Westlake Council Honors Former Mayors, Addresses Golf Cart Issue
Published at 12:22 p.m. on Friday October 20, 2023
Former mayors were honored and the Westlake City Council shared its first thoughts on what a golf cart ordinance on city streets could mean for citizens at Monday’s meeting.
Dates for five upcoming events were also announced.
Friday, October 27 will be the Louisiana Association of Police Chiefs Golf Tournament at National. Westlake Police Chief Chris Wylrie serves as president.
Sunday, October 29, Westlake Fall Fest & Trunk or Treat, family fun hosted by area churches and civic clubs in Pinederosa Park, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 31, Westlake Trick-or-Treat, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
On Wednesday, November 8, at City Hall, at 5 p.m., American flags will be saluted and appropriately destroyed by fire.
Saturday, December 9, Christmas at City Hall, Hallmark movie style
Six-term Westlake Mayor Dudley D. Dixon honored in recognition of his years of service and dedication to the city and to the Port and Terminal District of Lake Charles, where he served as Commissioner.
Dudley showed up to Mayor Hal McMillin’s proclamation of Dudley R. Dixon Day Westlake-proud in a neon orange shirt under a black sports jacket.
McMillins’ proclamation lists local and state boards on which Dixon served. In addition to his six terms as mayor, he served two terms on the Westlake City Council, Dixon was chairman of the Employee Retirement Board, IMCAl, Louisiana Asset Management Pool, West Cal Chamber of Commerce, president of Louisiana Emergency Preparedness, Calcasieu Council on Aging,
The late Mayor Bob Hardey and his family will be honored in Westlake.
The City Council voted in favor of the ordinance allowing the name change of Mulberry Street, from Jones Street West to Guillory Street (from City Hall to the Post Office), to Bob Hardey Drive.
Bob Hardey died in January 2022. He was in his second term and had served on the council before being elected mayor.
Hardey is known for taking over the administration of the town of Westlake when it was in financial difficulty. One of his first actions as mayor was to significantly increase the monthly cost of utilities, which was not well received. When he succumbed to cancer, the debt had been reduced to 50 percent.
“Always do the right thing for the right reason” was one of Hardey’s favorite expressions, according to City Clerk Andrea Mahfouz.
Westlake could become ‘golf cart friendly’
After reviewing other golf cart-friendly city ordinances, Mahfouz developed a draft Westlake ordinance for the council and administration that covered topics such as the need for lighting, driver’s license, inspection, license and speeds not exceeding 25 mph.
McMillin said the ordinance would take some time and that even if approved in August 2024 – the earliest possible date because crossing state highways would require legislative approval – citizens will not be able to drive on state highways, but only cross at designated stop lights. . Council and administration will discuss the issue at future meetings, once the project has been reviewed, and a local golf cart professional and resident who currently lives in West Trace and has lived in other pro-friendly communities golf carts shared his views.
