The Washington Parish Council's most recent meeting was held on Monday, February 23. Following the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, the minutes of February 9 were approved. This was followed by a presentation by Parish President Ryan Seal announcing the selection of a quilt square created by Sandy Miller and Kathy Mauthe that will be sown into a quilt being creating to celebrate the United States's 250th anniversary. (See related article.)
Returning to the agenda, an ordinance was introduced to name the bridge located over Hayes Creek as Deacon Hayward Partman Sr. Bridge. A public hearing will be held on this prior to the next regular meeting. The Council then adopted a resolution authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) for a state project relating to the establishment of a temporary detour route for the bridge replacement on Mitch Road.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall explained that the detour route will be Simmons Road, City Limits Road, and Louisiana Highway 21. The resolution also noted that it is in the best interest of the Washington Parish Government and its citizens to cooperate with DOTD to facilitate the safe and efficient replacement of the bridge and ensure proper traffic management during construction.
Next, the Council adopted a resolution amending Resolution No. 25-1429 to update the referenced water system entity to the Village of Angie Community Water System, and to authorize the Washington Parish Government to apply for and administer grants through the Louisiana Governor's Assistance Program (LGAP) and the Community Water Enrichment Fund (CWEF). Finance Director Lacy Burris explained that the Varnado Water Works currently has two ongoing CWEF grants and does not have the time or manpower for another. Therefore, parish government will be applying for a grant on behalf of Angie.
In public participation, Christopher McCarra presented the Council with a packet of suggestions regarding the fire districts. McCarrra worked in fire service for 29 years and feels there are ways to improve the current system. Council Chairman Reginald McMasters thanked McCarra for his concern and the information he provided. The Council will study the proposals and see what and if anything might benefit the parish.
Ben Sarro then presented the Council with a proposal concerning the mandated foliage for solar farms. He feels that plants that attract bees and butterflies will greatly benefit the parish. Such plants would be low maintenance and provide local beekeepers a benefit from the added population. He ended by sharing that his proposal is in memory of the late Jennifer Brown, who served as President of Louisiana Beekeepers Association.
In the President's Report, Finance Director Lacy Burris provided a financial report for the Council and added that financials are mostly done for 2025. The budget is 2.3 million in positives over the previous year's budget. She accredited this to increased sales tax collections. The General Fund is currently $200,000 above predictions. Public Works director Alex Sumrall reported that the plans for Sidewalk Projects D and E are at 100 percent and DOTC will be moving forward with the project going out for bids in April. This is the section of sidewalks that will go just past Riverside Hospital. He also announced that the parish was approved for another sidewalk project after D and E. This will be Section A2 and will go from the School Board Office to the fairgrounds on the east side of Main Street. Sumrall, President Seal and all administration are beyond excited about this project. It will likely over a year away, but he is pleased with the project.
Sumrall also gave a Year (2025) in Review for the Public Works Department. Washington Parish continued to prioritize safe roads, effective drainage, and parish-wide maintenance. The annual Public Works budget is approximately $26 million, with nearly 50 percent of that amount dedicated to roads and infrastructure. In 2025 crews installed 116 culverts, asphalted over 30 miles of parish roads through in-house 3efforts and contracted work and laid 325 tons of cold mis. These efforts help preserve infrastructure, improve public safety, and protect the parish's long-term investment in its road system. To aid this, several key pieces of equipment were purchased. These included an excavator, dump trucks, a grader, a spray truck, and an asphalt paver. Sumrall thanked Lacy Burris for her efforts in this and Danny Knight and crews for their hard work. He also reported that in 2025 the permit department issued 112 Certificates of Occupancy, 1,038 reconnect permits and 2,013 building permits. Road crews under the supervision of Kelvin Brown collected approximately 5,856 bags of litter and debris as part of ongoing parish cleanup efforts. Finally, the Animal Shelter remained committed to humane care by taking in 203 animals, assisting in the adoption of 198 animals, spayed or neutered 881 animals, administer 2,100 vaccines and remained a No Kill Shelter.
Parish President Ryan Seal wrapped up his report by emphatically stating that "the burn ban is still in effect." He explained the process involved in instituting a burn ban and expressed the large area of Washington Parish. If one area gets rain, it does not necessarily mean an area across the parish did as well. He also noted the red flag wind warning that is a factor as well. Seal assured that "I do not take this lightly and there must be concern for the common good, first responders and all our neighbors." He assured that the burn ban will be cancelled as soon as leadership feels they are able. Seal recalled his recent appearance at the Parish Pulse meeting and highlighted that the Council and Parish Government have passed key ordinances concerning blight, code enforcement, and abandoned vehicles. There has been 3 million in grant funding, the purchase of a new spray truck to combat weeds along roadways, several bridge replacements, a remodel in the Assessor's office, and the centralized 911 tower going online. Seal ended by thanking citizens for their support. Council President Reginald McMasters concluded by stating "Everybody is somebody in Washington Parish." The next meeting will be held on March 9, 2026.
