Council considers naming Slidell street for Dr. Gerry Hinton

The Slidell City Council introduced an ordinance on Feb. 10 to rename a section of Carey Street as Dr. Gerry Hinton Memorial Drive, with a public hearing and final vote set for March 10. The council also approved a 3% retirement contribution for unelected city employees, to begin with the Feb. 23 pay period.

The Slidell City Council introduced an ordinance on Feb. 10 to rename the section of Carey Street between Front Street and Pontchartrain Drive as Dr. Gerry Hinton Memorial Drive. Dr. Gerry Hinton was a chiropractor and longtime public servant who died in 2000 and served 16 years on the City Council and three terms in the state Senate. He helped advance the state’s chiropractic licensing act and served on the Louisiana Board of Chiropractic Examiners. The council scheduled a public hearing and final vote on the renaming ordinance for March 10. Details: - The ordinance would rename the Carey Street segment between Front Street and Pontchartrain Drive as Dr. Gerry Hinton Memorial Drive. - Hinton served on the Slidell City Council for 16 years, was elected to the 11th District state Senate seat in 1987, and died in 2000. - He was a chiropractor who helped with the state chiropractic licensing act and served nine years on the Louisiana Board of Chiropractic Examiners. - Council member Cindi King described Hinton as a commonsense leader and a pillar of the community. - Separately, the council approved an ordinance to contribute 3% to the retirement funds of each unelected city employee in the Municipal Employees' Retirement System, effective with the Feb. 23 pay period; the measure passed 9-0 and police officers already receive a similar contribution. Summary: The council introduced the street-renaming ordinance and will hold a public hearing and final vote on March 10. The retirement contribution ordinance was approved and will begin with the Feb. 23 pay period, and council members noted Hinton’s long record of local service.