Mayor Leroy Sullivan's 2023 State of the City

Dear citizens of our great city,

It is with honor I provide this report on some joyous developments in Donaldsonville, at such a blessed time of the year.

On Oct 27, 2023, as the U. S. Dept of Transportation (USDOT) announced its Safe Streets and Roads For All (SS4A) grants, we received notice that the city’s Comprehensive Safety Action Plan had received a generous award, totaling $260,000 in federal funding. The total project cost is $325,000, when matching funds are included. 

Donaldsonville was the only Louisiana city to receive such an award.

The city will use the money to develop an Action Plan, to reduce and eliminate serious injuries and fatal car crashes. This will help us protect our citizens on the roads and will also position the city for future funding opportunities. 

The City of Donaldsonville will be working with the Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) to establish and execute the new grant agreement. 

My administration took office knowing that the city needed to address its infrastructure needs. Since coming into office, we have aggressively pursued funding opportunities for the city to do so. 

Last spring, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the city $4 million, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) added an additional $10 million, to upgrade the city’s 100-year-old natural-gas system. We are currently working through the environmental clearance phases of both projects,and both are projected to commence during 2024.  In order toreplace all of the cast iron gas lines throughout the city, we need an additional $42 million.  We have applied for Phase II of the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration grant and have met with U.S. Congressman Troy Carter and U. S. Senator Bill Cassady and have their full support.

At around the same time as receiving the awards for natural gas, the city was awarded $5 million in Water Sector Round 2 funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), for system upgrades to our aging sewer system. We receive bids on December 14, and construction is set to commence in the early part of 2024.

Additionally, the city is also working closely with Ascension Parish Government on several projects that will improve drainage throughout the city. 

On November 14th, the City received approval to commence a $3.2 million road rehabilitation program, which is expected to begin in the spring of 2024. The city also received $1.1 million in capital outlay money for natural gas system improvements. With the City’s matching funds, the grand total is $1.47 million. Work on that project is projected to begin late spring 2024. We have also received $500k in project funding to improve sidewalks throughout the city along with signage and striping improvements for the City’s roads with an additional $202,000. I am also excited to announce that we have secured $2.13 million for renovations to Lala Regira Field that will include adding new lighting so that the games can safely be played at night, a new grandstand, bathrooms, and concession stands.

I want to thank all the entities — USDOT, HUD, and the State of Louisiana - for their support of these important grants. 

Beyond these much-needed transportation and utility-system upgrades, our economic-development team is keeping a close eye on the proposed industrial expansion in the Modeste area, to bring jobs and economic growth to our people and the city. One step that we have taken to ensure that we take full advantage of this opportunity is that we have secured $8 million in funding for the expansion of Highway 3127 which will bridge the gap between the city and the critical economic development occurring just outside of the city.

The city is committed to improving the health, safety, and quality of life for everyone within the City of Donaldsonville and West Ascension. 

Our city is a great community — its people, its history, its role as the seat of our great parish. 

However, over the last decades, we have experienced a declining population, a drastic decline in our sales and property taxes. That makes it challenging for the city to provide cost-effective services and a high quality of life to its citizens and businesses.

We are facing these challenges by aggressively pursuing funding opportunities to improve the resilience of our community and the quality of life for our citizens. Our aim is to make our community more attractive for investment and growth, so that citizens can come, stay, and raise a family. Going forward, that will continue to be our goal. 

Successful efforts don't happen without a great team. Through the grace of God, He has gives us the strength and vision to help our community; but it is the assistance and support of our project team that allows us to achieve these goals. We have received much support and assistance from our federal delegation, including U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, our state legislative delegation, including Sen. Ed Price, Rep. Ken Brass, and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder. 

We are thankful for the diligent work and support of our committed City Councilmembers: Rev. Charles Brown, Raymond Aucoin, Lauthaught Delaney, Reginald Francis, and Mike Sullivan. 

I also want to thank our consultants — SHK, McKim & Creed, and R3 -- who have persistently identified opportunities, brainstormed ideas with the city, prepared applications, and amassed data. They’ve engaged in numerous meetings and discussions, sitting side-by-side with us as we work to justify and secure grant funding. 

It was truly a great team effort! Our mission is nowhere near complete nor is it a complete list of all our accomplishments in 2023. However, we still have much to do. By the grace of God and the continued support of our community and our project team, we are fully committed to pursuing every opportunity afforded this great city. 

As we move into 2024, we anticipate more events and more recognition of our Businesses.

The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

On behalf of all of us, including the Council, the city’s entire staff, all Boards and Commissions, have a Blessed and Happy New Year!