Gonzales to start pre-paying for natural gas to reduce cost

GONZALES - The City Council voted Monday night to start pre- paying for natural gas by joining a consortium that promises a 20- cent reduction below the market price per mcf or 1,000 cubic feet of gas.

The resolution to join the consortium, The Municipal Energy Acquisition Group, is contingent on City Attorney Ryland Percy going over the contract the city officials must sign to participate by July 7, Mayor Johnny Berthelot said.

The MEAC, made up of participating municipalities, was formed in 1998 to mitigate the effects of rising energy prices.

The city would be part of the consortium for 10 years and still have the ability to hedge volumes of gas and still get a 20-cent reduction below the market price of gas.

The natural gas is supplied by Atmos Energy Marketing, the same company that has supplied gas to the city for the past three years.

Berthelot said the city's participation in the consortium will save the city and its residents money.

In other city business, members voted to adopt a resolution to send a request to the state Department of Transportation and Development to address drainage issues at the intersection of Airline Highway and Cornerview Road, where culverts are not working to remove rain water.

Berthelot said the state needs to address a similar problem on La. 30 near Cajun Road.

The City Council also voted to condemn and tear down a dilapidated house at 1619 S. Augusta.

The house was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August; its owner has since abandoned it, officials said.

City officials have not been able to find the owner, and city inspectors and the city fire chief have said on several occasions that the house, with open doors that can attract vagrants and possibly children, is a dangerous emergency to public health and needs to be dealt with immediately.

The owner, whom no one has been able to locate for almost 10 months, has 48 hours to appeal the city's decision before city officials begin demolition, Berthelot said.