Mayor Cupit: Good things ahead for Westlake

On May 8, 2009, Mayor Daniel Cupit and John Van Norman, III, Westlake City Attorney, completed the sale of the first lot in the Augusta Village subdivision to Mr. and Mrs. Johnny and Enid Daniels. Two other lots sold the same day and 20 lots are now under contract. According to Mayor Cupit, lot sales are going very well.

“With the National Golf Club of Louisiana Golf course scheduled to open around August 15, 2009, the city is finally experiencing some return on their investment. It has been a true financial challenge to get where we are today,” Mayor Cupit said.

“This all began in 1987 with the first check of $31,836 for wetland studies and Corps of Engineer permits. From 1987 through 2009, the City of Westlake purchased the land and has planned for, worked for and paid for the “West Trace” development to become a reality. The current city council is to be commended for their patience in dealing with the complications of such a major development. Former mayor Dudley Dixon and previous city council members worked diligently with the long term project. They had to deal with an ice storm, Hurricane Rita and then we had to deal with Gustav and Ike last year.”

Mayor Cupit concluded, “Good things are ahead for our city of Westlake. I ask that you work with us, offer an constructive criticism or comments you may have and you will be proud of the direction our community is going.”

In other business from City Hall, the mayor and council signed Resolution No. 2913 as an act of good faith to the economy. 

The idea was first introduced by Mayor Pro-Tempore Wally Anderson, the mayor said, “This is a very good resolution. It shows our support for American industries and keeps money in the country. If stimulus money comes in,then using American products and companies is the only way the plan will work.

The full text of the proclamation follows:

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTLAKE, LOUISIANA, in regular session convened on the 18th day of May, 2009, that:

WHEREAS, the economic downturn is having a critical impact on everyday Americans who are struggling to maintain or find jobs in an increasingly difficult environment; and

WHEREAS, those Americans are the taxpayers that provide the revenue needed to operate essential government services; and

WHEREAS, Congress and President Obama are planning a tax-payer-sponsored economic recovery package that will provide billions of dollars to help economically devastated cities and states, immediately provide jobs to millions of out-of-work Americans through considerable, infrastructure rebuilding, green energy projects and other projects that will require manufactured components; and

WHEREAS, our taxpayer dollars should be spent to maximize the creation of American jobs and to restore the economic vitality of our communities; and

WHEREAS, any domestically produced products that are purchased with economic recovery plan monies will immediately help struggling American families and will help stabilize our greater economy; and

WHEREAS, any economic recovery plan spending should - to every extent possible include a commitment from the City of Westlake to buy materials, goods and services for projects that are produced by companies within the United STates, thus employing the very workers that pay the taxes for the economic recovery plan spending in the first place.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF WESTLAKE, CALCASIEU PARISH, LOUISIANA, in Regular Session convened on the 18th day of May 2009, that it will work to maximize the creation of American jobs and to restore economic growth and opportunity by spending economic recovery plan funds on products and services that both create jobs and help keep Americans employed.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Westlake commits to purchasing only products and services that are made or performed in the United States of America whenever and wherever possible with any economic recovery monies provided to the City of Westlake by the American taxpayers; and

BE IT FURTHER AND FINALLY RESOLVED that s Council Members of the City of Westlake, we commit to publish any requests to waive these procurement priorities so as to give American workers and producers the opportunity to identify and provide the American products and services that will maximize the success of our nation’s economic recovery program.