The Washington Parish Council met May 4. The meeting began with public hearing on two ordinances to be adopted at the regular meeting. From there the regular meeting was called to order by Council President Reginald McMasters. Councilman Steven Branch prefaced the invocation with a moment of silence for the family of Franklinton High School student Jaliyah Howard, who died following a short illness.
The minutes for the April 20 regular meeting were approved. Roll call is a routine matter; however, the absence of Councilman Carley King was felt when the Council addressed the appeal concerning the Parish Planning Commission's approval of a Conditional Use Permit Application for a cell tower to be constructed on Austin Varnado Road. This issue has been addressed at the April 6 and April 20 meetings with residents of the road imploring the Council to override the decision of the Planning Commission.
Prior to voting, Karen Danos, the group's spokesperson, said that two of the eight residences to be impacted by the tower belong to veterans who suffer from PTSD. Danos shared concern for the area moving from quiet and peaceful to one with generators running, and flashing lights that could potentially trigger PTSD symptoms. She added, "The struggle is real." Danos has previously spoken about the danger of tower collapse as well as potential health problems.
Resident Steven Mulina told the Council about his own mental health struggles and implored the Council for peace on Austin Varnado Road. LeAnn Adcox addressed the Council to verify that her husband Steve, a veteran of Desert Storm and the war in Afghanistan, does indeed suffer from PTSD and she is afraid of the effect the lights and noise from the tower, to be located within feet of their home, may have on him.
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At the previous meetings, the Council expressed the need for more information and tabled the decision until this night's meeting. Councilman Shawn Rice made a motion to approve the Planning Commission decision, seconded by Steven Branch. Voting no were Joe Culpepper, Shawn Rice, and Reginald McMaster. Voting yes were Clark Harry and Steven Branch with Councilwoman Kim Wagner taking a moment before voting yes as well. With Carley King being absent, the tie means that the Council must address the matter once again at the May 18 meeting. President McMasters hope the tie will be broken and a final decision will be reached.
Parish President Ryan Seal issued a proclamation declaring May 6-12 as Nurses Week in Washington Parish and spoke on the power of nursing in the medical field. On hand for the proclamation was Cindy Ingram who has been a nurse for 32 years and currently works at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. Ashley Barber, who has nursed at Riverside Medical Center for 14 years and Riverside CEO Jimmy Siebert, who has been a nurse for 30 years, were also present.
Seal then issued a second proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month. On hand was Gladys Campbell from National Alliance on Mental Health in Southeast Louisiana who plays a vital role in providing education, advocacy, resources, and support to individuals and families impacted by mental illness across Washington Parish and the surrounding region. The organization assists more than 83,000 individuals annually.
Blair Alford, candidate for 22nd Judicial District Court Judge, Division C was on hand. Alford introduced herself to the Council and will be on the ballot in November for a position being vacated by Judge Rick Swartz. Alford is a Northshore native and has 16 years of experience in civil litigation.
The Council next voted to adopt an ordinance authorizing Washington Parish Government to enter into a Predial Avigation Servitude Agreement. Attorney Matt Garver explained that this concerns a helipad being constructed at Our Ladies of Angels Hospital in Bogalusa and grants permission for flights over the Bogalusa Branch of the Washington Parish Library in order to access the landing zone. An ordinance establishing "No Thru Truck Routes" on certain parish roads as per Ordinance Number 13-577 was then adopted with the road in question being Star Creek Road between Hwy 38 to Cumnock Road.
The Council then introduced an ordinance amending Ordinance No. 19-649, Adjusting Commercial Customer Fees at the Choctaw Road Landfill and an ordinance to levy taxes for 2026 - millage at the same rate as prior year - on property subject to taxation in Washington Parish. Both ordinances will be the subject of a public hearing held prior to the meeting on Monday, May 18.
The final act of the Council was to adopt a resolution to enter into a contract with Flowmotion Trail Builders LLC for Phase VI of the Mountain Bike Trails Project at the Bogue Chitto State Park. This project includes the design and GPOA layout of approximately 15 miles of new mountain bike trails as well as the design and construction of berm and jump features at the existing trailhead of the bike park. This feature has proven hugely popular at the park and the parish's participation is consistent with the approved master plan. Through a grant for recreational purposes, the parish will contribute $35,000 toward the project.
In Public Participation, Sheriff Jason Smith said the Washington Parish Jail is the highest percentage overcrowded in the state. Currently the jail houses 60 Department of Corrections inmates and with inmates required to serve 85 percent of their sentence, the state has limited space to move them to. Instead of numbers, Smith shared that he recently met with officials in St. Tammany Parish who are experiencing a budget crisis and their jail is feeling the crunch. The fact that we share a judicial district means it also impacts Washington Parish.
Smith emphasized, "A jail is not a prison. It is for those awaiting trial who are presumed innocent." He added that Washington Parish will likely face some similar problems down the road. Additionally, Louisiana has only one prison for female inmates to they are forced to stay local.
On a positive note, the new camera system is now operational and 8th grade boys from all schools in the parish will be meeting at the State Park to continue an initiative on making good choices. Finally, there has been much speculation on social media about an incident involving a dog dragged by a truck. Sheriff Smith expects it to be resolved shortly as the WPSO is working on it and treating it seriously. He added, "We don't want to live where elderly, children and animals are abused."
Deann Davis from the Economic Development Foundation gave a progress report on things her office is working on to bring more business and/or industry into the parish.
Chris McCarra appeared before the Council again with information on Louisiana's training requirements for firefighters in the state and is still urging the consideration of making the fire districts one large organization. Councilman McMasters urged McCarra to give the Council time to study all the information he has shared as well as time to strategize.
In the President's Report, Transportation Manager Danny Knight reported that for the month of April crews completed 21 drainage projects, distributed 89 tons of Cold Mix, installed 20 culverts, graded 29 roads, and bushhogged 110 roads for 231 miles. Knight added that parish government crews have completed in-house asphalt overlay of Willow Road and Newman Creel Road totaling 575 tons of asphalt.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall added that in the next week crews will be prepping and overlaying Ed Gerald Road and Cutrer Lane. A contract was also signed with Barriere to start overlaying 29 parish roads. This project will begin mid-May.
Sumrall stated, "It is super-exciting for both asphalt projects to be going on at once in our parish."
Sumrall also offered congratulations to Patrick Easterling in the permit office for passing his electrical test in permitting. He can now inspect electrical and reconnects in Washington Parish. The permit office completed 450 inspections in April as well as issuance of 195 permits.
President Seal expressed his appreciation for and pleasure with the outcomes of the Love the Boot litter campaign in the parish. He also issued congratulations to two FHS graduates, Lila Burris and Kelbi Brown, who are part of the parish government family and thanked the family of Heyward Partman who provided a heartwarming experience at the dedication and renaming of a bridge in his name.
