The Washington Parish Council held its regular meeting on Monday, November 4 at the Washington Parish Courthouse. Prior to the meeting a Public Hearing was held on an ordinance to enter into a contract with Landworks, Inc., for the operation of the Choctaw Road Landfill. No one came forward to speak on the matter, and the ordinance was later approved by the Council. The regular meeting was then called to order and following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, the Council voted to approve the minutes from the October 21 regular meeting.
Next was an introduction of an ordinance to amend the 2024 Opioid Settlement Fund Budget for the Washington Parish Government. This was an introduction only and will be discussed further at the next meeting. The Council then approved a resolution authorizing Washington Parish Government to apply for and administer grant(s) through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Bridge Investment Program. Grant Administrator Landon Tims briefly informed the Council that this resolution specifically concerns the replace of the WP Stewart bridge and the Spring Valley Road bridge.
The final item of business on the agenda was the approval of a resolution to accept the lowest bid and to authorize the Parish President to sign a contract between the Washington Parish Government and Micon Services, Inc., for improvements to the lighting system at the Plainview Baseball Field.
Sheriff Jason Smith updated the council on the status of the Washington Parish Jail during public participation portion of the meeting. Due to an "uptick of late," there are currently 256 inmates with 208 being housed locally. Smith explained that the Department of Corrections (DOC) is currently backlogged in transferring inmates to state prisons and parish jails across the state are experiencing the same situation.
He added that the DOC is kind of "picking and choosing" who they want to move with the healthier inmates first and leaving the less than healthy at the parish jail where costs accrue to provide medical services.
Smith also explained that there are currently three 17 years old inmates who must be housed separately and kept separate from the adult population. These inmates were being housed at an exorbitant cost in Jackson Parish but have now been moved to Washington Parish. The Bogalusa Police Department moved female inmates to its jail which opened space for the 17 years olds in one block. Smith is committed to working on the satellite jail site in Varnado with an environmental survey checking if asbestos is present and a surveyor providing a clear picture of the property. Sheriff Smith and Parish Government Financial Officer Donna Graham are working together to move forward with the project.
Sheriff Smith also reported that he and Parish President Ryan Smith will be attending a meeting in Baton Rouge concerning the Tax Reform package being proposed. His concern is that if the package is passed as currently written, the parish stands to lose ten to eleven million dollars in tax money. Smith is not only the tax collector for the parish, but his office is funded by tax money.
In the President’s Report portion of the meeting, Financial Officer Donna Graham asked Landon Tims to update the Council on grants in progress. Mr. Tims was excited to share that with the help of LitaCorp, a bridge grant has been submitted to Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Bridge Investment Program for $3,092,000 to replace the WP Stewart and Spring Valley bridges. Tims is feeling positive about the submission. The grant requires a 25 percent match and LitaCorp has accepted a grant and fully funded the 25 percent match at $773,000. If the grant is funded by the Bridge Investment Program, the parish will have close to $4 million dollars and will not have pay anything from its budget for the replacement of the two bridges. Also, on the Resilient Community Infrastructure program, the parish has been approved to move forward on sandbagging locations at Dobson Street and "Yak" Road and on the Jefferson Street bridge in Bogalusa for $599,000. Tims is gratified that these projects will enhance Washington Parish's infrastructure.
Public Works Director Alex Sumrall presented the monthly transportation stats in the absence of Supervisor Danny Knight. Among other jobs, crews completed 28 drainage projects over 42 miles, graded 42 roads for 81 miles, bushhogged 127 roads for 230 miles, and picked up 628 bags of trash on 40 roads. Asphalt crews have finished bridge repair and overlay on White Williams Road and work is beginning on bridge approaches on Crain's Creek Road and Sie Jenkins Road.
Sumrall also reported that the parish is in total reconstruction at the courthouse from landscaping to replacing all floors of the interior including the upstairs courtroom. Landscaping is something Director Sumrall takes pride in, and he assures that the courthouse grounds redesign will be worth the wait and look even better than before. Sumrall also reported that he and Danny Knight attended a DOTC meeting at the Tangipahoa Parish Government office to see what bridge projects should be awarded for construction in 2025. He is pleased that George Jenkins bridge and Mitch Road bridge are on the list. There is still a wait on the Old Columbia Road and Cleve Kennedy Road, but Sumrall feels confident these two bridges will also be rebuilt.
Animal Shelter Manager Kelsey Knight reported that the shelter has recently had 164 intakes (dogs) and 160 have found homes. She noted that this is a seven times difference since 2020. There are currently 6 spay/neuter clinics, and the shelter is hoping to add another. Knight noted that other shelters bring their animals to the Washington Parish Clinics for this service, and this is a source of income for the shelter. Through Bissell's Fix the Future funding, the shelter has five veterinarians and only pays for one as Bissell funds the other four. No other shelter in the state has five vets on hand. Currently, 10,000 pounds of food has been donated to the shelter and none has had to be bought while 6,000 pounds have been donated to the public. 5,000 pounds of cat food has been donated as well. Knight added that there are free puppy/kitten shots available except for rabies. Washington Parish's Animal Shelter is the only one in the parish that pass state inspection and Knight and her staff has been asked to step in and assist other shelters in the state.
President Ryan Seal complimented the renovations that are taking place inside the courthouse as well as the outside landscaping. Senator Bill Cassidy recently held a rural summit and Seal and Landon Tims attended and put names to faces and networked for the parish. The AT&T Gumbo project is set for completion in February 2026 and should enhance Internet usage in the parish. President Seal also lifted the burn ban after recent rainfall. He reminded everyone that Parish Government offices will be closed on November 11 in honor of Veteran's Day.
The meeting concluded with Council Discussion. Councilman Reginald McMasters offered prayers to the Henry Lee family. Mr. Lee was a longtime parish employee. He also encouraged everyone to "keep moving Washington Parish forward."
Councilwoman Kim Wagner echoed President Seal in reminding everyone that there will be a veteran's program as the Veteran's Memorial Park on Dollar Road and Highway 10 on Saturday, November 9 at 9:00 am. She added, "Thank a Veteran."
Councilman Shawn Rice praised the efforts of Animal Shelter Manager Kelsey Knight and the pride she takes in her job.
Councilman Steven Branch visited the landfill recently and "it looks great." He also praised Parish Attorney Wayne Kuhn on the Down by the Branch area at the Washington Parish Fair. Mr. Kuhn began this in 1999, and it is a popular spot for fairgoers. Attorney Kuhn added that November 4, 1974, was his first day to practice law and his career has now spanned 50 years. When asked if he was considering retirement he replied, "Lawyers never retire. They just lose their appeal."
The next meeting will be held on Monday, November 18, 2024
