The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, May 20 in the Washington Parish Courthouse. The meeting was preceded by a public hearing on three proposed millage rate items. There was no one present with concerns or questions so the public hearing adjourned. At 6:00 pm the regular meeting was called to order and the minutes dated May 6 were approved.
First, the Council adopted an ordinance to adopt the adjusted millage rates for 2024 on property subject to taxation in Washington Parish.
The millage rates are for the purpose of raising revenue for the Library at 4.59 mills and Road and Bridge at 9.99 mills. Next, the Council adopted an ordinance to set forth and designate the millage rate determined at reassessment and the increased rate being levied for the current tax year in Washington Parish. These include Exempted Municipalities - Inside at 1.85 mills; General Alimony - Outside at 3.70 mills; Health Unit at 3.11 mills; Road and Bridges at 4.13 mills; and Courthouse and Public Building at 1.03 mills.
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Finally, the Council adopted an ordinance to set forth and designate the millage rate determined at reassessment and the increased rate being levied for the current tax year in Washington Parish. When collected, the revenues from these taxes can be used only for the specific purposes for which the taxes have been levied. The millage rates are Parish and Local Exempted Municipalities-Inside at 1.85 mills; General Alimony-outside at 3.70 mills; Health Unit at 3.11 mills; Library at 4.60 mills; Road and Bridges 4.13 mills; Road and Bridges at 10.00 mills; and Courthouse and Public Building at 1.03 mills.
Next on the agenda was the adoption of a resolution authorizing Ryan Seal, Parish President, to enter into and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Civicsource for the administration of an online auction and sale of adjudicated properties program. President Seal noted that the Parish has successfully utilized the services of Civicsource before.
The Council then adopted a resolution removing 0.20 miles of Fleming Road from the Washington Parish Road Inventory List. The final item of business was adopting a resolution authorizing the Washington Parish Government to apply for and administer a grant through the Office of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. Grant Administrator Landan Tims explained that the President Seal recently met with the Louisiana Fairs and Festivals, and the Washington Parish Free Fair approached Parish Government about working with a grant for the purpose of marketing the Fair.
During public participation Sheriff-Elect Jason Smith spoke to the board on some concerns. Mr. Smith explained that during a meeting with District Attorney Colin Sims, the new rollout of fiber optics in the parish was discussed. This is generally looked at as a positive development; however, higher speed and more readily accessible internet will likely create an increase in certain types of crimes in Washington Parish.
He went on to say that most assume growth is a good thing and pointed out that one of the parish's most valuable assets is its land. In September, the federal subsidy for flood insurance will be going away, and Washington Parish can likely expect an influx of folks from further south looking for affordable rates and property. Sheriff-Elect Smith added that a ten percent change in the population, be it positive or negative, can significantly change the parish. There will be a need for more law enforcement, healthcare services, as well as the need for more secure infrastructure.
He suggested to the Council to establish an Infrastructure Committee to begin addressing the needs the parish will have in the future as well as asking questions about policies that can be put in place to address the growth that will likely come to Washington Parish because of the new four-lane highway from Bush to Interstate 12 as well as those who want to move into the "country."
Councilman Reginald McMasters agreed that a "Master Plan" is needed, or the parish will not be able to regulate roads, drainage, and other items that come with construction and placing homes where farmland once existed. With all this in mind, the Planning Commission and Parish Government will be meeting with the Sheriff-Elect to make a start in preparation for the future.
A second citizen, Nick Smith, then spoke to the Council about how the parish was not ready when solar panels first arrived on area farmland, but it is an issue that the Council must stay abreast of. He told of an elderly resident who recently divided property among heirs, and one had the intention of leasing the land to a solar panel group. This has created a situation of family vs. family. He also cited a recent RFD program that claimed that in past year, the number of property owners in rural areas approached by solar panel companies jumped from 12 to 19 percent. Mr. Smith urged the Council to continue to be vigilant about such things and be prepared for more companies to approach them for permission to establish more "unusable" acreage in the parish. Councilman McMasters reassured Mr. Smith that he is a proponent of code enforcement, and that the ordinance must be followed, or legal action will follow.
Parish Attorney Wayne Kuhn added that the parish's Comprehensive Solar Panel Ordinance is a now a model for other parishes and other states.
In the President's Report, Director of Finance Donna Graham shared that the auditors would be done on May 21 and "things are going well." In the absence of Transportation Manager Danny Knight, Quality Assurance Officer Alex Sumrall reported that since the May 6, 209 bags of trash were collected on 17 roads, 34 signs were installed on 23 roads, the Lawrence Creek Road chip seal project is complete, and asphalt crews are currently working on in-house overlay projects including May Road, and Johnny Will Jones Road.
Mr. Sumrall also reported that culverts are being installed on Nobles Cemetery Road; the Hwy 10 shop is adding a 30X40 slab with a covered area with two roll-up doors on the existing building and there was a bid opening on May 20 for the 2024 asphalt overlay. Barriere, Lowe Bros, and Maden Gulf Coast LLC submitted bids which are being reviewed.
President Seal noted that April was Fair Housing Month and gave a brief history on this. He was also pleased to have attended the ribbon cutting for the new Council on Aging Building in Franklinton and praised the group's work. President Seal and the Council wished everyone a safe Memorial Day, and Wayne Kuhn commended Councilwoman Kim Wagner for being named a Top Agent with Latter and Blum Classic.
