The New Iberia City Council will make a few plans for the future at its meeting Tuesday night with a request for financial assistance from the state for the 2008-09 fiscal year through the local government assistance program and a request to the state Department of Transporta-tion and Development for a street closure during a holiday weekend.

The local government assistance program, says the resolution, offers grants for projects ranging from public health and safety to economic development.

New Iberia Mayor Hilda Curry said the city received $35,000 through the program last year, which was used to rehabilitate wastewater pump stations.

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Iberia parish, said Curry, is eligible for up to $144,000. She said she had spoken to Iberia Parish President Ernest Freyou and expected New Iberia would receive about $35,000 for pump station rehabilitation this year.

The council will also ask the DOTD for permission to close Louisiana 675 at the intersection of Field Street and Robertson Street between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sept. 28 for “Family Fun Fest.”

Councilman Raymond “Shoe-do” Lewis said the street closure began last year, after revelers were tear-gassed the year prior.

“From that point we decided to organize things and do things the right way,” he said.

Lewis said people had been coming to Hopkins Street to listen to zydeco and enjoy food and festivities the Sunday of the Sugar Cane Festival for as long as he can remember.

“Last year the crowd was mega, and not one incident occurred,” he said. “We’re looking forward to doing it again this year.”

The council also will award a bid to Star Service Inc. for the 80-ton, air-cooled liquid chiller for replacement at City Hall at the cost of $67,394, consider four recommendations from Planning and Zoning and will return the property on Duperier, across from Mount Carmel, to former owner Timeless Treasures Inc., as the city did not receive a Brownsfield Clean-up grant for the property this year.

Curry said the city will seek the grant again in 2009.