The Washington Parish Council met on Monday, June 24. Following the opening prayer and Pledge of allegiance, the Council approved the minutes dated May June 10. Council Chairman Joe Culpepper announced that the Council Clerk, Sarah Cook, has resigned effective and would not be present at the meeting. Therefore, Administrative Assistant Danielle Folks captured the minutes and conducted the roll call for voting.
The chamber was filled to near capacity with most on hand as a show of support for the hiring of the new Public Works Director. Parish President Ryan Seal announced that after much soul searching and prayer, he was pleased to submit Alex Sumrall to the Council for approval as the new director. The Council opened the floor for public participation, but no one spoke. Therefore, a vote was called and only Councilman Reginald McMasters voted no. Councilman Carley King was absent. At the end of the meeting in Council Discussion, Mr. McMasters noted that Mr. Sumrall knew how he would vote and that the two sat down man-to-man and discussed the situation. He also met with President Seal and made his views known though he did not elaborate further to the public. However, he congratulated Mr. Sumrall and feels he will do a wonderful job. Mr. McMasters also noted that Council Clerk Sarah Cook will be missed as she was good at whatever she did. (See related article for Sumrall's comments to the Council following his appointment.)
In other business, the council adopted a resolution to authorize the Parish President to enter into an agreement with Washington Parish Animal Shelter and Rayburn Correctional Center to train shelter dogs in obedience in order to help with the adoption process.
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Animal Shelter Manager Kelsey Knight was on-hand to explain that 90% of the dogs properly trained at Rayburn go to military veterans, but the parish shelter will take back any dogs not adopted after the process and will have these newly trained dogs for adoption by the public.
In related business, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing the Washington Parish Government to accept and administer a grant through the Best Friends Animal Society. Additionally, the Council authorized the Washington Parish Government to apply for and administer grant(s) through the Recreational Trails Program. Grant Administrator Landon Tims clarified that the application period for the grant has closed but the office in charge will open the window until August 1. Mr. Tims is working on a grant and is gathering the necessary numbers for a four mile trail at Atoki Recreation Park on Highway 25 north of Franklinton.
Finally, the Council adopted a resolution authorizing Washington Parish Government to adopt a Citizen Participation Plan to maximize citizen interaction for specific grants. Director of Finance Donna Graham explained that citizen participation is often a requirement for federal grants, so a "blanket group" will be established so that this component will be in place when required.
During the President's Report Mrs. Graham informed the Council a new Louisiana Act will require public meetings to be broadcast live with information available to enable folks to find the broadcast.
She added that the roads are being prepped for a project in Mitchell City and bids for the construction of soccer fields at Atoki have been opened and taken under advisement. Mrs. Graham was also pleased to disclose that an exit meeting with auditors was held and the Parish Government will have a good report. This will be posted online by the Legislative Auditor and a report will be coming to the Council in late July.
Transportation Manager Danny Knight gave his report for the past two weeks and noted that 395 bags of trash were picked up on 34 parish roads. In-house overlay projects are on-going on Miller Lane, Old Columbia (Angie), and Ed Carroll Road. The LCDBG road project in Mitchell City is also underway with Barriere Construction.
President Ryan Seal noted his recent attendance at the ribbon cutting for Fair City Rehabilitation (the former Heritage Manor). He is excited about the new energy at the facility following extensive renovations as well as the patient care available.
Mr. Seal explained that he recently attended a Parish Presidents of Louisiana meeting and there are initiatives being conducting regarding the illegal dumping of tires. He said Washington Parish has hundreds of dumped tires dotting the landscape of the parish and along with the state Department of Environmental Quality, Parish Government will get more aggressive in combating this. He added that code enforcement is going to be more aggressive in coming days as well and "people have got to do better."
In other business, Mr. Seal informed the Council that a new drop-box has been installed at the parish library and there are currently openings for a Landfill Director and Parish Council Clerk (more information on parish website). He finished with congratulating Donna Graham and staff or a great job and announced that Parish Government offices will be closed on July 4.
In closing comments Councilwoman Kim Wagner remined everyone of the July 4 parade in Bogalusa at 10:00 am and the upcoming Watermelon Festival at the fairgrounds in Franklinton. All the Council extended best wishes to Alex Sumrall on his new position. Parish Attorney Wayne Kuhn ended the meeting with a brief history of the late Joe Jaeger and his desire and involvement in making the parish a better place to live. Mr. Jaeger succumbed to injuries following a traffic accident and his funeral was Friday, June 28.
