The Washington Parish Council met in Council Chambers at the Washington Parish Courthouse on Monday, August 26. The invocation and Pledge of Allegiance opened the meeting followed by the approval of the August 12 regular meeting minutes. This was followed by President Ryan Seal presenting a Retirement Plaque to Troy Barber, Manager of the Choctaw Landfill, who is retiring after 24 years of service.
The Council then adopted an ordinance setting the annual salary of the new Washinton Parish Clerk to the Council Jordan Dykes. Mrs. Dykes replaces longtime clerk Sarah Cook, who resigned in July.
An ordinance was then introduced to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Washington Parish Communications District. A public hearing will be held on this matter at the September 9, 2024, meeting. The Council next approved a resolution to submit three projects to be funded through the Resilient Communities Infrastructure Program. Grants Administrator Landon Tims elaborated that a grant has been awarded by this program. These projects will include infrastructure with the replacement of the Jefferson Street Bridge in Bogalusa, upgrading the sandbag Locations 1 and 2 and recreation with the construction of a pickle ball court at Atoki north of Franklinton.
Next the Council approved a resolution to waive parish land use regulations to allow for expedited temporary housing assistance as well as a resolution for the Annual Certification of Compliance with the State of Louisiana Off-System Bridge Replacement Program. Public Works Director Alex Sumrall explained that this is a yearly certification that verifies the parish will "keep up" bridges on parish roadways.
The final two resolutions approved were the removal of Gifford Blackwell Road from the Washington Parish Road Inventory List and the appointment of Bobbie Kimbrell as Board Member to Washington Parish Fire Protection District #7. Ms. Kimbrell's term will end on December 31, 2024.
In Public Participation, Sheriff Jason Smith gave an update on the Washington Parish Jail and efforts to correct the overcrowding that has been cited by the State Fire Marshal. Currently there are 226 total inmates with 204 in Franklinton, 17 in Bogalusa, and 5 in Plaquemines Parish. He noted that 35 of the inmates have been sentenced for crimes and are now the responsibility of the Department of Corrections, which should be moving them to state controlled facilities. He is working to open an additional short-term facility for female inmates but that is still in the research and development stage.
Sheriff Smith also announced that he is working diligently to start visitation again for inmates, but four of the six booths have been lost, and he and staff need another month to address this. He reiterated that the parish jail is not a long-term facility, and the DOC must move inmates in a timelier manner. (See the related article concerning the jail situation.)
Transportation Manager Danny Knight reported that since the August 12 meeting, 173 bags of trash have been collected on 14 parish roads and 16 signs were installed on 12 roads. The contract overlay projects are complete with striping and dressing of shoulders ongoing. Crews also sprayed around 32 bridges and cleaned/cut grass at 10 locations.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall reported that there was a bid opening for the Renovation of the Washington Parish Courthouse. The lowest bid was from Nobles Construction and there will be a resolution at the next meeting to proceed. Renovations at the Bogalusa Health Unit and Franklinton Permit department should begin in the next couple of weeks. Director Sumrall shared that there has been some concern about bushhogging on parish roads. The parish is working to catch up and crews are working to get the roads mowed as soon as possible Mr. Sumrall also noted that Mrs. Shirley Cox has taken pride in getting Location 2 some much needed organization. He added, "Mrs. Cox is a very selfless person with a great work ethic; we are lucky to have someone like her at Location 2."
Finally, Parish President Ryan Seal noted that he and St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper had a productive meeting about the future of the Pearl River and the Canal as well as a meeting with U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy on issues such as flood and homeowners' insurance. They also lobbied for windfall relief for those state employees with pension and social security benefits. President Seal additionally reported on a great meeting with the Delta Regional Authority. Next, he addressed the recent cutting of trees around the Courthouse. There was a press release prior to the trees being cut down that appeared in The Era-Leader, on Facebook, and the parish government website. The LA Department of Transportation was responsible for cutting the trees as they were located on state right of way and were deemed unsafe for motorists and pedestrians. President Seal assured everyone that parish government has a landscape plan in place with new trees to be planted on parish property located on the inside of the sidewalks.
President Seal concluded his report by noting that the parish is getting serious on blight and his concern about the high numbers of trash collected on parish roads. He also announced that two new tractors have been purchased with bushhogs but will not be ready until late fall. Next year they will help tremendously.
In final comments, the Council congratulated Mr. Troy Barber on his retirement as well as welcoming new Council Clerk Jordan Dykes. Parish attorney Wayne Kuhn remarked that Mr. Barber had a well-earned reputation for running a first-class operation at the landfill. With wishes for a happy Labor Day, the meeting adjourned.
