The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, July 22 in Council Chambers at the Washington Parish Courthouse. Following the approval of the minutes from the July 8 meeting, the Council heard a 2023 audit summary report from Michelle Treschwig, CPA from Kushner LaGraize CPAs and Consulting Firm. Ms. Treschwig was pleased to inform the Council that the Louisiana Legislative Auditor and the Federal Clearinghouse have accepted the audit. The Parish received a clean opinion which is the best rating. There was only one finding in the compliance, but this has already been resolved. She emphasized that the Parish is in a strong financial position as it has no long-term debt which is great in today's economy.
In other business, the Council adopted an ordinance to facilitate the implementation of a voluntary buyout and housing incentive program for portions of the Bogue Chitto Heights Subdivision.
The Council then introduced an ordinance to move a polling place location from C.E. Stafford Road to Fire District 1's firehouse on Highway 25. Clerk of Court Johnny Crain Jr. explained that the C.E. Stafford road is an old facility that is in poor condition and not handicapped accessible. The new fire station has a paved parking lot and excellent indoor facilities. Mr. Crain said people from his office will be at the former polling location on the next election day to be sure anyone who comes to vote will be directed to the new location.
He reiterated that this will be a much better setting for the voting and for election workers in Ward 1 Precinct 2.
Next, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing Washington Parish Government to apply for and administer grants through the Delta Regional Authority to continue to replace bridges throughout Washington Parish. The Council also adopted a resolution approving the holding of an election in Washington Parish Fire District No. 1 on Saturday, December 7, 2024, to authorize the levy of a special tax. Finally, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the filing of an application with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development for a grant under any of the FTA Programs managed through the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
During the Public Participation, Sheriff Jason Smith offered another opportunity to tour the renovated jail. He is also working on restoring visitation for the inmates. Sheriff Smith anticipates that the staff will be moved from the temporary location back to the Sheriff's Office by the end of the month.
In the President's Report, Director of Finance Donna Graham acknowledged her great staff and thanked them not only for their hard work during the audit but also their everyday efforts. In other business, she informed the Council that a check for $243,000 was received from the sale of surplus property. A brand-new grader is also being purchased off the state contract, so bids are not required. Director Graham also explained the Sales Tax Commission in the parish and that the Sheriff's Office collects the sales tax for the Parish. This is done for 1.5 percent fee. The contract expired June 30 and the Sheriff's Office asked for an increase in the fee. However, Mrs. Graham feels the current fee is more than acceptable and urged the board to renew the contract at the 1.5 percent rate. Mrs. Graham added that sales tax in the parish has grown from $11 million approximately 25 years ago to $39 million today.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall gave Transportation Manager Danny Knight's bimonthly report in his absence. Work crews picked up 381 bags of trash on 30 roads, installed 17 signs on 10 roads, and cleaned/cut 15 locations. In-house overlay projects ongoing include Old Columbia Road (Angie) and Silverado Lane. The LCDBG road project is nearing completion with three roads remaining: W. H. Davis, Sleepy Hollow, and Mockingbird Roads. The 2024 contract asphalt resurfacing project has begun with Ard Davidson, C. Davidson, Vineyard, Reeves, and Archie Wallace Roads complete.
Lowe Brothers is now working in the Mt. Hermon area on Holland Brock Road. Director Sumrall also reported that painting at the Bogalusa Health Unit is complete and advertisement for the renovation of the Courthouse went out in The Era-Leader and Bid Express. It will run in the paper two more times. There will be a non-mandatory meeting on August 7, 2024, in the conference room at the Parish Government office and bids will be opened on August 21 at 2:00 pm.
Director Sumrall also responded to questions raised at the July 8 meeting about the Sunlight Solar Farm. He spoke with the supervisor who explained that they are at least three months away f rom being completed with construction. There were multiple workers and cranes on the site and before completion they are required to send a letter to the Permit Department and Parish Government requesting a final inspection. There will also be an environmental engineer on side to make sure everything is up to the ordinance and code requirements.
Parish President Ryan Seal was pleased to announce that Gretchen Tullier, longtime employee at the Choctaw Road Landfill who is a Level A Operator, has been named manager upon the retirement of Troy Barber. Applications are still being taken for the Council Clerk position vacated by Sarah Cook.
In other news, the Property Insurance Association of Louisiana recently gave District 2 a Class 5 rating which should impact homeowner's insurance. The former rating was a Class 7. President Seal also expressed his pleasure that Grant Administrator Landon Tims aided in the application for a $10,000 grant for the Washington Parish Fair Association. The grant is earmarked for advertising outside of the fair outside of the parish. The Council and President Seal congratulated Director of Finance Donna Graham and her staff on the parish's clean audit.
Finally, President Seal explained the story of PFC Joseph Murphy who in a prisoner of war camp in the Philippines during WWII and stated his intention that his office will be represented at the funeral service and treat the event "as if it happened yesterday."
