Politics
Monroe council passes on entire agenda delaying $1M contract
The Center Square – A three member majority of the Monroe City Council delayed action Tuesday on a $1.014 million historic restoration contract, $170,708 in…
By Misty Castile · 2026-09-23T17:12:44.814Z
The Center Square – A three member majority of the Monroe City Council delayed action Tuesday on a $1.014 million historic restoration contract, $170,708 in additional transit insurance spending and other city business as a dispute escalated with Mayor Friday Ellis over the city's fire chief and broader complaints about the administration.
The Tuesday meeting lasted 3 minutes, 27 seconds. Vice Chairwoman Juanita Woods moved to bypass the entire agenda, Rodney McFarland seconded the motion and Council Chairman Verbon Muhammad joined them in the 3 1 vote.
Gretchen Ezernack voted against the motion after asking Woods why she wanted to end the meeting. Douglas Harvey was absent.
Among the items that received no action was a proposed $1,013,750 contract with Grindstone Construction LLC for rehabilitation of the G.B. Cooley House. The city's engineering department had estimated the project at $825,000 in March 2025. The proposed funding package includes about $483,500 from a federal Save America's Treasures grant, $253,437 in historic tax credits and $276,813 from the city's Capital Infrastructure Tax.
The council also was scheduled to consider increasing the Monroe Transit System's insurance appropriation by $170,708, raising the budgeted amount from $668,980 to $839,688 because insurance costs exceeded what had been included in the city's fiscal 2026 27 budget.
Another unresolved item was a mowing and litter agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development under which the city could claim reimbursement of up to $71,790 for work on nearly 42 miles of state and interstate roadways.
The agenda also included three alcoholic beverage permits, a conditional use request for a residential home serving youth, three sales of tax adjudicated property, an amendment to an Ingersoll Rand lease, telecommunications regulations and the proposed donation of 20 surplus ballistic vests and 10 vest carriers to the Union Parish Sheriff's Office.
The delay does not mean the city has lost the money tied to those items. The Center Square found no city document establishing a financial penalty, grant forfeiture or other taxpayer loss caused by Tuesday's action.
Ellis, however, said in a lengthy Facebook statement after the meeting that delaying the Cooley House contract put federal and local money at risk and left businesses waiting for council approval.
"They passed over the entire agenda," Ellis wrote. "They didn't debate. They didn't vote. They didn't consider a single item."
Ellis blamed the action on the council majority's opposition to the process used to appoint Timothy Williams as fire chief, saying the council was attempting to make him "learn" a lesson. He urged residents to watch the next meeting and question their council members about the decision.
The three council members who supported the motion say the conflict extends beyond Williams.
Muhammad said in a Facebook statement after the meeting that the council deliberately withheld action because of its relationship with the administration.
"If Mayor Ellis and his administration refuse to respect the City Council, then the City Council will demand respect by not taking any action on the agenda," Muhammad wrote.
He called for greater transparency and said communication between the administration and council needed to be reopened.
McFarland and Woods gave a more detailed explanation during a Facebook Live discussion Wednesday.
"We had to make a statement on last night that we are not taking this anymore from Friday Ellis and his administration," McFarland said.
He described the dispute as involving respect, transparency and communication, and said the passed over items would be taken up later.
Woods, who made the motion, disputed Ellis' characterization that the action was solely about the fire chief.
"This isn't about the fire chief," Woods said. "This is about a number of things that have led up to this."
Woods said the majority believes projects it supports, particularly projects in the areas its members represent, have faced resistance or delays from the administration. She denied trying to teach Ellis a lesson and said the council and mayor need to work together.
"If you don't work with us, then nothing will get done," Woods said.
The tensions were public before Tuesday's meeting.
In an earlier Facebook Live discussion with Muhammad, McFarland repeatedly described the dispute as a "trust factor." Both councilmen said Ellis had indicated he would consult with council members as the fire chief selection process moved forward but instead recommended Williams to Gov. Jeff Landry.
Muhammad called the fire chief matter "very, very important" and said the council members intended to continue their legal challenge. At the end of the discussion, Muhammad encouraged residents to attend Tuesday's council meeting or watch online. McFarland added, "Pack the house out on Tuesday night. Pack the house out."
The dispute over permanent leadership of the Monroe Fire Department dates to 2024.
In November 2024, Woods, McFarland and Muhammad voted against Ellis' nomination of Monroe Fire Capt. Daniel Overturf. Ezernack and Harvey supported the appointment.
Ellis later nominated Williams, then Bastrop's fire chief. The council rejected Williams on June 10, 2025, with Woods, McFarland and Muhammad again voting against the nomination. Harvey voted for Williams and Ezernack was absent.
Louisiana lawmakers subsequently enacted Act 452. The law gives the governor authority to appoint a police or fire chief under specified circumstances when a vacancy has continued for more than 12 months and the municipal governing authority has failed or declined to confirm an appointment submitted by the mayor or other appointing authority.
Landry used the law to appoint Williams on Sept. 15, 2025.
McFarland, Woods, Muhammad and Roosevelt Wright Jr. sued Landry, Ellis and Williams, challenging Act 452. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty dismissed the lawsuit March 23 for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, finding the plaintiffs lacked standing. The dismissal was without prejudice and did not resolve their constitutional claims on the merits. The plaintiffs appealed to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in April.
The city said Williams' earlier civil service test expired while litigation was pending, requiring the examination process to be reopened. After Williams qualified again, Landry reappointed him Sept. 16. Williams is scheduled to begin work Oct. 1.
The items passed over Tuesday were not rejected. They remain unresolved and must appear on a scheduled agenda before the council can act on them. Monroe's council rules say members can act only on items on the posted agenda unless members present unanimously agree to add an item.
McFarland said during Wednesday's Facebook Live that the council would pick the items back up later. The city's published schedule lists Oct. 13 as the next regular council meeting.
Louisiana Editor
This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com https://www.thecentersquare.com/louisiana/article dc2d308e cd22 4221 ad4c e594ff5aef9c.html .