Central Mayor Wade Evans played a key role at the Louisiana Municipal Association Midwinter Convention in Baton Rouge. The LMA is celebrating 100 years, and its goal remains clear: educate, advocate, and support local government across Louisiana. Evans says that mission matters because every city, parish, and town faces the same core problems. The scale may change, but the issues do not.
Tackling Statewide Workforce Gaps
Evans pointed to major shortages in wastewater operators and building officials. Cities depend on these workers to keep systems safe and up to code. Without them, insurance companies hesitate to write policies, and growth slows. The LMA works with community colleges to create training programs that help cities fill these roles and strengthen their workforce.
Fixing Old Systems
Many municipalities still charge flat water fees without meters. Evans says those systems lose money and hurt long-term planning. He believes the LMA gives leaders the tools to modernize these operations. The goal is simple: provide strong service without raising taxes.
FEMA Reorganization Concerns
Evans also addressed the ongoing talk around FEMA’s reorganization. He said cities deal with long delays and heavy paperwork when seeking disaster reimbursements. Central waited years for funding tied to a past BRIC grant. Evans argued for a system that rewards cities that follow the rules instead of treating every municipality the same. He believes smarter training for mayors would reduce the need for so many layers of oversight.
Public-Private Partnerships and Blight
Today’s agenda includes a session with the lieutenant governor on public-private partnerships and statewide litter efforts. Evans also highlighted a session on clearing blighted property. He said the process often involves emotional and legal hurdles, but mayors must uphold civil codes to protect their communities.
Evans closed by stressing the LMA’s mission: build better local government, improve efficiency, and give taxpayers stronger service without asking them to pay more.