• By VIC COUVILLION
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Oct 14, 2009 - Page: 3B

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WALKER — Town government clerical and public works employees will begin working  four days a week as soon as Mayor Bobby Font sets up a new work schedule.

The Board of Aldermen on Monday night unanimously authorized Font to proceed with setting up the four-day work week to replace Walker town employees’ current five-day work schedule.

Font said he is considering a work schedule of 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Town offices would be closed on Fridays.

When originally proposed, town office hours would have been based on split shifts, with one crew working from 6:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. and another working from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Public works personnel would have worked a 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift for the four days.
Font said a change in schedule was worked out with town employees after meetings and consultations with the workers.

Also Monday night, aldermen unanimously agreed to enter into a contract with the state Department of Health and Hospitals to inject fluoride in the town’s water system.

The contract amount for the agreement is $23,500 and covers the period of Nov. 1 through June 30. The fluoride chemicals alone would cost an estimated $16,000.

Fred Raiford, town government chief of staff, explained that in the future, the town will have to bear the cost of purchasing the fluoride.

Font said that representatives of the medical community have long sought to have Walker introduce fluoride into the water to help prevent tooth decay and dental diseases.

The mayor added that the town plans to initiate a program to inform the population about fluoridation of drinking water and its benefits.

In an unrelated matter, the board agreed to consider a proposal to annex 236 acres at the request of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center of Baton Rouge.

The large plot of land is located south of Interstate 12 and adjacent to La. 447.

The board further agreed to consider proposals calling for: regulating unlawful deposits that might interfere with the drainage system; making it unlawful to drive livestock through town streets; and regulating town costs related to demolishing buildings or maintaining vacant property.

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