2016 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 118 BY SENATOR PERRY A RESOLUTION To commend the city of Abbeville, Louisiana, on winning its district title in the Louisiana Garden Club Federation's Cleanest City contest. WHEREAS, the Louisiana Garden Club Federation has sponsored the Cleanest City contest since 1958 and the aim of the contest is to instill civic pride in the individual citizens and through this effort, the appearance of towns and cities in the state would be improved; and WHEREAS, over the years Abbeville's closest competitor has been the central Louisiana city of Pineville, which prevailed over Abbeville in 2013 and Abbeville last won the coveted prize in 2012; and WHEREAS, Abbeville mayor, Mark Piazza, stated that he had a good feeling about his city's chances of winning the competition this year because it had been a city-wide effort to clean the city, and his optimism was rewarded when the garden club federation notified him that Abbeville would receive the state title of cleanest city; and WHEREAS, judges of the contest reported that Abbeville and Pineville appeared to have earned similar scores, but the mayor stated that an early morning trash pick-up by volunteers on the day of the judging probably made the difference for the Vermilion Parish city; and WHEREAS, as the judges drove through Abbeville on Friday, April 29, 2016, the cleanliness of the city was the culmination of significant efforts on behalf of the entire citizenry including property owners, school and government employees and volunteers; and WHEREAS, Mayor Piazza reported that several government buildings were on the route that the judges took around the city, including the Vermilion Parish Court House, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff's office, the Vermilion Parish governmental complex and the library, all of which reflected the diligent work that government employees and volunteers contributed to having the city look its best; and Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 118 ENROLLED WHEREAS, Mount Carmel Elementary School and Vermilion Catholic High School also played their part by maintaining the buildings well with students, faculty and volunteers pitching in to make these buildings part of a pristine city; and WHEREAS, homeowners made sure that their lawns were mowed and businesses cooperated in making sure that the city looked spotless for the judging; and WHEREAS, Mayor Piazza is proud of the effort that his entire citizenry put forward, but he is also looking ahead and hoping that the city can remain trash-free and beautiful throughout the year, carrying that "cleanest city" look into 2017. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the city of Abbeville, Louisiana, on winning its district title in the Louisiana Garden Club Federation's Cleanest City contest. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Abbeville Mayor, Mark Piazza. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Page 2 of 2