Special called council meeting won’t squash Welch’s monthly gathering

A meeting with constituents held monthly by District 1 Metro Councilor Trae Welch will continue as planned Tuesday evening, despite overlapping with a special called Metro Council meeting, officials confirmed today. Welch says he’ll attend the special Metro Council meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, and his representatives will instead host the monthly meeting at the Zachary library, 1900 Church St., at 6:30 p.m. Numerous local candidates for state House and Senate offices have been invited to attend and voice suggestions and concerns, Welch says. “I have always had my district meeting once a month,” Welch says. “We’ve done them since my dad took office back in 1988. It’s a standing thing.” Most council members have similar monthly meetings. Tuesday’s Metro Council meeting will address items that remained after Wednesday’s regular meeting adjourned suddenly because a quorum was lacking. “I think the people in the district understand that I have to be at the [council] meeting,” Welch says. “We can’t let these problems go on for more than a couple of days.” The council will meet on the third floor of the Governmental Building, 222 St. Louis St. —Ian McGibboney