Washington Parish Council Public Meeting Washington Parish Courthouse 908 Washington Street Franklinton, La 70438 Council Chambers August 14, 2017 Monday – 6:00
AGENDA:
Item No. 1. - Call to order – Chairman McMasters called the meeting to order.
Item No. 2. - Invocation – Councilman Lewis gave the invocation.
Item No. 3. - Pledge of Allegiance – Councilman Talley led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Item No. 4. - Roll Call – Council Clerk Sarah Cook called the roll. Present were Perry Talley, Michael Fussell, Chris Workman, Levi Lewis, Pete Thomas, Reginald McMasters and David Anthony.
Item No. 5. – Approval of Minutes – Approval of minutes dated July 24, 2017.
Councilman Lewis offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 24, 2017.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Chairman McMasters: I would like to entertain a motion to open the agenda and add a Resolution.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Workman to open agenda and add resolution 17-800.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 6. – Introduction of Ordinance 17-624 – An ordinance to levy taxes for 2017 – For renewal millages on property subject to taxation in Washington Parish.
Chairman McMasters: Millage Rates Health Unit...... 3.11 mills Library …………...... 4.60 mills Road & Bridges Maintenance...... 4.13 mills Courthouse & Public Building Maintenance……………....1.03 mills “This was done in May but the State Legislature denied our packet because we called it a public hearing and needed to be a public meeting. We have to abide by the State’s procedures; therefore we have to resubmit the ordinance again. This is an introduction only and we will be having a public hearing at our next council meeting on, Monday, August 28, 2017 at 5:45pm, following will be our public meeting at 6:00pm.”
Item No. 7. – Introduction of Ordinance 17-628– An ordinance accepting Carriage Lane as a parish road.
Chairman McMasters: “This is an introduction only and we will be having a public hearing at our next council meeting on Monday, August 28, 2017 at 5:45pm.
Item No. 8. – Adopt Resolution No. 17-799 – A resolution to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Bogalusa, Louisiana, ET AL., concerning adjudicated properties.
Chairman McMasters: “Would anyone from the public like to speak on resolution 17-799 before we vote?”
No one came forward.
Councilman Lewis offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to adopt resolution 17- 799. Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 9. - Adopt Resolution 17-800 - A resolution authorizing the president to sign an contract between the Washington Parish Government and Comanco Environmental Corporation.
Chairman McMasters: Read Resolution 17-800 title aloud. Would anyone from the public like to speak on resolution 17-800 before we vote?”
No one came forward.
Councilman Workman offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Fussell to adopt resolution 17-800. Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 10. – Gary Parker – Update on Pearl River/Canal/Bogue chitto waterway system.
Gary Parker resides in Bogalusa, La: Explained to the Council how the log jam on the Pearl River is much bigger and very dangerous. Expressed his concerns on how important it is in getting the help needed to clear up the log jam.
President Thomas: “Councilman Talley and I have been working on this for a few weeks. We are trying to seek help from higher up. Hopefully the Coast Guard can come in and help us. Please know that we are working hard to get this log jam taken care of.” Chairman McMasters: “We will be having an infrastructure committee meeting this Thursday at 4:30 pm. You are more than welcome to come Thursday and we can discuss this at that time.”
Gary Parker: “Yes. Thank you.”
Item No. 11. - Public Participation –
Chairman McMasters: “Would anyone from the public like to come forward and speak? Please state your name and address. We will allow you 3 minutes to speak.”
Gloria Kates: “It is good to visit with you guys tonight. It is nice to get into a different environment on business, especially our parish business. I am somewhat elated that everyone knows that I have been looking high and low for the adjudicated property, intergovernmental agreement between the Parish and the City. The last one was back in October 2014, that we presented in our meeting. That is good to find the other piece of this intergovernmental agreement, which solves the mystery of what it in tells on the 501C. Thank you for allowing me to speak.”
Chairman McMasters: “Would anyone else from the public like to come forward and speak?”
No one came forward.
Councilman Fussell offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Anthony to close public participation.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Item No. 12. - President’s Report – “First off, tonight we have a resolution 17-798 for appointment of Mr. Robert Klerk to the Board of Directors of the Mt. Hermon Water District.
Adopt Resolution 17-798 - A resolution of appointment to the Board of Directors of the Mt. Hermon Water District.
Councilman Thomas offered a motion, seconded by Councilman Anthony to adopt resolution 17- 798. Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
President Thomas: “Mr. Leo is out this evening and asked me to go over a few things for him. We will have an infrastructure meeting Thursday night to discuss the animal shelter. Updates: Finished the Raybourn Correctional Center’s bridge has been completed and we may be able to start the black topping. Swamp Road Bridge was inspected by the State and was in need of some repairs from some washouts. The State gave us 7 days to fix, which we did accomplish even with all the rain that week. The bridge is like a brand new bridge again. I am so proud of our guys for getting this done in a couple days without shutting the bridge down. We are just about to complete another intergovernmental agreement with Angie for a new set of gigantic culverts. People are getting excited because they will be able to cross the bridge again. It has been three years since it was usable.
Lastly, I would like to announce some sad news and extend my condolences to his family. Mr. Merlin Duke has been a great asset to Washington Parish, City of Bogalusa and he worked so hard with the Lady of Our Angels Hospital. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Donna Graham: “Donna Graham: “I just wanted to inform the council that along with the transfer of our Housing Authority, Section 8 program to Tangipahoa Parish, HUD is requiring a full GAAP financial audit for the first six months of this year while the program was under our administration. This is to verify the fund equity that is tied to that program is correctly split between the HAP (housing assistance payments) which are the rental payments, will be remitted to HUD; and the administrative part of that program which will be remitted to Tangipahoa. We are engaging Kushner & LaGraize to perform that audit for us. We expect to start the engagement Friday and be completed by the end of the month.”
Donnell Merritt – Transportation Supervisor: Month of July
Drainage projects on 18 roads covering 28 miles. Installed 36 tons of cold mix on 18 roads covering 38 miles. Installed 397 tons of hot mix on 14 roads covering 29 miles. Installed 21 culverts. Graded 117 roads covering 234 miles. Hauled 396 yards of gravel on 8 roads covering 18 miles. Bush hogged 165 roads covering 250 miles. Picked up 138 bags of trash on 12 roads. Maintenance signs on 18 roads. Installed 15 new road signs. Installed 18 other signs. Maintained 8 parish locations. Sprayed around 54 bridges and signs. Blacktop three roads: completed 15.45 miles and 13.43 miles left o Webb Rd o Esco Alford Rd o Half of River Road
Item No. 11. Council Discussion –
Councilman Lewis: “I would like to commend the administration and road crew for all their hard work.”
Councilman Fussell: “I would like to thank Mr. Gary Parker for coming tonight. Also, I would like to thank the audience for being here.”
Councilman Talley: “I would like to thank Mr. Parker in all his interest in not only the log garbage damn but the issues we are having with the Corp of Engineering. I would also like to thank our Parish President for all the work that he has been doing to work towards trying to find a solution. I would also like to thank our representative and senator for all the work they have done on this issue and we still have a good ways to go. I would like to give my condolences to the Duke family. I would like to thank the road crew for a lot of work under some very tough circumstances out there; we appreciate all your work. I would like to extend a special thank you to Councilman Lewis, Parish President and County Agent Henry Harrison for a very productive meeting earlier this week for our Washington Parish watermelon grower’s. We are working towards seeing if there is any type of relief for a catastrophic season. Lastly, I would like to thank Mrs. Gloria Kates for coming to see us tonight.” Councilman Thomas: “School is back in full swing and I know there are a lot of parents glad for that. Please mindful of the children walking across roads to and from school.”
Councilman Workman: “I would like to thank the road crew and everyone that helped out with the drainage issue we had in the timberland area. There is a lot of good things happening in our parish and in a good financial state. My condolences go out to the Duke family. I got to know Merlin over the past few years and he was an excellent man. The void that he will leave from the stand point of being involved in his community, we can use some more Merlin Dukes. Thanks to everyone for attending, Mrs. Gloria Kates it’s good to have you.”
Chairman McMasters: “Thank you to everyone in attendance tonight. Our next Council meeting is on August 28, 2017 starting with a public hearing at 5:45pm.”
Item No. 12. – Adjourn – No further business to come before the Council, meeting was adjourned on motion by Councilman Lewis, seconded by Councilman Fussell.
Roll call of vote as follows:
YEAS: (7) Talley, Fussell, Workman, Lewis, Thomas, McMasters and Anthony
NAYS: (0)
ABSENT: (0)
ABSTAIN: (0)
Order of Voting:
David Anthony Levi Lewis Perry Talley Pete Thomas Michael Fussell Reginald McMasters Chris Workman
Next meeting will be held on Monday, August 28, 2017
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