LACPC Board Meets, Encourages Participation

The volunteer board and staff of the LaMATS-administered cooperative purchasing commission known as the LACPC met via Zoom on April 14, to discuss its new and existing contracts for bulk and specialty items, including fire and police vehicles and gear, currently in high demand by Louisiana local governments. In attendance were Board President, Woodworth Mayor David C. Butler II; along with fellow members Mayor Darnell Waites of Baker, Mayor David Toups of Addis, Mayor Mike Kloesel of Kaplan, City Clerk Roxanne Richard of Plaquemine, Beryl Gomez of Assumption Parish, and Chairperson Suzanne Williams, MA, of Many. LACPC and LaMATS administrative staff included Cliff Palmer, Paul Holmes, Claire Shaw, Marlaine Peachy, and Matt Mullenix.

The LACPC, which has grown to 24 municipalities cooperating to reduce the costs of critical materials and equipment, recently welcomed Ponchatoula to its membership and invites all interested parties to consider participating in the unique procurement group. Mayor Toups urged members to ask their colleagues to join. “We just got to keep on leading them to the water,” he said. “Get them to realize the benefits, because all of us buying together really makes sense.”

Mayor Waites noted that elected leaders change every four years, so neighboring communities need repeated contact. Board President Butler was more evangelical: “It's like inviting people to church," he observed. "You can't invite them one time and forget about it. You gotta continue to invite them [and] sooner or later, you're gonna get the whole family.”

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