of Fight the Blight regulations is aimed at cleaning up the city by holding property owners and absentee landlords more accountable for the appearance and upkeep of their property. The laws were approved by the city council in September of 2017, but actual enforcement did not begin until January, giving property owners with violations the opportunity to come into compliance.
Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayor Jamie Mayo said, “this award comes as the result of teamwork among departments and divisions within the city as well as outside partners”. He gave credit to the council and Keep Monroe Beautiful, along with the Legal, Planning and Urban Development, and Public Works Departments, as well as the Code Enforcement and Public Works Divisions.
This is the 8th LMA Community Achievement Award for the City in the past 15 years, having picked up wins in 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2015. In addition, the city was recognized for its beautification efforts with a Lt. Governor’s Award of Excellence trophy the day before. Lt. Governor Billy Nunguesser made that presentation at the LMA luncheon on Friday.